Leno in happier times, chatting on the Tonight Show with the leader of the free world. (AP)
Jay Leno's new 10 p.m. talk show is losing viewers, as are the local news programs that follow it in several major markets.
This is not good for the network that made the decision to move Leno from his perch atop the late night talk show heap for its grand prime-time experiment.
One of the silver linings proferred by NBC types during the show's ratings slide is that, while they knew Leno would have tough going in the fall when the new dramas it was up against were in full swing, he would kill the much more expensive dramas he is up against once said pricey programs were in reruns.
Last week, that theory got put to the test when Leno went up against a "CSI: Miami" rerun.
He lost.
That is the backdrop for Leno's illuminating QA with Broadcast & Cable magazine today, in which he was asked flat out if he regretted his move to primetime.
"Would I have preferred to stay at 11:30?" Leno mused. "Yeah, sure."
Leno went further, comparing hosting the "Tonight Show" for 17 years to winning the prestigious America's Cup yacht race, adding the rejoinder:
"Do I enjoy the battle [of making the new show work]? Yes, I get a certain amount of satisfaction from pounding my head against the wall."
Faint praise indeed.
Then later, when asked if he would take back the "Tonight Show" if offered, Leno seemed unaware that the job had been filled:
"If it were offered to me, would I take it? If that's what they wanted to do, sure. That would be fine if they wanted to."
This does not sounds like a happy man.
And with Conan O'Brien's "Tonight Show" ratings way below Leno's when Leno left, one can only wonder if the red-headed gabber is hearing Leno's iron-jawed noggin pounding against the wall... in his nightmares.
Just a thought (or a wish)... Put Tonight Show reruns w/Johnny Carson on MSNBC at 11:30pm against Conan - bet they'd give that cable outlet the biggest ratings boost they've ever had and probably kick Conan's butt as well.
Conan is much much funnier than leno or letterman. People are just stupid and hate change so they complain about the new guy. He may be more immature than leno but he's a lot funnier. People will come around to him I think when they get used to him being in the time slot.
It is not about funny...it is about people in America working themselves to death. Long commutes, stress at work...financial stressors puts many of us to bed early. No one has factored that in. I am asleep by 9:00 most nights due to an early morning wake up call and a 1 hour commute to and from work.
Leno, Conan and Letterman all lack the humor and late-night "warmth" that Carson created. Want a new look? Get NBC to romance Billy Crystal back to television! He'd host a show that would draw celebrities and viewers alike while leaving politics to R.I.P. for a change.
Leno...Letterman...O'Brien...boot 'em all. The 11:30 slots should be offered to Jimmy Fallon and Craig Ferguson - and without the comedic intervention and infinite wisdom of the big-wigs that just think they know what's funny and entertaining.
With the big Tonight Show switch NBC has proven to whatever viewers they have that they really don't know what they're doing. Leno besting Letterman was no big deal but he was doing it. Letterman is a complete bore. Conan is a joke but not a funny one. He can't just tell a joke. Thinking his audience needs help he has to act out almost every joke to make sure we got it. We get it alright. He ain't funny.
None of this can last.
Conan is sophomoric at best. His childish antics do have an audience they're just under 25 yrs old. Leno's audience is more sophisticated and I suspect better educated so they have a different brand of humour. Carson was great and he had a wealth of show biz guest that set the stage for humour as they performed on the stage, movies and became icons....couple that with Carson's wit made for funny and memorable TV. Jay's as close to Carson's style as possible..that's why Carson chose him.
Good Lord, are Repubs paying people to spam talk show threads? "Jay Leno is too liberal...waaaaahhhhh!!!!"
Seriously? This guy gave Limbaugh kid-glove treatment. As far as having Liberal guests...well, surprise: it's friggin' Hollywood people! You kinda play the hand you're dealt.
Someone else on this thread said it best: Leno is never "laugh-out-loud" funny but provides some chuckles. He makes a funnier talk show guest than host. Conan will be fine if NBC practices some patience.
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Nancy
I'd rather have Conan back in his 12:30 time slot so he can go back to his old humor! He's inhibited by NBC as the host of the Tonight Show.
D Ditto
Just a thought (or a wish)... Put Tonight Show reruns w/Johnny Carson on MSNBC at 11:30pm against Conan - bet they'd give that cable outlet the biggest ratings boost they've ever had and probably kick Conan's butt as well.
peepants
Conan is much much funnier than leno or letterman. People are just stupid and hate change so they complain about the new guy. He may be more immature than leno but he's a lot funnier. People will come around to him I think when they get used to him being in the time slot.
Jo Coleman
It is not about funny...it is about people in America working themselves to death. Long commutes, stress at work...financial stressors puts many of us to bed early. No one has factored that in. I am asleep by 9:00 most nights due to an early morning wake up call and a 1 hour commute to and from work.
Don
Leno, Conan and Letterman all lack the humor and late-night "warmth" that Carson created. Want a new look? Get NBC to romance Billy Crystal back to television! He'd host a show that would draw celebrities and viewers alike while leaving politics to R.I.P. for a change.
Brandon
Leno...Letterman...O'Brien...boot 'em all. The 11:30 slots should be offered to Jimmy Fallon and Craig Ferguson - and without the comedic intervention and infinite wisdom of the big-wigs that just think they know what's funny and entertaining.
Pete Scianablo
With the big Tonight Show switch NBC has proven to whatever viewers they have that they really don't know what they're doing. Leno besting Letterman was no big deal but he was doing it. Letterman is a complete bore. Conan is a joke but not a funny one. He can't just tell a joke. Thinking his audience needs help he has to act out almost every joke to make sure we got it. We get it alright. He ain't funny. None of this can last.
Don Sharp
Conan is sophomoric at best. His childish antics do have an audience they're just under 25 yrs old. Leno's audience is more sophisticated and I suspect better educated so they have a different brand of humour. Carson was great and he had a wealth of show biz guest that set the stage for humour as they performed on the stage, movies and became icons....couple that with Carson's wit made for funny and memorable TV. Jay's as close to Carson's style as possible..that's why Carson chose him.
Mal
Conan is terrible! Bring Jay Leno back to the Tonight Show and then put a good show in the ten 0'clock slot!!
ATL Observer
Good Lord, are Repubs paying people to spam talk show threads? "Jay Leno is too liberal...waaaaahhhhh!!!!" Seriously? This guy gave Limbaugh kid-glove treatment. As far as having Liberal guests...well, surprise: it's friggin' Hollywood people! You kinda play the hand you're dealt. Someone else on this thread said it best: Leno is never "laugh-out-loud" funny but provides some chuckles. He makes a funnier talk show guest than host. Conan will be fine if NBC practices some patience.