I want to start out by saying that I do not dislike Jay Leno or his show. I’ve met the man a few times and he’s a rather engaging sort who is willing to chat you up. And that’s a rarity amongst the Hollywood elite.
Yet when NBC moved his show to the 10:00 p.m. slot, shoved some popular scripted dramas aside, forced local affiliates to carry it, and even forced local affiliate broadcasters to pump the time-slot move, I was curious at best.
Then they pitched it pretty hard on how it was going to be different than the previous rendition. OK… sure.
Then it started. Ratings were great… for the first night, and then they plummeted. Well, I’ll be polite and say they consistently declined for a period of time.
And then the replaced Jay with Conan O’Brien. WTH were they thinking? I wasn’t sure that the demographic that enjoyed Conan at midnight would follow him, or that being more awake at 11 p.m., would actually not like what they’re seeing.
Conan O’Brien’s style never agreed with me and I’ve had absolutely no interest. But to each his own, and I’m sure that his fans were happy to see him get more exposure.
But now NBC has come up for air from where they shoved their heads in the sand and are looking at how Jay Leno’s show is doing and they’re contemplating moving him back to where he belongs, in the late night slot.
Tactically, NBC is looking to pull Jay back to the 11:35 time slot, with a 30-minute The Jay Leno Show and have Tonight with O’Brien air at midnight.
This would really put CBS in a bind if David Letterman has to face off with 2 late-night hosts, but then again, all the change up hasn’t affected Letterman to date, so I’m not too worried. Should I be? Am I missing something in the equation?
BUT
Yea, there’s always a ‘but’ in most changes. Right now it’s being reported that Leno is on-board with this change, but that O’Brien is not.
In fact, THR is reporting that with NBC not honoring their Tonight Show promise to O’Brien, there’s a possibility he may jump ship.
And whom might be interested in the tall-haired red-head O’Brien? The Fox network has shown interest in the man and his routines. But conjecture is that Fox is just mucking with the system by tossing that out there.
NBC wants to be able to make this talk-show combo announcement during their press tour session this Sunday.
I don’t think O’Brien should go anywhere or even ponder it. He needs to dig and appreciate that he’s on NBC and has a show and has a following.
If O’Brien even waffles one bit, I think he needs to keep a few names in mind that could slide right into his seat: Jimmy Fallon and Carson Daly.
Stay in the seat Conan. It’s the best and safest move to make.
