All eyes, once again, are turned toward the late-night TV landscape, what with David Letterman’s announcement Thursday that he’s leaving “The Late Show” in 2015.
With that in mind, it’s interesting to note that NBC’s Jimmy Fallon, who began his “Tonight Show” run in February, continues to notch very strong ratings — contrary to what was expected once he settled in.
(The thinking was that Fallon’s viewership would eventually “come back to the pack” and be closer to the numbers posted by Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel — which, thus far, hasn’t happened, at least in total viewers.)
For the week of March 24-28, Fallon’s “Tonight Show” averaged 4.3 million viewers, compared to 2.9 million for “Late Show” and 2.7 million for “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (with the caveats that Letterman’s numbers that Thursday and Friday weren’t counted due to NCAA basketball overruns and that Friday’s “JKL” was a repeat). But still . . .
Meanwhile, Bill Clinton’s visit to Wednesday’s (April 2) “JKL” helped the ABC late-night show, based in LA, match a six-month high in households — and it beat Fallon’s “Tonight Show,” headquartered in 30 Rock, by 50 percent in adults 18-49.
And AXS TV late Thursday renewed Tom Green’s talk show, “Tom Green Live,” for a third season.
Meanwhile, in the morning, ABC’s “Good Morning America” won the first quarter of 2014 in total viewers (5.9 million) and adults 25-54 (2.3 million) — despite the “Today” show having the added benefit of NBCs coverage of the Winter Olympics in Sochi (usually a ratings bonanza).
FYI, it’s awards season
Emmy-winning NBC correspondent Bob Dotson will be honored next month (May 15) with a Christopher Award for his new book, “American Story,” which details the lives of several unsung heroes nationwide. The Christopher Awards recognize work in the media showing how individuals can make a difference. Among the other honorees this year: ABC’s “20/20” (for Diane Sawyer’s report on 15-year-old Pakistani women’s rights activist Malala Yousafzai).
Elsewhere on the rubber-chicken circuit, NBC’s Willie Geist will emcee this Tuesday’s UJA-Federation of New York’s Leadership Awards Dinner, honoring Time Warner Cable CEO Rob Marcus, with a special performance by James Taylor (Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers).
Last, but not least . . .
Monday’s Season 3 premiere of “Call the Midwife” on PBS averaged 2.7 million viewers, down from its Season 2 average (3.2 million), but it did spike 42 percent in households over last season’s opener . . . “Dancing With the Stars” hoofer Derek Hough has choreographed a ballroom ensemble piece for ABT’s Misty Copeland, who’ll perform it at the Youth American Grand Prix’s Gala April 10.