High Ratings for Conan’s Premiere

By Benjamin Toff

The debut of NBC’s new “Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” attracted higher ratings than any program in prime time on Monday as the storied franchise of late night reset with an audience large enough to match the fanfare.

According to Nielsen’s preliminary estimates of local markets, the premiere episode earned the show’s best Monday overnight ratings since January 2005, when a special tribute to former “Tonight” show host Johnny Carson garnered a record 13.4 million total viewers. (No “Tonight” show episode on any night has drawn higher ratings since then.)

Although Nielsen will not release final audience figures for Monday’s premiere until next week, the overnight estimates appear to be 80 percent higher than the show’s average during the second quarter under the tenure of the most recent host, Jay Leno. The ratings were also more than two and a half times what Mr. O’Brien last earned in February in his final episode as host of “Late Night.”

Here’s Mr. O’Brien’s premiere episode in full, via Hulu:

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Jimmy June 2, 2009 · 3:16 pm

I have to say I liked Conan’s first show, and I haven’t been a viewer of the Tonight in over a decade. Granted, those ratings probably won’t last, but NBC must still be thrilled.

betty rush June 2, 2009 · 4:10 pm

i watched once but i will NOT watch again….he is not funny……..

Charity Frank June 2, 2009 · 5:18 pm

I watched the Conan O’Brian show last night and I thought it was ridiculous. His comedy is disgusting and so immature that I switched to David Letterman by 11:40p. I’d seen him probably twice on late night before but thought his show in this time slot might be different. I was wrong.
I watched Johnnie Carson hand the reigns to Jay Leno and enjoyed Jay for the 10+ years (yes even thru college years) but I’m very turned off by Conan O’Brain and will be tuning to David Letterman at the 11:30 spot.
Just passing on comments felt by many, I may add

henriette lecompte June 3, 2009 · 12:26 pm

His comedy is vulgar…..Dave Letterman is still No Uno in my bookl

Cheryl June 3, 2009 · 12:29 pm

agree with the other comments – O’brien’s comedy is sophmoric and silly – if he expects to be successful long term he needs to grow up and develop some topical humor aimed at adults

Mike Sabin June 3, 2009 · 12:32 pm

I can’t stand to watch Conan….the ratings are bound to drop, its just the first week spurt…Could even lead to the end of the Tonight show altogether….

john June 3, 2009 · 12:38 pm

Thank God the stale and old fashioned Leno is out of the way. His tired jokes were almost as boring as his fake laughs.

Conan is hilarious, off beat and will win the younger demographics over easily.

This was a great promotion, and finally gives me a reason to watch the Tonight Show.

phil June 3, 2009 · 12:52 pm

Older people will HATE conan, younger people love him. Im young and thought lenos +30 min monologe was dredful, fake laughs most of the time and kinda boring. conan is youthful, lively and is best when doing his improv segments (on location videos). he also seems to have more fun with his guests which is entertaining to me. i am looking forward to watching his show for years to come. Give him a chance, he will win you over. Andy richter is a nice touch as well.

brazzle June 3, 2009 · 1:01 pm

Conan has always had offbeat humor so this is nothing new. NBC knew what type of show Conan had and they knew what was happening when they let him replace Leno. His presence will attract a younger (and larger) audience.

jason June 3, 2009 · 1:01 pm

people who found leno funny will have a hard time adjusting to conan. the main difference between the two is that conan is funny and edgy, while leno is mild and unthreatening, much like a bowl of oatmeal.

Mike June 3, 2009 · 1:03 pm

C’mon. It was his FIRST Tonight Show for God’s sake. Question urself how you perform on your first day at a new job. Give the guy AT LEAST a few weeks to settle in. He needs time to get feedbacks and all. Nonetheless, I thought his first show was probably not his funniest but great for a start.

Howard June 3, 2009 · 1:03 pm

I just don’t like Conan O’Brian. Perhaps it’s his manner, perhaps it’s his humor which just leaves me cold. Whatever it is, I won’t watch the Tonight show often while he’s hosting it. Jay Leno seemed like a genuinely nice guy, kind, affable, and passionate about his interests. Sure, his jokes were often lame but it didn’t seem to matter since he carried the audience along with him.

