Just when it seems that the only ratings winners these days are newly minted reality-show stars, along comes some healthy numbers for a TV vet: David Letterman.
After Letterman spent weeks poking fun at TV relationship guru Dr. Phil McGraw, a house call by Dr. Phil on Monday's CBS "Late Show" topped NBC's "Tonight" show in household viewing for the first time in three years, according to early Nielsen figures, the Associated Press reports.
The last time Letterman beat Leno: his return after heart surgery, in early 2000.
Anticipation for the guest appearance surely helped. For some time now, Letterman, 55, has been lampooning the syndicated self-help TV host in a running feature called "Dr. Phil's Words of Wisdom." Letterman has at various times also referred to him as a "pinhead," "evil genius" and a "half-baked quack."
As for what Dr. Phil did on the show, he proved that he could give as well as take, telling Dave that he had a few openings available to him on next week's shows.
"We're going to do neurotics next Tuesday," McGraw said. "We're going to do psychotics next Thursday and Friday."
Asked to define a neurotic, McGraw requested a mirror for Letterman.
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