Jay Leno’s final “Tonight Show” earned its best overnight ratings in nearly five years.
The Thursday telecast averaged a 9.2 rating in the 56 metered markets, according to Nielsen, the best since March 19, 2009, the night President Obama became the first sitting U.S. President to appear on a late night talk show.
Leno’s farewell show featured guests Billy Crystal and Garth Brooks, with surprise appearances by Oprah Winfrey, Jack Black, Carol Burnett, Sheryl Crow, Jim Parsons, Kim Kardashian and Chris Paul. Appearing in taped messages were Jimmy Fallon, Bob Costas, Matt Damon, Mark Wahlberg, Charlie Sheen and President Barack Obama.
Fast national ratings with total viewers numbers will be available later Friday.
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