McCain-Letterman make-up session a hit with viewers

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

Comments

[Jake]

I'll tell you, I was one of the people who stayed up unusually late to watch this, and I am glad I did. Until last night, I was completely on the fence. I think McCain was great. I have a far better feeling for him than I did before this appearance. He won my vote last night, and he didn't have it before.

[Greg]

Sometimes I wish there were laws that would prevent some people from EVER becoming parents. I'm sure you've seen the horrible parents too. Similarly, I wish there were also laws that would deny some people the right to vote. Alas, we are a democracy. But what the heck? We've had three debates, countless public appearances by Senator McCain, the republican convention, and this guy decides to vote for a candidate because of his appearance on the Letterman show? Wow. I guess anything's possible. I watched McCain on Letterman too. What in the world did he say that he hasn't already said that would convince a fence straddler to jump? Was it the cheerleading for Sarah Palin? Was it the comment that he will get Bin Laden? What? Or was it the fact that he admitted that he screwed up by not coming originally to Letterman show? I'm just wondering.

[Stop Smoking]

Letterman at his very best!!! Especially in the 2nd half!! Good to see that both -at least somewhat- kept their sense of humor in all of this though.