Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 15, 1990 TAG: 9005150087
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: E-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Short
The show, which was boycotted by cast member Nora Dunn and singer Sinead O'Connor because of Clay's belligerent humor, averaged a rating of 11.6 and got a 31 percent share of the audience in the 24-city overnight Nielsens, NBC said.
That was 8 points higher than the Feb. 24 "Saturday Night Live" with Fred Savage of ABC's "The Wonder Years" as host, NBC said.
The highest overnight rating for Saturday's broadcast was in Chicago, where it had a 17.8 rating and a 37 percent share. In New York, the nation's largest TV market, it averaged a 15.2 rating and a 33 percent share.
NBC's New York and Burbank, Calif., offices got 1,764 calls against Clay and 198 in his favor in what was probably the highest number of pre-show protests in the program's 15-year history, NBC spokesman Curt Block said.
Clay's appearance, broadcast with a five-second delay to allow bleeps, drew heavy advance publicity because of the boycotts. Clay's act has been branded racist and offensive to women and homosexuals.
Security was heavy for the show, NBC said. Guards with metal detectors checked out guests entering both the dress rehearsal and the live broadcast.
The only incident in the studio occurred during Clay's opening monologue, when a couple began shouting "Clay, Clay, go away!" They were ejected.
Clay was paid what an NBC official estimated at $5,000 for his work. During the program, Clay said he was donating his fee to "Comic Relief '90," a benefit for the homeless televised live on HBO Saturday night.
by CNB