# Leno's ratings are worse than Conan's
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [April 23, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100 "2010-04-23T14:09:05Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/1 "2010-04-23T14:09:05Z")
**Alternate Thread Title: Exapno Mapcase is wrong, Wrong, WRONG**
[http://www.studiobriefing.net/2010/04/jays-ratings-fall-below-conans/](http://www.studiobriefing.net/2010/04/jays-ratings-fall-below-conans/)
> [@](#):
>
> For the first time, Jay Leno’s average weekly ratings among 18-49-year-old viewers has fallen below Conan O’Brien’s, departing [TheWrap.com](http://TheWrap.com) TV analyst Joe Adalian observed on Thursday. Adalian noted that Leno averaged only a 1.0 rating and a 5 share last week versus O’Brien’s 1.1/5 average — despite the fact that CBS was airing repeats of Late Show with David Letterman, which drew a 0.8/3 in the demo. Moreover, Leno now benefits from a much stronger nightly lead-in — with shows like Parenthood and The Marriage Ref being aired by the network in the 10:00 p.m. time period — than O’Brien did when his lead-in was Leno.
Are the Anti-Coco’s ready to admit that there’s more going on here than people who only watch the show on the Internet bitching about the TV business? And is Leno going to get yanked in a few months?
---
### Author:  [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/2 "2010-04-23T15:06:28Z")
My guess the answer to your questions are “no” and “no” respectively. Especially the second part. If NBC got rid of Leno now, who would they replace him with? You can’t put Jimmy Fallon in that spot, Conan has already signed his deal with TBS (and I am willing to bet Conan will have a better than a 1.0/5), and I doubt NBC will want to buy him out of his contract. They’re going to have to dance with the girl they brought.
---
### Author:  [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/3 "2010-04-23T15:37:56Z")
NBC is going to be OK with having an aging demographic for now. I think they understood that when they shitcanned Conan. I’m pretty sure Leno’s total ratings are higher than Conan’s.
I do contend, though, that there is an unspoken but real avoidance by many A-list celebrities of Leno’s Tonight Show now.
---
### Author:  [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/4 "2010-04-23T16:03:24Z")
Wait, they’re still airing Conan repeats somewhere?
---
### Author:  [@HelloKitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HelloKitty)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/5 "2010-04-23T16:05:04Z")
I was wondering what Leno’s ratings were like since he came back. I’m not surprised, really. I think there was more negative backlash than he wanted to admit.
---
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/6 "2010-04-23T16:07:25Z")
> [@bup](#):
>
> NBC is going to be OK with having an aging demographic for now. I think they understood that when they shitcanned Conan. I’m pretty sure Leno’s total ratings are higher than Conan’s.
>
> I do contend, though, that there is an unspoken but real avoidance by many A-list celebrities of Leno’s Tonight Show now.
From what I can see there are the same number of A list people on now as before. If you expect a big star every night that won’t happen now , just like it did not in the past.
---
### Author:  [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)
#### Post date: [April 23, 2010, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/7 "2010-04-23T16:49:10Z")
The thread title/headline is misleading. From what I’ve read (and [here’s](http://insidetv.aol.com/2010/04/12/tonight-show-average-viewer-age-56-jay-leno/) one cite), Leno’s ratings overall are way up compared to Conan’s—but so is the median age of his audience.
---
### Author:  [@Lakawak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakawak)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/8 "2010-04-24T03:58:54Z")
LEt’s give a few actual FACTS, rahter than resorting to whining little bitchfests…
1. Conan’s numbers were still FALLING until the controversy. Hence, they would likely not be 1.1 now.
2. This is ONE week where Leno was lower.
3. While hte 18-49 demographic is the most coveted, the others are not COMPLETELY IGNORED. And Leno crushes Conan’s numbers in every onther one. (And is barely trailing this one week in that one.)
4 . Becuase of #2 and #2, Leno is still making more money for NBC. So no…they are not upset.
As for the commenter saying “I bet Conan will get higher than that on TBS” well, how can I put this nicely. You are out of your mind and severely delusional. NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON agrees with you. Not Conan O’Brien himself, and not the head of TBS. NO ONE expects him to come anywhere but 3rd place in the ratings wars. It is cable TV versus network.
Sure, at first his ratings will be higher. And you will all spontaneously ejaculate on your keyboards with glee, even though most of you never watched Conan until January. (Proof of this are all you idiots who thought he wouldbe a “great fit” with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, even though Conan has REPEATEDLY said he is not a political comedian and doesn’t feel comfortable doing political jokes…thereby making him the WORST possible fit with hem.) But by January, he will be solidly in third place, getting less than half that Leno has, and getting at best 75% of his own low ratings.
