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Jay Leno's Next Gig

Option 7 is where he came from and probably where he'll return. Stand-up comedy is all he ever was - and not too good at that.
 
Jay Leno is only one of two entities printing money for NBC (the other being news). Jay himself jokes of the bad state at NBC during his show. He also jokes that NBC is screwed if the Olympics have low ratings.

Conan has a younger audience base than Jay, and that is what NBC wants to sell to. NBC believes that things will be better with Conan in the 11:34:30 time slot in the long run. I am sure NBC will throw money at Jay to stay. I just wonder how Jay Leno in the daytime would work out.

As for CBS...I don't expect another 1992 all over again. The reason Jay Leno is going quietly (at least publicly) is to prevent another 1992 (where Letterman was set to succeed Leno, only for Leno to installed temporarily then permanently, and Letterman defected to CBS in protest).

As for ABC...Unlikely. Jimmy Kimmel (after winning a battle to be on in Atlanta) has even younger demos than Conan. While I do see Nightline going away soon (I don't know how it is doing after Ted Koppel left), I don't see Leno there.

As for CNN...given how they gave Glenn Beck a show (on Headline News), a comedy show on CNN might be a refreshing change of pace. Seriously...Jay Leno is a comedian, not an hardcore interviewer like Larry King. Jay Leno replacing Larry King is out.

As for Fox...don't see it given Fox's younger demos. If so, 11 PM start time is out due to local "News Edge" newscasts at Fox O&O's. Also, Jay Leno belongs to the Keith Olbermann club of "Fox Noise/Fixed News/Republican Headquarters Channel", so I don't see Jay at Fox unless he can make fun of Fox and Fixed Noise.

Syndication...another option, but no. He would be on CW/My Network TV/Independent stations without the clout of the major network affilates.

Cable is another option where he might go. I don't see Comedy Central (the obvious choice to most), but TBS (with its emphasis on comedy) or USA or Bravo (under an NBC deal) would be possible choices. TV Land is another option.

The most likely option is retirement from TV and doing stand-up full time. He does not need the money (he either saves or donates to charity his NBC pay), and he would have more opprotunties to do stand-up (he is tied to NBC's Burbank studios most of the year because of the Tonight Show...his time off is spent on stand-up tours).

My money is either an NBC deal, TBS, or retirement from TV.
 
I see him going into semi-retirement, coming out to do standup when and where he wants. He's close to 60 doesn't need money and could do whatever he likes in terms of stand up.

If not that I see NBC keeping him on at least short term, and giving him some kind of production deal, to develop shows etc.

I was never a big fan of Johnny Carson and I know I'm in the minority but he bored me. I thought Carson stuck around far too long. The funny thing about the article is that it says Conan has younger audiences but I wonder if it's him or his timeslot. Will those audiences go with him to 10:30 (11:30 EST & PST)? This remains to be seen.

I don't see Jay jumping networks quickly but I could see him doing it later on. Here's an idea stick Jay on the CW :)
 
As for ABC...Unlikely. Jimmy Kimmel (after winning a battle to be on in Atlanta) has even younger demos than Conan. While I do see Nightline going away soon (I don't know how it is doing after Ted Koppel left), I don't see Leno there.
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As Ted Koppel warned us on his final Nightline, we better give the new hosts and format a shot or (and I may or may not be paraphrasing here) "they'll put a comedy show in this slot and then you'll be sorry." ;D
 
I wonder if Jay is not getting the money than he deserved like he was at it's prime. I doubt retirement for him is unlikely. There has been some big celebrities that has cut back on their salaries. Does that something to do with it?
 
Another problem with a FOX deal is as here in Providence Rhode Island our FOX affiliate airs "MY" after 11:30 pm. I am sure this is the case of a lot of markets.
"MY NETWORK TV" this fall is going to start rolling out the big guns. With the addition of WWE's Friday Night Smackdown it is a good addition to the network.WWE on the other hand will take a hit especially if MY does not get out of the ratings slump it is in.
 
dgendvil said:
I wonder if Jay is not getting the money than he deserved like he was at it's prime. I doubt retirement for him is unlikely. There has been some big celebrities that has cut back on their salaries. Does that something to do with it?
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He started off making about $6-7 million a year, but depending upon who's doing the estimating, he's now making somewhere around $25-35 million a year. There has been speculation that he banks all of his Tonight Show millions and lives off the money he makes doing standup. I doubt he needs to work to pay the bills.
 
Driving any one of his Classic Cars up and down the PCH...do occasional car gigs for TV, some stand up...

