Conan falls, Leno still #1

[Timby]

If I can stay awake, my usual routine is to watch all of Conan, then move over to CBS for the last half-hour of Letterman and then as much of Craig Ferguson as I can watch (as he's actually my favorite of all the late-night hosts, by far). The problem is that I have to get up at 5:50 a.m. for work.

 

[Level 2 Diagnostic]

Here are last week's late night ratings.

Good news for Conan fans: He tied Letterman, ratings are up from last week.
Bad news for Conan fans: He still lost to Leno and the Daily Show, Leno still the #1 late night talk show.

 

[Amaris]

Here are last week's late night ratings.

Good news for Conan fans: He tied Letterman, ratings are up from last week.
Bad news for Conan fans: He still lost to Leno and the Daily Show, Leno still the #1 late night talk show.

Why is this bad news for Conan fans? Conan's on a cable channel, running at the same time as a lot of other popular late night shows, and is still doing rather well.

 

[the G-man]

I think Conan beating Letterman has a lot of good news tied to it. It could convince CBS to put him on if and when Dave retires or drops dead from heart attack while boinking his latest intern in the dungeon room.

 

[Nerys Myk]

If I can stay awake, my usual routine is to watch all of Conan, then move over to CBS for the last half-hour of Letterman and then as much of Craig Ferguson as I can watch (as he's actually my favorite of all the late-night hosts, by far). The problem is that I have to get up at 5:50 a.m. for work.

I DVR Craig and watch him in the evenings after I get home from work, or the next morning if I'm off.

 

[Technobuilder]

Craig Ferguson beats all of the above in my book for late night entertainment/variety.

I've never laughed watching Leno or Letterman but Conan could make me chuckle.
Craig however is consistently funny night after night and one of the better interviewers in terms of connecting with a guest and giving you a sense of their personalities.

 

[Timby]

Craig however is consistently funny night after night and one of the better interviewers in terms of connecting with a guest and giving you a sense of their personalities.

The difference between Ferguson and other late-night hosts is that while most late-night talk show appearances are pretty heavily scripted (the guest's handlers give the producers notes on what's to be talked about), Ferguson just doesn't give a flip, and he actually has an honest-to-God conversation with his guests. (And sometimes, like when Kristen Bell is on the show, it's absolute gold.) Conan's probably the next best interviewer, or at least tied with Letterman, but there's a pretty distinct style difference.

Of course, it's also why Ferguson would never, ever be considered to host The Late Show after Letterman retires / dies in the middle of a taping.

 

[Level 2 Diagnostic]

I think Conan beating Letterman has a lot of good news tied to it.

They tied last week. Conan hasn't beaten Letterman since the first week of December.