Nielsen said today that 13.76 million viewers saw David Letterman end his 33-year career as a latenight TV host with a final show Wednesday night. The last time Letterman had so many viewers was in February 1994, when his show aired after CBS' telecast of the Winter Olympics.
13.76 Million Watch Letterman’s Finale
NEW YORK (AP) — Comic celebrities turned out for David Letterman’s late-night farewell – and so did his biggest audience in more than 21 years.
The Nielsen company said Thursday that 13.76 million viewers saw Letterman end his 33-year career as a late-night TV host with a final show Wednesday night. The last time Letterman had so many viewers was in February 1994, when his show aired after CBS’ telecast of the Winter Olympics.
More people watched Letterman than anything else in prime time on Wednesday night. Letterman’s final show started at 11:35 p.m. and lasted more than an hour as CBS let it run long.
Jay Leno’s farewell last February was seen by 14.6 million viewers.
Comments (13)
Gregg Palermo says:
May 21, 2015 at 3:40 pm
So nearly a million more viewers watched Leno’s finale last year than watch Letterman last night. I guess Dave should be happy this is the last time he finishes second to Leno.
Mark Gregory says:
May 21, 2015 at 3:47 pm
At least he didn’t have to hide in a closet to get information so he could blackmail NBC executives to give him show. Letterman ended his career on a high note … in more ways than one; with his head held high.
Jack Steele says:
May 21, 2015 at 7:24 pm
At least Leno didn’t sleep with his interns and staff members.
Mark Gregory says:
May 22, 2015 at 8:47 am
Bad judgment on his part I grant you. However, it wasn’t the women, who were consenting adults, complaining or saying they were forced. It was a CBS Executive out to make a quick buck through blackmail that put his back judgment in the spotlight. I don’t condone what he did, but let’s get real, Leno was no saint and to put him on a pedestal is absurd.
Christina Perez says:
May 21, 2015 at 3:58 pm
Now tell me Dave’s faux retirement isn’t a clever buildup to a fall comeback as host of Sunday night live Ed Sullivan- type show… I mean with numbers like that, why the hell not?
Wagner Pereira says:
May 21, 2015 at 10:34 pm
Put your Government Industrial Complex tin-foil back on. You suggested it a year ago and it still isn’t happening.
Wagner Pereira says:
May 21, 2015 at 10:39 pm
And let’s remember the Gospel according to @Flashflood who called 17 Million watching the Walters-Jenner 20/20 this sweep a massive failure as over 300M did not watch it. So according to Media Maven @Flashflood, 14M watching Letterman’s final episode is a massive failure as well (of course, this also means that EVERY TV Show is a failure, but then, that is the Gospel According to @Flashflood). http://tvnewscheck.com/article/84868/nearly-17-million-watch-jenner-interview#comments
Keith ONeal says:
May 22, 2015 at 12:29 am
Thank God and Greyhound Dave’s GONE!!! So tonight, CBS is running an episode on ‘The Mentalist.’ What a joke! We all know CBS needs to run something in the interim between now and September when Stephen Cobert takes over, but ‘The Mentalist?’ Here’s a better idea, CBS: How about ‘NCIS,’ ‘NCIS: Los Angeles,’ or ‘NCIS New Orleans?’ ANY of them are WAY better than this POS show called ‘The Mentalist!’
Keith ONeal says:
May 22, 2015 at 12:38 am
@Insider doesn’t even know (or care) what the word Gospel means ~ Gospel means ‘good news.’ I don’t do gospels; I say what I feel is the truth, and it’s not always good. So 14 Million watched the final show. Big deal. More than 300 Million were getting the sleep they needed to wake up in the morning and start another day, and that’s the truth, Insider, and I don’t give a **** if you like it or not!!!
Wagner Pereira says:
May 22, 2015 at 1:35 am
@Flashflood According to your posts, anything CBS puts with 300M+ sleeping is a failure, so it really doesn’t matter according to your fatalist attitude.
Mark Gregory says:
May 22, 2015 at 8:43 am
Each week CBS will feature another of their cornerstone dramas. They will kick off with The Mentalist then each week will run shows like Hawaii 5-0, NCIS, CSI, etc. Patience friend.
Dante Betteo says:
May 21, 2015 at 4:17 pm
I will Dave well!