McCain-Letterman make-up session a hit with viewers

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Sen. John McCain’s much-anticipated return to “Late Show With David Letterman” on Thursday drew the show’s biggest audience in almost three years.

More than 6.5 million viewers tuned in to watch the Republican presidential nominee try to smooth things over with Letterman after standing the comedian up at the last minute three weeks ago.

That’s the best viewership for ‘Late Show’ since Oprah Winfrey’s appearance Dec. 1, 2005, according to preliminary data from Nielsen Media Research. And it’s a boost of 73% over the show’s average audience so far this season.

-- Matea Gold