Jay Leno on Oprah

[tinatark]

We recorded this - finishing watching it now - Oprah is an idiot!

Conan's ratings stunk, he was going away either way... Jay's new show wasn't doing as well as it was supposed to - NBC offered Jay the Tonight Show - a job offer he accepted.

From what I was getting from Oprah, she thinks (maybe not her thoughts, but from her online survey) he should have turned down the TS offer - the net result would have been the same for Conan, someone else would have been the host of the TS!

 

[java]

I thought Jay's ratings stunk. That's what I had been hearing. I think the whole thing was to just save Jay Leno's butt. I feel for Conan in that he and his staff all MOVED to California. ugh- what a drag for them. Not so much for the big wigs on either side- the staff is who I feel for.

I also think this whole mess may mean the end of the Tonite show soon.

 

[PixieDust32]

I stopped watching the TS after Jay was gone, I just don't like Conan's humor, I knew it was a big mistake. I think NBC is responsible for the whole mess.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I think it was a case of NBC not giving Conan's show a chance. They overwhelmed the market on talk shows. It was a bad NBC move.

They were splitting their share of the talk show audience. It was like having two news programs on. Most people aren't going to sit through both.

I think Jay should have stepped down. He agreed to let Conan take over and he should have stepped aside to allow him a chance. If we wanted more cars he could have done a show on Fox or maybe even a once a week show on NBC.

Leno didn't live up to his end of the bargain. Shame on him.

 

[jekajekalynn]

I think it was a case of NBC not giving Conan's show a chance. They overwhelmed the market on talk shows. It was a bad NBC move.

They were splitting their share of the talk show audience. It was like having two news programs on. Most people aren't going to sit through both.

I think Jay should have stepped down. He agreed to let Conan take over and he should have stepped aside to allow him a chance. If we wanted more cars he could have done a show on Fox or maybe even a once a week show on NBC.

Leno didn't live up to his end of the bargain. Shame on him.

yup...and people forget Leno didnt originally "Wow" anyone with his show either when he first was the host. It wasn't until a few years later when he had Hugh Grant on after his scandal that he FINALLY started getting ratings.

 

[DancingBear]

It took 3 years before Leno beat Letterman in the ratings, and at the time Letterman was also new to the 11:30 time slot. NBC didn't give Conan (whose ratings were lower but demographic better) much of a shot. I don't really blame Leno, NBC execs fumbled this just as they fumbled Carson's departure.

 

[louey]

My mom watched and was telling me about the interview, she thought Oprah was kinda mean to Jay and kept asking him about all his cars, money stuff etc..... um Hellooooooooo Oprah how many houses etc... do you have I didn't see it so I don't know first hand. Personally I like Jay never really watched his show as I am sleepingzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz at that hour. I don't feel it was his fault and really don't understand why people are so negative towards him?

 

[jekajekalynn]

I think Dave kinda sums it up here on why there is a bitterness with Jay atm..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AK3T987jk8

 

[hanutedmansionmomma]

I saw most of it...Jay looked like he might fall asleep at some points.

I am a Conan supporter, but was hoping to be brought to the other side with some well placed witty quips from Jay today. Uh, no.

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I think Dave kinda sums it up here on why there is a bitterness with Jay atm..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AK3T987jk8

Dave is such a naughty boy...

 

[Keira1387]

I don't understand why everyone is giving jay a hard time. I think it's the networks fault.

 

[tinatark]

I never watched the TS show with Leno... prefer Letterman, and really didn't follow the whole mess with the shows/network garbage, but I do know that Conan (and, collectively, his staff) was compensated VERY well for the anchor change, and he will likely be back on tv when the non-compete clause ends in a few months - they'll all be back to work, with fat bank accounts, compliments of the network.

Oprah was asking Jay something about how he would do things - he pointed out that he doesn't own the show, never wanted to. She just annoyed me during the interview.

I don't know that she should be getting into this kind of network/personality interviewing, considering that she will soon own her own network with it's own issues and personalities, etc.

 

[EMom]

I think Dave kinda sums it up here on why there is a bitterness with Jay atm..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AK3T987jk8

Dave is in his element when he goes into his high, squeaky Jay Leno voice. It's perfection.

 

[jekajekalynn]

Dave is in his element when he goes into his high, squeaky Jay Leno voice. It's perfection.

"I'll just be in the lobby if ya need me!"

