The Jay Leno Situation...

not sure of the entire story, just what I overheard on CNN earlier today.... but they said that NBC was considering giving him the 1130-12 slot, and consequently pushing Conan and Jimmy Fallon back. In my opinion it's a crock of sh*t; Conan makes a name for himself and does an amazing show for years, they promise him an awesome and highly coveted show and time slot, then Jay finds out that earlier times just aren't for him, and starts controlling not only the younger guys' shows, but the times they run and the general late night talk show structure that's been there for years (the 1030-1130-1230 time slots - here in CST at least). He should just finish out the year or bow out, no need to involve 2 other shows that are doing incredibly well when they have no part in it. just my opinion based on what I heard earlier.

also I should mention that while I respect Jay Leno's workhorse ethic, I have never liked his show, so my answer might be a little bias, whereas I have always liked Conan and have really enjoyed Jimmy Fallon over the past year or so
 
i heard a blurb about this last night that it was just a rumor and that they had no plans to do it... "yet"

but, I could be behind on the news since I don't watch it much anymore :)

Later,
jason
 
adamrahn said:
not sure of the entire story, just what I overheard on CNN earlier today.... but they said that NBC was considering giving him the 1130-12 slot, and consequently pushing Conan and Jimmy Fallon back. In my opinion it's a crock of sh*t; Conan makes a name for himself and does an amazing show for years, they promise him an awesome and highly coveted show and time slot, then Jay finds out that earlier times just aren't for him, and starts controlling not only the younger guys' shows, but the times they run and the general late night talk show structure that's been there for years (the 1030-1130-1230 time slots - here in CST at least). He should just finish out the year or bow out, no need to involve 2 other shows that are doing incredibly well when they have no part in it. just my opinion based on what I heard earlier.

also I should mention that while I respect Jay Leno's workhorse ethic, I have never liked his show, so my answer might be a little bias, whereas I have always liked Conan and have really enjoyed Jimmy Fallon over the past year or so
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Conan's numbers are much lower than Leno's were in that time slot. I don't think Fallon is doing any better. Since the change up, Letterman is number one at 11:30pm, and NBC is getting beat at 10pm. Plus, since the change up, many NBC affiliates are screaming that their 11pm News numbers have dropped (in some places by as much as 50%) since their lead-in became Leno.

Remember, it's about making money, and since the change NBC isn't making nearly as much as they used to, and it's having a negative effect on the affiliates. I don't see how they can not move everyone back to their old time slots.
 
Mike Harvey said:
Remember, it's about making money
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Yeah but all if this is public and it looks ugly as hell. I thought Jay was an alright guy, but even if he went back to 1130, I'd never watch him again and I'm sure for alot people, he's screwed the pooch for them as well. It's like graduating high school only go to next years prom. Move on, stop struggling, move on.
 
I misspoke when I said the two shows were doing incredibly well, sometimes my opinions come out sounding like uninformed facts :/ but I agree with Blade, everything is public and there is no way NBC can save face by reneging on what they've done thus far. I think they should give it more time and see if the numbers even out a bit more, I mean they have only been doing this new time slot stuff for what, like 5-6 months, right?
 
Mike Harvey said:
Conan's numbers are much lower than Leno's were in that time slot. I don't think Fallon is doing any better. Since the change up, Letterman is number one at 11:30pm, and NBC is getting beat at 10pm. Plus, since the change up, many NBC affiliates are screaming that their 11pm News numbers have dropped (in some places by as much as 50%) since their lead-in became Leno.

Remember, it's about making money, and since the change NBC isn't making nearly as much as they used to, and it's having a negative effect on the affiliates. I don't see how they can not move everyone back to their old time slots.
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Of course Conan's numbers are lower than Leno's right now... that was expected. It takes time to build up a loyal audience, and NBC (I'm sure) expected this. From everything that I've read/heard, I agree 100% with adamrahn on this. I like Leno a lot, but his immature attitude about this whole deal is absurd. He's complaining that he didn't want to give it up, and his argument is that he was number 1 in the time slot when they decided to pull the plug. Well, Carson was also on top when they gave the show to Leno in the first place, so argument void if you ask me.

Like mentioned above, he needs to finish out the year and, respectively, bow out...
 
I like Conan, but even then I don't really follow late night shows like these. Actually, besides the few 1-hour drama series I really like and follow, I don't watch any late night, much news, sitcoms, or reality shows at all.

