THIS IS ALL BUSINESS. IF YOU DON'T GET THE RATINGS, THEY TAKE YOU OFF THE AIR: Leno has a statement on tonight's show: "How valuable can I be? You fired me twice. How valuable can I be?"
Except, of course, that a couple of months ago, when asked an innocuous question that in no way raised the issue, Leno volunteered that if they asked him to take the 11:30 slot back, sure, he'd love to have it. So he left out the part where he went to the press and asked them to put him back at 11:30.
I never really conceived of how culpable Leno was until he tried to spin himself into having zero actual agency in all this. What a mealy-mouthed douchebag.
Everyone should also go back and watch the clip of Leno speaking on his show right after the 2004 deal was struck - I think it's on FunnyorDie.com right now. He was singing quite a different tune then. He was either lying then, or he's lying now. I don't see any other alternative.
That clip from 2004 + the comment to the press about being happy to move back to 11:35 + his supposed refusal of any of the specials, etc. Zucker offered him before agreeing to a 10 p.m. show (positioning himself to impact Conan's ratings) + how he originally snagged The Tonight Show back in the '90s = Leno is a liar. I mean, sure, it could all be one big coincidence, but umm, yeah. That's why his chin is so big: it's full of lies.
This is all just damage control so he isn't perceived as being the jerk. I wonder how much the approximately 300 fans lining the sidewalks outside NBC yesterday had to do with his decision to "seriously" address this matter.
So with Conan leaving instead of moving to 12:05, does this mean poor Carson Daly stays on the air? I really hope that guy has a plan B because they were ready to drop him so fast. (But I guess the writing was on the wall for him when Fallon took over Late Night.)
In what universe did anyone hope/expect the start of Leno at 10 was going to help Conan's ratings? Even NBC's wildest fantasies admitted that ratings would drop over their old 10 PM dramas, but claimed that the cost/ratings ratio would make up for it. Also not helping is that CBS consistently wins every night at 10 overall (and by a pretty good margin), and only loses the key demo at 10 on Thursdays (there, it's neck and neck between Mentalist and Private Practice most weeks). You know who needs to analyze the ratings here? Nate Silver (even though I'm seriously hoping he's wrong today).
You know, I also think Jay should shut up, but there are plenty of people out there who believe his regular-guy schtick, my 79-year-old mother being one of them. He clearly has the septugenarian and octogenarian demographics all sewn up.
I wonder if the negative PR surrounding Jay will impact his ratings when he goes back to 11:35. I would suppose not -- the Venn diagram I have in my mind has very little overlap between the people who watch Jay regularly and the people who are up in arms over Jay's/NBC's treatment of Conan.
The best part is when he pretends to believe that Conan wouldn't mind moving to 12:05. I prefer Poniewozik's imaginary Jay response: "And the Tonight Show is not just any job. When you're in our business, that desk is like the Oval Office. It's the one thing you dream of. Conan had a shot, it didn't work out. Maybe it wasn't fair, but we all know that's the business and we're all rich men at the end of the day. Then NBC offered me back the one job I wanted more than anything. Am I made of stone? Of course I said yes."
Except, of course, that a couple of months ago, when asked an innocuous question that in no way raised the issue, Leno volunteered that if they asked him to take the 11:30 slot back, sure, he'd love to have it. So he left out the part where he went to the press and asked them to put him back at 11:30.
ReplyDeleteI never really conceived of how culpable Leno was until he tried to spin himself into having zero actual agency in all this. What a mealy-mouthed douchebag.
ReplyDeleteEveryone should also go back and watch the clip of Leno speaking on his show right after the 2004 deal was struck - I think it's on FunnyorDie.com right now. He was singing quite a different tune then. He was either lying then, or he's lying now. I don't see any other alternative.
ReplyDeletePretty nice site you've got here. Thanx for it. I like such topics and anything that is connected to this matter. BTW, why don't you change design :).
ReplyDeleteThat clip from 2004 + the comment to the press about being happy to move back to 11:35 + his supposed refusal of any of the specials, etc. Zucker offered him before agreeing to a 10 p.m. show (positioning himself to impact Conan's ratings) + how he originally snagged The Tonight Show back in the '90s = Leno is a liar. I mean, sure, it could all be one big coincidence, but umm, yeah. That's why his chin is so big: it's full of lies.
ReplyDeleteThis is all just damage control so he isn't perceived as being the jerk. I wonder how much the approximately 300 fans lining the sidewalks outside NBC yesterday had to do with his decision to "seriously" address this matter.
So with Conan leaving instead of moving to 12:05, does this mean poor Carson Daly stays on the air? I really hope that guy has a plan B because they were ready to drop him so fast. (But I guess the writing was on the wall for him when Fallon took over Late Night.)
Whoops - "Guest" was me.
ReplyDeleteproposed book title, "Chin Full of Lies."
ReplyDeleteIn what universe did anyone hope/expect the start of Leno at 10 was going to help Conan's ratings? Even NBC's wildest fantasies admitted that ratings would drop over their old 10 PM dramas, but claimed that the cost/ratings ratio would make up for it. Also not helping is that CBS consistently wins every night at 10 overall (and by a pretty good margin), and only loses the key demo at 10 on Thursdays (there, it's neck and neck between Mentalist and Private Practice most weeks). You know who needs to analyze the ratings here? Nate Silver (even though I'm seriously hoping he's wrong today).
ReplyDeleteShut up, Jay.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I also think Jay should shut up, but there are plenty of people out there who believe his regular-guy schtick, my 79-year-old mother being one of them. He clearly has the septugenarian and octogenarian demographics all sewn up.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the negative PR surrounding Jay will impact his ratings when he goes back to 11:35. I would suppose not -- the Venn diagram I have in my mind has very little overlap between the people who watch Jay regularly and the people who are up in arms over Jay's/NBC's treatment of Conan.
ReplyDeleteConan puts himself up on Craigslist.
ReplyDeleteErin's comment FTW! "That's why his chin is so big: it's full of lies." Sheer perfection.
ReplyDeleteIt was removed, but here's the text. Mighty damn funny.
ReplyDeletehttp://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2010/01/conan-obrien-free-for-your-next-craigslist-casual-encounter.html
Heh. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThe best part is when he pretends to believe that Conan wouldn't mind moving to 12:05. I prefer Poniewozik's imaginary Jay response: "And the Tonight Show is not just any job. When you're in our business, that desk is like the Oval Office. It's the one thing you dream of. Conan had a shot, it didn't work out. Maybe it wasn't fair, but we all know that's the business and we're all rich men at the end of the day. Then NBC offered me back the one job I wanted more than anything. Am I made of stone? Of course I said yes."
ReplyDeletehttp://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/01/19/leno-speaks-im-taking-the-tonight-show-for-my-staffs-sake/#more-8128#ixzz0d5LZjjDe
[Hey, I just ran into that thing I read about where copying from some web pages carries the link along...and it was actually useful and appropriate! Sumbitch.]