Why Is NBC Chasing Away Jay Leno?
The Peacock network's decision to hand the The Tonight Show over to Conan O'Brien in 2009 may well go down as one of the biggest mistakes in television history.
Audiences haven’t had a new late-night host to chew up and spit out in quite some time. Remember Chevy Chase? Magic Johnson? Joan Rivers?
They all tried to send us off to sleep each weeknight, but in return we sent them to the showers. Chase’s exit was particularly cruel, given the hype surrounding his Fox gig. His career took a significant hit from that six-week stint.
So why is NBC all but chasing away Jay Leno, the surest thing in late-night history since Johnny Carson last swung his imaginary golf club? You can expect a bidding war for the avuncular Leno in the months to come that will make Katie Couric’s romance with CBS look like a teenage crush.
It all goes back to a rushed business decision the Peacock network made four years ago to keep Conan O’Brien in the fold. Contract talks with the red-headed comic, who seemed unlikely to last the week, let alone 14-plus years when he first replaced David Letterman, had hit a major snag.
So the network suits threw him a Hail Mary — you can take over The Tonight Show in five years if you stay with the NBC family. Heck, there’s no way Leno will still be the king of that time slot by 2009, right.
Right?
Flash forward to 2008, and Leno remains the undisputed late night champ. The Tonight Show earns more than $100 million annually for NBC, according to press reports. The program regularly trumps rival David Letterman’s The Late Show in the ratings with little sign of slipping.
The change is expected to happen mid-next year. O’Brien will assume The Tonight Show hosting duties, former Saturday Night Live star Jimmy Fallon slips into O’Brien’s Late Night slot and Leno gets to scratch his iconic chin while considering his next move.
NBC will offer what it can to keep Leno in the fold, but it’s taken away the one gig he’s best suited for — the network’s 11:35 p.m. slot. The irony is Leno isn’t nearly as talented as his predecessor, but he brings just the right mix of abilities to please the masses. Easier said than done in this highly splintered media age.
Actors love him because he rarely asks questions that push them out of their comfort zone. There’s never a whiff of danger when Leno’s on the beat, at least since former guest Howard Stern stopped making irregular appearances. Carson forged a TV empire with his sardonic wit, penchant for self mockery and a series of ridiculous bit characters. Leno simply went the common denominator route. Never tax the audience, always deliver a sharp monologue and let those late night hours float right on by.
To be fair, a few of his bits remain rigorously funny. The Monday night staple “Headlines” is a howl, letting Leno play off material submitted by the audience. Simple. Effective. Timeless.
And his Jaywalking bits let the stand-up comic think on his feet, something he’s still able to do when uncoupled from the show’s rigid format. Turns out that’s exactly what a tense nation needs late at night, a warm, witty host who won’t challenge any of your preconceived notions.
Leno’s apolitical mien surely plays into his good guy appeal. While Letterman occasionally reveals his true ideology - particularly when viciously attacking right-leaning guests like Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly, Leno keeps attacking all sides without appearing beholden to either party. If his political broadsides hit one party harder, his choir boy veneer lets him sneak away without so much as a mark. He’s long since lost any cutting edge appeal to his comedy, but he’s grown a very thick hide that protects him against criticism.
Best of all, Leno brings a quality that’s nearly absent in Hollywood circles - consistency. He shows up to work every day, takes less vacation time than someone of his status might and never provides any embarrassing tabloid fodder. He’s a sure thing. How much is that worth in today’s marketplace? The mind reels.
So where will he end up next year? Wouldn’t TBS, rebranded as cable’s go-to comedy network, love to have Leno anchoring its late-night lineup? And ABC would gladly retire Nightline and bump Jimmy Kimmel Live by 30 minutes to make way for Jay. What about Fox? The list may be endless.
Some could argue it’s the Tonight Show brand which deserves credit for Leno’s success. Don’t buy it. It’s Leno’s presence, his familiarity and comfort level that breeds a winning show.
