Monday night's premiere of MAGIC JOHNSON's "The Magic
Hour" earned a 3.0/8 overnight rating, 20% higher than the
2.5/7 that "stations averaged during the May sweeps,"
according to Jonathan Davies of the HOLLYWOOD REPORTER.
That number was also a 7% increase from the time period
averages in metered markets for June '97. Although the show
"didn't immediately affect" NBC's "The Tonight Show" or
CBS's "Late Show" with David Letterman, "Magic" was able to
outrank Letterman in the NYC and L.A. markets (HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER, 6/10). In L.A., Cynthia Littleton reports that
the show's premiere ratings "were in the ballpark" of the
debut performances of the most recent syndicated late-night
shows, "The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show" and "Vibe," both of
which have since been cancelled (DAILY VARIETY, 6/10).
"Vibe" was cancelled on Monday and media buyer Steve
Sternberg said its demise "could only benefit Magic. When
you have niche programming like this, it's hard to have more
than one show succeed" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 6/10).
IN REVIEW: In DC, Tom Shales writes that Monday's
premiere "found the show respectably polished, swift and
loud," adding "[t]here are signs it could possibly work, and
the show is certainly better than 'Vibe.'" But Shales
concluded the show "will have to get much, much better if
it's going to last" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/10). The AP's
Frazier Moore writes that, as a host, Johnson "comes across
wholesome almost to a fault," and "his ability as a
conversationalist is as yet undemonstrated" (AP, 6/10).
