Posted on 01/07/2010 4:53:07 PM PST by tobyhill
NBC executives held discussions with both Jay Leno and Conan OBrien Thursday about the future of the networks late-night lineup. And while executives said that no final decision has been made, they did not deny that the network was considering moves that could include returning Mr. Leno to his old job as host of The Tonight Show.
NBC executives said a decision would definitely not be announced Thursday but did not deny a report posted by TMZ that NBC was considering making the switch and replacing Mr. OBrien at Tonight with Mr. Leno.
TMZ reported that NBC would make the move soon to take advantage of the natural break in its schedule when it covers the Winter Olympics next month.
The discussions at NBC are directly related to pressure that has been brought on the network by its affiliated stations, which have seen ratings for their 11 p.m. local newscasts plummet this television season because of much-weakened lead-in audiences from the network in the 10 p.m. hour.
(Excerpt) Read more at mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com ...
If I was Leno, I would bankrupt NBC.
I would LOVE to read that O’Brien contract. On the downside, he doesn’t have any equity stake in the Tonight Show (unlike Letterman who actually owns the Late Show). But, I have heard that he has a lengthy contract with huge penalties and multipliers should he get canned. I would laugh uncontrollably if Jeff Zucker and NBCU had to payout O’Brien $40-60 million, just to get him out the door.
1) Go back to the old stage.
2) Go back to the old intro music.
Those changes really suck.
But I like seeing it at 10:00; I’m getting too old for 11-12.
Conan not only let Sarah Palin on the show, but let her upstage Shatner. He will be punished by NBC.
Right, the fact that for the first time in 10 years they’re losing eyeballs to Letterman has nothing to do with it.
I haven’t watched it once since the new guy took over. At least when Leno was there I would catch it when I had a chance. I like Jay, he’s not really that funny most of the time but I know he likes cars and I can relate to that.
He is simply not suitable to be the Tonight Show host. It has nothing to do with him or anything, in my opinion. It's just that Conan appeals to edgier, young adults in college type viewers. He's uncomfortable and it shows.
NBC completely made a hair-brained move here. If Jay wanted to step down, they could have found someone else who isn't currently a host in their own right. Personally, I think Ellen DeGeneres would have been perfect as the new Tonight Show host.
I am laughing at NBC. They dropped My Name is Earl to make room for this abysmal failure.
Who gives a crap about Jay Leno and what time this dimwit comes on?
Here’s hoping NBC and that jerk Leno lose big time.
I wish Leno would make a weekly 1 hour show about his car collection. Now THAT, I would watch.
Leno needed a new show.
"Meet the Press" needed a new host ...
Hey, you never know...
Conan has been doing a great job. Love watching him over Letterman. It would be a big mistake to take him off the air. Jimmy Fallon is also funny. I’m a 50 year old so they would be upsetting me as a target audience.
I hear story that Dick Wolf consider taking Law and Order francise to CBS or ABC that what I Understand so they try keep Uncle Dick happy
I haven’t been watching since week premire I been watching USA Networks show like Burn NOtice, Psych In PLain Sight at 10pm
The network dinosaurs are becoming more irrelevant every day.
“Jimmy Fallon is also funny.”
He’s erratic. I saw him one night and the show was great,hysterical. The next night...nothing.
Craig Ferguson is really my fave, I could listen to hi read the phone book. Well, the Glasgow phonebook anyway.
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