Larry Wilmore Says ‘Nightly Show’ Numbers ‘Hurt’ by Trevor Noah ‘Daily Show’ Takeover
Larry Wilmore’s “Nightly Show” is ending, but he doesn’t necessarily think it was the show’s handling of race that led to its less-than-stellar ratings.
“I mean, our numbers were great when Jon Stewart was there, so I don’t know. I could make the argument that Jon not being our lead-in hurt our numbers,” Wilmore told Vulture.
One could read the Stewart reference as a swipe at current “Daily Show” host Trevor Noah, who has failed to match the ratings of his predecessor behind the Comedy Central news desk.
Also Read: 'The Nightly Show With Larry Wilmore' Canceled by Comedy Central
“There are a lot of ways you can make the argument,” he continued, discussing his show’s cancellation. “There were a lot of people who really appreciated the fact that we tackled those subjects. And there are some people who are never going to like that no matter what you do. So it’s hard to point to one thing.”
Be that as it may, as TheWrap reported back in May, ratings for “The Daily Show” have fallen significantly since Stewart’s departure. Noah’s tenure has seen a 38 percent drop in the adults 18-49 demographic and a 35 percent drop in total viewers.
Following Stewart’s exit and the previous departure of Stephen Colbert and his “Colbert Report,” “The Nightly Show” saw a similar drop-off in the time slot. Wilmore’s political talk show fell 40 percent in the key demo and 29 percent in total viewers.
Larry Wilmore's Greatest 'Nightly Show' Moments (Videos)
- On Aug. 18, “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" will come to an end after 20 months in the Comedy Central timeslot once held by "The Colbert Report." While it never came close to reaching the numbers of its predecessor, Wilmore proved in the series' 259 episodes that he could be as powerful a satirist and commentator as Jon Stewart with his takes on major political and social stories.
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On Alton Sterling: "No matter what his crimes were, Alton Sterling did not deserve to be executed for them. Look guys, the punishment for resisting arrest shouldn’t be death. The punishment for selling bootleg CDs shouldn’t be death. The punishment for having a gun in an open-carry state shouldn’t be death. The punishment for being a black man shouldn’t be death.”![]()
Imitating Bill Cosby: "I couldn’t rape a fly, and not just because I don’t know what their sexual business is all about down there, with the suckin’ and the feelers and the 1,000 eyes!”![]()
On Fox News' "War On Cops" stories: "I'm not a spokesperson for Black Lives Matter, but I'm pretty sure their agenda is just to get police to stop shooting unarmed black people. I mean, the fact that we even need that movement is insane and the fact that you're trying to presto change it to a war on cops is even more insane."![]()
On CNN's coverage of the Samuel DuBose shooting: “Is that his mugshot? This guy was just killed by the other guy and you put their two mugshots together like they’re a bank robbin’ team? I get it, he may have had a record, but you get what 'victim' means, right CNN?”![]()
On Fox News' coverage of the Baltimore riots: “Let me give you guys some advice: When s--- like this goes down, all of you should just go home and show reruns of ‘Killing Jesus' because you’re never going to be able to relate to this.”![]()
On the Confederate Flag's in South Carolina: "In 1961 [the flag] was a reminder to black people that they should know their place. It has always been used as a symbol of intimidation and terror. In fact, because displaying the swastika is illegal across much of Europe, skinheads and neo-Nazis often adopt the Confederate flag in its place. It’s such a racist symbol that it does double duty as the backup racist symbol for another racist symbol!"![]()
On comparisons of Kim Davis to Martin Luther King, Jr.: MLK "was actually in opposition to the Church’s unwillingness to support the oppressed. Kim Davis on the other hand is using her church to oppress people even more ... Going to jail for what you believe in does not necessarily put you on par with Martin Luther King. Jeffrey Dahmer was in jail because he believed in eating people. That doesn’t make him a freedom fighter!”![]()
After Donald Trump's second amendment comments: "At this point, if you vote for Trump, you’re just a d---. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I hope you get destroyed by a horse-sized duck. How’s that?"![]()
On the Republicans' attack against Planned Parenthood: "It’s a Pap smear campaign. It is, I’m sorry, but it is, that’s exactly what it is. And in a Pap smear campaign, people don’t care about facts. So these attacks don’t seem to be revealing any illegal activity. Instead, they’re shaming women, their health practitioners, and doctors."
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Though his show struggled in ratings, the late-night host had some funny takes on serious topics ranging from Black Lives Matter to Planned Parenthood
On Aug. 18, “The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore" will come to an end after 20 months in the Comedy Central timeslot once held by "The Colbert Report." While it never came close to reaching the numbers of its predecessor, Wilmore proved in the series' 259 episodes that he could be as powerful a satirist and commentator as Jon Stewart with his takes on major political and social stories.
Related stories from TheWrap:
Larry Wilmore Says 'Nightly Show' Cancellation Must Mean 'Racism Is Solved' (Video)
Keeping It 100, Here's Why Larry Wilmore's 'Nightly Show' Was Canceled
