Powered by i.TV
February 9, 2012
 
CONNECT    

Conan's Tonight Show ratings slip beneath Letterman's

by Jason Hughes, posted Jun 10th 2009 1:33PM
The Tonight ShowThe ratings for The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien have been slipping since he took over, which is to be expected. Possibly less expected is that while he's been dipping, Late Show With David Letterman has seen a slow increase. So much so that last night, David Letterman beat Conan O'Brien in the ratings. That should certainly help Letterman's negotiations for that contract extension to 2012. The real question is how will this ratings battle settle down?

Certainly there's no reason for the Tonight Show camp to panic yet. Letterman stomped Leno for awhile early in Leno's run, when Letterman first jumped to CBS. But Leno is a very different comedian and host than O'Brien. Perhaps too different? The concern isn't so much that O'Brien's numbers are dipping, because the curiosity factor was going to inflate his initial numbers anyway, it's that Letterman's are on the rise. That could be defectors from the Leno era making a move. But should O'Brien even want to bring them back, or should his battle be for new viewers that maybe weren't watching Letterman or Leno.

I used to be a Letterman fan when he was on Late Night. When he jumped ship to CBS, I followed him for awhile but then I just kind of got disenchanted with the whole thing. I could never get into Leno as I just didn't enjoy anything he did other than "Headlines" and "Jaywalking." The only late night shows that I've been able to enjoy have been Conan O'Brien and Craig Ferguson. But surely I'm not the only one. Did O'Brien's fans not follow him to The Tonight Show? Did they just accept Jimmy Fallon on Late Night and leave Conan to rot? Or was Conan off the air for too long and his fans have forgotten to follow him?

The big discussion about O'Brien's show was if he would tone down some of his zaniness when he moved to The Tonight Show. Certainly Letterman, who hosted Late Night before Conan on NBC, toned down his schtick a lot. I think too much. Maybe you have to in order to succeed at 11:30. And Conan has toned himself down a bit.

But as much as I hate to say it, I think the loss of Leno is so much better for Letterman. Leno's fans are looking for comfortable in that time slot, because that's what Leno gave them. Right now, Letterman is a much more comfortable alternative than O'Brien. Letterman's show is so mellow compared to what it used to be, and certainly his monologue is way better than Leno's. O'Brien is still a bit of an acquired taste. He's still awkward and self-deprecating in a way that might make those Leno fans uncomfortable. Or maybe he's just too young. Who knows? Only time will tell.

Add a Comment

*0 / 3000 Character Maximum

48 Comments

Filter by:
000petie

Petie saw a lot; of, Conan's original shows.
Adnd ;you, would think?
Conan will never make it.
he let his side-kick go
and Conan blossomed
?Can I tell you something
thank you
The man is good; he is real good.
Your on cable,now
less Conan groupies
speaking of Conan's physical comedy? it is funny. you;know, he will never be able to do all of his comedy; forever.
Keep smiling Conan.
help is on the way

January 18 2011 at 11:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Grumpy old man

So you think Conan is losing viewers because he's "cut down on his zaniness??" OMG you are clueless. Yes Jay does have real jokes, and Conan does not have real jokes, can not tell them, can not even read them. His only acts are being a dork, being an A-hole, or being a dorky, self-absorbed A-hole. The only people who laugh at dorky, self-absorbed A-holes are other dorky, self-absorbed A-holes, like you all, the M 18 to whatever demographic. The rest of us think one show called JackAss is enough.