There are precious few sure things in entertainment. Leno, who took over for Johnny Carson in 1992I, is one of them. NBC will likely pay dearly for their misjudgment come 2009.
Christian Toto is a freelance writer and film critic for The Washington Times. His work has appeared in People magazine, MovieMaker Magazine, The Denver Post, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and Scripps Howard News Service. He also contributes movie radio commentary to three stations as well as the nationally syndicated Dennis Miller Show and runs the blog What Would Toto Watch?
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42 Comments
1. Roy Mustang:Are you writing about the same pervert Leno that hits on all of the actresses that appear on his show?
>>Christian Toto is a freelance writer and film critic for The Washington Times.
Ah, yes. This would explain it.
Jun 5, 2008 - 2:08 am 2. Jenn M.:The current incarnation of “NIGHTLINE” is an abomination. Please, Jay Leno, go over to ABC and destroy it! And speaking of abominations, how bored and lazy is Conan O’Brien and his staff? Craig Ferguson’s CBS show has been beating O’Brien regularly.
Jun 5, 2008 - 4:35 am 3. Anu:I’m all for Leno. His private life is none of my business. To watch O’Brien is hell. The show is for for simple minded people, who laugh at jokes which bear no real humour, and it’s just a place for those in showbiz to advertize their work.
To choose O’Brien to replace Leno is realy a big mistake. I for one, can’t stand his crazy movements, his body language is from the nuthouse.And is interviewing skills are pitiful.
But, to each his/hers own, I guess. Leno has class!
Jun 5, 2008 - 5:02 am 4. jvon:I think replacing Leno with O’Brien is really overestimating the number of stoned people who watch The Tonight Show.
Jun 5, 2008 - 5:40 am 5. Live Dangerously:Too funny jvon, probably cause it’s too true.
Jun 5, 2008 - 12:07 pm 6. Rob:Regards, Live Dangerously Be A Conservative
This is a simple demographic changeover , the same type that took place 16 years ago when Leno replaced Carson.
Do you really believe the all same people who watched Carson easily carried over to this younger more modern Jay Leno guy who hails completely from another generation? The idea was to simply usher in a more compatible host to the “next generation” of late night television watchers.
Conan Obrien is doing the same thing. He is a completely different kind of comedian and host than Leno, and he appeals to a totally different demographic. Older (I did not say OLD) people tend to not find Conan very funny because the humer is out of their grasp in a generational gap. The next wave of late night television watchers are now hailing from that demographic that relates to Conan.
In 15 or 20 years when Conan is slated to be replaced with someone else, many will cry out the same tune as some do now for Leno. But like all things in life, the old get replaced with the young.
Jun 5, 2008 - 1:53 pm 7. Doug Cragoe:I think this writer got it wrong. Jay Leno got tired of doing the Tonight Show. He could have stayed as long as he wanted, NBC would have kept him. Jay set the date for his departure from the Tonight Show. He even jokes about leaving the show, sounding like he’s glad he only has a limited time left.
Jun 5, 2008 - 3:48 pm 8. hoosiertoo:This writer should do research before offering his opinions.
I work 2nd shift. At one time or another, I’ve seen all the late night shows. I watch none regularly; I’d rather flip on Showtime and watch a movie or Tudors rerun.
Didn’t watch Carson. (I got it) Don’t watch Leno. (I get it) Won’t watch O’Brien.(I get it. I still hate it.)
And Letterman is a putz.
Jun 5, 2008 - 4:18 pm 9. Christian Toto:Doug,
Leno may joke about leaving the show now, but he’s one of the hardest working people in the industry and he’s certainly not ready to retire. He’s still only in his 50s. He’s a guy who still does stand up to hone his chops in addition to his “Tonight Show” gig. Why would he gladly leave the cushiest last night slot around? He may have agreed in some capacity to the switch four-plus years ago when it all seemed so far away, but come next year some other station will snatch him up and he’ll be telling corny jokes for years to come.
Jun 5, 2008 - 4:18 pm 10. Nahanni:I wish ABC would hire leno and do away with Nightline.