And then, all you ejaculates will slink away, hoping no one calls you on your stupidity for thinking that first week numbers meant anything.
Oh, and by the way…I am saying this despite the fact that I GUARANTEE you I am a bigger Conan fan than any of you ever were. I jsut also am cursed with NOT being a little bitch and having to stick with facts.
---
### Author:  [@3\_20\_59\_or\_bust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3_20_59_or_bust)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/9 "2010-04-24T04:52:24Z")
> [@Lakawak](#):
>
> LEt’s give a few actual FACTS, rahter than resorting to whining little bitchfests…
>
> 1. Conan’s numbers were still FALLING until the controversy. Hence, they would likely not be 1.1 now.
>
> 2. This is ONE week where Leno was lower.
>
> 3. While hte 18-49 demographic is the most coveted, the others are not COMPLETELY IGNORED. And Leno crushes Conan’s numbers in every onther one. (And is barely trailing this one week in that one.)
>
> 4 . Becuase of #2 and #2, Leno is still making more money for NBC. So no..they are not upset.
>
> As for the commenter saying “I bet Conan will get higher than that on TBS” well, how can I put this nicely. You are out of your mind and severely delusional. NOT ONE SINGLE PERSON agrees with you. Not Conan O’Brien himself, and not the head of TBS. NO ONE expects him to come anywhere but 3rd place in the ratings wars. It is cable TV versus network.
>
> Sure, at first his ratings will be higher. And you will all spontaneously ejaculate on your keyboards with glee, even though most of you never watched Conan until January. (Proof of this are all you idiots who thought he wouldbe a “great fit” with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, even though Conan has REPEATEDLY said he is not a political comedian and doesn’t feel comfortable doing political jokes…thereby making him the WORST possible fit with hem.) But by January, he will be solidly in third place, getting less than half that Leno has, and getting at best 75% of his own low ratings.
>
> And then, all you ejaculates will slink away, hoping no one calls you on your stupidity for thinking that first week numbers meant anything.
>
> Oh, and by the way…I am saying this despite the fact that I GUARANTEE you I am a bigger Conan fan than any of you ever were. I jsut also am cursed with NOT being a little bitch and having to stick with facts.
The coffee pot with the orange lid is the decaffeinated.
---
### Author:  [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/10 "2010-04-24T05:43:58Z")
> [@Lakawak](#):
>
> 1. This is ONE week where Leno was lower.
Look! A [graph](http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/04/22/leno-following-conans-tonight-show-ratings-trajectory/49502)!
---
### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/11 "2010-04-24T10:06:32Z")
Conan is still an asshole. Now he’s fired George Lopez from his time slot and bumped him to a later hour. Same shit and Conan still only appeals very strongly to a smaller audience. He was an asshole for getting Leno moved, and he’s still an asshole for now getting Lopez moved.
Anyway, keep sniffing Conan’s butt. He likes that.
---
### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/12 "2010-04-24T11:58:10Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> Conan is still an asshole. Now he’s fired George Lopez from his time slot and bumped him to a later hour. Same shit and Conan still only appeals very strongly to a smaller audience. He was an asshole for getting Leno moved, and he’s still an asshole for now getting Lopez moved.
>
> Anyway, keep sniffing Conan’s butt. He likes that.
If you paid any attention at all, you’d know that [George was the one who actually convinced Conan](http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-george-lopez-tbs-steve-koonin-fox-late-night/) to take over the slot.
Just because the other side made Jay the villain doesn’t mean you should try to make Conan one, too.
---
### Author:  [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/13 "2010-04-24T18:20:05Z")
Until the whole hoopla with the announcement of Conan being dumped, Conan’s ratings were sinking faster and lower than CD sales of Milli Vanilli. It wasn’t until the scandal hit that anyone tuned into Conan and suddenly jumped on the “Hate Leno” bandwagon. I think every graph you pull up will prove that in spades.
I doubt that NBC is losing any sleep (or money) with Leno back on the air in his old time slot.
Conan will probably do pretty well on TBS. They won’t be stellar ratings, but with the younger demographic it will be something he can/will be proud of. Then again, it is not like the younger demographic has nothing to watch at the same time - so look for even that Conan audience to dip over time.
