Better ratings without writers!?

Media Life Magazine reports- Hefty bounces for Stewart and Colbert.

“Daily Show with Jon Stewart” so far this month is averaging 358,000 viewers in the 18-34 demographic, up 17 percent from the same time period in 2007. It’s up 9 percent among 18-49s, to 535,000 viewers. “The Colbert Report” is up 21 percent in 18-34s, to 329,000, and 15 percent in 18-49s, to 507,000 viewers, compared to a year ago.

By contrast, the late-night broadcast shows are suffering. “Tonight,” while still No. 1, is down 25 percent from last year in 18-49s. NBC’s “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” is down 18 percent. Both also returned without their writers. CBS’s “Letterman” is flat to last year, while ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel” is down 14 percent. Ferguson is down 14 percent.

The author Kevin Downey wonders "How long can they keep up the pace? Even the funniest of funnymen wear down in time, and in time the strain will begin to show."