CBS was promoting the 30th on-air anniversary of David Letterman on Wednesday to the hilt. But it was not enough to outdeliver NBC faithful The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Based on the 56-metered markets, Leno on Wednesday, Feb. 1, averaged a 3.0 rating/8 share in the 56-metered markets, followed by Letterman at a 2.7/ 7, according to Nielsen. ABC’s combination of Nightline (2.9/ 7) and Jimmy Kimmel Live (1.4/ 4) averaged a 2.1/ 6. Based on the 25 markets with Local People Meters, Leno scored a 0.9/ 4 among adults 18-49 versus a 0.7/ 3 for Letterman. ABC’s duo averaged a 0.6/ 3 (Nightline: 0.8/ 4, Jimmy Kimmel Live: 0.4/ 2).
The Tonight Show and Letterman ran neck and neck last night, with Leno at a 2.9/ 8 and Letterman a 2.8/ 7 based on the 56 metered markets on Thursday.
However, in the midnight-12:30am time period, Letterman defeated Leno 2.4 to 2.3. The guest on Letterman that night: new America’s Got Talent judge, the one and only Howard Stern.