UPDATE pg 11, post 155, CONAN is COMING TO TBS!!

[kimmar067]

I don't watch Jay or Conan - but isn't Jay's show failing? is it because of him or the time slot?

...I think it's because of the time slot - I'm sure used to him being on at 11:30 all these years, I always FORGET that he's on at 10PM....

 

[bicker]

Rumors swirl about comic’s primetime show, possible shake-up on NBC

Key word: "Rumors". NBC hasn't announced anything yet, and until they do, don't believe anything as truth.

The Jay Leno show is bringing the ratings that were expected, it's the local NBC affiliates that are barking as they are losing ratings for their 11 PM newscasts.

This is a critical point.

I am so happy to hear this. There is just nothing on at 10 pm right now....but my DVR goes crazy from 8-10. Hopefully there can be some good shows developed for that time slot, although I will miss the RIP ER and Las Vegas!

Even if these rumors are true, nothing has changed with regard to the reason why Leno was put at 10PM. All indications are that the value of presenting scripted programming on over-the-air broadcast television is going to decline precipitously, wholly apart from anything the broadcasters do in terms of quantity and quality of their offerings. Our eyes are simply not worth as much as they have been thought to have been worth in the past, and that dirty secret is coming home to roost.

So expect that even if the most extreme resolution occurs, i.e., no more Leno at 10PM, that most of those five hours would be filled by stuff that doesn't meet your specifications. For example, maybe we'll get Dateline on Monday and Thursday, and then a rerun of that week's Mercy on Friday. Perhaps they'll move a new reality or game show into one of the 8PM or 9PM slots that currently has a scripted drama, and move that drama to Tuesday 10PM. So the net-gain, at best, in that scenario, would be one scripted hour, and who knows where they'll get the money to pay for that -- perhaps by cutting the budgets of other programs. Or perhaps they'll show last season's Burn Notice in that slot, essentially establishing a precedent for the "reverse commute" between cable and over-the-air broadcast.

The gravy train is coming to an end.

 

[brockash]

I agree. I love Leno and he should have never been made to leave for Conan.

I'd feel bad for Conan but not as bad as I would if Jay were to leave tv.

ITA. I really enjoy Jay Leno, but him being on at 10/9 doesn't really work. I'll watch Letterman over OBrien any day, but I'd really rather watch Leno. I also agree, with a pp, that the odd man out should be Fallon. Personally, I don't like OBrien either, and really wouldn't watch him, but Fallon isn't funny and makes me uncomfortable to watch or hear him.

 

[momrek06]

Jay Leno Jokes About The Future Of His Show
Talk-show host takes jabs at NBC amid rumors of late-night lineup juggling.
By James Montgomery

On Thursday night, as many media outlets were reporting that Jay Leno's struggling 10 p.m. talk show would be going on hiatus, the comedian came out swinging during his opening monologue, cracking jokes about being canceled, threatening to leave for another network, and taking potshots at NBC, his home for nearly 20 years.

"As you may have heard, there's a rumor floating around that we were canceled. ... I heard it coming in this morning on the radio," Leno said. "So far, nobody's said anything to me, but if we did get canceled, it'd give us time to maybe do some traveling. In fact, I understand Fox is beautiful this time of year."

As the audience whistled their approval, Leno followed up the joke with another barb: "I don't think there's any truth to the rumors," he said. "See, it's always been my experience NBC only cancels you when you're in first place, so we're fine."

It was a reference to NBC's decision to replace him as host of "The Tonight Show" when his contract expired last year, despite his show leading all late-night programming in the Nielsen ratings, and it wasn't the only jab he'd make at the network during his monologue.

"Hey, Kev," Leno said to bandleader Kevin Eubanks. "What does NBC stand for? Never Believe your Contract."

In all actuality, by the time Leno's monologue aired, most of the news had shifted to whether or not he'd return to his old 11:30 p.m. slot following NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics next month, a move that would leave Conan O'Brien — who accepted ownership of "The Tonight Show" in June — as the odd man out. TMZ reported that NBC has presented O'Brien with two options: either do his show from midnight to 1 a.m., or leave for another network.

Late Thursday, NBC released a statement regarding O'Brien's future, saying, "We have the best comedy team in the business. We remain committed to keeping Conan O'Brien on NBC. He is a valued part of our late-night lineup, as he has been for more than 16 years, and is one of the most respected entertainers on television."

Interesting as I did not watch Leno last night but I did watch Conan and he said NOTHING in reference to all this.

 

[krcit]

I think Leno's 10:00 show stinks! It's actually painful to watch so I don't, lol. It's Househunters at 10 for me

I do love Conan though!

 

[Cogswel_Cogs]

I guess Jay is no Merv Griffin.
Couldn't hold the 10 spm spot.

I feel bad for Jimmy Fallon nobody worried about hurting his feeling

 

[dollydell]

If Jay is failing it's because he isn't funny, he totally sucks. He was bad with the old show, and horrible with the 10pm show.

