Will NBC cancel Jay Leno's show?
What low ratings could mean for the late night talk show host
Jay Leno: Ratings are down
(Jonathan Brady/epa/Corbis)
Scheduling The Jay Leno Show for weeknights at 10 p.m.must have seemed like "a savvy business move" at the time, said Joe Flint in the Los Angeles Times, seeing as it would allow NBC to substitute a "low-cost talk show for expensive scripted dramas." But Leno is a "weaker lead-in" for local NBC affiliates' 11 p.m. newscasts, and stations in places like Baltimore and Kansas City are getting "shellacked in the ratings." Now they may be "forced to consider their own program alternative for the 10 p.m. hour."
They shouldn't bother, said Jeff Bercovici in AOL's Daily Finance. Rumors are that Jay Leno's show is likely to be "one of the first casualties" if NBC is taken over by interested buyer Comcast. NBC has lost "a third of its 10 p.m. audience compared to last season," and the end of this season will almost certainly see Leno's new show cancelled—if "he even makes it that long." The network needs to find a way to bring viewers back, and "tepid late-night-style talk is not going to do the trick."
Don't count out Jay Leno just yet, said Walt Belcher in the Tampa Tribune. His show attracts "enough 18-to-49-year-olds to not be a disaster," and stands to make NBC about $300 million a year—even after subtracting "Leno's $30 million salary." Sure, the ratings are low, but "broadcast network viewing is down across the board." Maybe we should listen to NBC executives and give Leno another couple of months to prove himself—"a better time to check his pulse would be at the end of December."
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26 Comments
Posted by Gut Shot, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1:46 pm I liked Jay on the tonight show. but this show is HORRIBLE! I dislike Conan even more. Yet another reason to tune into Fox and watch Greta. Good job NBC for helping Fox ratings. Hey NBC, declare war on Fox News, that will help your ratings. NOT! Sorry Jay. I like you but this show must go.
Posted by Johnny Reb, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1:47 pm Here's the thingthere's fewer people awake at 11:3012:30 than there is at 1011 and there's also less to watch. Proportionately, Leno is probably getting about the same amoung of viewers he had in his old time slot, not counting those the TiVo or DVR his new show. Just because he's not blowing everyone else out of the water at 10 PM doesn't mean he's doing poorly. Personally, he bores me to tears and always has but plenty of people like him and if they liked him at 11:30 they like him at 10.
Posted by Johnny Reb, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1:50 pm Let's try that again, since I forgot this web site can't format for sheet ..There's fewer people awake at 11:30 to 12:30 than there is at 10 to 11 and there's also less to watch. Proportionately, Leno is probably getting about the same amount of viewers he had in his old time slot, not counting those who TiVo or DVR his new show. Just because he's not blowing everyone else out of the water at 10 PM doesn't mean he's doing poorly. Personally, he bores me to tears and always has but plenty of people like him and if they liked him at 10.
Posted by Johnny Reb, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 1:53 pm chrissake, Week...it's called HTML. WTF? Whatever, Leno ain't worth this much effort.
Posted by TV Fan, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 2:04 pm Cancel Jay? HOPE SO. It is the same show, except 90 minutes earlier. Not worth staying awake for at that time, and it is still boring at 10 pm. These talk shows are boring. Let's try something old...scriptwriters who write good TV shows and movies!! Try it. It worked before and it will work again. People are sick and tired of Reality and Stupid actors on stupid talk shows. They are boring us to sleep earlier. And, take DLetterman with you when you shut off the lights on Jay's show. BORING. Dull. Predictable.
Posted by Kay Schloff, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 2:12 pm can't imagine watching the current inhabitants of late night I watch Jay every night and think it's a great show don't know what all the naysayers were expecting.
Posted by Barbara, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 2:48 pm I love Jay and watched the 2night show regularly..now I don't...I like Conan but he seems out of place in LA..his show is 2 white!!! Jay seems perfect 4 the So Cal vibe....NBC just made a bad choice by letting Conan host the Tonight show. Jay was the king of late nighttalk shows. I think he'll be back at the Tonight show sooner than later
Posted by N.Y. Tim, Tuesday, October 20, 2009, 2:54 pm Out of all the talk show hosts at nite I enjoy Jay Leno the best!...I especially like that he is on at ten pm now...It is way too early for NBC to cancel his show and what would they have to offer in replacement some old reruns?..I will never understand why they didnt keep Leno where he was !..He had the highest ratings for years!..Why did they fix what wasnt broke?..Dont ell me it was to appease Conan in some way..To me he will always be second best to Leno on his best day.
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