U2 [Douglas Gorenstein/NBC]
Friday’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” which was centered almost exclusively on guest act U2, precisely matched the previous week’s overnight ratings.
Like that episode, it scored a 2.7 overnight household rating in the 56 metered markets. The two episodes delivered the same 1.1 adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.
Last Friday’s episode featured interview guests Helen Hunt and Jesse Eisenberg and musical guest My Morning Jacket.
Other recent Friday performances included 2.6/1.1 for the April 24 episode (Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Olsen), 3.1/1.2 for the April 10 episode (Kevin James, Vanessa Hudgens, Dan White)**, 3.0/1.1 for the April 3 episode (Ricky Gervais, Jordana Brewster, Elle King) and 2.7/1.0 for the March 27 episode (Will Forte, Adam Horovitz, Jeremy Wade).
In essence, it was a fairly on par Friday performance. It does not speak negatively of U2’s drawing power, but it it similarly fails to provide a ringing endorsement.
One stat the band can celebrate: Friday’s U2-centric “Fallon” was the best overall performer of this week’s five episodes. While two matched its 1.1 adults 18-49 rating, none matched its 2.7 overnight household rating.
**The April 10 “Tonight Show” aired opposite a delayed, encore broadcast of “Letterman.”