As I have said many times, I don’t hate Conan - just don’t find him all that funny nor a particularly good interviewer. He doesn’t have the political bite/chops to really dig in there either. So while I hope he finds his niche, I don’t think he is ever going to get much more than his hard-core (small) fan base to watch his show, no matter what channel or time slot.
---
### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/14 "2010-04-24T23:54:00Z")
> [@BigT](#):
>
> If you paid any attention at all, you’d know that [George was the one who actually convinced Conan](http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-george-lopez-tbs-steve-koonin-fox-late-night/) to take over the slot.
>
> Just because the other side made Jay the villain doesn’t mean you should try to make Conan one, too.
Just like Leno supported Conan’s move. But that isn’t how things work in any business. [Home - Jezebel](http://jezebel.com/5519846/source-claims-george-lopez-was-forced-to-support-conan-nicole-declines-gwyneths-friendship-efforts?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jezebel%2Ffull+%28Jezebel%29) is probably a lot closer to what really happened.
Once a show establishes a time slot, it is always bad to be moved from that time slot. Lopez is saying supporting things for his employer, just like Leno started doing 5 years ago and just like you or I would do. Conan is a spoiled brat.
---
### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [April 24, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/15 "2010-04-24T23:58:34Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> Just like Leno supported Conan’s move. But that isn’t how things work in any business. [Home - Jezebel](http://jezebel.com/5519846/source-claims-george-lopez-was-forced-to-support-conan-nicole-declines-gwyneths-friendship-efforts?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jezebel%2Ffull+%28Jezebel%29) is probably a lot closer to what really happened.
Whether he was forced or not doesn’t change the fact that having Conan as a lead-in will improve the ratings for his show.
Also, the fact that Leno supported the Conan move at the time the contract was signed is why people got so pissed at him.
---
### Author:  [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/16 "2010-04-25T00:48:00Z")
Well they can be pissed at him all they want, he didn’t want to move and put a nice public face on it. Conan has once again revealed he is the kind of guy who takes someone else’s job. The question is whether he will get better ratings this time and if not blame Lopez if he doesn’t. The circumstantial evidence is quite strong that Conan bullied his way about NBC and is now doing so at TBS. And cries like the victim when it backfires. Why someone with $40 million for being fired cries is just beyond me. I’d never turn my back on the son of a bitch.
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2010, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/17 "2010-04-25T04:51:46Z")
> [@Lakawak](#):
>
> LEt’s give a few actual FACTS, rahter than resorting to whining little bitchfests…
I have a better idea: let’s discuss the issue without the bile and the insults. Your nastiness here is completely uncalled for, so I’m giving a formal warning for this post. Please don’t do this again. You’re allowed to post this way in the BBQ Pit, but nowhere else on this site.
---
### Author:  [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2010, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/18 "2010-04-25T05:01:39Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> **Alternate Thread Title: Exapno Mapcase is wrong, Wrong, WRONG**
>
> [http://www.studiobriefing.net/2010/04/jays-ratings-fall-below-conans/](http://www.studiobriefing.net/2010/04/jays-ratings-fall-below-conans/)
>
> Are the Anti-Coco’s ready to admit that there’s more going on here than people who only watch the show on the Internet bitching about the TV business? And is Leno going to get yanked in a few months?
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> Anyway, keep sniffing Conan’s butt. He likes that.
This is a general reminder to everyone not to make this thread personal. Even if some of you are talk show hosts posting anonymously, this conversation needs to be civil.
---
### Author:  [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2010, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/19 "2010-04-25T05:08:01Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> Just like Leno supported Conan’s move. But that isn’t how things work in any business. [Home - Jezebel](http://jezebel.com/5519846/source-claims-george-lopez-was-forced-to-support-conan-nicole-declines-gwyneths-friendship-efforts?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+jezebel%2Ffull+%28Jezebel%29) is probably a lot closer to what really happened.
>
> Once a show establishes a time slot, it is always bad to be moved from that time slot. Lopez is saying supporting things for his employer, just like Leno started doing 5 years ago and just like you or I would do. Conan is a spoiled brat.
Sorry. I’m not going to accept yet another bit of gossip. That’s what makes me a decent human being. I take people at their word, unless I have reason otherwise. I have more evidence of your character here than I have of either O’Brien or Lopez. Given your responses in this thread, you are too biased to be listened to.
---
### Author:  [@Cyberhwk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyberhwk)
#### Post date: [April 25, 2010, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100/20 "2010-04-25T05:19:48Z")
Well in order for any new show to come online they’ve gotta take SOMEONE’S time slot.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lenos-ratings-are-worse-than-conans/537100.md?page=2)