Comments on: Jay Leno speaks on ratings, affiliates and moving back to 11:30p

By: DT

DT — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:48:16 +0000

It’s great Jay mentioned BURN NOTICE and it’s success.

By: J.R. Herbaugh

J.R. Herbaugh — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:06:12 +0000

roger, it’s more like 38% of the U.S. population live in the Central and Mountain time zones. These people should used to adjusting the time in these discussions. It’s not a big deal.

By: roger

roger — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:42:51 +0000

Would all you east coast people realize that half the people in the country see Leno at 9 pm not 10pm Yes there is life outside New York New York.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:50:48 +0000

I found Jay’s comment about BURN NOTICE interesting when he admits:

“USA cable shows like Burn Notice normally would have gone on the network. Some of these other channels do significantly better, so why isn’t Burn Notice on NBC if it’s a hit? …”

I did not know he and Conan were aware of this series – thought perhaps they were just too old to notice this huge cable hit – since they had never invited the Burn Notice stars onto their shows.

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 04:50:00 +0000

Dear NBC,

You can keep Leno next year with no complaints from me so long as you bring David Tennant to my TV ever week.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i8161b51e045b5cf6f1b2296423bf7743

Thank you,
Holly

By: Heradite

Heradite — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:02:28 +0000

@Sam:

Anything looks better when you lower your expectations after a year of the same rating.

@luvmygrs: Actually that’s why most people watch TV in the first place. Some people escape through Leno, others through Mad Men, and others through Family Guy. I don’t really like talk shows or variety shows so I don’t watch them. I love juicy dramas and funny sit-coms.

By: Sam

Sam — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 01:06:38 +0000

I’m sorry, but Leno has been in his spot for what? 2 months maybe? In a spot where people are used to dramas? And Conan has been in his spot since June, so 5 months, with a new type of comedy in the 11:30 spot? I don’t see the hate…

I’m happy NBC is giving programing a shot. If it was Fox or ABC, Leno, Conan and Community (the best comedy on TV as pertains to writing…very Arrested Development like) would be cut and more mindless reality shows would plague us.

I say give it time…I’m sure a year from now it will start looking far better than it is.

By: luvmygrys

luvmygrys — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:25:52 +0000

Leno’s move may not have been his fault, but I don’t watch NBC at that time because I am not a big fan of talk shows or reality TV. I am probably in the minority in this but when I come home I want to relax be entertained and escape into a good comedy or drama.

By: B Keeper

B Keeper — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:56:27 +0000

Don’t forget “Good to the last drop”! Maxwell House loves Teddy!

By: Elliot

Elliot — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:43:26 +0000

It’s so odd that a network that owns USA could have such good programming on USA with Monk, Psych, White Collar, Burn Notice, and Royal Pains while having such a disastrous lineup on it full NBC network.

By: Robert Seidman

Robert Seidman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:06:32 +0000

I’m old, but not so old I predate Teddy Roosevelt. “Speak softly but carry a big stick” wasn’t mine either. Nor “The buck stops here”.

By: Jon

Jon — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 20:00:24 +0000

Thanks bill, I thought it was Robert.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:34:41 +0000

I just can like Conan as a late night host. I so much love Leno. He is just so much more captivating.

By: CK

CK — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:57:00 +0000

Jay Leno is in a bad situation not of his making. He is a class act.

By: Michael J

Michael J — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:51:00 +0000

At this point John, some people want to bring in the executioner never mind the jury.

By: John

John — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:41:00 +0000

Speaking of Conan… he seems like such an odd fit on NBC. He would fit better over at FOX, where they seem to prefer his childish style of humor.

Jay made a good point in the interview comparing how they have done against repeats recently and how that will be different when the other networks go into extended repeats. He’s looking at the overall big picture. It’s still far too early to bring in the jury.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:25:44 +0000

Jay Lenos right, NBC wouldnt say that ever

By: Michael J

Michael J — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:17:10 +0000

If you read the article Steve, I think you will find that Leno makes no such assertion; he just accepts it as part of the business. Of course, in my line of work people tend to read things the way they want. I guess it’s all in the eye of the beholder.

By: Steve

Steve — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:04:58 +0000

It’s amazing how many of you are so charmed by Jay Leno’s words, you think he was somehow screwed by NBC. I guess we see why Jay’s been so sucessful in this business, when his personal charm and charisma can easily override his contradictory actions. As opposed to Letterman, who generally comes off as an @$$hole. (except to interns of course)

By: J.R. Herbaugh

J.R. Herbaugh — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:00:52 +0000

NBC is still making a large profit off Leno, Conan, and Fallon.

David, if CW’s ship hasn’t gone down, then NBC is far from sinking.

By: David

David — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:42:13 +0000

Conan should see the writing on the wall and say it was a mistake and turn over the 11:30 slot to Leno and move back to 12:30. This would take the heat off of everybody else and make him look good,unstead of going down with the ship.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:18:30 +0000

Tom, NBC’s moves 5 years ago seemed pretty reasonable, but now with 100% hindsight, I think NBC should have just told Conan to be happy at 12:30 (or take a walk) until Jay wanted to retire.

By: mark-allen

mark-allen — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:18:08 +0000

tom is exactly right…

the chain reaction of five years ago has been deadly…

and now, there is no way out.

By: Tom

Tom — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:13:55 +0000

I think the best quote of the article was this…

“I find there’s a lot of anger at NBC. But it’s like I say to the people who write the dramas: If I weren’t doing this, it would be Dateline five nights a week or reality shows”

Jay’s taken a lot of heat for things that aren’t really his fault. The truth is he’s probably been screwed over by NBC’s bad decisions worse than anyone.

The really funny part is that NBC did all of this to hang on to Conan O’Brien (they were afraid of losing him 5 years ago which is why they made Jay commit to leaving when he did). I like Conan but if you think about the destructive chain reaction that one move set off I think even the biggest Conan fans would admit he isn’t worth it.

By: Bill Gorman

Bill Gorman — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:08:08 +0000

jon, it seems to have been Teddy Roosevelt.

By: jon

jon — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:06:15 +0000

Who coined the term “lunatic fringe”?

By: Michael J

Michael J — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 16:00:53 +0000

Awesome interview! You gotta love Leno; he calls it like it is and certainly knows how to handle the media.

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:52:23 +0000

Great interview. Basically Leno admits he would accept to return at 11:30, which of course is pretty much the best option NBC has. But we all know NBC will stick with the Conan/Leno disaster as it is right now

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:48:16 +0000

Just an FYI: I can’t figure out how to let you know otherwise. Hibberd is reporting that Southland has been officially picked up by TNT. http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/11/official-tnt-picks-up-southland.html