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Without Writers, Stewart and Colbert Soar

It would seem that without their writers, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are more popular than ever.
Comedy Central’s Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report are both posting big gains since returning to the air on Jan. 7.

Jon Stewart is up 17 percent from the same time period in 2007 among viewers 18-34, and is up 9 percent among 18-49s. Colbert is up 21 percent in the 18-34 demo and 15 percent in 18-49s, compared to a year ago, writes Media Life.

Colbert and Stewart have returned to the air without their writers, crossing picket lines and relying on their wits, which are apparently seeing them through the writers strike without a hitch.

The late-night shows, on the other hand, are suffering. First-place Tonight is down 25 percent from last year in 18-49s. NBC’s Late Night with Conan O’Brien is down 18 percent. Both shows returned without their writers. David Letterman, who returned thanks to an agreement between the WGA and his production company, is flat to last year. Craig Ferguson, who returned via the same agreement, is down 14 percent, while ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel is down 14 percent.