Maddow dominates ratings in return from absence

After nearly two weeks off the air, MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow blew away her competitors in the ratings Tuesday night, scoring No. 1 in total viewers and in the highly coveted 25-54 demographic.

Maddow’s sky-high ratings continue her nightly show’s spot as the highest-rated cable news program on television. That distinction was long held by former Fox News host Bill O’Reilly, who was ousted from the network in April.

Maddow’s impressive ratings on Tuesday also appeared to have a ripple effect for MSNBC, putting the network’s Lawrence O’Donnell, whose show follows Maddow’s, in second place in the 25-54 demographic with 621,000 viewers.

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Fox News’ Sean Hannity, whose show airs at the 10 p.m. hour, came in third in the demographic, while the network’s Tucker Carlson came in at No. 2 in total viewers.

Maddow had been off the air since May 25, while MSNBC chief legal correspondent Ari Melber and “AM Joy” weekend host Joy Reid filled in. In a June 2 tweet, Maddow said she was “doped to the gills and still flat-on-my-back sick.”

But her return came just two days before former FBI Director James Comey testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee, a highly-anticipated event that’s set to interrupt news networks’ regular programming.

Maddow’s name, however, was absent from MSNBC’s roster for the day, making it unclear if she’ll join Brian Williams in covering the hearing. Maddow has covered ongoing investigations into Russian election meddling more than any other cable news host.