Its better than having to watch Jay Leno doing skits very similar to Lettermans skits.

Jay's "99 cent items" skit was really close to the "New product" things Lettermans been doing for years.

I still like Letterman, always have, but i really think his greatest years were when he did the wacky fun shit like work the drive up window at Taco Bell.

I was really hoping to see a blurb for Carson Daly's show. I don't know how anyone can even sit through that show. I have trouble even having it on in the background when im doing something else.

Thankfully the "Becker" re-run is on CBS when Carson is on.

I'm not feelin' all this Anti-Letterman stuff.

I still think Letterman's jokes have more "bite" than Leno's and seem more natural. I also think Letterman and Ferguson are very similar in that they're both Naturally funny. They can both hear something from a guest and come up with 2 or 3 great "zingers" during an interview when Leno and others are still struggling to see the unplanned "cue to make a joke".

Letterman has always been the lovable uptight curmudgeon from the Mid West and he still rocks that title.

Not to further bash Letterman, but he takes too damn many days off! I see he's up for another week of reruns this week. For $35 million, you would think they'd make him work a little more.

same here. I usually switch to something else for the celeb interviews. I do like the political guests since they're more interesting and usually have something more to say.

I think that's entirely to do with what party is currently in control. The political Daily Show didn't appear until after 9/11, after all. If a Democrat wins in 2008, or they gain control in 2006, I'd expect the Daily Show to give them the same treatment.

Johnny Carson did the same thing and I don't think he even had the excuse of a new baby or health problems during that time. I would be surprised if Dave decides to do his show longer than Carson did The Tonight Show. That would mean he'd have to quit by 2011, which would be 29 years.

I would have to agree. I would also think he intends to outlast Leno, which would be 2009.

These reason are why i like Letterman so much....plus i love self-deprecating humor, and Letterman does that all the time.

"are probably"
"highly unlikely"
"likely voting"
"more votes than they deserve"

How do you determine these things? I called it a non scientific poll and I simply stated it was a better gauge of what people felt that this thread or based on one person's article. Conan was only 6% behind Leno who, according to you, is getting his votes from the middle age crowd, so I guess some "young hipsters" are making their way to USAToday and voting for Conan despite your assumptions.

Well, I like (and Tivo) Kimmel. Love the irreverance of the show, even if I didn't like the Man Show all that much (loved Kimmel on local LA radio, though). I love that he has a team of people who do nothing but watch TV to get him some funny clips. And he's improved at interviewing, though it's still one of the weaker parts of his show. I also dislike his freak-of-the-week sideshows. He also seems to get decent bands, but you can tell when he's having trouble getting guests.

In general, I'm not someone who stays up late to watch late-night, but I keep a few Kimmel's on my Tivo to watch the TV bits or Cousin Sal or whatnot...

Apparently you don't follow show demographics, do you. Conan's and Kimmel's numbers come from the 16-30 age range, mostly male. More specifically college age people. Leno targets and gets mostly 30-50-ish adults. If you think college age kids are getting subscriptions to USA Today and trolling the website you need to do some fact checking.

Ok, Mr. Demographics, whatever you say. Conan only has college kids watching, um, I finished college at 22. So, I still managed to be in Conan's demo for 8 years, but, after getting my degree, suddenly, I was not gonna be checking out the life section in USA Today. A lot of people say Stewart's core audience are college kids and slackers, but he was the one on top of the poll.

Again, your point was pointless, as I only said it was a larger and more reliable sample than this thread or the opinion of one writer. I stand by that. I've seen other polls and Stewart 1 or 2, Letterman 1 or 2, and Leno and Conan in the 3 or 4 spot are not at all disimilar to the other polls.

I totally agree with the rankings, thought the only one i watch regularly is Nightline. Damn, I'll miss ol' Ted.

Remind me where I said everybody fell into that demographic. Oh wait! I didn't


But it isn't a reliable sample. It's not random. It's a poll on a website. That has no validity in of itself because only frequent viewers of the site will vote. Unless they do a random sampling poll via phone.

Um, which is why I called it a non-scientific poll. Way to beat a dead horse, though, Mr. Demographics.

Wow. Brilliant retort. Well thought out. Clearly articulated. Bravo, sir. Bravo. *claps hands*

Where is Carson Daly?!

I can't take any list without him in the top 3 very seriously.

I don't think you can be taken seriously after that comment.

You need a hobby.

Or maybe you're just feeling the pain of being a supporter of the guy who came in 4th place with only 12% of the vote, which proves he kinda sucks.

He's the next Conan!

OK, it was a joke.

Good list to me, except I haven't watched Letterman in a while.