Arnold’s bid brings ratings to Leno
By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/8/2003 5:37:00 AM
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s announcement that he would in fact be running for governor of California brought The Tonight Show With Jay Leno its best Wednesday night metered-market ratings in more than four years.
The show averaged a 6.9 rating/17 share in 55 metered markets, according to Nielsen.
Comparatively, CBS’s Late Show With David Letterman scored a 3.1/7, ABC’s Nightline earned a 3.0/7 and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live did a 1.2/4.
Leno’s jump also boosted Late Night with Conan O’Brien, which posted a 3.0/10, while CBS’s Late Late Show With Craig Kilborn did a 1.4/5.
Leno’s 6.9/17 is 33% higher than the show’s typical Wednesday rating, which usually comes in around a 5.2/13.
The last time Leno rated higher on a Wednesday was on May 26, 1999, when guests Jesse Ventura and Ricki Martin appeared, scoring a 7.3/19.
The only higher-rated show this season was when Leno switched places with The TodayShow’s Katie Couric on Monday, May 12. The swap earned The Tonight Show a 7.1/17.
