Letterman springs
back, beating Leno
'Late Night' glides ahead of 'Tonight' on Monday
By Toni Fitzgerald
Mar 11, 2010
For a few hours yesterday, it looked as though CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman" had managed to beat "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" for the second time this week. That was according to Nielsen's metered-market household ratings.
But by day's end, NBC had rushed out fast national ratings that told a different story. Leno had maintained his lead, if barely.
Clearly, it's time to dismiss any notion that Leno would be able to hold onto the lead in late night without a fight, once the honeymoon was over after his return to "Tonight" after the Olympics.
On Tuesday, Leno averaged 4.2 million viewers to Letterman's 3.97 million, according to Nielsen overnights, a difference of 230,000.
Monday night, Leno's edge was 170,000. Last week, Leno led by more than 1 million.
On Monday night, Letterman actually led among adults 18-49, the first time since Leno's return that NBC has trailed. That night, Letterman held a 1.3-1.1 edge.
On Tuesday night, Leno regained the 18-49 lead, averaging a 1.1 to "Late Show's" 0.9, despite the buzz over Letterman's blackmailer pleading guilty earlier in the day.
So really this week has been a split decision, and there are likely more of them ahead.
Leno clearly won't be able to maintain the huge edge he had in his first few days last week.
More likely, at least in the near-term, the lead will seesaw between the two comedians, depending on what aired in primetime on the networks, who that night's guests are, and whether there are any more sex scandals or employment changes in the offing.
Long-term, it's harder to say. Media people believe Leno will slowly regain the No. 1 position he held for years. But then there's no telling what can happen between now and then.
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