He'll have production to keep his hand in, but if that goes south, he ll pull the plug.
 
Supposedly, NBC is in the process of developing an american version of the british smash hit about all things automobiles "Top Gear".

Last I heard, the network was talking to Los Angeles DJ Adam Carolla. If they decide to go with a multi-host format, as the British version does, then Jay Leno would be a hand-in-glove fit for "Top Gear", given his love and fascination for cars.
 
Dighton Rockhead said:
Supposedly, NBC is in the process of developing an american version of the british smash hit about all things automobiles "Top Gear".

Last I heard, the network was talking to Los Angeles DJ Adam Carolla. If they decide to go with a multi-host format, as the British version does, then Jay Leno would be a hand-in-glove fit for "Top Gear", given his love and fascination for cars.
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You are correct. I just watched an episode of My Classic Car featuring another visit to Jay Leno's garage. He would be a natural due to his extensive knowledge of automobiles. He and Dennis Gage would make great hosts.
 
I don't think money would be an issue with Leno, I think it'll come down to Leno's desire to work. Unlike Seinfeld who started a family after this show ended, Leno doesn't have kids to occupy his time (or grandkids).

CBS managed to keep Lucy from the cancellation of "Here's Lucy" (yeah I know technically it wasn't really cancelled but...) till what like 1978, when she went to NBC but NBC didn't have anything for her to do really so she went to ABC.

NBC would be foolish to let him bolt if not for anything but the publicity it would generate that would most likely be negative.

I guess it'll come down to how much Leno will miss being in the spotlight each night.
 
Hosting The Late Late Show FOLLOWING Letterman. Craig Freguson has mentioned that he may not renew his contract when it expires. He does not want to be bogged down with a daily show and get back into acting and writing films. Unless Jon Stewart takes that, then Leno can take the Daily Show.
 
there is already or was a game show that closely resembles JayWalking.
Or were you being sarcastic?
"Street Smarts", right? As for Jay, he might do what he probably would have done had Dave succeeded Johnny, that is, he'd stay with NBC and basically be the new Bob Hope. (Half a dozen specials a year, walk-on privileges on "Tonight", etc.)
 
Dighton Rockhead said:
Supposedly, NBC is in the process of developing an american version of the british smash hit about all things automobiles "Top Gear".

Last I heard, the network was talking to Los Angeles DJ Adam Carolla. If they decide to go with a multi-host format, as the British version does, then Jay Leno would be a hand-in-glove fit for "Top Gear", given his love and fascination for cars.
Click to expand...

NBC has already cast the three hosts for Top Gear America:

"Alongside Hollywood stunt driver Tanner Foust and soap-opera-star-turned-DIY-television-personality Eric Stromer"

http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/new_cars/4270253.html
 
jal41 said:
As for ABC...Unlikely. Jimmy Kimmel (after winning a battle to be on in Atlanta) has even younger demos than Conan. While I do see Nightline going away soon (I don't know how it is doing after Ted Koppel left), I don't see Leno there.
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ABC has really rallied around Jimmy Kimmel. The half-hour specials preceding NBA Finals coverage prove this. And the ratings have been fair. But I just think it could be worth it for Disney to bank on a potentially declining Leno audience than it would be to gamble on growing the Kimmel show. I figure you could get a productive five years out of Jay Leno easily. But that's IF he wants to truly keep working.

jal41 said:
Cable is another option where he might go. I don't see Comedy Central (the obvious choice to most), but TBS (with its emphasis on comedy) or USA or Bravo (under an NBC deal) would be possible choices. TV Land is another option.
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This is an intriguing suggestion. Leno does have his production company (Big Dog Productions), and he could just as easily helm his own show (not necessarily a daily one) and produce a few others. TBS wouldn't be a bad choice the latter. Staying with NBC Universal could let him do the aforementioned NBC specials and perhaps produce some half-hour comedy projects for cable...or NBC even.

The more I think about it, the more I like the ideas of Leno's 'working' retirement instead of continuing the grind of a weekday show.
 
A coworker of mine is a huge fan of Jay's to the point that he has the "Big Dog" logo as a tattoo on his arm. He met Jay in New York while doing a week of the Today Show at Rockefeller Center. He's also seen him in Lowell, MA, Ledyard, CT (Foxwoods), Montville, CT (Mohegan Sun), Rochester, NY, Hermosa Beach, CA and...drum roll please...BURBANK, CA (you know the rest!). Now that's dedication!
 
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