Don't listen to folks in the media claiming conservatism is either dead or dying, for on Monday night the premiere of Fox News's "Hannity" attracted more viewers than CNN's "Larry King Live" and MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" combined.
And, in the critical demographic of folks aged 25-54, host Sean Hannity, now flying solo without longtime co-host Alan Colmes, bested his liberal competition by wide margins suggesting that it's not just older people interested in conservative views.
Here are the specifics from TV by the Numbers.com:
9 PM - P2+ (25-54) (35-64)
Hannity–2,835,000 viewers (703,000) (1,155,000)
Larry King Live—934,000 viewers (319,000) (468,000)
Rachel Maddow Show –1,341,000 viewers (441,000) (723,000)
Saving GM: Inside Crisis– 293,000 viewers (167,000) (183,000)
Lou Dobbs- 597,000 viewers (247,000) (339,000)
Maybe more interesting, Hannity by himself attracted about 400,000 more viewers in his premier than he did with Colmes in their final show last Friday. As TVNewser reported Tuesday, "The program was up 51% in Total Viewers and 78% in the demo compared to "Hannity & Colmes" in January '09."
To be fair, Monday's show included the first in a two-part interview with President Bush. Yet, it still makes you wonder if the absence of the often-annoying Colmes will be a boon for Hannity AND conservatism.
Stay tuned.
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Darn right I will stay tuned
January 14, 2009 - 10:33 ET by legacyrepublicanAll right! Take that Mr. King and Ms. Maddow!
Ms. Maddow?
January 14, 2009 - 11:03 ET by Pha PhaDon't you mean Mr. Maddow
Maddow?
January 14, 2009 - 10:38 ET by zachlindMaddow, the left's most prominent girly man.
I always thought that was
January 14, 2009 - 12:32 ET by misterbee241I always thought that was Chris Matthews.
Imus on Hannity Tonight and Tomorrow
January 14, 2009 - 10:45 ET by lareehttp://imustimes.wordpress.com/2009/01/14/imus-grants-hannity-interview/
Imus interviewed at the Rainbow Studio accross the street from Madison Square Garden.
http://youhavetobethistalltogoonthisride.blogspot.com/2009/01/imus-to-appear-on-hannity-there-will-be.html
Good Job Hannity!
January 14, 2009 - 10:48 ET by Travis NoodleI love the format of the show. Hannity's common sense, conservative message is always a winner.
Hannity
January 14, 2009 - 11:02 ET by Pha PhaI usually changed the channel when Colmes starting whining. I watched Hannity last night and some on Monday. Now that the whiner is gone, i will tune in more often. Colmes just made my skin crall.
Don't pounce on me--but...
January 14, 2009 - 11:05 ET by StarAZI think Hannity's new set is a little busy. Dizzifying. But I don't miss Al and his talking pts.
Congratulations to
January 14, 2009 - 11:03 ET by SeashellCongratulations to Hannity. It couldn't happen to a nicer guy. He really does seem to be a good person who treats people with respect. I wish him the best.
Same as talk radio.
January 14, 2009 - 11:12 ET by centurion2674To me, the increase in viewership after Colmes left reaffirms how much the free market despises the "progressive" view. It's the same reason progressive talk radio tanked.
deleted
January 14, 2009 - 11:13 ET by centurion2674deleted
The numbers are larger because
January 14, 2009 - 11:34 ET by kdizzydazepeople can now watch an unfiltered Hannity speak out regarding his views and values and guess what - those views and values are shared by millions upon millions in this country.
Hannity tells you what he loves and believes in and what is great about the U.S. while Olbermann and Maddow tell you what they hate and don't believe in the U.S.
And to hell with fair and balanced - what I want is a conservative channel so these asshats in the MSM and the general populus of this country can see that FOX is, in fact, fair and balanced.
Oh, if every night could be opening night
January 14, 2009 - 12:10 ET by danebramageGod, I wish we had a conservative channel, with real, intelligent
conservative voices. Hannity is a second-rate talker and a third-rate
thinker.
FOX and what vestiges remain of the conservative
movement today are nothing more than the right-wing of the left end of
the spectrum--forty or fifty years ago they would have been called
liberals and would have belonged to the Democratic Party. There's
little that's authentically conservative in their positions. Sure, once
in a great while they'll pay (unconvincing) lip service to such
issues as states' rights, foreign independence, etc., but in the end
they pretty much all acquiesce to liberal principles of government.