There is no news there anymore, unless you consider Obamafellation news. And Inside Edition does a much better job on the celebrity/feature stories.
Jun 5, 2008 - 6:04 pm 11. Jay Leno Celebrity Gossip | Why Is NBC Chasing Away Jay Leno?:[...] The Peacock network’s decision to hand the The Tonight Show over to Conan O’Brien in 2009 may well go down as one of the biggest mistakes in television history. Source: Why Is NBC Chasing Away Jay Leno? [...]
Jun 5, 2008 - 10:00 pm 12. Brendon Carr (Korea Law Blog):I’m 38 years old, which I think makes me part of the supposed O’Brien demographic. Good God, how I miss Johnny Carson.
Jun 5, 2008 - 11:46 pm 13. Charles Neighbors:Leno’s opening monologue is the greatest I’ve heard…beats all the other late night sleepers…
I for one will miss those wonderful monologues.
Jun 6, 2008 - 7:39 am 14. BeachBum:You couldn’t be more right: I wish he spent more time on the show alone. The networks “choices” from Norville to Couric flame out because they are a “top-down” chocie, like Hillary was. When Leno leaves late night so do I. (Did these people learn nothing from Coke’s decision to drop the “old” Coke?).
Jun 6, 2008 - 10:25 am 15. Christian Toto:Charles, I think Leno’s monologues get too little attention. And you’re right, even if his “Tonight Show” is too often trite, his monologues are uniformly sharp.
Jun 6, 2008 - 10:26 am 16. Sandra:I am only 36 and I still remember all the old time comedians which I miss to this day. I don’t even bother with Comedy Central. The obscenities, sex, and toilet jokes are not funny. Maybe I am an old soul but I am longing for those brilliant comedians who really knew how to tell a joke. For example, Johnny Carson. Do they exist anymore?
Jun 6, 2008 - 11:03 am 17. Adam:Leno is being smart about his departure (like he’s taking cues from Seinfeld): he’s leaving in his prime and he’ll be remembered as a great talk show host, immortalizing his trademark laugh and mannerisms.
As for Conan, I found myself asking the same question you are: Can Conan mature into an 11:35pm timeslot? He’s an educated American who (I believe) flips a switch everyday to be ridiculous and entertaining to a post midnight audience. He’s fully aware that his act and his outrageous behavior will have to be toned down to appeal to a 9 to 5 audience.
For Conan’s replacement, I understand Loren Michaels is instrumental in many success stories, but Fallon? He was an idiot on SNL who couldn’t “act” as a funny character. He relied on laughing through the sketch to make it appear funnier than it was.
As a talk show host; I’m sure he’ll be just as lame.
Daily is a loser, he was on MTV and he still is on Late Late Late Later Night with Carson Daily. Making fun of himself doesn’t make him cooler in my book; he’s still laughing all the way to the bank by calling himself a tool.
Jun 6, 2008 - 3:07 pm 18. Jack Lifton:Jay Leno is a warm very funny surveyor of and commentator upon contemporary America. he will carry his audience to wherever he goes,television, film, radio, or stand-up. Conan O’Brien is simply not funny. The Tonight show will end with a whimper and the NBC management will shrug it off to a change in demographics when, in fact, its demise will be due to a sharp drop in the business mangeemnt skills of those who today run NBC.
Jun 6, 2008 - 4:09 pm 19. GhaleonQ:Well, the comments, self-selected as they may be, have been uniformly enlightening. I’m 20, very conservative, and very Lutheran. I still can’t imagine the person that would find Leno amusing or O’Brien annoying (a symptom of too much listening to and writing comedy?). My liberal, Ivy League friends (read: Leno’s bane) think that Leno fans are mythical. You’ve given both parties reason to doubt O’Brien-as-Carson’s-heir.
Jun 6, 2008 - 7:17 pm 20. daveinboca:Don’t know what universe some of the Leno-haters above dwell in. Guess the nasty liberal Ivy-League twits comprise about zero percent of late night viewing. Everyone watches Leno & nasty leering Letterman is an ideologue who doesn’t attract females because basically he is a lefty dork.
