Conan Who? Letterman Scores Big Time!

Filed under: Conan O'Brien > David Letterman

David Letterman has got the momentum going to become the newest King of Late night. The other fellas just can't seem to keep up!

According to Nielsen Media Research, Letterman's Late Show killed Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show in the ratings last week by nearly 800,000 viewers!

And while Conan may have the 18-to-49-year-old demographic eating out of his palm, Letterman has still won two of the last three weeks among total viewers!

Congrats, Dave! Keep up the good work (and the mega guests like Paul McCartney) and you'll stay right on top!

[Image via AP Images.]

Posted: Jul 17, 2009 at 12:15 pm / Email this »

See All 41 Comments

41 comments to “Conan Who? Letterman Scores Big Time!”

karencarpenter says – reply to this

1

…I wouldn't tune into either show, not that anyone asked.
Long Dong Connery says – reply to this

2

Letterman still #1
Kittencaboodle says – reply to this

3

That sucks. Letterman has become a mean-spirited old coot!
kissmyassobama says – reply to this

4

i fucking HATE this puke!! he's NEVER been any good. Jay was the only good late night host so now its not worth watching at all.
Windfall says – reply to this

5

Dave's the best. The king of late night, for sure.
putthekoolaiddown27 says – reply to this

6

Re: Long Dong Connery – Hello love…I thought I was number 1???
RedWingsFan says – reply to this

7

Re: karencarpenter – Me neither!By the way,I think your pretty funny!:)
NativeNYer says – reply to this

8

Just as I predicted when it was announced that Conan was taking over for Leno. I knew he would tank. Conan doesn't appeal to an older demo like Leno did. Why NBC would mess with something that was working is beyond me. Anyway, those Conan fans/nuts who attacked at the mere mention of him bombing can now suck it.
karencarpenter says – reply to this

9

Re: RedWingsFan – Thanks RedWingsFan!
Miss Bu says – reply to this

10

I love Dave congrats keep up with the Palin jokes.
Long Dong Connery says – reply to this

11

Re: putthekoolaiddown27 – yer always number 1 in my ♥
Meg-333 says – reply to this

12

Why is perez so mean about it? I don't watch either shows unless they're interviewing someone i'm interested in, but objectively speaking, it should take Conan sometime to get into his groove. He had this same problem when he started with "Late night.." so just fucking chill, for heaven's sake!!!
Dave had been losing..in ratings, to Leno forever, didn't stop him from having a looooong lasting career..sheeeesh!
jusme says – reply to this

13

I have watched approx. 10 minutes of the Tonight show since Conan took over. I used to watch Jay every night and if I couldn't catch it I would TiVo it. I used to love Conan when I was in my very early 20s so maybe it's an age thing, I am now in my 30s so he just isn't funny anymore. I can't wait for Jay to come back….He is great no matter how old you are.
sayswho says – reply to this

14

Well good for Dave…I used to watch Conn but after a while it was just enough…

Actually the very BEST host is Craig Ferguson…now he is GREAT!!!
SWEETPIECE! says – reply to this

15

LOVE!
OMGitsme2 says – reply to this

16

Conan just doesn't have it. Besides I would bet part of Lettermans rating lead is that Craig Ferguson's show follows him and THAT guy is hilarious!!!!!!!!!!!!! And so is Letterman
SheriMoonFireFly says – reply to this

17

Re: RedWingsFan –
afternoonizh Redwingz….
RedWingsFan says – reply to this

18

Re: SheriMoonFireFly – Hello Sheri!!
TheWildflower says – reply to this

19

this is not a surprise…i'm still puzzled that conan got this job!…i switched to david letterman and he's growing on me…he's more tolerable than that goofball conan.
mike hunt 123 says – reply to this

20

damn why do you have to be a prick about it..Conan's great, they give him shit guests and he's gonna get in his groove…sounds like your begging to get punched again with every new bitchy post
jenrules says – reply to this

21

Letterman is an angry, mean, old man. Conan is sooooo much smarter and hence funnier. King David simply get's the slow folks. Ya know, the one's who voted for the demise of the USA.
MaryTT says – reply to this

22

i dont find letterman to be in the least bit entertaining. its not even a competition that Conan is truly funnier
thecleopets says – reply to this

23

Conan sucks, I'm in the middle of his target audience, Letterman is way better. But I don't watch either. Chelsea Lately is the show everyone SHOULD be watching!! I
thecleopets says – reply to this

24

Re: OMGitsme2 – I used to watch Ferguson everyday, I wanted to have babies with him, but now he's married. He's on late & I wouldn't watch if I DVRed, he should have Conan's spot.
sparkys nemesis says – reply to this

25

I always preferred Leno to Dave. Dave's no comedian. But Conan? Unwatchable. That sidekick doesn't help either. So I think a lot of Leno-watchers have defected.
sophaloph says – reply to this

26

Letterman is NOT funny! He is old, he is senile and hopefully he'll be gone once his contract is up. Conan on the other hand is hilarious. Those who don't find him funny have every right not to, but I think they just don't get his humor. Give the man time and he'll get his viewers back. Stop being such a bitch about him.
team-aniston says – reply to this

27

LUV HIIIIIMMMM!!!
You Need To Attend A Brain Giveaway says – reply to this

28

WOOT! Go Dave!
I loved Paul McCartney
MC30 says – reply to this

29

I have always loved to watch dave! He is a true original! Long live dave!!
MC30 says – reply to this

30

Dave rocks!
Megan1 says – reply to this

31

Dave is bitter and mean spirited. He must be on his best behavior, but his true colors will come out and he will lose viewers again. Once he gets "political" he looks like a nasty fool.
BreezeCJ says – reply to this

32

Dave's comedy has turned bitter, the man still does Dick Chaney jokes for god's sake. Conan will eventually win this battle, his show is non-stop comedy without an ounce of meanness.
ix3perez says – reply to this

33

i was afraid this might happen …i love conan way better as a person and think dave is a sketchy perv…but i like dave's humor better and think conan is a little too eccentric for the tonight show time slot
Windfall says – reply to this

34

People who call Dave grumpy, crabby, or bitter probably aren't watching his show. He's hilarious, and he laughs a lot.
Excellent interviewer, too. GO DAVE!
SarahisMe says – reply to this

35

I like Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel and Conan O Brian…. Letterman is on the bottom of my list personally
ROIMAUDIT says – reply to this

36

He deserves his the best.
Kickaha says – reply to this

37

Re: BreezeCJ –

Well as long as Cheney stays in the news making a fool of himself, why can't Letterman help his cause? Hopefully Cheney will be thrown in the slammer, soon.
saagua says – reply to this

38

Nobody is anywhere near Johnny Carson. Letterman is stiff and cold although occasionally ironically amusing. Conan is an unattractive twit with NOTHING going for him. Nor could I take much of that Italian guy, big face, ugly actually, whom Conan has replaced.
doggiebreath says – reply to this

39

Jay Leno on the Tonight Show took quite a while to catch on and I'm sure the same thing will happen with Jimmy. He's cuter too!
doggiebreath says – reply to this

40

Oops. I meant Conan! What a ding-dong!
TheSveed says – reply to this

41

Have always loved Letterman over any of the others. YEAH DAVE!