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Jay stuck to the same formula that kept him No. 1 for most of his 17 years as host and let loose with one-liners about the celebutards who’ve been a part of his opening monologues. He also poked fun at his next gig: “I’m going to be going to a secluded spot where no one can find me — NBC prime time,” Leno told the audience, according to news reports. “It’s a gamble. I’m betting NBC will still be around in three months, but that’s not a given.” I still say he should have gone to ABC at 11:30 PM. If his 10PM show on NBC doesn’t work, he’ll be damaged goods.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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he won’t be damaged goods as it’ll be spun as the time/format’s fault and leno will still seem like a guy who will play ball and not jump ship easily
any network would take leno if he spent the next 57 years on pbs
snap!
I agree Jay would have been better off going to ABC at 11:30, but remember one important factor for him…..his contract with NBC would have kept him off the air until at least January 2010, and we all know Jay can barely stand taking this summer off, let alone the rest of the year.
He’ll go to 10:00, just do the comedy with less of the celebrity interviews, which is the show he’s more comfortable doing anyway, and NBC will try to live with the mediocre ratings.
If he lasts longer than 1 season, it will have been a success for Jay and NBC.
Nikki, this man is already damaged goods in the eyes of all WGA members. He’s a scab, scab, scab, who walked all over guild laws. Besides that, the affiliates are really nervous about the poor lead in from the new show. This stinks for NBC, big time.
NBC is a distant fourth in the Nielsens, just a half point ahead of the CW. Why don’t they just move the entire network to the Internet?
The only thing more embarrassing than NBC is that new William Morris-Endeavor logo. Whose ideas was that?
So glad to see that Leno’s time on the Tonight Show is over. The pretender is gone; Conan is a worthy successor to Carson and Letterman.
If Leno’s a scab, why isn’t Conan considered a scab, too?
Conan, if you’ll recall, concoted a fake feud with Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart during the strike.
A feud which culminated in a fake (and obviously scripted) fight.
Why isn’t the WGA coming down hard on Conan for violating guild laws?
Is it because Conan is cool, and Leno is not?
Why is there such a double standard?
“Why is there such a double standard?”
Forget it, John. It’s Hollywood.
@Oprah:
“The pretender”? He was number one for 16 years, with much of that time spent in a post old media world. It may not be cool to like him, but you can’t deny that he is one of the most successful late-night hosts in the history of television.
Nikki — you hit the nail right on the head and exactly what I have been thinking ever since NBC made the announcement THANK YOU for actually putting it in print. Leno should have gone to ABC — where he would have been treated with a great deal of respect and more money and would have been proven who the real late night leader is. I think all parties involved are making a huge mistake and truthfully with the mismanagement of NBC programming in general — why hasn’t anyone at NBC been fired yet? I wish Leno well and hope it does well, but if he doesn’t, I hope that ABC will still be interested. But really for the number 1 host on late night to be forced out like this and treated this badly, why would anyone want to stay with the same network.
It’s a wonder how all of you criticize Leno — yet he is number one in viewers. I don’t think that Conan can command the same kind of ratings and possibly NBC knows this which is why they are keeping Leno. But for being the number 1 host, he is grossly underpaid.
I sure hope Conan is funnier on his new show than he was on Jay’s last night.
And I say Bullshit on the whole WGA/Jay Leno situation. The Guild gave Letterman a pass because he “owns” his show. Huh? The last time I checked CBS finances and broadcasts Late Night. All the profits go directly into CBS’s pockets.
What hypocracy!
Sam,
Most of us are criticizing Leno because we don’t find him funny or interesting. He’s also not a very skilled interviewer. This has nothing to do with ratings… he’s successful, yes. But nobody is denying that.
The fact that he’s saving NBC at least 2mil a night in scripted budgets says it’s a win win for the network.
Damaged goods, Nikki? He’s consistently had the highest ratings over 17 years. No matter what he does now or in the future that will never change. +, W/ his good will & loyalty to NBC they’ll always produce anything he puts in front of them. Remember, giving Conan the 11:30 slot was NBC’s (contractual) idea, not Jay’s.
Besides, it’s not like he has to work…
Jay Leno is a comedic robot. Punch a button and he starts spewing jokes, but there is no emotional soul to this man. He owes his career to David Letterman and he repaid it by stabbing Letterman in the back to get the Tonight show. Once he had the show, Leno did nothing memorable with it and he will not be remembered once Conan gets going.
This last “historic week” for Leno was really pretty bland. Anyone surprised? Yes, I think Leno should go to ABC because then they can dump the pathetic Jimmy Kimmel. It will happen.
