NBC’s Tonight Show Debacle
I think the current situation with the Tonight Show is both funny and sad. It’s funny to watch a TV network like NBC just bludgeon itself with one bad move after another, while on the other hand it’s sad to see people get royally screwed over because of the mindless executive mismanagement of it’s programming schedule.
NBC and Jay Leno passed the baton of hosting the Tonight Show to the host of Late Night’s Conan O’Brien back in 2004, set to take effect 5 years later in mid 2009. Yet just seven months into his new digs, NBC was concerned about falling ratings (half of the 4.2 million Jay was bringing in as host) and decided it wanted to “shake things up” by returning Leno to the 11:35pm slot while pushing back the Tonight Show a half-hour later as it’s lead-in.
As a result of all of this, O’Brien issued a very public statement addressed to NBC stating that he will not move back the Tonight Show to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35pm. And clearly as a consequence of this, it’s more than likely O’Brien’s run as host of the Tonight Show is nearly at an end.
Loading ...Some have been critical of O’Brien’s stewardship of the Tonight Show saying it lacked focus and that it wasn’t that funny overall, but even Leno suffered low ratings the first two years at the helm of the Tonight Show so what did NBC really expect with a new host?
I’m indifferent towards Jay Leno, and I do think he’s been overly vilified over this debacle when in fact the main culprits behind all this is NBC. Yet Leno is still deserving of a fair amount of the criticism too; especially since he could have also taken a stand, namely accepting the fact that the torched was passed (5 years ago) and not participate in sidelining Conan’s nascent stint on the Tonight Show. But of course Leno is seasoned at looking out for numero uno, just ask David Letterman who was tapped in 1992 as the heir to Johnny Carson’s seat on the Tonight Show (Johnny’s run lasted 30 years!) only to watch Leno sideswipe him out of the hosting spot when the time came due. Granted, it was mainly NBC’s fault then too, but still.
Either way of it, I think it’s rotten that Coco got punked by NBC and Leno over this. And I’m not the only one who feels Leno is a jerk for his role in it, just see what choice and pointed words Jimmy Kimmel had to say about it all… on the Jay Leno Show no less:
And let’s not forget David Letterman’s words of wisdom on the matter as well:
Well, whatever happens in the days ahead I wish only the very best for Coco and will enjoy his run on the Tonight Show while he’s still at the helm, and after which will refuse to watch the show so long as Jay Leno is back on it. In the meantime, while Conan endures this farce he’s wise to weigh every option he has at this point:
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Conan at Fox would be a match made in heaven. Gonna have to wait until September. I hope Conan learns from this whole episode in that he has to return to his edgy self. He can’t be a bland, appealing-to-everyone type of host like he’s been over the last 7 months. Whether be Fox, or cable (FX, TNT, TBS?), I think he’ll have a lot more freedom.
NBC the network that has cancelled
Your Show of Shows – Accordian-sporting Larwence Welk was beating them in the ratings. So let’s dump a show with the writing staff including: Woody Allen, Neil Simon, Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, and Sid Caesar. And let’s not save the recordings for future generations to watch pure genius at work.
Joey – They had to green-light it to cancel it
30 Rock – Oh wait, I’m just looking 6 months into the future
It’s Your Move – This was a niche show put together by the guys who did Married with Children. The show that help build a competing network. It also starred Jason Bateman, one of the funiest child-actors of all time. I guess he didn’t have a catch phrase.
Knight Rider – Hasselhof is more popular now than ever. What up.
F’n Joey! I nearly pissed my pants when you roll-called that one.
Although FOX does seem to be the likely landing spot for Conan, I just can’t imagine he’d be creatively “free enough” to do more edgy stuff without the suits watering it down with their right-wing tilt in some fashion.
Before you give Leno a pass, not saying that you were, read or watch “The Late Shift” by Bill Carter for and in depth look at how Leno ended up at the helm of The Tonight Show.