"Jay Leno Show" a Ratings Flop So Far

NBC's Experiment with an Earlier Late-Night Show Not Promising; CBS Dramas Lead Ratings

(AP)  If it was measured in traditional TV terms, "The Jay Leno Show" wouldn't be long for this world.

NBC's bold experiment faltered in the third week of television's new season, with none of its five editions scoring higher than No. 60 in the Nielsen Co.'s ranking of most popular programs. The shows ranged from a low of 4.5 million to a high of 6.2 million viewers.

All of CBS's 10 p.m. dramas last week had more than twice as many viewers as Leno. ABC's "Eastwick" was the only major network show beaten by Leno (Fox turns 10 p.m. over to local news).

NBC, however, says Leno's show must be viewed over the long haul. While the network says Leno's show is much cheaper to produce than scripted programming, it's unclear whether those savings can compensate for the low ratings. NBC concentrates on the ratings for 18-to-49-year-old viewers, and by that measure Leno is precariously close to the 1.5 rating the network says it has promised to advertisers. Last Monday, the show had a 1.5 rating, and on Friday it was 1.4, Nielsen said.

If NBC is looking for a glimmer of good news, "The Office" wedding of Jim and Pam gave the show its best ratings in a year. Among youthful viewers, it was the fourth most popular show of the week.

CBS' Tuesday schedule has emerged as the most popular night in television, led by "NCIS." That show's strength helped the two new shows that follow it — "NCIS: Los Angeles" and "The Good Wife" — into Nielsen's top 11 last week.

Meanwhile, Nielsen released statistics for the first week of the television season that measured how much shows were recorded on digital video recorders and played back within seven days, something of increasing importance within the industry as more people buy DVRs.

ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" was helped most by that measurement. The show had 17.06 million viewers for its season premiere, but add in all the people who watched within the next week, and that figure jumped to 20.03 million. ABC's freshman drama "FlashForward" was also among the top five in DVR playback, likely a factor in ABC's announcement that it has ordered a full season of episodes.

CBS won the third week of the new TV season with ease, averaging 12.2 million viewers (7.6 rating, 13 share), and also winning among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic. ABC averaged 8.4 million viewers (5.4, 9), NBC had 7.5 million (4.8, 8), Fox had 6.5 million (3.9, 6), the CW had 2.1 million (1.4, 2) and ION Television had 780,000 (0.5, 1).

Among the Spanish-language networks, Univision dominated with a prime-time average of 3.7 million viewers (1.9 rating, 3 share). Telemundo had 1.1 million (0.5, 1), TeleFutura had 900,000 (0.4, 1) and Azteca had 200,000 (0.1, 0).

NBC's "Nightly News" topped the evening newscasts with an average of 8.1 million viewers (5.4, 11). ABC's "World News" was second with 7.3 million (4.9, 10) and the "CBS Evening News" had 5.3 million viewers (3.7, 7).

A ratings point represents 1,149,000 households, or 1 percent of the nation's estimated 114.9 million TV homes. The share is the percentage of in-use televisions tuned to a given show.

For the week of Oct. 5-11, the top 10 shows, their networks and viewerships: "NCIS," CBS, 20.7 million; "Dancing With the Stars," ABC, 16.35 million; "NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS, 16.31 million; NFL Football: Indianapolis at Tennessee, NBC, 16.02 million; "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 14.9 million; "The Mentalist," CBS, 14.7 million; "60 Minutes," CBS, 14.54 million; "Grey's Anatomy," ABC, 14.13 million; "Criminal Minds," CBS, 14.05 million; "House," Fox, 13.74 million.

[Carefree12]

Even if the Jay Leno show tanks...he still has a burger named after him,The Thank You You Jay Leno Burger.
Watch funny video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hU21OHA1XSM
Pass it on.

[Zowwyy]

Hey I like Leno but the new show format is horrible. I expected and would enjoy it more if he was the same as his old show. I do not like the 10 question bit, the earn your plug bit, and he looks extremely uncomfortable without a desk. Because as much as I like him I doubt I can hang in there much longer the way the show runs now.
LENO STOP THE GOOFY BITS AND GO BACK TO THE FORMAT THAT WORKED!!

[Zowwyy]

Hey I like Leno but the new show format is horrible. I expected and would enjoy it more if he was the same as his old show. I do not like the 10 question bit, the earn your plug bit, and he looks extremely uncomfortable without a desk. Because as much as I like him I doubt I can hang in there much longer the way the show runs now.
LENO STOP THE GOOFY BITS AND GO BACK TO THE FORMAT THAT WORKED!!

