'Jay Leno' Wreaking Havoc on Local News

By PopEater Staff Posted Oct 19th 2009 09:39AM

All across the country, NBC affiliates are cringing nightly as their once-healthy late night newscasts are experiencing huge drops in viewership. With 'The Jay Leno Show' as their new "lead-in" every night, stations in Baltimore to Kansas City and beyond are attracting fewer and fewer eyeballs to their prized newscasts, according to a report by the LA Times.

• In Baltimore, WBAL has gone from a neck-and-neck race for viewers with arch rival WJZ to being walloped nightly. They are now a distant No. 2, with the main being Jay Leno's performance towards the close of his show. In Charm City, he is attracting 51,400 fewer household than a year ago.

• In Leno's native Boston, WHDH's news ratings have slipped 17% compared with last October. Last April WHDH's owner, Ed Asnin, initially announced he wouldn't air 'Leno' but he eventually relented when NBC threatened to yank his affiliate status.

• In Kansas City, KSHB's ratings are down slightly from where it was a year ago, but its general manager is not happy. "I'm not pleased with what Leno is doing. I don't think anybody is," said Craig Allison. "I don't think any NBC affiliate wanted to wake up in the fall with a weaker lead-in to their late news."

During his debut week, Leno averaged 12 million viewers nightly. But now, he's attracting an average of about 5.6 million fans, which comes to about a third of the viewers the network drew last year with its slate of drama programs.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=551158&pid=551157&uts=1255961329

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/tv/?s_channel=us.tv&s_account=aolnews,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Jay Leno Snapshots

Audience members hold a sign as they wait to enter NBC Studios for the premiere of 'The Jay Leno Show' in Burbank, CA on September 14, 2009.

More Jay Pics >>

AFP/Getty Images

AFP

Jay Leno Snapshots

Members of the group "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA) wear chicken costumes as they protests outside the NBC television studios in Los Angeles on October 6, 2009. The group waved placards at passing motorists during the taping of The Jay Leno Show'' to protest McDonald's ads that will be screened on the program. PETA is campaigning for McDonalds to adopt more humane bird slaughter methods. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

A member of the group "People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals" (PETA) wears a chicken costume as she protests outside the NBC television studios in Los Angeles on October 6, 2009. The group, dressed as chickens, waved placards at passing motorists outside the studio during the taping of The Jay Leno Show'' to protest McDonald's ads that will be screened on the program. PETA is campaigning for McDonalds to adopt more humane bird slaughter methods. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

FILE - In this April 7, 2009 file photo, Jay Leno performs in what was being billed as "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan" at the Palace in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Mich. One thing is clear, and Leno's populist jokes reflect it: The country has been in no mood to celebrate ostentatious wealth, or those forces _ Wall Street chief among them _ seen to have brought us to such a precarious point. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

** FOR USE MONDAY, SEPT. 28 AND THEREAFTER ** FILE - In this April 7, 2009 file photo, Jay Leno performs in what was being billed as "Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan" at the Palace in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills, Mich. One thing is clear, and Leno's populist jokes reflect it: The country has been in no mood to celebrate ostentatious wealth, or those forces _ Wall Street chief among them _ seen to have brought us to such a precarious point. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

BURBANK, CA - SEPTEMBER 14: (NO SALES, NO ARCHIVE; TABLOIDS OUT) Jay Leno tapes the inaugural episode of NBC's "The Jay Leno Show" September 14, 2009 in Burbank, California. (Photo by Justin Lubin/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jay Leno

Getty Images

US comedian Jay Leno walks on the stage for the debut of "The Jay Leno Show" on September 14, 2009 in Burbank, California. The program will air nightly in NBC's coveted 10:00 pm (0500 GMT) slot, the first time in US television history that a major broadcast network has run a series five nights a week in prime time. Justin Lubin/NBCU via AFP == RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL ONLY / CANNOT BE ALTERED / NO ARCHIVING / NO SALES / NO TABLOIDS / GETTY OUT == (Photo credit should read Justin Lubin/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

From a business standpoint, a talk show makes sense. Its much cheaper than footing the bill for a pricey scripted drama.

But shifting away from dramas has so far backfired for the network, as it has limited the kind of content they can run earlier in the evening. Earlier this month, the network cut ties to one of its most promising new shows, the cop drama 'Southland,' because it felt it was too "gritty" for the earlier 9 p.m. time slot. Michael Cudlitz, one of its stars, called NBC brass "dumb f----ing people" for the decision.

It remains to be seen if other scripted dramas will feel the "Leno Effect," as it's being called in the industry. With 10 locked up for Leno, a show that tackles sensitive subjects, like sex-crime themed 'Law & Order: SVU,' must now air earlier. 'L&W' creator Dick Wolf is disappointed with NBC's decision to do away with five hours of scripted drama.

"I understand the economic thinking behind it, but it is sad," he told the LA Times last month, before 'Southland' was canceled.