Anyway, all that aside, Sheppard wants us to base our judgment about
conservatism's popularity on Hannity's premiere show? Please. I imagine
a good percentage of viewers were there simply out of curiosity, and a large percentage of that number were libs who won't ever watch the show
again. I'm not arguing that "Hannity" will not be a popular show--I'm
sure it will. But to base one's sweeping judgments on an Opening Night
performance seems more than a little liberal-media-like to me.
Since the libs have alot
January 14, 2009 - 11:46 ET by mattmSince the libs have alot more choices...
BTW what is Saving GM: Inside Crisis? Why was that included in the comparison?
alan
January 14, 2009 - 12:17 ET by charlietexaslots of people didn't like Alan. I didn't much care for him. We always changed the channel when he stated to whine or interupt his guest. He's annoying. Im not surprised Hannitys ratings went up. Get rid of the liberals all together. I didn't much care for Meatloaf or the REV sharpton. but I guess its good to show the stupid side of any argument.
mom
Hannity was always the
January 14, 2009 - 12:19 ET by Chris NormanHannity was always the driver of the show. Colmes was like the annoying fly buzzing around. I kind of like Hannity a little better by himself - he seems to be a little more arch in his comments and has eased up on what can be an irritating boy scout quality naive earnestness.
I do wish Fox would go a little more sparingly on the use of Bob Beckel. That man is a bully blowhard on a panel, verbally pushing the other guests (and even the host) around. Failing that, I wish they would oppose him with someone who can shove back hard, rather than the young women they frequently pair with him.
The "Mainstream" Media: By liberals. For liberals.
Hannity
January 14, 2009 - 12:31 ET by misterbee241I pretty much gave up on Hannity's radio show. It seems every and I mean every time somebody challenged him on a point, he threw up his hands and was always "up against a hard break." And when he came back after the break the challenger was gone. And when he's promoting a tour or a book he's worthless to listen to. I hope his tv show is better than his radio show.
Frankly, I thought the show
January 14, 2009 - 13:35 ET by Gary P JacksonFrankly, I thought the show was a train wreck.
The set is way too busy. And when he had his panel with Rev Al and meatloaf, he was lost. That degraded into a shouting match and he just sat there, looking lost.
Hannity is a great guy, and truly loves all that is great about America, but his skill isn't there yet to pull this kind of show off, without just wearing me out.
I didn't care for Alan much myself. But he was a perfect foil for Hannity, and frankly, gave the viewer someone to "hate". That makes for good TV. Some of the best moments have been when guests, like Dick Morris, and AnnCoulter have gotten aggrivated with him and dressed him down!
I think Fox made a mistake, and should have paired him up with someone like Kirstin Powers, but that's just me.
www.teamsarah.org
Go Hannity!
January 14, 2009 - 14:32 ET by Ind001Good for Sean! He beat both the lizard and chachi combined.
I like Sean, he's a really
January 14, 2009 - 14:53 ET by thebutlerdiditI like Sean, he's a really nice guy, but he is not tough enough, gets repetitive, and is not as bright as he really needs to be, for that format. That said, I can think of maybe 10 things that I don't like about Sean, but I can think of at least 100 that I truly can't stand about Maddog, Matthews, and Olby. So, until Glenn comes on, then I will watch Sean.
Bringing the government in to run Wall Street is like saying, "Dad burned the dinner, let's get the dog to cook." PJ O'Rourke
ATTENTION PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA & DEMOCRATS
January 15, 2009 - 00:13 ET by northoneDear Leftists: This is just totally unacceptable. A huge number of the American public, idiots that they are, refuse to turn away from right-wing media. Rush is still #1. Sean's new TV show soars in the ratings. Bill O'Reilly mops up the competition. Laura Ingraham continues to pull in high numbers. Now, you Democrats know what is good for the American public. Having these right-wing media zealots continue to question and criticize you as your Mesiah is about to be ordained President is just simply unacceptable. BRING IN THE FAIRNESS DOCTRINE! We know you're dying to do it. Protect the American public, because obviously they don't know what's good for them, as they continue to listen to and watch these right wingers! Come on, Democrats. Please protect us from our own stupidity and help prevent us from undermining your socialist agenda.