“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” delivered its highest overnight rating in 15 months on Friday night, while “Late Night With Jimmy Fallon” generated its biggest metered-market household rating in nearly four years.
Leno earned a 3.9 rating/9 share in the 56 metered-market households, the late-night talk show’s top results since Wed. Oct. 24, 2012, when President Obama guested (4.0/10). It was the actually the highest Friday “Tonight” rating since July 27, 2012, the night of the London Olympics Opening Ceremony (4.0/13).
Fallon received a 2.2/7 in households on Friday, his highest rating in the markets metered by Nielsen since Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, the night of the Vancouver Olympics Opening Ceremony (2.5/9).
See video: Jay Leno on ‘Tonight Show’ Ouster: ‘I Was Blindsided’; Compares Jimmy Fallon to Johnny Carson
Tim Allen, animal expert Dave Salmoni and musical guest Sara Bareilles were Leno’s guests Friday night. As for Fallon, he welcomed David Beckham, David Steinberg and musical guest Busta Rhymes with his house band The Roots.
Leno’s final “Tonight Show” will air Thurs., Feb. 6, with special guest Billy Crystal. Crystal was the very first “Tonight Show” guest 22 years ago when Leno took over.
Fallon’s final “Late Night” will be the following evening, Friday, Feb. 7, when he will take a bow with pal Andy Samberg and the Muppets. Fallon takes over “The Tonight Show” on Feb. 17, when his guests will be Will Smith and U2. Seth Meyers takes over “Late Night” the following week, debuting with guest Amy Poehler.
