Don Lemon, the veteran news anchor and host of CNN’s nightly news show “CNN Tonight with Don Lemon,” has seen a notable increase in viewership since he took a leave of absence in early April. The show, which typically airs weeknights from 10 to 11pm EST, has seen its ratings spike with Lemon’s absence, with an average of 1.2 million viewers tuning in for its April 12th episode, up from an average of 890,000 viewers for the same time slot in the previous month.

The show’s success has been attributed to its ability to cover the news of the day in an informative and entertaining manner, as well as its willingness to tackle difficult topics and ask tough questions. Lemon has become known for his no-nonsense approach to news, often asking pointed questions and pushing back on guests who don’t provide satisfactory answers.

The increase in viewership has been a welcome surprise for CNN, which has seen its ratings decline in recent years. The network has been struggling to compete with cable news rivals such as Fox News and MSNBC, and the ratings boost from Lemon’s show has been a much-needed boost for the network.

In addition to the ratings boost, Lemon’s absence has also been credited with increasing the show’s diversity. With Lemon out, the show has seen an influx of guests from different backgrounds, including more African American and Latino voices. This has been a welcome change for viewers, who have been vocal in their support for Lemon’s commitment to diversity.

The show has also seen an increase in viewers from younger demographics, with the 18-34 age bracket up 10 percent since Lemon’s leave. This is likely due to the show’s willingness to tackle current events in an entertaining and informative manner, as well as its focus on topics that are of interest to younger viewers, such as politics, technology, and social media.

It’s unclear when Lemon will return to the show, but in the meantime, CNN is taking full advantage of the ratings boost. The network has been airing reruns of Lemon’s show, as well as a variety of other news programs, in the 10 to 11pm time slot. It’s clear that Lemon’s absence has been a boon for the network, and it will be interesting to see if the ratings remain high when he returns.