Jay Leno Should Retire So Conan Doesn't Walk

[weirdboy]

While I love this comment, it does bring up the point that Jay Leno never wanted to retire, and that some people miss a key point to this story:

NBC and Conan signed a deal back in 2004 that Conan would take over in 2009 weather Leno wanted to retire or not.

NBC and Leno also signed a contract saying that he was going to quit and let Conan take over. Leno publicly announced this on his show, shortly after his 5-year contract renewal.

[ame=http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/6d1caacad1/jay-s-2004-announcement]Here's the actual announcement[/ame] from 2004.

 

[adx]

I have been reading some news on this and I think what everyone needs to remember is the decision for all of these changes are of the network based on ratings. Conan rejected their new plan and Jay accepted what he was offered. The network was not going to keep Conan where he was. Maybe they didn't give him enough time but that was their decision. If anything people should be upset with the network executives not Jay Leno. I do not see it his fault this played out like it did.

The problem wasn't Conan's ratings. The problem was the local news ratings for 11pm were tanking because Leno sucked at 10pm. All the local stations were on a rampage because they kept losing ads for the 11pm news.

 

[jasonsbeer]

We watched Conan's last show last night. I think he's a very classy guy.

I started watching Conan when he did his very first Late Night. It took a while for him to hit his stride. But I always thought he was entertaining.

I doubt Leno will be able to recover the same level of viewership that he had pre-Conan, even back in the Tonight Show slot.

 

[Bumbler]

The problem wasn't Conan's ratings. The problem was the local news ratings for 11pm were tanking because Leno sucked at 10pm. All the local stations were on a rampage because they kept losing ads for the 11pm news.

Has anybody thought that the 11 O'clock news stinks. I don't watch it regardless of who's on before or after. It's just a regurgitation of the noon, 5, and 6 broadcast.

Besides I have a remote control and know how to use it. At least I think. Dam all those buttons.

 

[Beerrific]

I used to stay up every night for Conan (11:30 since I was in central time). Then I had to be up for school at 5:45, I am not sure how I did it. But, I would watch Letterman and then switch over to Conan. Leno is really not that funny, he just makes fun of people.

 

[Mountainbeers]

Leno has higher ratings at the moment because he appeals to the older crowd. He'll fade out soon and NBC will be sorry for screwing Conan.

 

[doubleb]

It would have been nice to see Leno do the honorable thing. He's had five years to figure out what to do. Conan is the man for the job. I was hoping that this was some sort of NBC sick jock to get some spotlight on their shows, but now I see they are real idiots. When you've got a bunch of idiots somethings gonna get screwed up. Come on you idiots, please learn from this absolutely dumb ass mistake.

 

[Hinermad]

The Wall Street Journal has an interesting take on the matter, although I think it's meant as satire.

NBC Will Regret Appeasing Leno

By the way, this is a clear example of Godwin's Law. It's a little sad that the WSJ had to be the one to bring it up.

Dave

 

[jgln]

The problem wasn't Conan's ratings. The problem was the local news ratings for 11pm were tanking because Leno sucked at 10pm. All the local stations were on a rampage because they kept losing ads for the 11pm news.

I think I read this in the Philadelphia Inquirer that Conan's ratings were 1/2 of Leno's in that timeslot for the Tonight show and Leno always had slightly better ratings than Letterman in the same timeslot. In other words Leno was #1 in ratings in that timeslot. I did hear about what you are saying but you can't ignore the fact they had a winning combination before the change. But since they did make the change I doubt things will ever be the same and probably a mistake to make the change back now.

 

[jgln]

Leno has higher ratings at the moment because he appeals to the older crowd. He'll fade out soon and NBC will be sorry for screwing Conan.

That may be true, especially since they made the change last year. But I was always a big fan of Johnny Carson and when he left the show I was 32 and he was 66 I think, so not everyone young associates with a younger host. Yeah, at this point I don't see putting Leno back and getting rid of Conan will do any good. I wonder who they will get to replace Leno now or will the show just be canceled and replaced with some other variety show? Probably not but that would be a shame for the Tonight Show legacy to die.

 

[jgln]

I used to stay up every night for Conan (11:30 since I was in central time). Then I had to be up for school at 5:45, I am not sure how I did it. But, I would watch Letterman and then switch over to Conan. Leno is really not that funny, he just makes fun of people.

That is an odd statement; you mean the others do not?? If you mean Jaywalking and Headlines they are actually pretty funny IMO. In fact I think either Conan or Letterman tried to copy "headlines". College kids that can't answer simple questions making you wonder how they got in college in the first place and how the hell are they passing classes. Now that is funny! Wait, maybe not.

 

[TxBrew]

I think I read this in the Philadelphia Inquirer that Conan's ratings were 1/2 of Leno's in that timeslot for the Tonight show and Leno always had slightly better ratings than Letterman in the same timeslot. In other words Leno was #1 in ratings in that timeslot. I did hear about what you are saying but you can't ignore the fact they had a winning combination before the change. But since they did make the change I doubt things will ever be the same and probably a mistake to make the change back now.

Leno's rating were bad when he first started as well. It takes awhile for a generation to transition to a different time spot. A lot of Conan fans aren't settled down yet but in a couple of years and having children they will.

Leno does not appeal to me, even most of his pre-guest comedy bits, most are too played out. It's humor geared towards those 45+. I find his interviewing of guests worse, it's awkward almost.

 

[Synovia]

Leno's rating were bad when he first started as well. It takes awhile for a generation to transition to a different time spot. A lot of Conan fans aren't settled down yet but in a couple of years and having children they will.

Conan's ratings were actually significantly better than Leno's were at 7 months in.

I'm of the opinion that they just killed the franchise for a year of slightly better ratings. Although, they may not even get better ratings than Conan because a lot of people are going to refuse to watch.


That being said, I'd love to see Craig Ferguson get one of the earlier shows.

 

[weirdboy]

Craig Ferguson would be awesome, except that he wouldn't be able to do a lot of the stuff he does now at the earlier time slot, so it would probably be ruined.

 

[IrregularPulse]

I agree with Tx, Leno is not funny to me and seems to appeal to the old folk. I prefer Conan, but have not followed any of this because I watch CN or TBS at night.