The Numbers: Conan handing Dave a can of whoop’ass?

So screams the headline from this NBC press release on the Nielsen website…..

CONAN’S MARGIN SOARS TO 177 PERCENT IN ADULTS 18-34

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – June 18, 2009 – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” has delivered a convincing victory in its second week on the air, with dominant wins in every important demographic – adults, men and women 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54 – plus a victory in total viewers.

Conan won the week over all cable and broadcast entertainment competition, beating his closest rival, CBS’s “Late Show with David Letterman,” by a 79 percent margin in adult 18-49 viewers, despite the controversy involving Gov. Sarah Palin that has boosted interest in “Late Show,” and a lineup of prominent “Late Show” guests last week that included Howard Stern and Julia Roberts. The 79 percent advantage is “Tonight’s” most dominant win over a full week of “Late Show” originals, excluding Conan’s premiere week, in five years (since the week of the “Friends” finale, May 3-7, 2004)……more

You can check out the de-LISH-ious cable news ratings too.

Stay classy Dave.