Jay Leno is going to be just fine. In fact, his show in Atlantic City NJ tonight is SOLD OUT! Damaged goods, I think NOT. Jay kept The Tonight Show Number ONE in ratings consistently for years and he WILL bring his dedicated and loyal core base with him, to be sure of that. I think that Jay is a class act, totally! He will never be damaged goods because it is the
Damaged goods! I think NOT. Jay Leno kept The Tonight Show Number ONE for years and years and ALL of his shows in his touring are ALWAYS Sold-Out so he will do just fine. He has his loyal and dedicated core base who will keep him in great shape, for sure.
All of these out-of-work writers should be kicking and screaming to be a part of his new show in the fall. Jay has great writers and I am sure that maybe, just maybe, he might have an opening for a couple of new writers. Stop complaining about the Writers Strike and move on.
But damaged goods, that will never happen, never!
Sometimes people get jealous of others success and maybe this might be the case here. IDK.
Jay Leno has more professional shelf life left so stay tuned!
I cannot see Conan O’Brien succeeding at the Tonight Show. He just isn’t funny or interesting. Maybe what he does is funny at Harvard, but it isn’t to me.
By the way, I remember Leno up there saying “in 2009, it’s all yours Conan.” 2009 seemed like such a long way away at the time.
NBC should have paid Conan the $60 million penalty and kept Leno right where he was.
Jay’s always been a loyal man and last night he exemplified being a true class act. Not sure how many others in this business can claim the same. It gives me hope that good guys can finish first in this crazy world!
Jay didn’t go to ABC for a very simple reason: No balls. He knew if he was off the air for 6 months, when he came back on, 4 million people wouldn’t suddenly pack up and show up over at ABC. Jay inherited Johnny’s audience. And he certainly did not grow it. The Tonight Show is a brand. It’s the song, not the singer. The same analogy applies to Katie Couric or Tina Fey. They’re talented, but the shows they came from drew the audience, not them. That’s why the CBS Evening News and “30 Rock” do no business.
Not only that, if Jay stays on at 10 pm and Conan’s ratings slip, NBC can slot him back in (six months, a year) and not pay the penalty to Conan. And Jay is the returning hero. Don’t believe that “nice guy/team player” crap. Believe me, Jay is biding his time.
As a tv programmer, I think Leno is a great lead into local news at 11pm – demo fits exactly. I understand NBC doing this – saves money etc – but I agree its wrong for Leno’s career. As said, he doesn’t need the money.
BUT I thought his last show was a complete letdown.
Of course, he’s not really leaving.
Also, Nikki, do u think he shoulda thanked Helen Kushnick, too? Kinda owes her all this if The Late Shift is true.
I am no Leno fan as my posts show when he is compared to Johnny Carson or Jack Paar but when Jay deserves credit he should get it.
Jay was way more gracious after being pushed out by NBC (like they both were) than Carson to his successor.
Jay having Conan on and passing the baton was a very classy thing to to do.
That said 10pm is a dumb move by Jay and NBC. Jay should have done what Carson should have too.
Take his show to another network and destroy NBC in his old time slot.
Revenge is a dish best served on a Rating Book.
Next year NBC will be eating the revenge dish from CBS too, served MEDIUM.
Conan will be a huge success on the Tonight Show! Conan is cool and strangely sexy, and hilarious at times. He’s even more sexy/funny when he sings and plays guitar! He should do that every episode! Conan is well loved by his fans he will do fine on his new show!
Cindy
CHRIS
Jay is an excellent interviewer — you compare him to Letterman who doesn’t seem like he prepares, nor knows the background of guests or asks the right questions == he’s horrible, yet gets all the undeserved respect.
I think it is laughable that you think Leno will fail. He is the number 1 late night talk show host. If he can bring the exact same ratings to prime time, he will be a success. NBC will likely be second in the time slot.
Middle America likes Leno. He may not be the favorite of the NY crowd, but that is okay.
How long the prime time show lasts will depend upon the design. I don’t underestimate the ability of NBC to blow it. I hope that he maintains creative control.
I don’t think there’s any point to run down Leno or Letterman now, or even to compare them. Or to compare them to Carson. It just isn’t fair. They’re all class acts who have provided a lot of entertainment over the years, and they’re all completely different, like apples and oranges. Say what you will about the final week, but I found it thoroughly entertaining and nostalgic, and laughed my head off night after night. If you don’ care for Jay’s humor, that’s fine–everyone finds different things funny. I’ll just say this, though. I thought Jay’s “legacy” bit at the end of the final night was one of most unique and inspired moments in the history of late night TV. I admit I had to grab for the tissue box. He could have rested on his own laurels for being king of late night TV for most of his 17 years, but instead he focused on the difference it made in the lives of his co-workers and their 68 kids. Absolutely brilliant, Jay!
Leno’s a douchebag