It seems NBC's much-hyped move to bring Jay Leno back as the host "The Tonight Show" has not yet paid off. The show is currently having its lowest-rated summer on record, with ratings lower than Conan O'Brien in the ever-important 18-49 age bracket.
Some network affiliates reportedly have hope that this ratings downturn is just a momentary blip and that NBC's new fall lineup will bring Leno back into better numbers. This fall the network will debut a handful of new dramas aimed specifically at the adult demographic, including JJ Abrams' "Undercovers" and Jerry Bruckheimer's "Chasers."
"There's been a lot of NBC stations that have suffered significant declines in late prime, and that's not going to happen with this lineup based on the estimates buyers are getting," Eric Lassberg, president and GM of NBC affiliate KXAN-TV Austin, Texas, tells the Hollywood Reporter. "All evidence points to our ratings going up."
And though Leno is down against 23 percent with adults as compared to his own ratings two years ago, he is still up 22 percent against his main competitor, David Letterman.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.