Fox & ABC will bid through the roof to get Leno at about twice what the loozer network that thinks pro hockey beats NFL football—plus there’s that contract with Notre Dame. Everything NBC touches turns quickly to fecal material, especially MSNBC. Zucker is destroying the Peacock & lil Jeff Immelt is a deer in the headlights.
Jun 7, 2008 - 1:59 am 21. John Samford:Who is Jay Leno? Why does it matter?
Jun 7, 2008 - 3:10 am 22. Jerri Jones:I watch Leno everynight for his monologue and occasionally switch to the other late night shows just to see what guests they have. I think Mr. Toto is absolutely correct about Leno’s “never tax the audience” allure. By 10:30pm at night I am ready to hear a funny, up to the minute monologue and be gently chided by Leno’s equally distributed political comments. He is funny and frankly entertainment is what I want, not more political ideology. If I wanted political commentary, I would be watching many repeats of the cable opinion or news shows, but by that time at night I have switched from that mode to just wanting to be entertained period. I think that NBC is jumping the gun if they are attempting to change the demographic. I am 46 years old, but I am the one who still controls the purse strings, I make the buying decisions in my household and to be put out to pasture by the peacock is ridiculous. NBC will lose this longtime late night viewer to whatever network welcomes Jay Leno and frankly, I don’t care what happens to NBC. I find it offensive that they believe that regular, middle-aged, family-oriented, fly-over state men and women are not important in keeping their network ratings high. It makes me laugh when I think about my children’s generation being so beloved by the networks (who do they think really pays for all of products being advertized??). I am the mother of three hardworking children in their twenties but I can tell you that I am the one that has the most buying power. None of my children even watch the 10:30pm TV shows. So, bye bye NBC!!!!
Jun 7, 2008 - 7:41 am 23. Shawn:I saw Leno back in his standup days before taking over the Tonight Show and he was good. As far as I’m concerned, the Tonight Show should have ended when Johnny retired. I now find Leno so predictable that you can pretty much give the punchline before he says it. On the other hand, I like Conan, but you need a certain sense of humor to get him. That being said, they shouldn’t give the “Tonight Show” to anyone. Close it down like they should have after Carson retired.
Jun 7, 2008 - 3:07 pm 24. Bogie:We’ll all switch to Craig Ferguson who beats O’Brien every night of the week. Gee, and I’m an Ivy Leaguer and over 65 ! Demographics, baloney.
Jun 7, 2008 - 4:50 pm 25. Bill:Carson was king and Leno, Letterman, O’Brien never could even come close to matching Carson’s talent. I do Like Leno though he was as good of a replacement as anyone could of hoped for. Conan O’Brainless turned me off a long time ago. When a comedian slams ones morality and his/her’s religious belife’s he is at that point not a comedian but a fool!
Jun 7, 2008 - 5:42 pm 26. Bill:Agree with you Bogie: Craig Ferguson is a riot!
Jun 7, 2008 - 5:43 pm 27. RB:I grew up watching Carson, and remember when he handed the reigns over to Leno, in a very public snub to Letterman (who’s show followed right behind The Tonight Show). Jay struggled when he first started out, and wasn’t nearly as good as he is now. This was shown last fall during the writers strike, when NBC decided to run some of the early Jay Leno shows. Jay’s presence in front of the crowd for the monologue was stressful, almost painful to watch. And his interviewing skills were horrendous. However, with time, Jay has developed into the best available host for late night talk shows.
Letterman took his quirky Late Night format to CBS and continued it. That’s why it continues to suffer, and is the same reason that The Tonight Show will suffer with Conan O’Brien as host. While I do believe that Conan is talented as a comedy writer, his presence as talk show host, along with the stupid skits, antics, etc., is a real turnoff.
