David Letterman, "Tonight Show" Ratings Race Closest Since 2005

NEW YORK — David Letterman's squabble with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin gave his "Late Show" a ratings boost last week, but new NBC rival Conan O'Brien retains the upper hand after two weeks as "Tonight Show" host.

Overall for the week of June 8, "Tonight" won in total viewers as well as among such demographic groups as adults 18-49 and 18-34, according to Nielsen Media Research figures released Thursday.

Even so, CBS' "Late Show" scored total-viewer victories on three nights last week, as controversy (and viewer interest) heated up following Letterman's racy joke about a Palin daughter. The joke was delivered as part of Letterman's June 8 monologue.

Last week's Tuesday, Thursday and Friday editions of "Late Show" edged out "Tonight" in viewers.

"Late Show" also edged out "Tonight" in household ratings, 2.7 vs. 2.6 for the week. (A ratings point represents 1,145,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 114.5 million TV homes.)

For the week, "Late Show" had 3.67 million viewers, separated from front-runner "Tonight" with its 3.77 million viewers by just 100,000 viewers. For "Late Show," it was the closest competitive position to "Tonight" since December 2005, Nielsen said.

Until longtime host Jay Leno departed "Tonight" on May 29, the NBC late show had been the traditional ratings leader at 11:35 p.m.

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CBS is a division of CBS Corp. NBC is a unit of General Electric.

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On the Net:

http://www.cbs.com

http://www.nbc.com

Comments

[ddDinah]

Olive Garden pulled their advertising for now from Letterman. Besides e-mailing the Olive Garden I will be caling today, to let them know I will NEVER eat at their restaurant again and nor will my family. David apologized and she accepted, the rest is all BS. The Oliver Garden by getting involved has made a politiical statement and I want nothing to do with their political views thank you very much.

[Pippen]

Nor myself ddDinah !! I'm done with Olive Garden forever.

[ywcachieve]

Thanks for the head up. I will spread the word about Olive Garden. Even though I never eat there anyway.

[lee4]

I sent an email.

[Deekang]

Why didn't Olive Garden just say they're having "revenue difficulties" and can't afford the advertisement instead of seizing on a idiot opportunity to pull out of DL's show? I'm gonna miss those Italian Margaritas.

[wanda665]

prob get wide as a broom handle eating that stuff anyway

[ObamaYouBetcha]

well, what do you know? Palin IS good for something ........ other than fancy pageant walkin'. Still needs to work on that whole governin' thing, though.

[discourse jockey]

What is she supposed to govern?

[FightTheLies]

She helped give Democrats the White House, and now boosted Letterman. Palin is like a glass cannon. Everyone she takes aim at ends up backfiring in her face.

[Kelly Laraia]

Letterman knew exactly what he was doing...taking some of the air out of Conan O'Brien's balloon. It worked. Say what you want about Palin but she is made for TV. If she gets out of politics, CNN should hire her. They desperately need someone to pull in the ratings and Palin would do it.

[bignewsday]

She would fit in much better at Faux News

[FightTheLies]

I agree. She wouldn't like all those other stations with their 'gotcha' reporters, and complex questions about what she likes to read.

[Kelly Laraia]

But CNN needs the help with the ratings. Poor Campbell Brown is getting slaughtered by BO and KO. I do think that Palin will eventually wind up with a TV gig somewhere.

[kissMYfish]

She will be one of their expert Investigative reporters.

[imjustawitchywoman]

To Sarah the Drama Queen.....thanks for the Bump.

[HelloooCanada]

ahhhhhhh, i remember a time when david letterman would NEVER apologize to an idi0t for an off-color joke and whenever you saw the name "palin" you got happy, because it was about michael palin...

[LMPE]

Sarah Palin's plans couldn't have backfired more if she'd shot them out of a rifle while hunting a moose!

[harmonikasavingsbonds]

The Palin Bump?

Now there's a nasty visual...

[SoCalNick]

I am not so sure Palin should get all of the Credit here. Conan is as weak as ever and a little too kiddish for the tonight show. Ratings are down there already.

[Indie2008]

Yep!

[kissMYfish]

He's a bore

[Brookyln35street]

Good, I hope it is the gift that keeps on giving.

[TheDisenfranchisedVoter]

Please, the joke was not only sub-par to begin with, it was obvious that both Palin and Letterman stretched this "controversy" out in order for their own benefit.

Thankfully after this stupid stunt is forgotten about by next week, Conan will be back on top--where he belongs--because he is so much more entertaining and funnier than Dave.

[Charity]

yeah, jumping up on his desk the other night was so funny. /sarcasm

[ohiomark]

With this so called "Palin Bump", he STILL can't beat Conan?

Pathetic.

[jcause28]

The tonight show has been #1 for a long time. trends are hard to change. and there are alot of factors in this. But that would be too complicated, wouldn't it?

[daedelus]

The ratio of stupid viewers to smart ones my have a bearing on that.

[discourse jockey]

Trillions of flies the world over eat $hit. They can't be wrong! Eat $hit!!

[LeftVetPatriot]

Not The Palin Bump.

The Conan Bore.

[TheDisenfranchisedVoter]

Give it up old man. Only old geezers--and people with crappy senses of humor--don't like Conan.

Don't make me break your hip!

[learntofly]

Is that you, Conan?

[Charity]

sarah, will you please get off the computer? i think i hear willow calling you.

[ywcachieve]

TheDisenfranchised...why are you taking this so personally about which show is better?
Are you a Conan O'Brien employee?

[Juan Rivera 2]

good for David. He deserved it for a long time

[tisfilm]

My suspense that David Letterman and Palin has planned since Leno is out.
Do you think?

[desertdweller]

DL gets the last laugh! And he gets to keep the clothes........