Final LETTERMAN Broadcast Delivers Over 13 Million Viewers; Largest Audience Since 1994

The final broadcast of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN averaged 13.76 million viewers, its largest audience since February 1994, according to Nielsen fast national ratings for Wednesday, May 20.

The LATE SHOW averaged 13.76m viewers, 4.1 in adults 25-54 and 3.1 in adults 18-49. This is the LATE SHOW's largest audience since Feb. 25, 1994 (following CBS's primetime coverage of the Winter Olympics) and its best deliveries in adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 since Dec. 1, 2005, the night Oprah Winfrey appeared. The LATE SHOW outperformed every broadcast in primetime in these measures.

THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH JAMES CORDEN averaged 4.01m viewers, 1.4 in adults 25-54 and 1.1 in adults 18-49, its series-best performances in these measures. This marks the show's largest audience ever with any host, its highest rating in adults 25-54 since Dec. 1, 2005 and its best adults 18-49 rating since Dec. 19, 2005.

Last night, the LATE SHOW was the #1 most social entertainment program across all metrics, gathering hundreds of thousands of tweets and more than 30 million impressions.

About LATE SHOW WITH David Letterman:

One look at the LATE SHOW makes it apparent that the program, which is often imitated but never matched, is unlike any other talk show. With its commitment to showcasing the most sought-after stars in entertainment, music, sports and politics, as well as its around-the-town remotes and visits to local establishments, its surprise guest appearances, inventive comedy segments and signature Top Ten List, the LATE SHOW delivers an unpredictable hour of innovative viewing each night.

The LATE SHOW has received numerous honors, including 70 Emmy nominations and nine Emmy Awards, including six for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program in 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002. The show was named Program of the Year at the 1994 Television Critics Awards, and in 1995, 2001, 2011 and 2012, Letterman was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by the TCA. Letterman was awarded the prestigious Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence at Comedy Central's first annual "The Comedy Awards" in March 2011. He has won two AMERICAN COMEDY AWARDS as Funniest Male Performer in a Television Series and a Foundation Award from the International Radio and Television Society for his "extraordinary domi­nation in late-night television." Letterman was also honored as "Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host" at the 31st Annual People's Choice Awards in 2005.

The LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN is a production of Worldwide Pants Incorporated. Barbara Gaines, Matt Roberts, Jude Brennan, Maria Pope, Eric Stangel, Justin Stangel and Rob Burnett are the executive producers.

Photo courtesy of CBS