David June 3, 2009 · 1:05 pm

Having Pearl Jam on the show likely played a big role in the high ratings

Scott June 3, 2009 · 1:06 pm

Yes, I was one of the many viewers who watched the Monday Show. I was never a Conan fan, but I thought that I would watch it to see what his new format would be. I was very disappointed; and turned the show off midway through. I would imagine many were watching for the same reason…curiosity. I will probably not watch him anymore and have high hopes of the new Leno show.

daisy June 3, 2009 · 1:06 pm

Conan did a great job. What a relief to be done with Leno (at least at 11:30pm). Leno is boring and unoriginal, while Conan is fresh and different. It’s too bad that some people are not ready for different. Let’s hope the younger demographic tunes into Conan over Colbert or Letterman.

BB June 3, 2009 · 1:08 pm

Sorry, Conan is not for me!. His humor is immature and tasteless, he is worst than D. Latterman.. I’ll wait till Leno shows up again or may watch Ferguson only for now..

John June 3, 2009 · 1:08 pm

Conan was unbelievable! Hilarious. The guy is much much funnier than Jay leno. I love Leno but he’s BORING. Conan actually keeps my attention and the hour just flies by. I always want more from him. These people who say they dislike Conan are in the minority as most people just can’t stop watching or they’re probably 60. Conan owns, love him, love the show…DON’T CHANGE CONAN.

TB June 3, 2009 · 1:08 pm

Lots of Conan hate in the house. That’s okay. I’ll keep watching, and I promise not to interrupt your Lawrence Welk Show reruns.

Zana Jordan June 3, 2009 · 1:09 pm

I can’t stand Conan. He’s not funny.

JP June 3, 2009 · 1:09 pm

Letterman is not funny. I like the guy, but he hardly ever brings out a good laugh.

It’s obvious that there is a demographic division regarding opinion of Conan. Older women do not usually understand him (as evidenced by the names in these posts – Betty, Henrietta, etc.).

The move will prove correct, though, as younger viewers find him hilarious. Genuinely, too – not just due to good writers.

Nicholas June 3, 2009 · 1:13 pm

Conan was pathetic. Quite the disappointment.

Andrew June 3, 2009 · 1:14 pm

I cant believe Conan got the job – he is really not funny – Jay was a lot better, so is letterman – conan is immature and doesnt stack up to these giants.. If anyone, they should have looked at Craig Furgeson! he is absolutely brilliant.. CBS is breaking down – Falon in the late night spot is also from bad to worse..

hopefully Leno’s new prime time spot will keep CBS’ ratings up..

Rob June 3, 2009 · 1:14 pm

I have to say that I have been looking forward to this premiere since he left Late Night. I think he is funnier than Jay ever was and that this was the right thing to do for the Tonight Show.

His humor and style is something that will bring the Tonight Show to a younger audience and hopefully the older audience will embrace him and join in. While a lot of you are saying that he is vulgar, I don’t see it. He is very much a physical comedian where Jay was a vocal comedian.

Granted Jay did keep a lot of the things that Johnny Carson did, who I loved on the Tonight Show, I think that Conan will try and re-invent the show in his style and keep it fresh.

To anyone that said they won’t watch again, please give it another try.

Derek Montessori June 3, 2009 · 1:17 pm

I would like to say I disagree with the majority of the comments that were posted here. For example as you may say his comedic abilities are sophomoric that would be comparable to saying Larry the Cable guy is a comedic diamond in the rough. He has been very successful in his carrier being a writer for SNL and the Simpsons as well as his long tenure is the host of Late Night. His jokes do appeal to a wider stream audience. He doesn’t recycle old bits as much as Mr. Leno and does not throw in the occasional Bill Clinton joke that Leno was so fond of keeping around over 9 years of him being out of office. Connan relays more on him self vs. Leno’s ability to depend on other acts to fulfill his comedy bits after his monologue. I have a high amount of respect for Leno. But it was defiantly time for a change and Connan was the best man for the job.
-Derek Montessori

CH June 3, 2009 · 1:18 pm

Conan will easily win the younger audience. I understand that many people liked Leno, but I’ve never understood why. If you want ALL topical humor and political jokes, that’s what Stewart and Colbert are for, and they do it much better than Conan or Letterman can.

Conan’s aim is to be silly and have a good time, and he succeeds. That’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but he’s very good at it.