Jay Leno to 10 PM Weeknights on NBC?

[Nate Wesley]

I give NBC credit for trying this, and I understand the economics behind it all. But to me it's kind of an overload of these shows. In Fall 2009, NBC will have Leno, Conan, Jimmy Fallon, and Carson Daly (assuming they keep his show) on every night?

IF I were Carson Daly, I'd enjoy the "Later" run while I could. His show is now the most expendable.

And I wouldn't assume that Leno, Conan, and Fallon will all be doing the same kind of comedy program or follow the ususal late night talker format. I'll bet you that Leno's show will probably feature fewer sketches, longer guest interviews and perhaps more time for musical/stand up performances.

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

It is a sin that NBC is doing this for Leno........and that they did not do this for Carson.

Enough said

Some story I read mentioned Johnny Carson was offered something like this back when he was a regular Tonight Show host and declined.

That is correct. But a different time and place. That had no chance of ever working. This has a much better chance of being a decent ratings winner and bringing in good revenue with low costs plus it denies NBC's competitors destroying the Tonight Show. Only Conan can do that now.

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

Here's the math on this deal:

Leno's salary for 5 nights a week/ 52 weeks a year: $30 million
Cost to produce his show for 52 weeks a year: probably another $30 million
Cost to produce 1 hour prime time drama for 22 weeks a year: $3 million per episode (or $66 million a year)
Cost to produce 5 prime time dramas for 22 weeks a year: $66 million x 5 = $330 million

Leno will take maybe 4-6 weeks off each year, meaning NBC will have fresh shows 5 nights a week for 46-48 weeks a year.
It'll cost them maybe $60 million a year to make his show. (even if it's $100 million it's a HUGE savings) The cost savings are staggering.
The ratings for Leno will not be as good as the dramas, but they don't have to be for NBC to still rake in a big profit.
They'll also save money because they'll only have to promote 1 show instead of 5.

The downside is for local affiliates. Their late news will suffer due to a probably lower lead-in and the fact that it'll be stuck between two similar comedic shows.

NBC affiliates ASKED for this a week ago. They think it will help their late news. Leno has agreed to 46 weeks so it will be 6 weeks off.

Your cost savings are way off since NBC gets to repeat dramas (no cost other than residuals) and often times has a piece of the syndication rights. NBC still has to promote the new Jay Leno show. They will need to promote it more often since the show will need time-sensitive guests.

I don't think the idea that Jay wants to produce the new show earlier in the day than it is currently done is a good idea. There are too many late in the afternoon daily news stories that David Letterman misses due to the fact he does his show earlier than Jay and does his Friday show on Thursday. Now Jay will be in the same boat.

 

[4UH8SIMBKAGN]

true... but iirc at that time, they were TOO BUSY courting Letterman - and you know how THAT went...

Andrea

NBC was not busy courting Letterman. They were too busy stabbing him in the back. Not all that much different than what has just happened to Conan O'brien.

 

[PTBoardOp94]

Your cost savings are way off since NBC gets to repeat dramas (no cost other than residuals) and often times has a piece of the syndication rights. NBC still has to promote the new Jay Leno show. They will need to promote it more often since the show will need time-sensitive guests.

The estimate for the dramas was for 22 weeks per year. Leno was for 52 weeks per year. Sure, the estimate didn't include residuals for the reruns, but that would make the gap even wider.

 

[bpatrick]

To those who wonder if there's ever been
a primetime show five nights a week: it's
true that Dick Cavett aired three nights a
week (Monday/Tuesday/Friday) at 10 PM
in the summer of 1969. In 1958 ABC tried
a primetime newscast with John Daly at
10:30; it aired every weeknight except
Wednesday, when boxing aired instead.
ABC also had something called "All-Star
News" in 1952, but I don't think it was on
every night, and it was on Sunday nights
as well. But I don't know of any Monday-
Friday primetime show.

 

[Al Timiter]

In regard to the affiliates having their 11pm newscast in between basically two comedy hours...maybe some will follow the boldness paradigm and change their 11pm news to a comedic approach or at least a looser, more conversational approach. Some NBC affiliates have nothing to lose by trying this. But then again, that will marginalize Television journalism even further....just a thought.

 

[radioguy555]

I give NBC credit for trying this, and I understand the economics behind it all. But to me it's kind of an overload of these shows. In Fall 2009, NBC will have Leno, Conan, Jimmy Fallon, and Carson Daly (assuming they keep his show) on every night?

IF I were Carson Daly, I'd enjoy the "Later" run while I could. His show is now the most expendable.

And I wouldn't assume that Leno, Conan, and Fallon will all be doing the same kind of comedy program or follow the ususal late night talker format. I'll bet you that Leno's show will probably feature fewer sketches, longer guest interviews and perhaps more time for musical/stand up performances.

Yeah, I'm sure Carson Daly is not too thrilled about this.

As for Leno changing his show, I think most agree that he is not the greatest interviewer in the world and Letterman takes the cake over him in that department, so I'm not so sure it would be a good idea to have him do longer interviews. Makes you wonder if Leno will change things much at all, or if O'Brien/Fallon/Daly will have to retool their shows to mix things up. Should be interesting to see what happens.

 

[Ultimajock]

I give them points for trying something bold, something different.

...not really different, except for the weeknight strip schedule. Steve Allen, Ernie Kovacs and Jack Paar all went directly from The Tonight Show to prime time variety shows...

 

[Nate Wesley]

As for Leno changing his show, I think most agree that he is not the greatest interviewer in the world and Letterman takes the cake over him in that department, so I'm not so sure it would be a good idea to have him do longer interviews. Makes you wonder if Leno will change things much at all, or if O'Brien/Fallon/Daly will have to retool their shows to mix things up. Should be interesting to see what happens.

Leno and O'Brien's shows are different enough as it is, so I don't think content will be an issue.

Now, who gets priority on a buzzworthy guest...that will be interesting to see.

 

[imhomerjay]

I give them points for trying something bold, something different.

...not really different, except for the weeknight strip schedule. Steve Allen, Ernie Kovacs and Jack Paar all went directly from The Tonight Show to prime time variety shows...

Granted, but perhaps to clarify I should add the qualifier that I'm talking about within the past couple of generations and within the current landscape of TV (cable and broadcast) as it exists now.

 

[Mike Sheridan]

Poor Jay Leno, he's crazy to try something like this. I predict it will bomb big and will be gone fast!

Just when you thought TV programming couldn't get any worse! I'll say this it's better than "reality" shows.