The debut episode of “Late Night with Seth Meyers” delivered the series’ highest rating and most viewers on a Monday in nine years, bringing in 3.4 million people.
The premiere averaged a 1.4 rating in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic.
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The 3.4 million viewers for “Late Night” topped the combined audiences in the timeslot of ABC’s “Nightline” (1.3 million for the first half-hour of the time period, after which local programming takes over) and CBS’ “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” (1.2 million).
Monday’s “Late Night” featured Amy Poehler, Vice President Joe Biden and musical guest A Great Big World. Tuesday’s telecast is scheduled to include Kanye West, Russell Wilson and writer Robyn Doolittle.
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The “Late Night” lead-in, “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” also had a strong night, despite losing the key Sochi Games lead-in that it enjoyed during its debut week.
The Feb. 24 telecast of “Tonight” had the franchise’s highest-rated Monday show — excluding Olympic nights — in four years (since June 2, 2009, 3.8 for Conan O’Brien’s debut on “Tonight”), pulling in a 2.1 rating in the key demo. The show also reeled in 6.3 million viewers — the most in nearly four years (since March 1, 2010, 6.7 million the night of Jay Leno’s return).
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In the time period, “Tonight” topped the combined audience of both CBS’ “Late Show with David Letterman” (2.6 million) and ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (2.4 million).
Monday’s “Tonight Show” featured Reese Witherspoon, Fred Armisen and musical guest Rick Ross with The Roots. Tuesday’s telecast is scheduled to include Paul Rudd, Shaquille O’Neal and Hannibal Buress.
