Jay Leno Show

[DToTheJ]

John Stewart is on 5 nights a week as is most cable hosts like Glenn Beck, Anderson Cooper, and Rachel Maddow. Why not Leno?

"The Daily Show" has new episodes on Fridays now?

By the way, I would say Maddow (as well as Olbermann) is on 4 1/2 nights per week - half of their nightly reruns are jettisoned once the early weekend "doc block" programming kicks in at midnight ET.

 

[LKellerIII]

As far as I can tell, the "networks' are just channels on the local cable system. There is origional programming on TNT and USA, much like "network" stuff. John Stewart is on 5 nights a week as is most cable hosts like Glenn Beck, Anderson Cooper, and Rachel Maddow. Why not Leno?

Even before cable TV, independent stations traditionally usually used the 5 day a week model for prime-time programming. But the answer to your question is - because the 3 "traditional" networks have never stripped programming 5 days a week. Network shows have almost always been shown once weekly.

There have been some exceptions - My grandmother liked Peyton Place in the mid 60s, and it ran twice a week on ABC for awhile. I believe ABC tried the same thing with Batman (Adam West). Then there was the period a few years ago when ABC ran Who Wants to be a Millionaire almost constantly, but that was because the show was hot, and ABC was bankrupt of programming ideas at the time. According to Jim was showing up multiple times a week, too. It was a real embarassment for Disney, and (I believe) at least part of reason Michael Eisner was pushed out the door.

Then there's Saturday night, which has become repeat night for the networks lately - they've decided its not worth the expense to produce original programming for the night people aren't watching.

But by and large, once a week has been the model. NBC is trying to change that, but it's certainly not clear that it will be successful. From what I've read (on links provided in this thread), some local affiliates have lost audience for their late local news because of the Leno lead in. They are NOT happy. So even if the new model works for NBC, it may not work for the affiliates.

 

[oldiesfan6479]

My grandmother liked Peyton Place in the mid 60s, and it ran twice a week on ABC for awhile.

Fall 64 at 2x/week.

Fall 65 at 3x/week (3x actually began in June 1965).

Fall 66 back to 2x/week through January 1969, then once a week
until its LTC* in June 1969.

I believe ABC tried the same thing with Batman (Adam West).

Holy cliffhanger, Batman! It was twice a week (Wed/Thu 7:30/6:30)
from it's premiere in 65-66 "second season" (January 12, 1966) through
the 66-67 season, then was reduced to Thursday only for 67-68.


LTC = last telecast, not Lt. Col.

 

[azumanga]

My grandmother liked Peyton Place in the mid 60s, and it ran twice a week on ABC for awhile.

Fall 64 at 2x/week.

Fall 65 at 3x/week (3x actually began in June 1965).

Fall 66 back to 2x/week through January 1969, then once a week
until its LTC* in June 1969.

And furthermore, it was all first-run -- I read that there were no repeats until reruns entered syndication.

 

[1069_KIFR]

Remember the Summer Season. New shows that ran until the Fall Season. I think Tony Orlando and Dawn was one. The Glenn Campbell Show, and there were other "Musical, Comedy, Variety" shows. Some were so popular that they became rmid-season replacement shows.

I would imagine they were cheap to produce.

 

[pabsungenis]

That's a good point. The Leno Show is the kind of thing that would be trotted out as a summer replacement back when we still had summer replacements. It's definitely not ready for prime time, especially stripped primetime.

 

[DToTheJ]

For the third night in a row this week, a new edition of "JLS" on NBC either was beaten by or tied with a rerun - a rerun - of an hourlong draam series airing on CBS at the same time. Not good.

Full story:
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/10/29/the-jay-leno-show-loses-to-cbs-repeats-again/32000

 

[searadiofreak]

Because I am a fan of the comedic talkshow format, I will admit I have watched about 80% of the Leno shows (some as background audio while on-line, admittedly)...

One thing that strikes me is the basic format of the show runs like a radio format hot-clock. The same elements are mostly in the same order night after night. If you watch as regularly as I do, this just doesn't translate to TV like it does on radio. It is extremely predictable, and what's worse, the laughs become predictable. A few good jokes in the monologue, a big let-down in the pre-taped 2nd bit, either a yawn or a few chuckles with the interview segment, the vehicle races are a complete waste of time (and the most likely point where I start to surf) and then the headline news, etc. bit at the end. I'm no network tv programmer, but as a viewer, this is way too predictable. Why not mix it up, surprise the viewer occasionally, and don't be so predictable. Get a good guest, and why not lead with the interview? Change it up. Just an opinion from someone who has now seen a good percentage of the shows. (Of course, a P-1 like me may or may not be the standard response they are looking for, who knows.)

 

[MsMusicRadio]

John Stewart is on 5 nights a week as is most cable hosts like Glenn Beck, Anderson Cooper, and Rachel Maddow. Why not Leno?

"The Daily Show" has new episodes on Fridays now?

By the way, I would say Maddow (as well as Olbermann) is on 4 1/2 nights per week - half of their nightly reruns are jettisoned once the early weekend "doc block" programming kicks in at midnight ET.