While I am not a prude, and have had more than my share of crude jokes and humor, I don’t believe that this type of material has a place on ANY of the late night talk shows. Sure, something humorous can be said about Sen. Larry Craig’s bathroom adventure, or about Britney showing her private parts to all who want to view them, but can’t they spend the time to write humorous material about everyday matters that we can all relate to?
Seriously, Jay Leno is just as funny joking about President Bush’s latest misstep as he is joking about public school teachers having sex with their students. But there is too much sexual material being spoken about, that it is feeling really filthy. If we are laughing at the fact that another Catholic priest molested an alter boy, what does that say about us as a society?
One of the best and newest (at the time) talk show hosts who had promise, but lack of support, was Arsenio Hall. He was new, fresh, entertaining, and knew how to interview people. It’s too bad that one of the networks doesn’t offer him another gig on late night TV.
The only other talk ‘person’ I can think of who would be a good replacement for Leno is…Jon Stewart, of Comedy Central. He is genuinely funny, and can deliver a joke with the proper timing to make it funny. He also has excellent interviewing skills. I think a Jon Stewart replacement for Jay Leno would be the best thing that NBC could do to retain the crown of top rated late night TV show.
Bottom line: Jay Leno is the best talk show host out there right now. Jay can read the phone book and make people laugh. The others (Conan, Carson Daily, Kimmel, Ferguson) are all second rate.
Jun 8, 2008 - 8:21 am 28. James:Anyone who has seen Jay Leno do standup live will tell you that despite being “dependable” on the Tonight Show, Leno is amazing at standup.
I imagine Leno is happy to go and pursue more creative opportunities in his golden years.
Jun 8, 2008 - 1:37 pm 29. Dr. Kenneth Noisewater:Jeez, I haven’t watched any of those guys in at least a decade, probably more… And even _The Daily Show_ has gotten weaker as Stewart has gotten deeper into the Obama bandwagon..
The only late-night shows worth seeing are _Colbert_ and _Red Eye_ on Fox News.
Jun 11, 2008 - 8:17 am 30. Diane:Just want to add my comment that as a Carson viewer back in the day, and a current Leno fan….I pretty much can say that I won’t be watching Conan. I adore Craig Ferguson, detest Letterman. Not sure what I’ll do….Maybe NBC will wake up and realize their error, or Leno will land on his feet on say, ABC. That’s do-able. Wonder if he’ll take “Headlines” with him.
Jun 13, 2008 - 6:02 am 31. Lynn:I have been watching the tonight show since I was about twelve.(when my parents were asleep of coarse!) I am 40 and I can’t go to sleep until I watch Jay Leno. I really loved Johnny Carson and Ed McMahnon, they were a great combinations, and Johnny’s skit were so funny. I really enjoy Jay because his humor is so genuine, he is a great interviewer, Jay Walking is one of my favorites. I like that his jokes do not have to be crude or rude in order to be funny. I really dislike jokes with profanity, and Jay keeps it clean, it takes a intelligent and creative imagination to pull off a great joke with out dirty references or gestures. He is just a class act, that really should stay and continue to let us appreciate his talent. I find that Conan makes me dizzy and is extremely annoying. I really do not understand why he even has a show, but to hand over the “Tonight Show” is like giving someone who can’t swim a gold medal in swimming. I think that Jay continues to improve, He has class, humor, creativity and the fact he has been married to his wife for 25 years must really say a lot about where is priorities are. Where is NBC’s Priorities?
Jun 18, 2008 - 1:02 am 32. SISSY:JAY LENO CANT BE BEAT, HE HAS CLASS AND KNOWS
Jun 18, 2008 - 4:07 pm 33. Margo:HOW TO TREAT HIS GUEST.
HIS DELIVERY OF JOKES ARE GREAT //
SAY NO MORE.
GO ON TO BIGGER AND BETTER THINGS JAY.
LET NBC GO AWAY.
It’s been sixteen years since Johnny? Wow, where’d the time go?
I don’t watch Leno, not my cup of tea.
I like Conan O’Brien, he just might step up to the plate and adjust for the new time zone and earlier audience. He must have grown older these last sixteen years, too.