Yet, if NBC is worried about the ratings, then they aren't showing it. They say affiliate ratings woes are being felt at other networks as well. "There is erosion in broadcast television each year," Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, told the LA Times.

However, NBC is eroding faster than its competition. ABC is off only 9% in the 10 o'clock hour in viewers while CBS is up 1%.

GE, NBC's parent, insists they are pleased with Leno's ratings as a whole.

"Four weeks in, 'The Jay Leno Show' is exceeding our ratings estimates, as are Conan [O'Brien] and [Jimmy] Fallon. So we are happy with the 10 o'clock and late-night performance," GE Chief Financial Officer Keith Sherin said on Friday.

Local media critics disagree and see the experiment with a primetime talkfest as a failed endeavor. "The battle appears to be over in the new post-Leno era," longtime Baltimore Sun TV columnist David Zurawik recently wrote.

What if Leno's ratings don't improve? If local affiliates begin suffering huge financial setbacks and the network continues purging scripted dramas, could there be a change in the works? A few theories being bandied about:

• Move Jay to 10:30, so that local affiliates can deliver the news at 10 p.m. instead.

• Unlikely, but NBC could move Leno to 8 p.m. every night to free up the later hours for scripted comedies, dramas and reality programming.

• Even more unlikely, end the Leno experiment quickly and return to the old formats.

Most industry watchers aren't about to predict Leno's demise just yet, however. Scott Robson, editor-in-chief at AOL Television, believes the network has invested too much capital on Leno to just walk away.

"It would be shocking if NBC dumped Leno this early into his run," Robson tells PopEater. "First off, they bet the house on this move. And to make way for Jay, they also cleared the decks at 10 p.m., so they don't have much to plug in if he's booted."

"Then again," Robson adds, "NBC moves in mysterious ways these days. Never say never with these guys."

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=687355&pid=687354&uts=1255975679

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

PopScene: Week's Hottest Pics

Mary-Louise Parker attends the 7th annual Best In Drag Show on October 18th in LA.

David Livingston, Getty Images

PopScene: Weeks Hot Pics

Mary-Louise Parker attends the 7th annual Best In Drag Show on October 18th in LA.

David Livingston, Getty Images

Kim Cattrall and Miley Cyrus shoot a scene for "Sex and the City 2" where they turn up for a movie premiere in the same outfit!

Pacific Coast News

Lily Allen leaves the Omega Constellation party and puts on a distinctive hot pink coat with a large hood.

Bauer-Griffin

Maroon 5's frontman Adam Levine heads home on his Harley-Davidson.

Pacific Coast News

Rachel Bilson sticks out her tongue at the cameras as she stops by Miauhaus Studios for a photo shoot.

Bauer-Griffin

Rose McGowan attends "The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus" Premiere during day 4 of the 4th Rome International Film Festival.

Venturelli, WireImage

Tina Fey attends the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's 2009 'Light The Night' walk over the Brooklyn Bridge on October 15th in New York City.

Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images

Iman, Padma Lakshmi and Alicia Keys at Hammerstein Ballroom during Keep A Child Alive's 6th Annual Black Ball hosted by Alicia Keys and Padma Lakshmi on October 15th in New York City.

Kevin Mazur, WireImage

Tommy Lee and Nick Carter share a laugh backstage at Los Premios MTV 2009 held at Gibson Amphitheater on October 15th in Universal City, California.

Frank Micelotta, Getty Images

Khloe Kardashian and Kourtney Kardashian are met by paparazzi on their way to shop at Auntie Barbara's in Beverly Hills on October 15th.

X17online

Tags: jay leno, JayLeno, the jay leno show, TheJayLenoShow

Comments

(715)

Monday 19 October

By CracklinRosie

Vote down Vote up Report this

I'd much rather laugh with Jay than cry at some depressing scripted drama. I am so happy Jay is back, with all his funny features like Headlines, Jay Walking, and Stuff from the 99 Cent Store. Jay knows he made a mistake when he rashly decided six years in advance that he would give up the Tonight Show to Conan in 2009, so it's great news that NBC found a way for him and his unique brand of comedy to return to the network in full force.

By dtgringo

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Maybe if networks came up with something other than cop show, cop show with a twist, lawyer show, hospital show, or hospital show with a twist people would actually watch. The article talks about that Southland show getting axed, but I don't care cause it's just cop show #9,999,999,999. ABC is the only place I ever see hour dramas that don't fit that bill. I'm not counting half-hour "comedies" because network comedy sucks. The only other new show I've heard of on NBC is that Mercy show, what is it? Hospital show. So damn original.

By Alice

My husband and I started watching Jay's show but found out there was no change as far as our tastes go. We thought we would get away from being pounded with so many Obama type people on all the other channels but discovered he had them on his show. I used to like Jay but no longer.

By Chaz

I quit watching Leno and Letterman a long time ago. Did NOT find their preadolescence humor, vulgarities and personality attacks humorous or entertaining. Their audiences seemed to be the same level of maturity and taste.

