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TV Series Ratings Analysis

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno Episode Ratings Heatmap

1992 · 21 Seasons · 2643 Episodes · Overall Score: 1.3/10 (28 rated)

Highest Rated Episode
6.0/10

S1E1: Show #0001 (1 votes)

View Episode →
Best Season
6.00/10

Season 1 holds the highest collective average score across the series.

Season 1 Details →
Most Consistent Season
Season 12

Lowest score variance (σ = 0), maintaining an average of 1.0.

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Key Ratings Insights

  • Best season by average: Season 1 averaged 6.00/10 across 1 rated episodes.
  • Ratings fell from Season 1 (average 6.00/10) to Season 21 (average 1.00/10), a decline of 5.00 points.

Complete Episode Rating Matrix

Interactive score chart by season and episode number. Darker green indicates higher ratings; amber and red denote lower reception.

8.5+ (Outstanding) 7.5 – 8.4 (Great) 6.0 – 7.4 (Average) < 6.0 (Underwhelming) Few votes
Season 21 (167 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 20 (205 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 19 (220 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 18 (196 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 17 (155 episodes) Avg: –
Season 16 (188 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 15 (222 episodes) Avg: 1.3
Season 14 (222 episodes) Avg: 2.0
Season 13 (223 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 12 (225 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 11 (221 episodes) Avg: 2.0
Season 10 (207 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 9 (110 episodes) Avg: 1.0
Season 8 (8 episodes) Avg: –
Season 7 (17 episodes) Avg: –

Ratings Analysis & Trajectory

Across 21 seasons and 2643 episodes, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno has earned an overall series rating of 1.3 out of 10. The series reached its critical peak early, showing a slight contraction in audience satisfaction in later chapters.

The single highest-rated hour of television in the series is Season 1, Episode 1 ("Show #0001"), rated at an extraordinary 6.0/10 with 1 ratings. Conversely, the lowest-rated installment is Season 21, Episode 119 ("Zachary Levi, Danica Patrick, Talib Kweli feat. Nelly & Abby Dobson"), landing at 1.0/10.

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Top 10 Highest Rated Episodes of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Rank Episode Title Score Votes Air Date
#1 Season 1, Ep 1 Show #0001 6.0 1 May 25, 1992
#2 Season 11, Ep 57 Show #2331 2.0 1 Sep 11, 2002
#3 Season 14, Ep 90 Terry Bradshaw, Candice Michelle, Yo Yo Ma with John Williams 2.0 1 Feb 6, 2006
#4 Season 15, Ep 70 Kiefer Sutherland, Betty White, Chris Daughtry 2.0 1 Jan 8, 2007
#5 Season 9, Ep 62 Show #2020 1.0 1 Mar 21, 2001
#6 Season 10, Ep 89 Show #2155 1.0 1 Nov 8, 2001
#7 Season 12, Ep 2 Show #2498 1.0 1 Jun 3, 2003
#8 Season 12, Ep 22 Show #2518 1.0 1 Jul 8, 2003
#9 Season 12, Ep 137 Show #2633 1.0 1 Jan 20, 2004
#10 Season 12, Ep 165 Show #2661 1.0 1 Feb 27, 2004
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