2ND UPDATE: Charlie Sheen Fired Selma Blair From … 
Time Warner Cable Sued For Passing Lakers-Dodgers Costs On … 
Jonah Hill Signs For Management With LBI 
TOLDJA! ‘Dumb And Dumber To’ Proves No-Brainer … 
Salma Hayek’s Animated Passion Project ‘The … 
Relativity Moves Scott Cooper’s ‘Out Of The … 
Hot Trailer: ‘The Lego Movie’ 
Russell Crowe Sets ‘The Water Diviner’ For … 
Comedy ‘I Didn’t Do It’ Gets Series Order … 
CNN’s ‘New Day’ Debut Up In Demo But … 
Liv Tyler To Co-Star In Damon Lindelof’s HBO Pilot … 
DreamWorks Animation Launches Effort To Re-Position Itself … 
‘Pacific Rim’ Sequel In Planning Stages, … 
Legendary “Down To Handful” Of Studio Suitors: … 
UPDATE: Dan Harmon Apologizes For Comments Slamming … 
Paramount- Montecito Set Black List Scribes Eyal Podell … 
‘Bioshock’ Creator Ken Levine Takes On … 
Deadline Expands: Hires Washington Post Journalist Lisa De … 
Ratings Rat Race: ‘The Voice’ Rises, … 
Angelina Jolie Stunt Double Files First U.S. Phone-Hacking … 
MGM & BermanBraun Sign TV Production Deal, First-Look … 
Despite a popular and controversial guest, Howard Stern, the second edition of Piers Morgan’s new talk show on CNN drew 1.27 million viewers, down almost 40% from its Monday premiere. But Stern proved its demo mettle by helping Morgan climb 6% in adults 25-54 (550,719) from the premiere and edge the 9 PM slot leader, Fox’s Sean Hannity (2.2 million, 506,441 in 25-54) in the demo. However, Hannity was in full control among total viewers, beating Morgan almost 2:1. Yesterday, Morgan tweeted to Hannity: “If I don’t smack you down tonight with Howard, I’ll take you on Thursday with Ricky Gervais. love Piers.” He probably will have to wait until Thursday night for the promised full-blown smackdown, though his demo victory last night was impressive. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow (1.13 million, 264,961 in 25-54) held steady in total viewers and is now running neck-and-neck with Morgan after finishing a distant third on Monday. She slipped in the demo by about 100,000 viewers from Monday.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
Loading ...
Maybe CNN will get taught a lesson that they should not be pursuing style over substance. Many of their credible reporters have been jumping ship while they bring on new-hires like the blowhard Piers Morgan, and the morally bankrupt Spitzer and bobble-head Parker.
Piers Morgan Tonight has been incredibly disappointing so far. It’s got nothing but boring celebrities talking about themselves incessantly. I can’t help but feel that these guests would have been far more interesting ten years ago. The pre-recorded aspect of the interviews make them seem very dated.
I liked the way Larry King could speak to anyone, famous or not, and get them to talk about the day’s news. These Piers Morgan guests don’t seem to have any connection to current events. Oprah, Stern, Condi Rice, and Clooney… why are they even news worthy right now?
Wait, if Morgan and Hannity have about the same number of viewers in the demo, but Hannity’s total viewers double Morgan’s, that means over half of Hannity’s audience is older than 54? (I think it’s safe to assume teens aren’t watching FOX News or CNN.) Wow.
So Fox can’t maintain its lead indefinitely. They’ll start to have mass die-offs of their viewership in the next ten years or so.
So, you’re saying the self-proclaimed “King of all Media” didn’t draw in an audience? Fascinating.
…but…he DID draw an audience. Advertisers only buy the demos…not the total audience number. So…like him or not, it’s a good sign for CNN.
Stern nailed it (as usual) when he told Piers to wait three months from now to see who will actually come on his show and what kind of ratings he’ll have. But its unfair to compare him to Larry King – after 25 years King became like a dependable worn shoe – not much support but gets you through the day. Piers will show what he’s got when he starts dealing with important topics of the day and has top business & political figures to discuss the issues with. This week is like having dessert before the entre.
The ratings for Howard Stern are lower than Oprah… Is that supposed to be shocking?
The interest in Howard was at it’s peak back when there was uncertainty regarding his leap to satellite radio. There might have been a it of interest before he renewed his contract with Sirrius. No, what is the point?
The numbers are bound to drop as the newness and curiosity wears off.
It would be more informative to compare Pier’s numbers with Larry’s. What were the ratings for the last time Howard visited Larry King Live? Is Piers Morgan Tonight performing better or worse than what used to be on in that time slot?
Time will tell. The ratings will continue to drop and then come up slightly after the dead cat bounce once the viewers that are going to stick around settle in.
And, Piers will continue to decline into the abyss that is CNN.
This was over before it began.
Congrats to Larry for doing a good job for 25 years, and hanging up his spurs with dignity. Good luck, Larry, wherever you may go and whatever you do. You, sir, are a class act!
Piers Morgan (and his overly flowered set) comes off typically British bitchy. His sincerity feels forced and being purposefully provocative is not a worthy philosophy for someone trying to follow Larry King. I’m still scratching my head over Oprah’s choice to appear although it was nice to see the tougher side of Oprah.
Maybe if this were 1995 more people would have cared about a Howard Stern interview. It seemed like a poor choice of guest for his first week.
It’s not Piers Morgan’s fault, but the the choice of his guests. He should try interviewing the likes of a Rush Limbaugh, or a Sarah Palin and see what happens to the ratings and it’s no denying it — it’s all about the ratings. Oprah is ubiquitous with nothing left to the imagination and was a terrible choice, who cares???
The show was awesome.
