Are Jon Stewart's Ratings Better Than Leno's?

By Christine Fenno Posted Jul 3rd 2011 02:34PM

'Tonight Show' vs. 'Daily Show' may be the latest battle in the late-night wars, as a surprise ratings report has NBC and Comedy Central clashing over who's on top. Is Jon Stewart, as the numbers suggest, now more popular than Jay Leno?

For the first time, Stewart's 'The Daily Show' has bested Leno's 'Tonight Show' in a key segment of viewers. However, NBC execs, ever stubborn when it comes to defending Leno, aren't taking the news lying down.

According to EW.com, while Leno's 'Tonight Show' viewership still tops the ratings in overall viewers, as it has for years, Comedy Central is celebrating the fact that during the most recent quarter, Stewart drew a few thousand more people than Leno in the crucial "Adults 18-49" demographic.

For 2011's second quarter, Comedy Central is claiming Stewart's show drew 1.295 million (compared to a 'Tonight Show' total of 1.292 million) in the advertiser-friendly demo of viewers between age 18-49.

But NBC spokesman Tom Bierbaum is calling foul, and says only new episodes were counted, strategically omitting the ratings on rerun episodes; by NBC's calculations, 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' wins the category when every episode (new and rerun) is measured.

Still, nobody can argue that a snarky, low-budget cable series is undoubtedly giving the most iconic late-night show in history a run for its money. Leno may consider his viewers loyal -- remember, there were plenty who cheered his return to late-night, while Team Coco mourned -- but Stewart's substantial fan base is clearly a force to be reckoned with.

The two hosts have made no comment on the latest ratings. But Stewart must be greeting the news with satisfaction. After all, he doesn't seem to be what you'd call Leno fan, at least based on this 2010 'Daily Show' segment about a controversial 'Tonight Show' episode:

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Tags: jay leno, jon stewart, The Daily Show, tonight show

Comments

(49)

Monday 04 July

By KIT

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Leno fans, why can't you spell or puncuate correctly?

By sara

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um. who wrote this article. are they stupid. jon stewart was not at all addressing leno or his show, he was making fun of sarah palin... this is not hard to figure out people.

By grapost

Stewart's ratings SHOULD be better than Leno's because he's a hellava lot funnier than Leno. Somebody should offer him and a late night show. Stewart would crush all the other Snooze Fests!

By frank

stewart DOES have a late night show.

Wednesday 06 July

By Robyn g

Well I like them both. Jon I catch as catch can but Jay I TiVo every night. Guess that gives nod to Jay by a chin,

By LAURA J

Both are funny, but I prefer Leno. Stewart is borderline racist..isnt he jewish?

By mort sahl

i'll tell you one thing jon stewart is not: will rogers

By jeanann

I like them both. Must there be a ratings war? I have given up on most of Letterman; I think he is getting senile. I keep saying to the TV ... Get on with it David! He does have his moments, but not enough of them. Leno has a good all round show ... funny and fast moving.

By MacD

JUST LOVE JAY

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