At 8 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of “A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa” (1.1 rating, 4 share in adults 18-49, 4.3 million viewers overall) was #1 for the hour in kids 2-11 and #2 or tied for #2 among the major networks in adults 18-49, total viewers and most other key categories.
At 9 p.m. ET, “Dateline NBC” (1.5/5 in adults 18-49, 6.3 million viewers overall) built from its first half-hour to its second by 21 percent in adults 18-49 (to a 1.7 from a 1.4) and by 11 percent in total viewers (6.6 million vs. 5.9 million). In the time period, “Dateline” tied for #1 among the major networks in men 18-49 and 25-54 and ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and total viewers.
From 10-11 p.m. ET, “The Jay Leno Show” averaged a 1.3/4 in adults 18-49, a 1.6/4 in adults 25-54 and 4.8 million viewers overall. In the time slot, “Jay Leno” tied for #1 among the major networks in men 18-34. Competition in the time period included CBS’s “Numb3rs” and ABC’s “20/20.”
“The Jay Leno Show” matched its highest 18-49 rating for a Friday telecast in six weeks (since October 23) and delivered its highest adult 25-54 rating and biggest overall audience for a Friday in five weeks (since October 30), pending updates.
Comparisons with Jay Leno’s 2008-09 average at 11:35 p.m. ET on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” are: in adults 18-49, 1.3 vs. 1.4; adults 25-54, 1.6 vs. 1.8; and total viewers, 4.8 million vs. 5.1 million. Comparisons with NBC’s Monday-through-Friday 10-11 p.m. ET non-sports average over the 52 weeks prior to Jay’s debut are: in adults 18-49, 1.3 vs. 2.2; adults 25-54, 1.6 vs. 2.7; and total viewers, 4.8 million vs. 6.9 million.
In Late-Night Local People Meters Friday night:
Conan O’Brien (1.1/4 in 18-49 in local people meters) defeated CBS’s LATE SHOW (0.7/3 with an encore) in Nielsen’s 24 local markets with People Meters.
At 12:35 a.m., Jimmy Fallon (0.6/3 in 18-49 in local people meters with an encore) topped CBS’s original LATE LATE SHOW (0.4/2).
(source: data and information provided by NBC. NOTE: All national ratings are “live plus same day” unless otherwise indicated. Metered-market household ratings are live only.)