I am not the only one that thinks so either, all of the people I know, and most of us do stay up late and watch the late night shows during the week, refused to watch him in the first place, and knew it was a bad choice to give him a 10 pm show everyday, I even hear strangers in the store talking about how they can't stand Jay Leno, and love Conan.

I would be thrilled if they are getting rid of his 10pm show, but moving him back to 11:30 is the biggest mistake they could make.

 

[bicker]

The thing is: Jay isn't "failing". The network made it clear, early on, the kind of ratings that they expected the show to get, and they are pretty-much achieving those ratings.

What we're probably seeing here is covert manipulation of public opinion, by people who have a grudge against having Leno at 10PM. Note that none of this is coming from official information from NBC. It's all unattributed rumor and innuendo. It is very possible that these rumors are being started by irate affiliates, who are seeking to kill Leno, because it hurts their business. They would rather gamble on what NBC would put in Leno's place, than deal with the situation as it is now, long-term.

And what's potentially really funny about this is that, if they are successful in killing Leno at 10PM, the replacement actually could be worse -- maybe the network will run three Datelines per week, and then rerun one of them on Friday. However, I guess some of them think it is worth the risk.

 

[dollydell]

I don't like Dateline, but I would rather have a full week of that at 10 then Jay.

 

[Shyvioletisme]

If Jay is failing it's because he isn't funny, he totally sucks. He was bad with the old show, and horrible with the 10pm show.

I am not the only one that thinks so either, all of the people I know, and most of us do stay up late and watch the late night shows during the week, refused to watch him in the first place, and knew it was a bad choice to give him a 10 pm show everyday, I even hear strangers in the store talking about how they can't stand Jay Leno, and love Conan.

I would be thrilled if they are getting rid of his 10pm show, but moving him back to 11:30 is the biggest mistake they could make.

ITA...I am another person who has never found Leno funny in the least bit. My favorite is Craig Ferguson, then Conan, Jimmy Fallon(who started out slow, but his show has gotten really funny lately) and then Letterman(who I used to think was great, but I feel like his show just hasn't been very funny the past few years)...heck, I'd even pick Carson Daly over Leno...I think they should just cancel Leno and let it go. But that's just my opinion.

 

[FireDancer]

Whether he is good or not is completely subjective to what we each find funny. No one is either funny or unfunny, we just find them funny or unfunny. This is why many different kinds of comics are successful.

There has been a lot of behind the scenes problems with the new show because of some union pressure. The union is of the opinion that by having Leno on at 10 every day he is taking the place of 5 dramas. Now, as biker pointed out this isn't necessarily true but face value and reality aren't always the same. The argument has been that he is taking away 5 time slots that should be different shows on different days which is keeping 5 shoes worth of actors, writers, extras, staff, etc out of work.

Some networks have forbidden their stars from appearing on his show and some others, while not saying so, have told their stars in not so many words that they should. This is part of the reason why he does more skits then guests.

If Jay stays on at 10 I am fine with it, if he goes back to a later time I am fine, if he is canceled I am fine. I don't really watch him but don't think he is bad either so I am not trying to push any opinion. This is just what I have heard from someone who works in the business.

 

[ols386]

I hope that doesn't happen. Jay Leno is the worst(slightly worse than Fallon) of the late night hosts. It's nice having Conan on earlier. Jay needs to pack up his chin and retire to Florida.

I like Leno. I think he's funny. I like Conan too, but he's funny in a different sort of way. He's alot more animated that Leno.

Actually, this morning on a Detroit radio station, I heard the rumor that Leno would come on at 11:30 for 30 minutes, and that Conan would follow at 12:00.

 

[bicker]

Well, they cannot just cancel Leno; nor can they put Leno back at 11:30 and fire Conan. There is a $50 million penalty if they do that. And whoever they get rid of will likely be picked up by ABC, and put on right up against whichever one they keep, effectively cutting the profitability of the Tonight Show in half.

 

[ckay87]

Why wouldn't they just keep him on at 10 but just ONCE per week? That makes a ridiculous amount of sense. He'd be funnier, having a whole week to generate only the best material. Would only take the place of ONE drama. And doing so wouldn't uproot the other 2 NBC latenight hosts.

 

[bicker]

I suspect that Leno won't go for that. Remember, for someone like him, exposure is part of the compensation he gets.

 

[Imzadi]

I suspect that Leno won't go for that. Remember, for someone like him, exposure is part of the compensation he gets.

It's not just the exposure, Leno LIKES to work. He goes out around the country a good 40 weekend out of the year to do his own stand-up routines around the country. he did this long before he was on the Tonight Show, and he has never stopped. Even when the bucks & status of being on the Tonight Show, came to him, he has kept up with his weekly stand up. He LIKES to work. If FOX offered him a weekly contract after getting canned from NBC, he'd take it.

 

[momrek06]

Fox is calling.

