NBC Officially Cancels Jay Leno's Prime-Time Show

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 10th 2010 02:30PM

NBC's not-so-long national nightmare is over. The network confirmed Sunday they've asked Jay Leno, whose months-old show has sagged in the ratings, to move back to 11:35 p.m each night. NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin told reporters Sunday that the network envisions Leno to bring the funny for a half-hour program before handing off to Conan O'Brien's 'Tonight Show' at 12:05 a.m. No deal has been struck.

The news, delivered at the TV Critics' Association (TCA) Press Tour in Pasadena, comes just days after Leno used his talk-show pulpit to skewer NBC on the day that various media reports emerged that his days at 10 p.m. may be done. Leno taunted his network by saying "I hear Fox is beautiful this time of year" and joking that the trust between him and the Peacock network is gone.

Gaspin said despite lower ratings for NBC at 10 p.m. compared with last year, the network was making money off the show. "I think over time [Leno show ratings] might have started to grow. For the network, it was not yet a wrong decision."

"While it was performing at acceptable levels, it did not meet our affiliates' needs. My goal right now is to keep Jay [Leno], Conan [O'Brien] and Jimmy [Fallon] as part of our late-night lineup. As much as I'd like to tell you we have a done deal, we know that's not true."

Affiliates were upset that the show was leading fewer viewers into their late news programs, costing them significant advertising revenue. Some told NBC in December they would go public soon about their complaints if a change wasn't made, or even take Leno's show off the air.

"I would have liked nothing more than to give this a 52-week try," Gaspin said. "Affiliates started calling, saying local news was being impacted more than expected. In some cases, they had the No. 1 news show, and now they were No. 3."

"The drumbeat started getting louder," he said.

Gaspin has proposed moving Conan O'Brien's "Tonight" show to 12:05 a.m., and Jimmy Fallon's show would start an hour later. But the late-night hosts had not agreed to the move. Gaspin said he expected NBC's late-night situation to be cleared up by the start of the Olympics.

"I can't imagine we won't have everything in place before then," he said.

As for O'Brien and Fallon's reaction to his proposal, Gaspin said both men had acted professional. "Beyond that, it was a private conversation," Gaspin said.

Both Leno and O'Brien have addressed the debacle on their shows, with the former landing the most pointed attacks at the peacock. Details

PopEater's Rob Shuter reported on December 17 that NBC was courting Jerry Seinfeld to replace O'Brien in the hopes of boosting the slot's sagging ratings. Unfortunately, NBC was unable to ink the deal according to Shuter, which led the network to change Jay's time.

At the time, NBC spokesperson Drew Shane called the claims "Completely false," adding that "Conan is the host of the 'Tonight Show.'" Oh really?

So with a gap to come at 10 p.m., what will NBC air instead of 'Leno'? Gaspin said that in the short term, viewers will get "two hours of scripted, another reality hour and combination of 'Dateline' or repeats."

Should Conan Make Like a Tree? NBC's Options For 10 PM

Tags: conan obrien, jay leno, jay leno show

Comments

(820)

Sunday 10 January

By Ian Keith

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I think talk shows blow but this guy is very good and the only one I'll watch.... Wait thats not true I like Letterman a lot too. The rest are awful and they should be showing old Godzilla movies instead.

By Mark

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Although I like Jay (met him a few times and he's the nicest guy to talk to), Craig Ferguson IS hysterical.

I never watched Craig until the late night shakeup and I was amazed at just how funny Ferguson is.

Monday 11 January

By Gwen

I agree, 100%

By Harvey Mushman

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Jay should just move to a cable network with Jay Leno's Garage. I think that is were his heart is at anyway. As for the other late night guys, give them time. Few, if any, hosts were loved right from the get go. It takes time to grow into the job. The same could be said for many popular TV shows.

By blondron1000

I wouldn't worry to much about Jay, he can afford to do what ever he wants to, and will, no doubt. there are so many directions that he can go in, to help so many people, if he chose so...... in the public eye... "hint, hint"

By BostonBlackie

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Leno is simply not prime time entertainment. Over the years, he has also seemd to get stuck on himself as far as I am concerned. I gave up on him about 5 years ago.

By thnkugal

Thank GAWD. Took NBC bozo's long enough. Surprised big brass let it suffer thru for as long as it did. Must be some kind of Leno favoritism thing. Sad to have put viewers thru such unnecessary extended pain. After all- weren't we the ones who said it'd never work- wayyyy back in May??? Time for heads to roll in the big offices. Totally AWOL leadership at NBC. Dunces.

By robert peters

Leno was fine as a late night host..nbc wanted to fill the thursday 10pm time slot and thought leno would work. they are still making money at that time slot. they had no other shows to put into that spot once er left. re-runs and date line shows are not going to cut it. dumpl conan..

By scrungeman1

well Leno you thought you were invinceable with your arrogance and ego....how you feel now? Your being tossed like yesterdays newspaper, i bet that eats you up...you deserve to be put out to the cow pasture with the rest of the dinosaurs,,,your time is over....bye bye chin!!!

By Terrie

Gads people...such bitterness! I think NBC was stupid to let Leno go in the first place. I could have told them Conan wasn't a good fit. He turns out to be too adolescent for that show, in my opinion. It's the same old tired idea that the young people are the ones driving the ratings when the truth is that the older people with the money are the ones who are staying home to watch TV....For Gods sake!!

By Raine

I like Jay Leno and would like to see him back in his old time slot, get rid of Conan, he's not funny, just silly. Letterman is arrogant

By Chris

Jay is just wrong for the time slot. His every guy looks and humor work for only a certain segment of the population and they are obviously doing something else at 10 et. Conan was great on late night but his humor doesn't work at 11:30 and doubt it would at midnight. Obviously the tv networks are stuck in some weird bubble and don't understand what people want to watch. I predict the end of at least a couple of the networks in the next few years. Cable channels like TNT, FX, etc. give people what they want to watch. NBC wake up!

By Skeptic

More room for Law & Order.

By patricijan42

Someone needs to just drown Conan O'Brian and move Jay back where he was before.

Conan is just disgusting.

By Flagrante Delicto

Oh great... NBC will replace Leno with a stupid reality show. I here that Snooki is interested in the time slot.

By Ron Berberich

A MEN Thank God they will bring back Jay Leno at his old spot. I never missed a show .Now I never watch him at 10;00 because there are other shows I watch.Missed him Missed him Missed him at My Prayers were answered.

Tuesday 12 January

By robert in va

NO TONIGHT SHOW WITH JOHNNY CARSON WAS THE REEL KING OF LATE NIGHT

By danny

I say....get rid of Conan and put Leno back to the 11:30 slot. O'Brien is one big no-body....no talent, not funny but he sure thinks so. Same dull show every weeknight. I stopped watching soon after his show started. Leno is the best of the group, except for Craig Ferguson on CBS at 12:30AM. He is the top one.

JAY LENO IS A EDIT JOHNNY CARSON SHOW WAS THE REEL SHOW JAY SPEAKS OUT TO UNTALENTED ENTERTAINMENT FANS OF GENERATION Y

Oh great... NBC will replace Leno with a stupid reality show. I hear that Snooki is interested in the time slot.

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