Conan’s Ratings Off 47% from Leno’s ‘Tonight Show’

Halloween is still a few days away but there’s already a ghost haunting Conan O’Brien and it goes by the name of Jay Leno.

When O’Brien made the move to Los Angeles he walked into a seemingly glamorous position as host of ‘The Tonight Show,’ replacing Leno on the storied program. Then NBC decided to give Leno a prime-time gig and that’s when the nightmare started.

‘The Tonight Show’ — once the leader of late night — is now falling behind David Letterman’s show, but more interesting is how low the ratings have dropped compared to last year, according to the New York Times.

O’Brien’s ‘Tonight Show’ has averaged 2.53 million viewers, compared to Leno’s 4.75 million during the same time last year — representing a decline of 47%. While a sex scandal might have boosted Letterman’s ratings, he’s still averaging 4.59 million viewers.

Beyond the O’Brien vs. Leno battle, NBC has been dealing with recent complaints from local affiliates concerning Leno’s effect on 11 p.m. newscasts. No word on how NBC will rectify that situation, if at all.

More on These Topics: Jay Leno | The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien | Top