David Letterman sure went out on top.
The host’s final “Late Show” last night scored his best local rating — a very early daily Nielsen measurement — since December 2005. Letterman’s final bow actually topped all prime-time programming on Wednesday — despite existing in a much later and thus less desirable time slot.
As a result of Letterman’s successful send-off, James Corden‘s “Late Late Show” hit a new high afterward.
Here are Letterman’s details: From 11:30 p.m. to 1 a.m., the final broadcast of “The Late Show With David Letterman” (Adjusted Average 9.3 rating/24 share) delivered its highest local rating since Dec. 1, 2005 (10.1/24). That episode, about nine-and-a-half years ago, boasted guests Oprah Winfrey and Bonnie Raitt.
Next, from 1 a.m. to 2 a.m., “The Late Late Show With James Corden” (Adj Avg. 2.5/10) earned a new all-time high local rating, up 79 percent from last week (1.4/05) and 150 percent from the same night last year (1.0/03).
CBS will release updated fast national ratings for both “The Late Show” and “The Late Late Show” later today.