Why Do Leno and Letterman do shows on Thanksgiving Day?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Dr. Thong · 11-24-2005, 07:05 PM

I was just wondering why Leno and Letterman both do shows on Thanksgiving Day?? I mean, yes they're very well-paid and everything, but I think even they deserve a day to spend with family and friends.

The only reason I can think of is that since the news anchors have to work and the Today Show covers the parade and sports anchors have to cover games, I guess the network figures it wouldn't be fair to give them the day off.

I'm really surprised that most of the network shows are brand-new episodes tonight: traditionally, Turkey day is laden with reruns since I would guess there may be less of an audience.

Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone!!

Munsters#1 · 11-26-2005, 01:24 AM

I don't know why. It's pretty stupid since most Americans are spending time with their families, & stuffing their faces with turkey and mashed potatoes. (Like I did)

Plus Late Night does not exactly have a booming audience anyway.

Dr. Thong · 11-26-2005, 03:59 PM

Even some of the local talk radio personalities not only took Thursday off, but Friday as well.

snl 70s show fan · 11-26-2005, 08:07 PM

i remember johnny carson used to work thanksgiving too and he usally did a pretty good show. but i remember one year he didnt get any big names at all even the b list celebs had other plans so all he could get was some seinor citizen bowling champ some really lame comic who otherwise would have never been booked by johnny or anybody else for that matter and some actress who johnny i or probaly on member of the audience had ever heard of but he still had a full house that night and the weird thing was that even johnny knew these guests were lame and he was in total shock that anybody was there to see the show that night and when he thanked everybody for coming it was like he was saying im so glad you are here to see the worst show i have ever done .i remember from then on he always tried to get at least one semi name guest for his thanksgiving shows.

TVFactFan · 11-26-2005, 09:37 PM

I was surprised too. I defintely expected a REPEAT on Thanksgiving Night. NBC was very surprisinng on THanksgving Night, all new eps starting with Joey at 8pm to the Tonight Show at 11:35pm

Dr. Thong · 11-26-2005, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroTVCollector

I was surprised too. I defintely expected a REPEAT on Thanksgiving Night. NBC was very surprisinng on THanksgving Night, all new eps starting with Joey at 8pm to the Tonight Show at 11:35pm

Traditionally, Thanksgiving day usually means repeats and/or movies and specials. Very surprised at all the new eps. However, I'm sure Matt LeBlanc (Joey) didn't have to work on turkey day as his show is pre-taped.

TVFactFan · 11-26-2005, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Traditionally, Thanksgiving day usually means repeats and/or movies and specials. Very surprised at all the new eps. However, I'm sure Matt LeBlanc (Joey) didn't have to work on turkey day as his show is pre-taped.

Oh I know, i'm just saying the NBC primetime lineup on Thanksgiving Night had no repeats

Lurker · 11-28-2005, 12:38 PM

Yes, it seemed wierd that they ran first run eps of Survivor and Joey etc.

Guess it makes sense. There are a lot of people home on thanksgiving night.

Dr. Thong · 11-28-2005, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lurker

Yes, it seemed wierd that ran first run eps of Survivor and Joey etc.

Guess it makes sense. There are a lot of people home on thanksgiving night.

True. I know I was home.

I'm guessing that in years past maybe they thought people wouldn't be home, hence smaller viewership, hence the repeats or specials in place of the regular show.

Typically, its repeats between Christmas and New Years - we shall see how that plays out this year.

Stay tuned...

Dr. Jazz · 11-29-2005, 03:17 PM

I'm pretty sure (with Letterman at least) that when a new show airs on a holiday, that it was taped the day before.

Dr. Thong · 11-29-2005, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Jazz

I'm pretty sure (with Letterman at least) that when a new show airs on a holiday, that it was taped the day before.

That's certainly possible - even when a show is new, it's taped earlier in the evening. I believe Letterman and Leno are done "live to tape," which means they do it a like a live show - in one hour, no retakes, with time out for what will end up being the commercial breaks. This way they can retain the urgency of a live show and have time to make any necessary edits or tweaks before the show airs.

Theoretically, Letterman could have done two shows the day before. One in the morning, one in the evening.

Ronn Harmon · 12-05-2005, 08:45 PM

Probably because they both take about 3 weeks off in December, one week right after sweeps, and 2 weeks during Christmas and New Year's. Also, Thanksgiving does fall in with November sweeps.

11-24-2005, 07:05 PM	#1
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Why Do Leno and Letterman do shows on Thanksgiving Day?? I was just wondering why Leno and Letterman both do shows on Thanksgiving Day?? I mean, yes they're very well-paid and everything, but I think even they deserve a day to spend with family and friends. The only reason I can think of is that since the news anchors have to work and the Today Show covers the parade and sports anchors have to cover games, I guess the network figures it wouldn't be fair to give them the day off. I'm really surprised that most of the network shows are brand-new episodes tonight: traditionally, Turkey day is laden with reruns since I would guess there may be less of an audience. Happy Thanksgiving Day, everyone!!
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

11-28-2005, 12:38 PM	#8
Lurker Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 11, 2005 Location: Utah Posts: 127	Yes, it seemed wierd that they ran first run eps of Survivor and Joey etc. Guess it makes sense. There are a lot of people home on thanksgiving night.
	__________________ --------------- Lurker View My DVD Collection Visit My Myspace Page Last edited by Lurker; 11-28-2005 at 05:42 PM.

11-26-2005, 01:24 AM	#2
Munsters#1 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 29, 2004 Posts: 2,928	I don't know why. It's pretty stupid since most Americans are spending time with their families, & stuffing their faces with turkey and mashed potatoes. (Like I did) Plus Late Night does not exactly have a booming audience anyway.

11-26-2005, 03:59 PM	#3
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Even some of the local talk radio personalities not only took Thursday off, but Friday as well.

11-26-2005, 08:07 PM	#4
snl 70s show fan Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2005 Location: in the forman basment Posts: 2,454	i remember johnny carson used to work thanksgiving too and he usally did a pretty good show. but i remember one year he didnt get any big names at all even the b list celebs had other plans so all he could get was some seinor citizen bowling champ some really lame comic who otherwise would have never been booked by johnny or anybody else for that matter and some actress who johnny i or probaly on member of the audience had ever heard of but he still had a full house that night and the weird thing was that even johnny knew these guests were lame and he was in total shock that anybody was there to see the show that night and when he thanked everybody for coming it was like he was saying im so glad you are here to see the worst show i have ever done .i remember from then on he always tried to get at least one semi name guest for his thanksgiving shows.

11-26-2005, 09:37 PM	#5
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,023	I was surprised too. I defintely expected a REPEAT on Thanksgiving Night. NBC was very surprisinng on THanksgving Night, all new eps starting with Joey at 8pm to the Tonight Show at 11:35pm

11-29-2005, 03:17 PM	#10
Dr. Jazz The Evil Empire. . . . Forum Star Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Posts: 11,081	I'm pretty sure (with Letterman at least) that when a new show airs on a holiday, that it was taped the day before.

12-05-2005, 08:45 PM	#12
Ronn Harmon Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 05, 2005 Posts: 181	Probably because they both take about 3 weeks off in December, one week right after sweeps, and 2 weeks during Christmas and New Year's. Also, Thanksgiving does fall in with November sweeps.