I wonder if it's the time slot. I mean, as far back as Johnny Carson, remember, you'd come home after a date, or a night out; you'd go to bed and turn on tv and Johnny was there. Or, you'd check out late shows but knew that if nothing else Johnny was there. Not always hilarious, but the conversation with guests and the idea that it was late night and it was just you and your tv made it all the better.
Now both Johnny & Jay were good which of course matters, and I think both more consistently than not, won their time slot. So maybe it's that different kind of audience or the late-nighter crowd. Maybe they are easier to please. I don't know. Just speculating.
TIS
"Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." JFK