Yeah, Jon Stewart would be in Johnny Carson’s class, definitely.
How about Jerry Seinfeld?
Jul 21, 2008 - 9:33 pm 34. Muriel:I’m 23 and watch leno regularly. i can’t imagine why nbc would even be willing to let him go, I absolutely love his monologues and skits. D.M.A. Demographics My Ass… I know plenty of people my age that love Leno too. BTW O Brien is rarely funny, I cant imagine he will mature into an actual comedian by next year.Dont get me wrong I like O Brien but don’t feel he’s the right choice for the chair!
Jul 22, 2008 - 7:49 pm 35. Diana:My God, what is with NBC? Jay Leno saved the Tonight Show when Johnny left. Ungrateful jerks.
Sep 3, 2008 - 3:24 pm 36. Helen:Conan, one great big yarn!
Well, here ’tis from an “old” 65 year-old woman, one of those “lefty dorks” mentioned above, who is wildly pro-Obama-Biden and adores Jay! Conan is so ridiculous as to be embarrassing. I keep wondering who finds his mugging, jerks, tweeks, and quirks amusing. Anyone? Not my daughter and son-in-law, who are Republicans and a generation younger, who say they’re through watching the show hen Jay leaves. Leno has clearly been quietly supportive of many, many young performers through the years, as Johnny was him in “the old days.” Jay’s monologues are current, pungent, direct, and yes, often hard-hitting. He’s got great writers/ researchers and is mighty sharp himself. He never says anything critical of his wife - only her cat! And he finds The Dumbest People in America to showcase on Jaywalking so we understand why the wrong folks keep getting elected!
Sep 6, 2008 - 2:08 pm 37. AL:I’ve been watching the show since Jack Parr! Carson was best Leno is great! I watched Conan for a while to see if he would improve,he didn’nt, in a word he “sucks” being “silly” does not make you “funny”
Sep 8, 2008 - 7:04 pm 38. Jim:Jay, you are starting to suck! Lay off the McCain-Palin jokes, we’ve had enough. What’s the matter, you don’t have the balls to joke about Obama?
Sep 23, 2008 - 2:12 pm 39. Donna:Same BS every night, time for me to watch something else.
It sounds more like NBC is forcing Leno out. Carson held that spot for 30 yrs. until HE retired. Leno has been hosting for 17 yrs. Carson was 66 when he left the show. Leno is only 59. IF IT’S NOT BROKEN DON’T FIX IT!!
Apr 4, 2009 - 6:24 am 40. Delila LeDuc:I think Leno was the perfect replacement for Carson. I’m glad that they picked Leno over Letterman. I’m no Letterman or O’Brien fan. I’d rather see Craig Ferguson offered the position than O’Brien. If Leno was retiring like Carson that’s different. But it doesn’t sound like it to me. I feel NBC is going to regret this decision! If NBC is going to act this way I hope Leno goes to another network & knocks um dead!! Leno has real CLASS!!!!!
I had watch Johnny Carson for the entire time he was on. When he retired, I made sure I watch his last program with Beth middler. He was great. However, I find that Jay Leno is great in his own way and his own style.I and my family will follow him to any station he goes to. NBC YOU SUCK, Shame on you. p.s. Conan stinks.
Apr 25, 2009 - 1:35 am 41. Joyce:Conan does not do anything funny. all of his show is stupid and silly.How can you take a show with so much class and give it to an idoit like Conan.Jay Leno keeps you laughing and the show is well writing.I wrote a letter to the president of the show telling them big mistake. I truly hope with all my heart that Conan flops.I will go to Letterman now. I can stand him a little better.That’s were most people will be in that time slot now that Jay is gone.
May 29, 2009 - 6:54 am 42. Abner:Conan will never be half the host as Jay. I’ve seen both in action and I can’t imagine O’Brien taking over as host of Tonight show.
I predict a bidding war will break out for the genious of Jay Leno. Conan O’Brien will wish he’d stayed put.
Jun 1, 2009 - 9:28 pm