What a turn-off: Stephen Colbert LOST 500K viewers when guest Brian Stelter appeared to discuss CNN colleague Chris Cuomo's silence on governor brother Andrew: Chris continues his Hamptons vacation
The Late Show saw a significant drop in ratings on Tuesday when Brian Stelter appeared on the show to discuss his CNN colleague Chris Cuomo's silence on scandal-hit brother Andrew.
Ratings show that Stelter's interview was Stephen Colbert's least-watched segment of the night, with Nielsen ratings showing the 12:15am to 12:22am segment brought in 1,375,000 viewers and 297,000 in the 25-54 demographic.
This is compared to 1.9million viewers, with 375,000 in the 25-54 demographic, who tuned in at the start on the show.
Some 2.6million people initially tuned in at the start of the Colbert show. Some likely switched off because they went to bed.
But Nielsen ratings for the show compared to its usual averages suggest that Stelter's appearance caused many who would have stayed up for the entire program to hit the hay.
It came as Cuomo himself is off air for the week and enjoying a 'long planned' vacation in the Hamptons, amid outrage that he has ignored the sexual harassment scandal engulfing his New York Governor brother Andrew.
Chris has faced a slurry of criticism for participating in strategy sessions during his brother’s political crisis while serving as CNN’s star journalist – all the while refusing to cover the scandal.
Footage has also emerged of the CNN host dad-dancing in the East Hampton community two weeks ago, before his brother resigned as governor on Tuesday.
SCOOP: I have obtained a video of @ChrisCuomo partying in the Hamptons two weeks before his brother’s resignation as governor@HumanEvents pic.twitter.com/H9dOSmyDKG
— Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) August 12, 2021
SCOOP: I have obtained a video of @ChrisCuomo partying in the Hamptons two weeks before his brother’s resignation as governor@HumanEvents pic.twitter.com/H9dOSmyDKG
Chris Cuomo gives water to two photographers outside of his East Hampton home on Thursday
Meanwhile, Chris Cuomo has taken a week-long vacation from his CNN show. He was spotted on Thursday carrying a large water raft at Sag Harbor Yacht Yard in the Hamptons
And he was back in the Hamptons this week as he took a break from his show.
On Monday Chris announced that he takes his birthday off every year and was 'looking forward' to the break, which will see him turn 51.
Cuomo spotted out and about in the resort two days after his brother Andrew announced that he would resign as New York's governor in 14 days.
Andrew's announced departure followed a scathing report by state Attorney General Letitia James that found he had unlawfully sexually harassed 11 women and presided over a toxic workplace.
Cuomo was snapped passing a photographer a bottle of water in East Hampton Thursday, where he keeps a luxurious home.
He was also seen carrying a large water raft at Sag Harbor Yacht Yard.
Cuomo arrived at the boat yard with two children.
Chris Cuomo was spotted leaving his East Hampton home on Thursday
Chris Cuomo arrives at Sag Harbor Yacht Yards on Thursday with two children
Stelter appeared on Colbert to address the ongoing scandal surrounding his colleague.
Stelter described the Cuomo situation as being 'really complicated' and 'definitely awkward'.
'Some people are mad at him,' Stelter told Colbert, also noting that he could confirm that Chris had been in contact with his brother, Andrew Cuomo.
'By the way, I can confirm the New York Times report… I also have a source that says Chris was on the phone with his brother this week-' Stelter said.
Colbert interrupted him saying: 'Is your source Chris Cuomo?'
Stelter answered: 'He is not, he is not. You've gotta have boundaries. You've gotta draw lines.'
Colbert then accused Cuomo of not having any boundaries, but Stelter rushed to his colleague's defense.
'I think he does, actually,' Stelter stated. 'I think Chris does, I don't know about the governor.'
CNN has banned Cuomo from talking about the sexual assault allegations against his brother on air and argued that his participation in the governor's strategy sessions was 'inappropriate'.
Stelter said that it was a 'management ruling' for Cuomo not to cover his brother's scandal, prompting Colbert to question the network's integrity.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert saw a significant drop in ratings when CNN correspondent Brian Stelter joined to discuss colleague Chris Cuomo
Colbert questioned Stelter on CNN's handling of the Cuomo situation, arguing that 'it seems like an odd conflict of rules'
'Well, then why didn't they rule that way when his brother was on the show pretty much every night during the COVID crisis?' Colbert asked.
'Yeah, I think it's really complicated,' answered Stelter.
Colbert responded: 'It seems like an odd conflict of rules.'
'It is an odd conflict,' Stelter affirmed, 'but I don't think- if we open up the journalism ethics book, there's no page for this. The craziest set of circumstances that you can imagine, right? A governor and a brother, both in these high-profile jobs. This is definitely awkward for CNN, though.'
The TV star has been vacationing in the Hamptons this week, with Brian Stelter forced to tell viewers that Cuomo had not been canceled by the network over his brother's sex scandal
Chris' brother, Andrew Cuomo, was spotted walking with his secretary at the New York State Mansion on Thursday
Andrew Cuomo announced on Tuesday that he would resign as New York's governor in 14 days. He announced departure followed a scathing report by state AG Letitia James that found he had unlawfully sexually harassed 11 women and presided over a toxic workplace
Andrew Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing, although he said on Tuesday he accepted 'full responsibility' for what he characterized as ill-conceived attempts to be affectionate or humorous.
He will be succeeded by Kathy Hochul who has served as New York's lieutenant governor since 2015. She will be the state's first female governor.
Hochul has said that she distanced herself from Andrew and the harassment allegations, saying it was well-known that he had kept her at arm's length during his tenure.
'I've not been in the rooms when this has happened and it is actually sickening to me to see this surface,' she said.
Hochul also vowed to oust any Andrew Cuomo aide who was named in the James report as being complicit in 'any kind of unethical behavior'.
'They're gone on Day 1, so let's get that very clear,' she said.