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Future of TV David Letterman CBS

David Letterman's final show: social media reacts with strong emotions

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By Natan Edelsburg, SVP

May 21, 2015 | 5 min read

David Letterman has been on CBS since 1993. In just over an hour his final show, that was taped earlier today will air on the network.

His tenure has included memorable interviews, some scandals and a legacy that will set the standard for late night hosts for years to come. In anticipation of tonight's episode we worked with Canvs, a qualitative social TV analytics platform to understand fans emotional reactions to the finale on social media.

Canvs analyzes TV-related Tweets as captured by Nielsen for every new and live English-language show on US television from three hours before, during, and three hours after an episode's initial broadcast, local time. So far they've seen 25,882 total reactions to Letterman this month: 56 per cent about "love," 16 per cent about "good" and 7 per cent about "hate." Here are further details:

May 4th:

Letterman special aired in primetime and Obama was a guest on the Late Show. 3,880 reactions to both the special and the Late Show.

The Obama interview drove 241 emotional reactions: 44 per cent love, 26 per cent good, 6 per cent funny, 10 per cent hate.

“Very awesome to see our wonderful President...Barack Obama, on David Letterman...he can be funny...standing ovation!” @sixtieschick61

May 7th:

1,090 total reactions to this episode. Tina Fey was a guest

Tina Fey stripping down to her Spanx on May 7 drove 167 emotional reactions between 12:20 and 12:30 a.m. EDT: 64% love, 14% funny, and 11% crazy

“I can go to bed now, just saw Tina Fey strip down to her Spanx for David Letterman! Too funny!” @m1cha3l65

May 13th:

1,235 total reactions to this episode

Adam Sandler’s tribute song drove 150 reactions between 12:35 and 12:45 a.m. EDT: 60 per cent love, 11 per cent good and 7 per cent funny reactions

May 14th:

1,684 emotional reactions for this episode, George Clooney guest-starred

Clooney inspired 258 reactions: 49 per cent of love, 14 per cent funny

“George Clooney is cracking me up on Letterman tonight. LMAO” @JetRedGirl4eve

May 15th:

2,601 total reactions

Norm MacDonald’s stand-up tribute drove 448 total reactions between 12:35 and 12:45 a.m. EDT: 49 per cent love, 19 per cent good, 14 per cent cried, love reactions during this time

“I didn't expect that from Norm McDonald on #Letterman. It was heartfelt.” @magicjoe1

May 18th:

3,082 total reactions

Eddie Vedder’s appearance drove 340 reactions between 12:35 and 12:45 a.m. EDT: 74 per cent love

“Only one word can describe Eddie Vedder on @Letterman: INTENSE. #ThanksDave” @gizmotastic

May 19th:

7,037 total reactions

This episode garnered the most reactions of the month of May (7,037, 253% above the month’s average)

921 reactions about Bob Dylan (spiking with 219 reactions between 12:35 and 12:40 a.m. EDT; 43 per cent love, 19 per cent hate, 16 per cent crazy)

206 reactions (65 per cent love and 13 per cent funny) about Bill Murray jumping out of the cake between 12:05 and 12:10 p.m. EDT

“This is the most bizarre, wonderful thing with Bill Murray. #Letterman” @literateartist

We'll by macshop"> report tomorrow on the social reaction to the final show.

Future of TV David Letterman CBS

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