Obama's 'Tonight Show' audience largest in years

Thursday night's telecast of "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno," featuring a guest appearance by President Barack Obama (11.2 metered market household rating), was the biggest "Tonight" rating in the overnights in four years -- since a special tribute to Johnny Carson.

"Tonight" also matched its highest overnight number in nearly 11 years. The last time "Tonight" pulled a larger rating was after the finale of "Seinfeld" in 1998 (too bad about the whole "Special Olympics" gaffe).

The boost also helped "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" (3.9), which had its best number yet.

Full video below:

UPDATE: Ben Silverman talks about Obama's visit to Jay Leno

Comments

[Joe Bua]

Hey world, don't forget in all the Fallon ratings exuberance about Craig Ferguson, who is doing some of the best late night comedy on TV on his show.

I DVR'd an episode with Mike Birbiglia the other day and I ended up watching the whole show. Craig is smart, very very funny and charming as all get out.

No, he didn't pay me to write this.

[John W Peterson]

It is great that a lot of people saw the President put down the Special Olympics and mentally and physically handicapped individuals. Maybe now he will cancel his silly prime time special and let According to Jim air.

-- I'm looking out for you Jim Belushi...

[John W Peterson]

It is great that a lot of people saw the President put down the Special Olympics and mentally and physically handicapped individuals. Maybe now he will cancel his silly prime time special and let According to Jim air.

-- I'm looking out for you Jim Belushi...

[Anthony Herrera]

Let's not get on our moral soup box MR. John W Peterson! We all know the president was using a common analogy of how bad he bowls. Was the comparison in poor taste, yes. However, let's not continue the finger pointing presidence that the republican party has set or you're liable to stick you own finger in the same place that they rest their own values and morals on.

[martin]

his wisecrack about special olympians has gone greatly unreported. a joke you would expect to here from a buddy in a bar, not from the president. where's the outrage? another pass for our anointed holy one.

[Pablo]

i think he knocked it out of the park with his appearance. his comment about "special olympics" ought to be looked upon as an attempt at self-deprecation regarding his bowling prowess (which it obviously was) and not as a slur against the disabled and physically-challenged. he apologized for it. enough said. other than this minor slip he was fantastic. only the scurviest of observers would think otherwise.

[Bob]

Most people tuned in to see if "Obomba" would make a fool out of himself, and they weren't disappointed.

[shawn]

He is a fool I just prey for the people he will destroy us

[Debbie]

We have a housing crisis, an energy crisis, a banking crisis, an unemployment crisis, an education crisis,etc.,etc., should the President making fun of his poor bowling be THE topic of the day?? NO has a problem when Rush Limbaugh opens up his mouth to stay stupid and ignorant stuff..

[Sarah]

Barrack and Michele need to stop celebritizing themselves, stay home and fix the economy. They're both behaving like heros they haven't yet become.