Piers who? Does anyone even know who this guy is?
I’m enjoying Piers’s show so far, just as much as I did Larry’s. It’s much better than the loudmouth talking heads like Hannity and Maddow.
I was so happy to move on from Larry King. You know what? I now miss him. Piers is incredibly disappointing. He’s actually a terrible interviewer. This will not last. Reminds me of the god awful DL Hughly. Piers does not know how to get inside a interview subject. He’s too stiff and guarded himself. It will never work. I’m a huge Stern fan and fell asleep during this interview.
Sorry Piers. I was really hoping you’d be good.
Never thought I’d say it: I miss Larry King! I miss how he was always plugged into things that are just happening. And what up with the Piers suck-up fest? He’s about as edgy as a peach. And whose bad idea was it to run clips of his guests saying how great he is? If he had edge, they wouldn’t be saying so. A disaster.
There is a finite amount of OMG bookings in the world, and when Piers exhausts them he’s finished. Stern predicted Piers will be welcoming Scott Baio in about 90 days — rightly so.
The real kill shot for this program, though, will come the first time CNN is covering a big-ass, fast-breaking story in prime time, and Piers’ pre-taped contribution to the festivities is 60 minutes with Scott Baio (or the Mandrell Sisters, or whatever the hell). Larry King Live went live 97% of the time, and could roll with a breaking story. Morgan wants to be almost wholly pre-taped. When there’a big story rolling Morgan probably won’t be available to go live in his time slot because he’ll be on a plane to or from London, attending to his pub, his other programs for British TV, etc.
So on CNN’s biggest ratings nights, when something is actually happening, Morgan’s pre-taped celebrity tumor-gram will be yanked off the sked in favor of breaking news. Larry King was smart enough to be around constantly; he wouldn’t have let this happen. Morgan, it would appear, is not that smart.
You can’t “own prime time” on CNN and treat the gig at arm’s length, servicing it only when it’s convenient for you. Piers will be embarrassed within a few monthd.
Howard did great on that show. First and last time I’ll watch Piers unless Stern goes back on.
ratings are gonna drop big time tonight.
If he contiues to beat Maddow he my be OK.
Piers Morgan has a repugnant history as first a reporter for and then the editor of three notorious British tabloids. I don’t think he’ll EVER be able to wash the stink off himself–nor should he–from being mentored by Rupert Murdoch and Kelvin Mackenzie, both repulsive yellow journalists. Morgan calls himself a serious journalist, yet he spent over a decade lying, exaggerating and printing salacious rumors about the rich and famous at The Sun (1989–94); News of the World (1994–95); and the Daily Mirror (1995–04). Now he’s trotting himself out as a quality but “dangerous” mainstream interviewer when nothing could be farther from the truth. Buh-bye, Morgan. I’ll watch anything but your contemptuous mug.
When Morgan’s name was first floated as a replacement for King, a number of Brits were posting on various blogs and echoing your sentiments exactly. I don’t know what CNN is paying him ($10m, $15m, more???) But to pay anything near that amount to someone who can only bring in 1.27m viewers is sheer financial folly. Between Morgan and Spitzer, I can’t fathom what is motivating CNN’s programmers.
I was very impressed with Piers Morgan’s interview with Oprah on January 17th, and most particularly the parts having to do with President Obama and ML King.
Are video clips available to the public of those two parts of the Piers Morgan interview? As a private Canadian citizen, I would very much appreciate seeing them if they are.
Yours very sincerely,
Val Scott
I actually liked the show. Just thought his first week of guest were quite boring. Why have Rice on or Howard. I get Oprah being on. She has launched a new network. The thing I don’t like is that I think the shows are all prerecorded. I liked Larry King.. Larry got everybody. Top celebrities that don’t do the morning shows. That was huge. Interview Howard is not news because Howard is on everyday talking on his show.
Piers will have to get those elusive stars that only do a few TV interviews. Makes the audience tune in because you know this may be your only shot to see them. I could so name a few I want to see.
The background on his set needs to be changed. ALL those colors moving around are just too much and busy and why is space so big for just two people. LK had a nondescript set. Which was great because it focused on Larry and the guest. YOU only looked at them because there was nothing happening in the background.
Piers will have the same problem as other Brits. You have to adapt to the American audience. YOU do.
I’ll watch when he has a guest I want to her from.. when not I tune out.
piers morgan is major fail.
Television ratings are dropping in general, but part of the reason is that new hires at the network level no longer even come from journalism, professional broadcasting or even among the 220 markets in the US that serve as the best training ground in the world for interviewers, writers, producers, reporters, anchors and personalities. Instead, the norm now is to hire from outside the industry and even outside the country. There are thousands of journalists, entertainers and actors that would better serve American television networks. It seems CNN didn’t even conduct a search or allow auditions to occur. It would seem that a series of guest hosts competing for the position is a more successful means of finding just the right fit. America has the biggest and best television talent pool in the world, and it is a shame that we are hiring so many foreigners in television and movies.
Painful to watch the Oprah interview – where is a good proctologist when you need one?
He constantly interrupted her, his energy: over-the-top annoying.
I think the much publicized lengthy interview with Oprah was not because she thought he was so great, rather she took pity on him.
Not saying wasn’t time for King to move on — but horrific choice he is awwwful/gross. Seriously CNN that is the best you can do? Huge mistake.
Piers continually interrupted Stern in the most critical parts of his(Stern’s) stories which shows he’s not a great listener and perhaps more interested in himself and his opinion than the guest’s(not good for an interviewer) Howard handled it well and kept answering his questions but he could have called out Piers on this…
Piers doesn’t know American culture well enough and America doesn’t have time to fill in the gaps.