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Report says 'Leno' is done, NBC denies it
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"The Jay Leno Show" is on the verge of getting the ax, a web report claims. No it's not, says NBC.The report, subtly titled "C-Ya! NBC to pull the plug on Leno!," is on a site called FTVLive.com, which primarily covers the TV news business. It's a paid site, so the text of the story isn't public. FTV founder Scott Jones, however, did an interview with KNX radio (which is owned by CBS) Thursday (Jan. 7) in which he cites sources at NBC who told him that Leno's prime-time show would be shut down. (Listen to the audio.)
NBC, meanwhile, issued a statement saying Leno's ratings are what they expected but acknowledging that affiliates aren't happy with the show's performance. Here's the statement:
"Jay Leno is one of the most compelling entertainers in the world today. As we have said all along, Jay's show has performed exactly as we anticipated on the network. It has, however, presented some issues for our affiliates. Both Jay and the show are committed to working closely with them to find ways to improve the performance."In the KNX interview, Jones says that high-level meetings have been going on about Leno's future. He also isn't quite as definitive about "pulling the plug" as the headline on his site is. He says that since Leno's show will be pre-empted during the Winter Olympics, NBC could quietly slide it off the air starting in March -- although there's no backup in place -- or evaluate its crop of pilots and make a decision in the spring.
You know, like every network does every season.
It's no secret that NBC affiliates are not thrilled with "Leno's" performance, nor would it be a surprise if the network were discussing ways of how to boost the show's ratings. NBC's statement isn't exactly a ringing endorsement of the show either. But without a fully formed backup plan, the network can't just erase five hours of programming from its schedule.
NBC execs will face a roomful of reporters Sunday (Jan. 10) at the Television Critics Association press tour. Leno will very probably be topic one.
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Get Rid of Leno. Keep Trauma!!
"Jay Leno is one of the most compelling entertainers in the world today."
So compelling that no one is watching and you're thinking of cancelling the show?
Even Leno has said that he prefers late night versus the 10pm Prime Time hour. While there are people who think Leno is funny (I don't know who they are, but someone is watching this crap-a-rama), the show is not important any more -just as much as Letterman and Conan have lost viewers. American's want reality-based programs because they are too stupid to watch any thing else. Sadly, I say give them what they want. Cable is the future, for it has some great drama's and comedies. Sure some of them suck, but by and large, they are better than what the broadcast networks are foisting on America. And when they do air something good -such as Trauma - because it doesn't score American Idol/Dancing with the Stars type ratings, its cancelled.
NBC thought Leno would be a game changer. It's failing because -oddly - Americans seem to want to be entertained by clever, well SCRIPTED shows, even if its CSI and the Law & Order franchise.
NBC are borked - and delusional. The cancellation is going to happen soon enough.
These guys probably would not mind if Dave was done.
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/gay-group-demands-letterman-apologize-mocking-transgender-appointee/story?id=9496127
ax nbc altogether and make an adam lambert network
I have nothing personally against Jay Leno, and I know there are people who enjoy his show. But the fact is it has had a destructive impact on US network TV with at least one acclaimed series (Southland) being cancelled as a direct, acknowledged consequence of the Leno show's existence. Plus it has also served to dampen Conan O'Brien's ability to gain an audience with the Tonight Show because people have a fall-back option. I'd rather see Leno cut back to one show a week, perhaps on Saturday to try and make that night viable again. But I won't be sorry to hear it if the show is cancelled and scripted shows return to the timeslot.
They were desperate to try
this show in the first
place. EVERYONE new it would
fail, NBC is out of ideas. Here is an idea, put Tina
Fey incharge of the network.
We live in the east coast, so having Jay Leno at 10pm, rather than 11:35pm is good for us. Although, watching it every day might be too much of a good thing, it surely beats watching the local news, which you can read on the net at anytime or just listen in your morning routine.
NBC could explore airing it on weekends, sort of a recap or "highlights" of the week's episodes and/or air just 30 minutes of it, BEFORE prime time (7-8 time slot). The show is significantly more fun to watch than game shows or gossip shows like ET and Access Hollywood (which IMHO lack any content).
http://mankabros.com/onmedea/2010/01/the_jay_leno_show_rip.html