jaylenonumbers.jpg Based on preliminary ratings, NBC's The Jay Leno Show is off to an excellent start.

For the debut of his 10pm comedy show, Leno pulled a 12.1 preliminary metered-market household rating and 19 share, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This is 70% stronger than Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show premiere last June (7.1 household rating, 17 share, 9.2 million viewers) and 38% higher than Leno's own final Tonight Show appearance last May (8.8 household rating, 20 share, 11.9 million viewers).

We can't be sure of the exact viewership just yet, but THR seems to predict that Leno's 12.1 could translate to more than 10 million viewers. Not bad!

Did you watch Jay last night?