August 10 2009 at 10:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
leee

Conan is funny to kids maybe, but soon they will be in school and his ratings may get worse. I'm not one bit surprised and not because I was a Leno fan, but because I watched him at times. His hair is huge, why? It's not the 80's. He does have potential, because he can be funny with some guests, but not often. Maybe, if he cuts the hair to look normal and a tower and cut the silly off. Why doesn't he have writers? The funnier jokes are when you least expect them and everything with Conan is known beforehand. He also puts himself down a lot and no one wants to stand for that. If he became more confident, not arrogant, CONFIDENT, cut the hair, and didn't try so hard, I think he could beat Letterman. When I lived in college town in RI we all loved Letterman, and Paul. I'm not crazy about Letterman now, same old, same old, and doubt if college students are as passionate about him as we were in the late 80's and early 90's. He's in lust with Regis and rude even. I hope Conan does make it, and beat Letterman. he may just need more time and support and constructive criticism, not to take it personal because she is trying, just too hard. Conan, please cut that tower down and be yourself and remember 6th graders don't stay up late. You can do it. Many people only care to have 3 channels, like me, and there's not much to chose from and havent watched TV for months. Never connected the box, but from what i read, you haven't changed and I remember a silly guy with big hair, but when funny you he was hillarious. Wish him well, still like Letterman, not as much, but would love to see Conan beat the heck out of Letterman. The person i shocked by is the englishman who is still on the air. Oh my god, talk about not being funny, and uses the f word. If he can make it, anybody can. Best of luck to Conan and let's give him time. CUT THE CROP OFF, it's your aunt mary speaking. Just kidding...

August 04 2009 at 11:36 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
impost3r

You sound arrogant (for no reason) and prejudice, you must be European.

... you know we don't really think that of you though right? It's just you guys hating on us (Americans). I never seen people saying "you must be European" but I see this "you must be American" nonsense all the time. Then again, I guess we don't do that because we have nothing to be jealous of. You're sort of... non-important.

At least you have good taste in comedians though! I am a Conan fan as well.

July 23 2009 at 2:04 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Triumph

Man you people have entirely too much time on your hands, you must be Americans.
Conan is funny and the show is good.
There are only a certain few who can come back from a bombed joke like Conan, and Leno isn't one of them.
Letterman funny? His jokes consist of him leaning forward and yelling 'HEY!'. Brilliant.
IN the year 3000, pointless user comments posted about late night TV show hosts will be exposed for what they really are: a forum for the worlds most boring wankers

July 18 2009 at 12:05 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mike

I'm surprised that NBC made such a bonehead move. All they're really doing is moving the two time slots up an hour and changing the show names. I've never been a fan of Conan. He is NOT the least bit funny and I find his brand of humor sophomoric at best. Unless he has a handicap, that hairdo is a total giveaway to his phoniness. He's a bit old to be acting the way he does.

July 16 2009 at 2:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Derek

I thought leno was great for tonight show. I tried to get into conan but in all honesty, I can't even get past that stupid trumpet going on and on when he first comes out on stage. The show starts out annoying and stays that way. Bring back Leno!

July 13 2009 at 12:13 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iamez2plzru

I never >hand clap< did like >hand clap< Conan O'brian >Hands folded in prayer and bow<

He is very annoying from the time he opens his mouth.

Someone had their head up and locked in it's full point of contact when they chose him to replace my man Leno.

June 29 2009 at 11:44 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tj

I have tried a few of those talk show hosts, usually when I can't fall asleep when I want to. I found Conan dull except for the desk rides at times, those at least showed some creativity and some audience interaction. Leno had to grow on me, Initially not thrilled, not much of a tonight show fan. Now I feel it's sad he's not on there. Jimmy Kimmel grew on me sooner than I thought, I like his intro the first half hour and then I don't care who is on the guest list, not much into interviews of celebs, etc.
I never cared for Letterman, he is so dry in his delivery. I can take him or leave him for a host. I found Ferguson funny at first, but then he got old in his style of joking.

I guess they all wear out their welcome at some point just some more than others. I feel Letterman is upping Conan per reports as the crowd that turned to Leno is not a college based doped up or bar based group usually. I haven't given Falon much chance, I tend to think of him from SNL. He is new to the talk show scene for a host so I'd say the "verdict" is out yet on him.

Just wish that the majority of them were on at 10:30 pm instead (cst) as who pays attention much when it's later? After the monologue I tend to turn the channel or tv off.

June 26 2009 at 2:42 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sonic

Conan is sometimes funny, but too awkward
Leno's headlines were the only thing I found funny
Letterman doesn't make me smile though he's witty
Fallon, not chance...he painfully awkward and not funny
Stewart & Colbert are pretty good
I don't know who Daly is
Don't like Kimmel
CRAIG FERGUSON beats the rest by a lot in my book!

June 20 2009 at 3:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

Follow Us

From Our Partners