The Daily Show is top-rated late-night show in October

[DevdogAZ]

“THE DAILY SHOW WITH JON STEWART” BECOMES FIRST LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW OTHER THAN “THE Tonight Show” OR “LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN” TO FINISH A FULL MONTH AS NUMBER ONE AMONG ADULTS 18-49

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/11/04...etterman/70856

Historically dominant among young men and young adults, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” finished the month of October as the #1 late night talk show among Adults 18-49. This extraordinary achievement marked the first time that any late night talk show other than “The Tonight Show” or “Late Night with David Letterman” has claimed the top spot in this key demographic, dating back to at least 2000.

As noted by TV By the Numbers, the numbers used by Comedy Central to get this result were not completely straightforward. They used a mixture of Live + SD and Live + 7 data, since Live + 7 for the full month of October isn't available yet. Also, Comedy Central didn't include the results from the week of Oct. 18 when most of the shows took a break. But even still, that's a pretty big accomplishment by a basic cable show to beat Leno and Letterman.

It will be interesting to see what happens now that the election is over and Conan is starting on Monday.

[MickeS]

Not surprised. This whole year, I've skipped the networks' late night show in favor of Stewart and Colbert. The comedy is better, and the lack of musical guests is refreshing. Of course, both of them benefitted from the higher profiles that the media coverage of their "rally" gave them. But they simply have better shows right now.

[DevdogAZ]

Originally Posted by MickeS

Not surprised. This whole year, I've skipped the networks' late night show in favor of Stewart and Colbert. The comedy is better, and the lack of musical guests is refreshing. Of course, both of them benefitted from the higher profiles that the media coverage of their "rally" gave them. But they simply have better shows right now.

Totally agree. Much better comedy. No musical guests to waste the last 10 minutes of the program. But now that the rally and the election are over, I doubt the ratings for Stewart and Colbert will continue to be so high. Some viewers will lose interest since politics is a big part of their focus.

[trainman]

Originally Posted by DevdogAZ

No musical guests to waste the last 10 minutes of the program.

Missed Thursday's "Colbert Report," eh? Although I definitely wouldn't characterize Elvis Costello as a "waste."

Both shows do have musical guests on occasion -- Colbert more often than "The Daily Show" -- and since they always do both an interview and a performance, it takes up more time than it does on more conventional talk shows (and, of course, a much higher proportion of time is taken up on a half-hour show than on an hour-long show).

[DevdogAZ]

Originally Posted by trainman

Missed Thursday's "Colbert Report," eh? Although I definitely wouldn't characterize Elvis Costello as a "waste."

Both shows do have musical guests on occasion -- Colbert more often than "The Daily Show" -- and since they always do both an interview and a performance, it takes up more time than it does on more conventional talk shows (and, of course, a much higher proportion of time is taken up on a half-hour show than on an hour-long show).

I didn't see Thursday's CR yet. But I always FF through any musical guests when they have them. Or if it's at the end, I just turn it off at that point.

[getreal]

Originally Posted by DevdogAZ

I didn't see Thursday's CR yet. But I always FF through any musical guests when they have them. Or if it's at the end, I just turn it off at that point.

Too bad ... you've missed out on some awesome talent.

SNL started out in the mid-70s booking only musical acts which were not mainstream. There were some interesting acts back then.

Colbert seems to be generally trying to do the same, although he also brings in some big names. But musical acts are so infrequent that I would recommend at least giving them a minute before switching off.

[Turtleboy]

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien won that demographic all of the time, even though they were losing in the overall viewers. i don't think Leno has won those viewers in years.

[Steveknj]

Originally Posted by DevdogAZ

Totally agree. Much better comedy. No musical guests to waste the last 10 minutes of the program. But now that the rally and the election are over, I doubt the ratings for Stewart and Colbert will continue to be so high. Some viewers will lose interest since politics is a big part of their focus.

I wonder about that, considering that the demo that usually watches TDS (I'm not in that demo but I watch) did not vote in droves. But I'm sure the rally had a LOT to do with this, perhaps more than the election. He also had a few high profile guests, like Obama which I'm sure helped as well.

[Steveknj]

Originally Posted by Turtleboy

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien won that demographic all of the time, even though they were losing in the overall viewers. i don't think Leno has won those viewers in years.

Leno's viewers have begun to die off....literally (i.e. his demo is a lot older).

[aindik]

The Daily Show and Leterman/Leno are not on at the same time.

[DevdogAZ]

Originally Posted by aindik

The Daily Show and Leterman/Leno are not on at the same time.

That's irrelevant. The ratings and viewership numbers provided in link in the OP don't have anything to do with whether the shows are on against each other. Comedy Central is simply pointing out that when you factor in DVR viewers, and factor out the week when all the hosts were on vacation, TDS averaged more viewers 18-49 during October than any other late-night show, regardless of time slot.

[JYoung]

Originally Posted by Turtleboy

The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien won that demographic all of the time, even though they were losing in the overall viewers. i don't think Leno has won those viewers in years.

HUh?
What exactly are you saying?

O'Brien started loosing the 18-49 to Letterman when the blackmail scandal broke.
That's part of the reason they pulled him.

Leno has been consistently beating Letterman in 18-49 most weeks since his return.

[dcheesi]

Originally Posted by Steveknj

Leno's viewers have begun to die off....literally (i.e. his demo is a lot older).

Letterman ain't no spring chicken, either