Hope for Haiti Now Telethon Draws Big Crowd, Conan O'Brien Goes Out on a High Note
George Clooney
Friday's star-studded Hope for Haiti Now drew 16.05 million viewers on the five broadcast networks that carried the event.
ABC's telecast of the telethon — hosted by George Clooney and Wyclef Jean — drew the highest numbers, with 4.65 million viewers and a 1.2 rating in the 18-to-49 demo. Numbers are not yet available for cable channels such as CNN and MTV that aired the event.
So far, the telethon has raised an estimated $57 million and counting, according to The Associated Press.
Hope for Haiti Now telethon takes over TV for earthquake relief
Friday's other big ratings went to Conan O'Brien's final Tonight Show. After garnering high ratings throughout the week — his last with NBC before Jay Leno grabs The Tonight Show reins on March 1 — Friday's show attracted a 4.8 rating among 18-to-49-year-olds in the 25 markets with Nielsen people meters.
Although final numbers won't be available until next week, preliminary estimates showed that Friday's finale was O'Brien's best-rated show in that demo — topping even his Tonight Show debut in June that snagged a 3.8 rating.
At 10 o'clock, ABC's 20/20 beat Dateline NBC (which took the place of The Jay Leno Show) and a Medium repeat on CBS.