Dr. Phil Lifts Letterman Over Leno
HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – Dr. Phil was a ratings elixir for David Letterman on Monday, as a guest appearance by the self-help guru boosted CBS entry “The Late Show” to its highest overnight rating in 17 months and its first victory over NBC’s “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” in three years.
According to Nielsen, Monday’s “Late Show” netted a 6.3 household rating and 15 share in Nielsen’s 55 metered markets, the program’s best numbers on any night since Sept. 17, 2001 (its first telecast after 9/11), when it posted a 6.7/17.
It also marked a hefty 54 percent jump over Letterman’s Monday average this season (4.1/10).
“Late Show” beat “Tonight” head-to-head (6.3/15 to 6.0/14) for the first time since Feb. 21, 2000 — when Letterman returned after heart surgery (9.3/23). But Leno’s ratings were up, too, as this was its best overnight score since Nov. 13, 2000.
Overall prime-time viewing levels were very high Monday, due in part to sweeps stunts and an East Coast blizzard.
Phil McGraw, host of hot syndicated series “Dr. Phil,” had been the butt of numerous on-air Letterman jokes in recent months.
After “Late Show,” the Craig Kilborn-hosted “Late Late Show” on CBS delivered a 2.2/8 in the overnights, its highest since Sept. 17, 2001.
Categories