 

[auntie]

Oprah indicated that she was surprised that people didn't understand what actually happened. That there wasn't, in fact, a decision by Jay to take back the tonight show. It was offered back to him by NBC, after Conan refused to take the Tonight show to 12:05.
Leno told Oprah that he didn't "live on" what he made from the Tonight Show. He lives on what he makes as a stand up comic, as he still does stand up all over the country. He banks his TV show salary.(boy, I'd love to see that account!) He felt he had an obligation to keep his own staff and crew working. When NBC offered the Tonight Show back to him..he accepted it.


She said the questions she posed to Leno were the thoughts of those who might not "get" how tv worked.

As for Letterman...he's just gotten to be an old grouch. I used to really like his show. Now, I try to watch..being from NY..but he's so full of himself these days. The guys gotta take it down a notch. He's just not funny anymore.

Conan... I'm not cryin' a river for the guy. He tried..it didn't work. NBC made him an offer, he turned it down. He walked away with MILLIONS..and we'll be seeing him in seven months with a new show.

 

[Folklore]

I wonder how Jay would have done if Johnny Carson had decided not to retire and just put a show on an hour ahead of The Tonight Show when he took over. I think the network should take most of the blame but Jay didn't help the situation much.

 

[tiggspring]

Jays ratings went down 14% the TS with Conan went down 48%!!!! The numbers say it all. I like Jay and Conan when I'm in silly mode and sleep deprived. I think his humor fits the late late night audience better.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I don't understand why everyone is giving jay a hard time. I think it's the networks fault.

Me neither. And I agree...it is ALL about the network screwing up.

Oprah indicated that she was surprised that people didn't understand what actually happened. That there wasn't, in fact, a decision by Jay to take back the tonight show. It was offered back to him by NBC, after Conan refused to take the Tonight show to 12:05.

Leno told Oprah that he didn't "live on" what he made from the Tonight Show. He lives on what he makes as a stand up comic, as he still does stand up all over the country. He banks his TV show salary.(boy, I'd love to see that account!) He felt he had an obligation to keep his own staff and crew working. When NBC offered the Tonight Show back to him..he accepted it.

She said the questions she posed to Leno were the thoughts of those who might not "get" how tv worked.

As for Letterman...he's just gotten to be an old grouch. I used to really like his show. Now, I try to watch..being from NY..but he's so full of himself these days. The guys gotta take it down a notch. He's just not funny anymore.

Conan... I'm not cryin' a river for the guy. He tried..it didn't work. NBC made him an offer, he turned it down. He walked away with MILLIONS..and we'll be seeing him in seven months with a new show.

I agree!

Leno did say tho that the money from the show he banked AND used to fund some sort of charity or foundation or something.

THE NETWORK told Jay FIVE YEARS AGO that they were giving his #1 show to Conan. Then they offered him the 10 PM show. NEITHER show...Jay @ 10, and Conan on the Tonight Show...was doing well in the ratings. THE NETWORK therefore decided to move Jay's show to 11:35 and The Tonight Show back a FREAKIN' HALF HOUR. Conan has a hissy fit and quits. So now there's a time slot and a show with no one hosting. THE NETWORK offered the show...the one that CONAN walked away from...the one that had been taken away from Jay...back to Leno and he took it. WHAT did Leno do wrong???

I didn't watch the Tonight Show with Conan, and almost never watched it with Leno...just not my type of show to watch. Saw Leno perform a year ago, and he was absolutely hilarious and down to earth. Conan and Letterman have an edge that just doesn't appeal to me as a whole, altho they're certainly very funny at times.

I CANNOT BELIEVE how obnoxious and playground bully-ish celebrities have gotten over this. What a bunch of idiots.

And Oprah...I didn't like the way she came off AT ALL during this interview. It was like an inquisition.

 

[chisnpeke]

I don't understand why everyone is giving jay a hard time. I think it's the networks fault.

I don't get it either. This was all NBC and their fault.

I heard a LONG time ago that Jay never spent any of his money from the Tonight Show.

People are so easily swayed.

 

[kaligal]

Dave has gone from being a guy who makes fun of ridiculous celebs to being a ridiculous celeb. He's EXACTLY the sort of person he once laughed at.

I don't know or care much about the late-night network people, but I just wanted to pipe up on that subject. Nobody will ever start a, "What do you think about Dave Then vs. Dave Now?" thread. This is as close as it'll come.

So, that's my OT $.02.