Carson Takes First-Night Edge

Joan Rivers came close but fell short of beating Johnny Carson in the first night of their TV talk showdown, according to overnight ratings from the A. C. Nielsen Co.

Carson won in all three cities in which the shows occupied the same time period, and Carson’s “Tonight Show” beat “The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers” in a 12-city average, according to Nielsen figures provided by NBC. Carson had a rating of 8.7 and a 25% share of the audience in the 12 cities, and Rivers had a rating of 7.9 and a 19% share.