Comments on: Updated: Drama at MTV's 2009 Video Music Awards; will it be good for ratings The Jay Leno Show ?

By: daniel L

daniel L — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:13:58 +0000

kanye is such a retard

By: forg

forg — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:19:32 +0000

Here is an interesting article on TIME with regards to the Kanye West drama effect on Leno

http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2009/09/14/american-civilitys-loss-jay-lenos-gain/
Here’s an excerpt:

“Tonight the very first Jay Leno Show airs. The very first musical guests are Jay-Z, Rihanna and… Kanye West. As scholars of pop culture—and pretty much everybody else—know, Leno turned his ratings around at The Tonight Show around the time he interviewed Hugh Grant after Grant’s prostitution scandal.

Some would argue that Leno’s ratings really got better because NBC had debuted the blockbuster ER, among other primetime successes, but let’s not let numbers get in the way of a convenient theory. In the popular retelling at least, Leno asked Grant the immortal question “What the hell were you thinking?,” catharsis was achieved, and Leno never looked back.

Without a doubt producers are convening at Jay Leno headquarters, trying to figure out how to come up with a way to ask “What the hell were you thinking?” for a new generation. And NBC must be thanking God for giving them evidence of their argument that The Jay Leno Show will be a hit because it can comment on watercooler topics. (I’d suggest they planned the whole thing with Kanye, but that would be too savvy a conspiracy to credit NBC with.)

The one problem, of course, is that Grant came along when Leno desperately needed a boost. With a massive amount of publicity, he was bound to get a big tune-in tonight regardless. What about later, when and if he really needs it? Well, it doesn’t look like he’ll have any shortage of subjects. Hell, just this week he could book 3/5 of his schedule with contrition appearances for West, Williams and Wilson, if they were willing.”

By: RJ

RJ — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:24:35 +0000

I just watched both videos, and Taylor’s and Beyonce’s were both good. Nothing spectacular, but Taylor’s was better.

By: Frank

Frank — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:39:04 +0000

To borrow an expression, Kanye West is stuck on stupid. Crashing awards shows is part of his tired, alcohol-fueled schtick and he clearly needs to change his medication. The real question is how will The View’s ratings be on Tuesday with Taylor as the guest?

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:26:56 +0000

Bruce, I just put up a “guess the ratings” post…

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/09/14/your-predictions-for-the-premiere-of-the-jay-leno-show/

By: RJ

RJ — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:06:41 +0000

Can you say racist? Kayne was way out of line.

By: Bruce

Bruce — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:57:21 +0000

Is there going to be a “guess the rating” post for tonight’s premiere of the Jay Leno Show?

Usually, those posts aren’t very intriguing because most people here are good at ballparking the numbers for premieres and finales since they follow the shows regularly and have a good grasp of how many people shows usually pull in.

In this case, I’d be quite interested to read people’s predictions because this is a very unique premiere with no ratings precedent to base one’s numbers on. There should be a wider range of guesses for a premiere like this.

By: Gypsy898

Gypsy898 — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 18:36:38 +0000

There are rumblings about people boycotting the Jay Leno show because Kanye will be there. I guess if the ratings are low for the premiere they could always blame it on that.

By: Visan

Visan — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:54:10 +0000

Kudos to Beyonce! Soooo much class!

By: Junior G.

Junior G. — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:12:00 +0000

Aw man Robert, you should’ve been there when it was live, I was literally screaming at my TV, and I still am right now at Kanye!

By: K.H.

K.H. — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:05:29 +0000

Of course that “incident” was staged! This is MTV! They are known for pulling stunts like this. I’m just surprised that so many people fell for the okie doke!

In terms of the performance tonight, of course he will be there. Jay Leno and NBC couldn’t have dreamed of a better scenario. Controversy sells and this is the hottest story in the country, esp for the 18-49 demo that advertisers drool over.

I predict that ratings will be higher than anticipated for the fist episode.

By: David

David — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:48:45 +0000

It is POSSIBLE that Swift was not in on it initially but I doubt it. They do storylines like this at that awards show every year. Last year didn’t that Borat guy molest Eminem?

By: Scotty

Scotty — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:19:29 +0000

David wrote: “That was not ‘real’ it was clearly pre-planned acting.”

