In this image released by NBC, Jamie Foxx, left, is shown during an interview with host Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Monday, March 1, 2010, in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/NBC, Paul Drinkwater)
NEW YORK (AP) — After a smashing return, Jay Leno appears headed to a battle with David Letterman for late-night television supremacy.
The Nielsen Co. says Leno averaged 5.6 million viewers last week, his first back at NBC’s “The Tonight Show” following the ill-fated prime time experiment. Letterman had 3.7 million at CBS. Leno took advantage of curiosity over his return and a strong lineup of guests, including Olympic stars and Sarah Palin. It was a half-million more than he averaged his last season at “Tonight.”
It’s been much closer the second week. Through four nights, Leno is averaging 4.3 million viewers and Letterman has 4 million.
Considering Leno usually beat Letterman by a million and a half during their last season of competition, that’s a sign of erosion for NBC’s late-night franchise. Letterman consistently beat Conan O’Brien after O’Brien took over last year.
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