I used to watch Leno and Conan. I like Leno but I've always sorta identified with Conan more. He's tall and nerdy like I was (ok still am), and he is sort of self depricating about it. Plus his show had some zanier stuff initially like the masturbating bear for example. I like a little dirt and weirdness/surreality in my comedy. Sorta Monty Python-esque in a way.

Nowadays I don't follow too much on TV, and in many cases when there is a show I don't have access to right away (HBO stuff), then I will wait for it and devour it on DVD in a couple weeks. A lot of newer series are so much more enjoyable to experience that way, watching 3-4 episodes a night for a couple weeks. And now with movies, free On Demand stuff, Netfilx, books, the internet, and owning both a PS3 and an XB360 I have more entertainment options than I have time to enjoy.
 
It's really not publicised why they are so pissed, here is the short of it. There is a loop hole in Conan and Jays contrat that will prevent the network from paying out Conan $50M and Jay millions (for contract violation) by putting Jay on for 30 minutes at the 11:35 time slot for a lead in to Conan while pushing Conan back (30 min). If the network does this they pay out ZERO penalties to either one and that's why they are so pissed and on top of that they can have Jay do it for just one night a week. I heard FOX just made Conan a hell of an offer and will pick up part of his $50M payout his current net has to pay him to lighten the load.

If you guys rememer they did something similar with David Letterman which is why he went to CBS years ago and never looked back. That network is a mess.
 
What I can say is the 10pm prime time tv slot is going away for Jay or any other talk show. It'll probably happen after the Olympics are over (Feb I think), you prob won;t here much about it until you see a new show advertised for it during the Olympics.
 
In my humble opinion... what the world needs now is a new Letterman/Shaffer combo.

I like having a choice in late night (as a potential consumer), but most of the time Colbert gets my extra late night time... even WITH Tivo.

Of the "big 3" I think Conan is the best... but a new guy with Dave's "who gives a sh*t" attitude (minus the apparent bitterness)... hmm... I'd bank on that.
 
MattinSTL said:
Of the "big 3" I think Conan is the best... but a new guy with Dave's "who gives a sh*t" attitude (minus the apparent bitterness)... hmm... I'd bank on that.
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wholeheartedly agree, I love Dave but now that he and Conan are competing I usually give in and watch Conan. regardless I think NBC needs to put their foot down and figure their crap out otherwise they are gonna lose a lot of momentum on viewership, if Leno is on for a half hour then I'm gonna be turning to Dave, and once I'm watching Dave then I'll probably only turn to Conan for the last half hour. Not sure if there are many with similar opinions but I won't be giving NBC too much of my time if they keep dicking around with things

....and if they keep Carson Daly on then I'm gone for good :P
 
jay originally screwed over letterman. now it looks like he'll end up screwing conan and fallon. looks like bill hicks was right. :cheesy:
 
Conan's open the other night was pretty good: "We have a great show for you tonight, though we don't know what time it will air."

And Leno's comment of "NBC only usually cancels shows that are doing well." unfortunately rings painfully true. Which leads me to believe..

Oop! As typing this, I just heard a news report on the radio (that wasn't mentioned last hour) that NBC has made it official that Leno is moving "back to his old time slot" .. they didn't provide details. Time for some new research; I'll continue my post later.

- Mikko
 
Confirming days of rumors, Jeff Gaspin, the chairman of NBC Universal Entertainment, on Sunday announced that starting Feb. 12, The Jay Leno Show will no longer air at 10 p.m. but that the network hoped to keep Leno for an 11:35 p.m. show, Conan O'Brien for 12:05 p.m. and then Jimmy Fallon after that.

But, Gaspin adds, "It's not a done deal yet."
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http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20335939,00.html


I guess that sums it up.


What I was saying in my previous post was that I think that NBC will keep Leno on in some slot. Because of the currently weak prime-time, NBC is trying to hold on to all the "talent" they have; the problem just seems to be finding an appropriate way to present it.

I think Leno should get his own, weekly, prime time show. Not a nightly thing, and not necessarily sitcom either. But something that was more of a feature and not the long-form drivel that they are making now. Fay and Poehler have both created very funny shows with their moves to prime time.

- Mikko
 
What if after all the controversy, people aren't into a 30minute non-Tonight Show Jay Leno, they gonna screw Conan again and just give Leno the TS back completely? Anything could happen at this point.
 
I don't want Conan to get screwed over. He is loads better than Leno. I have yet to laugh at even ONE of Leno's jokes.

His crap is terrible.
 
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