It seems things are not going too smoothly in Burbank. On the day NBC-U announced plans to sell the legendary studios, Jay Leno's iconic show included a sight-gag on the deal, with an [uncredited] Actress posing as a Realtor, leading two prospective buyers around the set. Jay objected, saying he was busy and would she mind leaving. The audience laughed and the Realtor's posse moved on.
It was played, and no doubt intended as a joke. But the reality, it seems, is less light-hearted.
Those famous, "people familiar with the situation." are saying Jay's less than happy with how NBC prearranged his departure and he wants to stay on at a job he clearly enjoys. And so he should!
The whole thing started three years ago when NBC Execs persuaded him to agree to leave "The Tonight Show" so it could be used as bait to keep Conan O'Brien on the payroll. But as his enforced exit approaches, Mr. Leno is reported to be reluctant to retire from a job at which - in the view of millions of regular fans - he is peerless.
On a Network whose average audiences wouldn't fill a phone booth, Jay's ratings - always the deciding factor in any TV decision! -- are unmatched. He attracts over 5-million viewers a night, he's beaten Letterman's numbers for over ten years, and he gets over twice what Conan can manage. The show also grosses about $50m a year in advertising revenue.
Yet this is how he gets treated.
If this imposed abdication occurs, Jay would be less than challenged to move his entire entourage to ABC. Or even Fox. ABC has no comparable show, and Fox has tried for years to grab a slice of the late-night pie. It's even rumored that CNN could be interested in Jay taking over from Larry King. And Dave Letterman's contract expires in 2010, so there's another vacant seat - and a large competing audience - that would welcome Jay's arrival.
And NBC are reportedly eager for him to bow out quietly, because it would cost them around $40m to buy out Conan's agreement if he stays.
You, the viewer, are the source of the greatest deciding factor in this entire debacle - the money! Conan can't bring it. Jay can. At a time when their numbers are collapsing and costs are out of control, NBC needs all the eyeballs they can get, so drop by their site today and tell them to treat Jay better so they can keep yours!...
It was played, and no doubt intended as a joke. But the reality, it seems, is less light-hearted.
Those famous, "people familiar with the situation." are saying Jay's less than happy with how NBC prearranged his departure and he wants to stay on at a job he clearly enjoys. And so he should!
The whole thing started three years ago when NBC Execs persuaded him to agree to leave "The Tonight Show" so it could be used as bait to keep Conan O'Brien on the payroll. But as his enforced exit approaches, Mr. Leno is reported to be reluctant to retire from a job at which - in the view of millions of regular fans - he is peerless.
On a Network whose average audiences wouldn't fill a phone booth, Jay's ratings - always the deciding factor in any TV decision! -- are unmatched. He attracts over 5-million viewers a night, he's beaten Letterman's numbers for over ten years, and he gets over twice what Conan can manage. The show also grosses about $50m a year in advertising revenue.
Yet this is how he gets treated.
If this imposed abdication occurs, Jay would be less than challenged to move his entire entourage to ABC. Or even Fox. ABC has no comparable show, and Fox has tried for years to grab a slice of the late-night pie. It's even rumored that CNN could be interested in Jay taking over from Larry King. And Dave Letterman's contract expires in 2010, so there's another vacant seat - and a large competing audience - that would welcome Jay's arrival.
And NBC are reportedly eager for him to bow out quietly, because it would cost them around $40m to buy out Conan's agreement if he stays.
You, the viewer, are the source of the greatest deciding factor in this entire debacle - the money! Conan can't bring it. Jay can. At a time when their numbers are collapsing and costs are out of control, NBC needs all the eyeballs they can get, so drop by their site today and tell them to treat Jay better so they can keep yours!...
No comments:
Post a Comment