BET may have found itself a late night ratings queen in actress/comedian Mo’Nique.
BET’s late night variety series The Mo’Nique Show drew 1.5 million viewers in its Oct. 5 debut, increasing the network’s audience from a year ago in the 11 p.m. to midnight time period by a whopping 188%, according to Nielsen.
More impressive for the series is that the second night’s performance drew an even larger audience. The Oct. 6 show, which featured BET reality series stars Tiny and Toya, drew 1.9 million viewers according to overnight ratings reports, placing it among the most watched shows ever for the African-American targeted network.
The show’s ratings could even break the 2 million viewer mark tonight when guests Chris Rock, Nia Long and Ginuwine join Mo’Nique on the weeknight series.
The numbers are particularly impressive given the recent ratings boost CBS’s Late Show With David Letterman has experienced due to Letterman’s alleged extortion controversy.
While the show’s audience numbers will undoubtedly fluctuate as it settles into the time slot, The Mo’Nique Show’s strong start does indicate that there is a sizable audience looking for alternatives to the traditional late night shows currently offered on broadcast and cable.