By roguefour4

I HAVE MET JAY AT CAR AND MOTORCYCLE SHOWS HE IS A DOWN TO EARTH GUY. I ENJOYED HIS OLD SHOW, NOT HIS NEW ONE

By MARIE

I AM A FAN OF LENO'S WHEN HE WAS ON AT 11:30. nbc MADE A HUGE MISTAKE WHEN THEY PUT CONAN ON IN HIS TIME SLOT. CONAN SUCKS. NBC CANCELING SHOWS MOVING THEM AROUND IS NOT THE WAY TO GO. HAVE LENO ON A COUPLE TIMES A WEEK. AND FOR THOSE NEWS SHOWS THAT ARE LOSING THEIR VIEWERS APPARENTLY THEY REALLY DIDNT LIKE WATCHING YOU OR THEY WOULD FOLLOW YOU.

By Ethel McCarthy

I don't know who the execs are at NBC making all these decisions but I do think they have no idea what people want. Putting Leno on five nights a week was a big mistake. I also think that cancelling the news at 5 o'clock and substituting this LX show is another huge error on their part. I don't want to see an Extra type show at 5. I want the News. Now I've shifted to CBS. I really enjoyed Sue Simmons and David Ushery. Come on NBC, get with it.

By Bill

I used to love Jay's political jokes. He really came down on Bush. I wish he would get back to that and start joking about Obama and all his fiascos.

By lisa

Leno can't coment on Obama, NBC is a government station!

By Cheryl

Well...I love Conan, and I'm stoked he took over the Tonight Show! LOL! With that being said, Jay being on at 10 has nothing to do with NBC's extraordinarily bad ratings. Jeff Zucker and everyone else, do. They find bad shows, and decide...oh, that'll be funny. I'm sorry, Benjamin McKenzie, just didn't do it for me as a fake good cop. Grr...it's not Jay's fault.

By kingeider

Actually, Leno's awful program just makes decision-making a lot easier. It takes one network out of the possible choices and instantly narrows down the possibilities.

By Gary

If you look at the history of television, and some of the big names that have been given shows that bombed (anyone remember the "Sammy Davis Jr. Show" or the "Jerry Lewis Show", which went off the air 13 weeks after it debuted?), it was easy to predict Jay Leno's failure. Who needed the "Tonight Show" at 10 instead of 11:30...and that's basically all it is. The network never tried this with the "great one", Johnny Carson. If I had been at the head of the network, I would have IMMEDIATELY vetoed this move, knowing that dramas on other networks were what people wanted and Jay Leno is not a strong enough personality to carry off 5 prime time hours per week. An idiotic move that, if NBC has any dignity, will stop by Christmas.

By Jeni

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

There is nothing wrong with Jay Leno being on at 10:30. As to the dramas? The three majors don't have any good dramas all week long, only on Sunday night with Desperate Housewifes and the one that follows it. Extreme Makeover is the only exception on the three major networks, CBS NBC and ABC. Otherwise those networks only offer interesting shows related to news stories, like 20/20 or Primetime. Poor Jay has nothing to do with it. The 3 majors are simply B O R I N G.

By Beth

Just move Jay to 11:30 p.m. His coming on at 10PM is not what folks are used to and they want to see their dramas. They are sick to death of Infomericals which make the networks seem poor. They have so many on its ridiculous and now even on the weekends, they show infomericals into the late afternoon. Enough already!!!! Put on good shows and put these infomericals on from 2AM-9:AM and let that be the end of them. You can get rid on Conan since he is boring as hell.

By racendirt

Basically, I'm not ready to kick back until 11:30. Also, I liked the old format better. I've watched Jay at 10 but it's really not a convenient time. Letterman isn't as easy going as he once was and I never cared for Conan. Craig Ferguson's the best but Jay is very good.

By Roz J.

We haven't watched our local NBC station's 11PM news in weeks. Leno's show has become silly and boring and we just watch whatever news follows what is on the local ABC or CBS station. If I'm watching a cable show, I'll usually switch to ABC at 11 since they are usually more concise anyway.

By WD

Jay is O.K. but some one at NBC should be FIRED, The one's that do the programing for NBC. If they can't move Jay back to the 11;30 time slot and get rid of who is there not, Maybe ABC would want him.(Jay) These programers will keep on untill they Destroy NBC. Maybe they also work for ABC or CBS Or FOX> Was Not Dr. Phill on NBC once?

Tuesday 20 October

By brandon plaskon

jay lenno continues to do what he loves which is making people laugh. when do you think it is time to quit though. i mean is his show funny? hes been around a long time.

By Kathy

Jay was excellent on The Tonight Show. Cohen stinks. Don't like Jay's new show either.

By Carla OBrien

My husband and myself are so grateful that Jay is on at the 10:00 pm time. We LOVE him. His new show is great and at a time when we can actually watch and still be able to function at work.
He is and always will be one of the greatest entertainers of my time. He is just so funny! Go Jay!

Page 5 of 36