Trouble With Jay Leno

[Brian Damage]

October 16, 2007 -- IF Jay Leno is ticked off at the way NBC is pushing him out the door, then who can blame him.

Never in the history of television has a major star who has contributed so much to a network's bottom line been treated with such disrespect.

Leave it to NBC to go and fix what ain't broke - "The Tonight Show" - by announcing a succession plan five years in advance so it can hold on to Conan O'Brien, a personality who has never been tested at 11:30 p.m., and boot Leno, who has been tested in that time period for 14 years and come out on top for something like the last 12 of them.

Now, as Leno's 2009 deadline draws near, everyone's wondering how he feels about the way NBC has arranged his exit.

In the absence of any public comment from Leno, who has steadfastly refused to be interviewed on the subject, observers have been sifting through his "Tonight Show" monologues for signs that he's dissatisfied.

One such bit formed the basis for a story in the L.A. Times yesterday reporting that Leno is unhappy with the succession plan.

The bit, seen last week, was inspired by the news that NBC will soon sell and vacate its long-time Burbank headquarters. In the bit, a pair of "prospective buyers" walked on stage during the show with a "real estate agent" who told them "it" - meaning Leno and the "Tonight Show" studio - would be moved out before they moved in.

The bit was not that unusual. Leno has joked about the succession plan a number of times, positioning himself light-heartedly as the wronged party. Moreover, Leno has poked fun at NBC for its low-rated shows for years.

But analyzing a bunch of late-night bits for their deep, hidden meaning is a fool's exercise, anyway. They're just jokes, folks.

What's really funny is NBC's succession plan, with which it hoped to avoid the kind of competition for the "Tonight Show" host's chair that followed Johnny Carson's decision to retire in 1992.

Instead, the plan will spark another round of late-night wars that will be no less dramatic as Leno considers offers from other networks such as Fox or ABC, Conan moves into the 11:30 slot, someone else (probably Jimmy Fallon) replaces him at 12:30 a.m., and a year later, David Letterman likely retires from CBS, which will need to replace him and possibly Craig Ferguson, who's Letterman's guy, at 12:30.

Yesterday, Leno refused an interview request from The Post, just as he declined to be interviewed by the L.A. Times.

His silence speaks volumes. Leno himself has never come out publicly either in favor of the succession plan or otherwise - which means there might be something to all the conjecture that this plan isn't sitting well with him after all.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/10162007...e_with_jay.htm

[Scoobiedoo30]

I would be mad as well

[TJL]

It's not fair that they put an "expiration date" on Jay Leno considering all he's done for NBC. The guy busted his butt to make that show his own and bent over backwards to promote the show over the years all while making big bucks for the Network.. They should let him leave when he wants to.

[Mikado]

I always prefered Dave anyway, and never watch the Tonight Show...though, it doesnt seem totally fair to treat Leno that way; but, people get fired in all professions, and its not always fair. It would be best if Leno keeps doing what he is, and goes out with class, rather than crying and whining about how hes being treated.

[TJL]

Originally Posted by Mikado

It would be best if Leno keeps doing what he is, and goes out with class, rather than crying and whining about how hes being treated.

I agree with that. If Leno jumps to another network, it won't be the same. He can easily retire or go back to playing packed houses.

[PrettyinPink55]

I personally love Leno. He's my favorite of all the late night hosts. I really hope this thing can be settled so that if he does have to go out, which I hope he doesn't, he will go out on top. But seriously, I don't want him to "retire."

[Ireneparalegal]

Leno being treated in this manner just sux! How rude and callous. He gave NBC a hit late night talk show. He worked hard for it, he worked hard to keep it good and this is how they treat him?

[Scoobiedoo30]

if Jay Leno is being treated so bad he should get out of his Contracr Early

[catlover79]

I totally agree that it's horrible the way NBC has treated Jay. He's done so much for the network, and has been #1 in the 11:35-12:35 timeslot since what...1995?? What a shame...

[Ireneparalegal]

Monika, did you catch HEADLINES last night? The one where the newspaper had an article abt if the show leaves (Jay Leno) and how the liquor store across the street will suffer business because they get the majority of their business from the show.

[catlover79]

Originally Posted by Ireneparalegal

Monika, did you catch HEADLINES last night? The one where the newspaper had an article abt if the show leaves (Jay Leno) and how the liquor store across the street will suffer business because they get the majority of their business from the show.

I saw that one!! I remember that liquor store, too - when my family traveled to CA in the summer of 1998, we went on an NBC studio tour and saw that evening's taping of the Tonight Show. I didn't go in the liquor store, btw. Kenny Rogers' Roasters was also across the street at that time.