I'm wrong. Jon Stewart is not on Friday night, I just wish he was. Friday is a big newsday. I think Stewart and Colbert are very creative and I think as much "hard news" as a lot of stuff on fox, CNN, and MSNBC. Sometimes the same guest can show up on Countdown and then on the Daily Show the same night. Don't forget Bill Maher. He also interviews the same people about the same stuff.

 

[searadiofreak]

I rented the 1990's HBO camp classic, "The Late Shift". (A look at the retirement of Johnny, and the battle for the NBC 11:30 spot). A bit silly in places, but overall not a bad little cable movie with some good performances, especially from Kathy Bates as Jay Leno's relentless agent. Many themes ring true today. If you are a little confused about what is going on today with Jay at 10pm, and Conan and David where they are today, this movie might offer alteast a little clarity. Fun watch all these years later.

 

[firepoint525]

I wonder if Leno would do better if his show were only half an hour long? Crazy thought, I know!

And for all these NBC affiliates complaining about Leno being a poor lead-in, how about letting them carry their local news at 9:00 (like the Fox stations already do), and go to Leno at 9:30 or 9:35? Maybe this has already been suggested on this board before. Let NBC affiliates compete with the Fox stations!

I have not seen any evidence that the Nashville NBC affiliate has been hurt by Leno. They still run announcements saying, "thank you for making us #1 at 5:00, 6:00 and 10:00 last night."

 

[landtuna]

Leno claimed, in an interview in USAToday, his show has settled in at slightly above a 1.5 share and at that share is making about $300M for NBC per year.

He also said he wouldn't have left The Tonight Show had it been his decision. That seems weird to me since I would not think NBC would have shoved him out the door.

 

[LKellerIII]

Leno claimed, in an interview in USAToday, his show has settled in at slightly above a 1.5 share and at that share is making about $300M for NBC per year.

He also said he wouldn't have left The Tonight Show had it been his decision. That seems weird to me since I would not think NBC would have shoved him out the door.

Oh yeah - it was widely reported that NBC did - in fact - "shove him out the door." They made their commitment to Conan O'Brien a few years ago, and they honored it. I suspect they would have tried to weasel out of it if they'd realized their ratings would erode so much...I think NBC assumed that even if Tonight dropped to #2, they would still win the coveted youth demographic, seeing as how Conan is at least a decade younger than either Leno or Letterman. But even that's turning out not to be true...at least in the short term.

Remember, though, that Leno's Tonight Show had a bumpy beginning, too - bumpier than Conan's.

 

[landtuna]

Remember, though, that Leno's Tonight Show had a bumpy beginning, too - bumpier than Conan's.

Yes but that was largely due to Leno replacing a legend.

I've never heard anyone describe Leno as a legend.

 

[searadiofreak]

Leno was also quoted as he would go back if offered. That is a somewhat odd thing to say, and kind of throws Conan under the bus. I'm sure it was just a quip, but I wonder if there is more to it...

 

[LKellerIII]

Leno was also quoted as he would go back if offered. That is a somewhat odd thing to say, and kind of throws Conan under the bus. I'm sure it was just a quip, but I wonder if there is more to it...

I wouldn't read too much into that. I think Leno was just being honest. I've never been a fan of his comedy, but I do believe he's an honest and genuine guy. Show biz is tough and competitive. If they gave him Tonight back, he'd probably take it, but I don't think it implies any bad feelings or revenge toward Conan.

 

[searadiofreak]

Leno was also quoted as he would go back if offered. That is a somewhat odd thing to say, and kind of throws Conan under the bus. I'm sure it was just a quip, but I wonder if there is more to it...

I wouldn't read too much into that. I think Leno was just being honest. I've never been a fan of his comedy, but I do believe he's an honest and genuine guy. Show biz is tough and competitive. If they gave him Tonight back, he'd probably take it, but I don't think it implies any bad feelings or revenge toward Conan.

You're probably right, but as I posted earlier, I just re-watched the 1990's HBO movie "The Late Shift" about Carson/Leno/Letterman with Kathy Bates. So that is where my head is right now...(BTW, the Leno character in that movie does come across just as you say, honest and genuine. Let's just hope Leno doesn't have another Bates-like agent, although the movie implies she got him the Tonight Show!...I know just fiction, but fun.)

 

[Skynet74]

I would like to see Leno back at 11:30 and Conan go back to 12:30. I guess that would be kind of awkward at this point.... but Hey.. that's not really my problem. NBC is the one who screwed up. It's up to them to fix the train wreck they created.

 

[Garrett]

Simple fix, very simple fix.

The way NBC can fix it, is by allowing affiliates to flip their local news to 10, and have Leno start at 10:30 or 11. That would give them something to compete against, Fox, instead of having to claim a loss to CBS and ABC.

CBS and ABC would no longer be able to say that they are beating NBC for that hour.
It's a very simple fix. But I hear there's a contract issue with Leno (and Conan) if they do that.

 

[1069_KIFR]

I do not believe that NBC can fix the train wreck that they caused. Does anyone remember the 80's show, "Super Train"? It was supposed to the 'Love Boat' on RR Tracks. Their only fix of that train wreck was a cancelation.