Clearly, yes, it was planned, because Taylor Swift was in another expensive gown, waiting in the wings, came out on queue, etc., but I submit that the planning took place only AFTER West interrupted Swift’s initial acceptance speech. Whether Beyonce knew she was going to win or not, I don’t know, but they could still have prepared for that possible outcome. Clearly, a lot went on behind the scenes, but that doesn’t make it any less “real.”

Based on Swift’s bewildered expression as West took the stage (and mic) from her, I certainly don’t think THAT was planned at all.

By: David

David — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:31:46 +0000

That was not “real” it was clearly pre-planned acting.

By: HogWash

HogWash — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:19:13 +0000

I just have to give props to Beyonce. What an amazing thing to do to give Taylor her due since it was ripped away from her. Total class act and I will always remember her and respect her for that.

By: Scotty

Scotty — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:09:42 +0000

West is consistently disrespectful and dishonorable. The redemptive part of the evening occurred when Beyonce, after winning the best video award, I believe, inviting Swift back out onstage to “have her moment.” Beyonce understands class, a concept West probably will never master, or perhaps even comprehend. As for Leno’s ratings, I plan to watch the show, out of curiosity, but I won’t watch Kanye West. As for Leno failing, as some speculate, I don’t think he will, but even if he does, IMHO it will not turn the tide of scripted hour-long dramas moving away from broadcast and on to cable. I think it’s already a “done deal,” regardless of Leno’s success or failure.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:36:41 +0000

This was either quite a fortunate coincidence for Leno, or a clever conspiracy!

By: Kermonk

Kermonk — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 12:44:29 +0000

I don’t think I’ve seen the videos, but that behavior was totally wrong. Just look at Taylor Swift, standing here looking happy and then this jerk muscles in and essentially says ‘you video was crap’. Really noble dude.

And Robert what’s with the defensive “all doesn’t have to be about Leno” tone, its your website – you decide. Besides there hasn’t been that much about Leno. Its only natural to cover things which are current.

By: Doug

Doug — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 08:02:53 +0000

So, Kayne’s on Jay for the premiere? How much did NBC pay Kayne to go up on stage at the VMAs?

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:58:02 +0000

Julia, I think MTV also wants people to watch/embed the clip (as I have now done above) from MTV.com, instead of YouTube so they can sell the ads in it.

Though I’m not sure what the incident means for the ratings, I’m sure it is a big deal in terms of viral videos. Just the version I embeded above (which they sell ads for) had been viewed over 800,000 times already when I snagged it at 12:45am. Edit: Brian Stelter has a post about Viacom wanting you to only be able to watch it on MTV or on MTV’s web site:

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/14/kanye-west-versus-taylor-swift-try-youtube-users-versus-viacom/

By: forg

forg — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:40:26 +0000

Now I’m really curious if Kanye West will show up on Jay Leno. My guess is not since the song they will be performing is Jay-Z’s song anyway and him and Rihanna are just featured artists and his part is dispensable. Plus, Kanye sort of embarrassed Jay-Z’s wife Beyonce too with his VMAs shtick so I’m guessing Jay-Z won’t want to be associated with that guy right now.

But nevertheless the controversy will be good “material” for the Jay Leno show.

By: tdot

tdot — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:22:25 +0000

kanye was a douche. taylor swift is so pleasant and lovely.

By: Julia

Julia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:19:38 +0000

I’m sure it will, but Viacom is good about taking stuff down from YouTube. I’m sure that tonight they are particularly diligent since they want people to watch the repeat.

By: forg

forg — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:17:55 +0000

It will return

By: Julia

Julia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:08:02 +0000

The scene was pulled from YouTube by Viacom by the time I checked at about 11:30 PST.

By: forg

forg — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:03:48 +0000

Kanye was really rude. Anyway, I don’t think it will help that much because minutes after the incident, the scene already popped in YouTube.

On another note, Kanye West (along with Rihanna and Jay Z) will perform on the first night of Jay Leno Show right? Now I wonder if he will show up given the hate he is receiving right now. And well, in a way, this is another buzz for the Jay Leno show

By: Julia

Julia — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 07:01:50 +0000

I think it may help the rerun right after a little bit. Taylor Swift and Kanye are trending topics on Twitter for what it’s worth (not much).