Fox throws a little gasoline on the Conan O'Brien fire
January 8, 2010 | 2:00 pm
Fox, never one to miss an opportunity to make a competitor's life more difficult, has indicated that if Conan O'Brien wants to leave NBC, it would be happy to talk.

O'Brien, who is being asked to move "The Tonight Show" from 11:35 p.m. to 12:05 a.m. to make room for Jay Leno's return to late night, has not made up his mind on whether he'll take one for the team or take a walk. Leno's moving back to late night because NBC affiliates are beyond frustrated with his 10 p.m. show and what its ratings are doing to their late local news.

Of course, Fox has toyed with late night before (Chevy Chase, anyone?), and quietly telling inquiring reporters that "Conan would be a great fit for Fox" could be just as much about annoying NBC chiefs Jeff Zucker and Jeff Gaspin as about trying to start its own late-night franchise.

Fox couldn't just jump into the late-night game. It would have to ask, and in some cases beg, its affiliates for the time to carry a late show. The stations won't hand over that time just out of the goodness of their hearts. Furthermore, Fox is already asking (or is it demanding?) that its affiliates give it a cut of any money they get from cable operators for carrying their signals. The logic is that because Fox provides the affiliates with programming, it should get a cut of any money distributors pay them to carry the signal.

While Fox is spinning one thing, it is unclear whether the brass at its parent company News Corp. are really that interested in getting into this game. It's true the network made a run at Conan six years ago (a move that led NBC to anoint Conan as Jay Leno's eventual successor, which led NBC to put Leno in prime time, which led to the mess NBC currently finds itself in), but the company may have different priorities now.

If Fox does seriously go after O'Brien, it won't be cheap. Yes, NBC may have big penalties to pay O'Brien if he were to be bounced from "The Tonight Show." But right now NBC is only talking about bouncing O'Brien out of his time slot, not the show (so tricky!). NBC could even bench O'Brien for a couple of years if he does want to leave, although it would be more likely to try to extract big payment from whoever wants his services.

-- Joe Flint

 

[Planogirl]

ITA...I am another person who has never found Leno funny in the least bit. My favorite is Craig Ferguson, then Conan, Jimmy Fallon(who started out slow, but his show has gotten really funny lately) and then Letterman(who I used to think was great, but I feel like his show just hasn't been very funny the past few years)...heck, I'd even pick Carson Daly over Leno...I think they should just cancel Leno and let it go. But that's just my opinion.

I love Craig Ferguson.

I like Conan and don't blame him if he walks over this. Pushing him back is a lousy thing to do.

 

[momrek06]

NBC’s Shift in Schedule May Be Up to O’Brien

January 8, 2010
The future of NBC’s plan to shake up its late-night television lineup may depend on just how much Conan O’Brien doesn’t like what the network has done to him.

The numbers have not worked out in NBC’s favor since the network moved Conan O’Brien to the “Tonight Show,” and Jay Leno to 10 p.m.
A day after NBC executives said they were contemplating a plan to move Jay Leno back to 11:35 p.m., elbowing Mr. O’Brien back a half-hour to 12:05 a.m., representatives of Mr. O’Brien’s are privately saying that he has not accepted NBC’s plan and that he is likely not to agree to it any time in the near future. But none were willing to say so publicly.

The uncertainty has created an extraordinary spectacle: Two of NBC’s biggest stars, with an aggregate salary of more than $50 million a year, and their staffs are waiting to see what might happen, with no official word being issued from the network or any of its executives.

A senior executive at a rival network said that if Mr. O’Brien and his representatives were willing to walk away from money he may still be owed by NBC, “they’ll have options.” The executive spoke on the condition of anonymity because he wanted to avoid becoming involved in NBC’s dealings with Mr. O’Brien.

One option seems to be emerging for Mr. O’Brien. On Friday the Fox network began sending signals that it may have a home for Mr. O’Brien, should he decide that he would rather opt out of his lucrative contract at NBC — which pays him in the range of $20 million yearly — for a shot at a show that does not relegate him indefinitely behind Mr. Leno.

“We’ve always been interested in late night and we’re always looking to bring great new talent to Fox,” said a Fox employee who demanded anonymity because network employees were not authorized to speak on the record about the issue. “While Conan would be a great fit for Fox, he’s still under contract with NBC, so we’ll just see how all of this plays out.”


You can read the rest of the article here... http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/arts/television/09leno.html

 

[auntie]

I like Jay... only not the 10:00 show. Too many stupid skits. Liked him much better at 11:30. I like Conan too. Personally, I'd like to see either one of them replace Letterman. He's just turned into a grouchy, old guy lately. Used to love him. Man, now he complains, and complains, and shoves his political views down ya throat. He's become unwatchable. Who cares...I want to be entertained, not preached too. Do like Craig Fuergerson too! Took me a while to get used to the accent..but now I like him.
Fallon...he's just terrible. NBC ought to send him packing.