JamesG
07-27-2013, 09:12 PM
TCA: NBC Trying To Keep Jay Leno in the Fold Post February
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
Saturday July 27, 2013
NBC brass are not just buying Jay Leno a watch, sending him off to retirement.
“We have been having conversations, talking about various ideas for Leno to stay on NBC after he ends his run on 'The Tonight Show' in February,” NBC topper Bob Greenblatt said today.
“Nothing would make us happier for Jay ala Bob Hope to have presence at the network, we’re really hoping to do that post February.”
Greenblatt disclosed that the discussions about the late-night transition had started when he joined NBC at the beginning of 2011 and the timing after the 2014 Winter Olympics was decided “to give Jimmy Fallon the best chance of succeeding. We really believe in Jimmy Fallon.”
As for Leno’s continuous late-night ratings dominance, Greenblatt dismissed any second thoughts about making the change at the helm of "The Tonight Show". “We predicted that we would see a boost when we announced this would be Jay’s final year,” Greenblatt said.
He added, “The same happened with Johnny Carson and Jay’s previous final year” to laughs from the audience.
http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/tca-nbc-trying-to-keep-jay-leno-in-the-fold-post-february/
by NELLIE ANDREEVA
Saturday July 27, 2013
NBC brass are not just buying Jay Leno a watch, sending him off to retirement.
“We have been having conversations, talking about various ideas for Leno to stay on NBC after he ends his run on 'The Tonight Show' in February,” NBC topper Bob Greenblatt said today.
“Nothing would make us happier for Jay ala Bob Hope to have presence at the network, we’re really hoping to do that post February.”
Greenblatt disclosed that the discussions about the late-night transition had started when he joined NBC at the beginning of 2011 and the timing after the 2014 Winter Olympics was decided “to give Jimmy Fallon the best chance of succeeding. We really believe in Jimmy Fallon.”
As for Leno’s continuous late-night ratings dominance, Greenblatt dismissed any second thoughts about making the change at the helm of "The Tonight Show". “We predicted that we would see a boost when we announced this would be Jay’s final year,” Greenblatt said.
He added, “The same happened with Johnny Carson and Jay’s previous final year” to laughs from the audience.
http://www.deadline.com/2013/07/tca-nbc-trying-to-keep-jay-leno-in-the-fold-post-february/