How Zucker's Leno quick fix got NBC into a quagmire (Dinosaur Media DeathWatch™)

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 9, 2010 | Meg James and Matea Gold

[dynachrome]

“God only knows what they’ll replace him with.....

Perhaps a panel show.”

As there are so many reality shows out there, why not try “Newest Latenight Talkshow Host”

Rachel Madcow, Sgt. “Ed” Shultz, and Keith Uberdork can be the judges.

[left that other site]

She's getting ready for another televised colonoscopy.

LMAO!

[Zakeet]

NBC Tee Vee has been on a steady downhill slide since this newser left the Today Show

[abb]

Actually, DuMont did some pioneering stuff back in the day. Our first TV was a DuMont.

http://www.dumonthistory.tv/

A series of Web pages devoted to the DuMont Television Network, America’s fourth television network which operated from 1946 to 1956. After searching for such a page for some time, the author decided to fill the void himself by creating a site devoted to DuMont. This was the first, and is still the largest, DuMont resource on the Internet.

[Hessian]

Been saying it for years - Fire Zucker, save the network.

[mkjessup]

I've said it already and I think my solution is a true "win-win-win" for NBC and it's viewers, here it is:

At 11:30 Eastern Time, Jay Leno comes out on stage just like he used to, except Kevin Eubanks & Doc Severinsen open up with the classic Tonight Show intro that used to be the trademark of Johnny Carson, Jay welcomes the audience and the TV viewers to 'The Best of Johnny Carson Tonight'.

Jay does his monologue of about 20 minutes or so, plus the usual commercial breaks, taking him up to Midnight Eastern, where he motions to the old style Carson-era curtains and Doc Severinsen calls out ala Ed McMahon "and now, herrrrre's CONAN!"

Conan O'Brien comes bouncin' out on stage, he and Jay high five each other, and joined by Doc Severinsen, they proceed to sit down at a nice big desk (something similar to the NFL pre-game talk shows), and they proceed to screen the very best of Carson's shows, from the earliest to the last years, just enjoying themselves, laughing it up, and there is no doubt in my mind that the viewership would be off the charts, why?

Because it would not matter who is hosting, for those who prefer Conan, they would tune in, for those who prefer Jay, THEY would tune in, and just about EVERYone would tune in for Doc Severinsen's recollections, Kevin Eubanks and the Tonight Show Band would continue jammin' in and out of the commercial breaks, and EVERYONE would enjoy a nightly serving of the finest late night host bar none:

The one, the only Johnny Carson.

How on Earth could they go wrong with that?

And the best part? EVERYbody gets to 'save face', no personal humiliations, no embarrassing bumps to another time slot, and I'm willing to bet that NBC could charge even higher commercial rates for that time slot (11:30 to 1:30 Eastern Time) than they do now.

Call me a genius, or call me a bozo, I think that formula would work like gangbusters.

[clintonh8r]

Yes....she had a lovechild with Eric Sevareid’s ghost....

[abb]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._Fred_Muggs

[AnotherUnixGeek]

Zucker's troubles were magnified this week when, with NBC facing a revolt by affiliate stations furious over their sinking ratings, he decided to move Jay Leno back to late night after less than four months.

Leno trailed Letterman in the ratings for considerably longer than four months when they were both new to the 11:30 slot - Leno didn't pull away until Hugh Grant came on after his arrest for picking up a hooker. Conan has every right to be furious about NBC's spinelessness, and about Leno's lobbying for the 11:30 slot.

NBC deserves to lose Conan, who's far more funny and original than Leno. Leno's notions on creativity seem to be limited to recycling old Howard Stern bits and employing Stern's old minion Stuttering John Melendez as his announcer. But as Stern has observed, there's nothing funny about Stuttering John when he doesn't stutter.

[Political Junkie Too]

How on Earth could they go wrong with that?

They could follow it with repeats of Tom Snyder from Tomorrow. Maybe they can make the 10:00PM slot "Retro Hour" and show classic NBC shows from the 1950's and 1960's.

-PJ

[John W]

I miss Johnny and have for a long time.

[abb]

Interesting concept. If Sylvester (Pat) Weaver were still around, he would figure out how to make something work.

http://www.museum.tv/eotvsection.php?entrycode=weaversylve

Sylvester (Pat) Weaver enjoys a deserved reputation as one of network television’s most innovative executives. His greatest impact on the industry came during his tenure as programming head at NBC in the late 1940s and early 1950s. There he developed programming and business strategies the other networks would imitate for years to come. He is also remembered for supporting the idea that commercial television could educate as well as entertain, and he championed cultural programming at NBC under a policy he labeled “Operation Frontal Lobes.”

I recommend highly his book.

The Best Seat in the House: The Golden Years in Radio and Television. New York: Knopf, 1994.

[mkjessup]

I love it, GREAT idea!! “Retro NBC, See What Your Parents Were Laughin’ About!”

[mkjessup]

THANKS for the book referral, I will make it a point to pick it up.

[Political Junkie Too]

“Retro NBC, See What Your Parents Were Laughin’ About!”

In Color!

-PJ

[REDWOOD99]

Zucker looks like Don Rickles, ya hockey puck!

[abb]

The Museum of Broadcast Communications is a nice website. Lots of history there.

http://www.museum.tv/

[mkjessup]

"In LIVING Color! ;) lol

[abb]

Maybe some answers here.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/nbc-ends-its-infront-experiment-will-hold-upfront-may-17th-early-development-announced/

NBC Ends “Infront” Experiment; Will Hold Upfront May 17th; Early Development Announced Heavy On Scripted Dramas

[InvisibleChurch]

Keep Zucker, bring the dump down.