This is what Jeff Zucker saw last night. Even he couldn’t avoid Conan’s debut!

ConanoverCarolines

Jeff Zucker's reign at NBC is almost over, and last night, he was supporting his wife, Caryn, who along with comedian Bob Saget produced an annual benefit show for the Scleroderma Research Foundation called Cool Cuisine, Hot Comedy, at Carolines on Broadway. See WireImage photos from the event. This is what greeted Zucker as he crossed Broadway to head into Carolines. A giant Conan billboard. Zucker didn't walk the red carpet, so I didn't get to ask him if he planned to watch any TV last night, but it seemed almost everyone else who was awake was keenly aware of Conan's debut, too. You couldn't avoid knowing about it. Not even Zucker could avoid it.

The ratings for Conan's debut on TBS were big. How big? Big enough to dominate everyone else, especially his head-to-head demographic rivals and friends at Comedy Central in Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Here are last night's ratings for selected late-night competition, which excludes the numbers for Chelsea Lately on E! at 11, Nightline on ABC at 11:35, and Jimmy Kimmel Live after midnight. I'll break it all down for you later as the viewership shakes out.

Late-night TV for Monday, Nov. 8, 2010: (Total viewers/18-49)

Conan 4.2 million/3.3 million
Tonight Show with Jay Leno 3.5 million/952,000
Late Show with David Letterman 3.3 million/1.3 million
Lopez Tonight 1.4 million/883,000
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 1.3 million/687,000
The Colbert Report 1.0 million/551,000

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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