[AnnieDanny]

Jay Leno said he was going to start an old-fashioned variety show. I was definitely interested in that, but when it turned out it was just the Late show at an earlier hour, we lost interest immediately. If somebody could bring back the Ed Sullivan show or something such, maybe that would catch on. Ed Sullivan launched lots of new stars. He brought in new talent, never heard of talent, weird talent, circus talent, Italian puppets, comedians and lots of other things. It would be nice to have a show where we didn't have to listen to the Judges comment on everything.

I was disappointed when the Jay Leno hour wasn't a variety show after all. Well, it does have variety but it's NOT like the old-fashioned variety shows as he indicated it would be. If they can successfully recycle 1970's fashions (which was a hideous season for fashion) and actually make the 70's look pretty good, then surely somebody can resurrect the old Variety Shows for a new generation and make it good entertainment.

[california64]

Leno never should have been given Johnny's seat. It should've gone to Letterman. Low ratings are appropriate for Leno. He showed no respect when Carson died. Leno needs to ride off into the sunset in one of his many overpriced automobiles and never show up on my television again.

[pizzanick2]

LENO has more class than that CAD LOSER Letterman. Letterman would have sullied Carson's legacy with the recently revealed sexual escapades with the women on his staff . You think that kind of behavior is deserving of a Tonight Show host???

Anyway, I like LENO's show, but NBC made a mistake moving him from the Tonight Show time slot.

[ampsanne]

I agree with you california64, but to pizzanick2 I don't. Johnny Carson was married 4 times, and no doubt he himself could relate to Letterman. You haven't heard anything from the 3 women Letterman was suppose to being having affairs with in his 20 yrs. Regina was one of them, but the other 2 haven't said anything.

[thgdriver]

I commented 3 times, I hope it helps his ratings.

[thgdriver]

I have been watching the Tonight Show since 1954 when Steve Allen started the format. I have watched it only a few times since Conan took over. To each his own, but I don't seem to be taking to his brand of humor, maybe I am too old. (at least I am honest).

I always liked Leno's monologues, the Jay walkers, 1.00 store, headlines, etc. I watch it on a regular basis, so far, some parts are a little stale already like the 10 questions asked various stars--(who gives a rats behind)? For the most part, it kills an hour rather quickly for me.

[thgdriver]

I have been watching the Tonight Show since 1954 when Steve Allen started the format. I have watched it only a few times since Conan took over. To each his own, but I don't seem to be taking to his brand of humor, maybe I am too old. (at least I am honest).

I always liked Leno's monologues, the Jay walkers, 1.00 store, headlines, etc. I watch it on a regular basis, so far, some parts are a little stale already like the 10 questions asked various stars--(who gives a rats behind)? For the most part, it kills an hour rather quickly for me.

[bubbadubba]

As a person, I think Leno is a really great guy and seems to be a genuine nice person.
His show, on the other hand, is nothing but one giant commercial for actors, singers, writers, and simply a promotion for famous people. I bet they are lined up to get that "commercial disguised as entertainment" on Leno's show and pay a lot for it.
BORING just like TMZ, ET, Extra, and all the other shows which are basically one big commercial.
America had gotten too smart to fall for that garbage.
I didn't even watch the whole show I saw once.
I could not care less about some actor flying on a plane and losing their luggage or attending some football game.
YAWN.

[SAMTORRES66]

Its a good show

[mollydtt]

I watched Leno when he was on after the news, but I'd rather watch scripted shows during prime time, so I haven't ever watched at the new timeslot.

[kenhamlett]

I like Leno. He just hasn't adjusted his show for the folks that are wide awake at the earlier hour. As for NBC as a whole I have often wondered if they are intentionally driving them selves down so they can be bought out. Even when they start out with a good show they don't realise when it has tanked. Look at Heroes. Kring has made a mess of it by not understanding what made it work.
CBS has worked on consistency. There was a time I never turned to a CBS chanel. They have made tremendous improvements.
ABC gets first pick at most productions so their successes are a given.

For me, CBS has my attention for the full evening every Monday from now on and very often throughout the week. They earned my loyalty.

[poochie44]

I don't get to watch often but when I have I have enjoyed the show. It's a very quick hour. I just think his show is set for an older audience though.

[mecanik-2009]

Hey, I kinda like this guy.