McCain Gives Letterman Best Tune In Nearly Three Years

6.53 million viewers watch Senator McCain's return to the Late Show with David Letterman, best numbers since Oprah Winfrey's appearance in Dec. 2005.

By Marisa Guthrie -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/17/2008 9:47:00 AM

Sen. John McCain's appearance on Late Show with David Letterman gave the CBS late night show its biggest audience in nearly three years. Late Show was watched by 6.53 million viewers, according to Nielsen, and posted a 1.7 rating in the adults 18-49 demographic.

It was the show's best total viewer delivery since Dec. 1, 2005, when Oprah Winfrey was a guest and the best 18-49 delivery since Jan. 2, 2008, when the show returned with its first new episode after receiving a waiver from the WGA.

Incidentally, it was also the best delivery in younger viewers (18-34) since May 1, 2008 when Sen. Barack Obama read the Top 10 List.

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POLITICO-DAVE RESETS LATENITE. With a wry smile, Dave eviscerated McCain, revealing the sophistry of his William Ayers McCarthyism and his dubious selection of Sarah Palin as his veep. What you saw last night could be a game-changer for late-night. Dave used wit and chutzpah to extract responses that could change minds. Leno\'s got sharp monolog chops, but Dave\'s better at drawing out cagey characters like McCain. Mort Saul would be proud.
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POLITICO-DAVE RESETS LATENITE. With a wry smile, Dave eviscerated McCain, revealing the sophistry of his William Ayers McCarthyism and his dubious selection of Sarah Palin as his veep. What you saw last night could be a game-changer for late-night. Dave used wit and chutzpah to extract responses that could change minds. Leno's got sharp monolog chops, but Dave's better at drawing out cagey characters like McCain. Mort Saul would be proud.

Vic Livingston, members.nowpublic.com/scrivener columnist - 10/17/2008 2:46:00 PM EDT

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