Does Jay Leno Deserve All This Late-Night Backlash?

By Mike Ryan Posted Jan 13th 2010 04:20PM

PopEater certainly got a fair share of opinionated comments and emails when we threw our weight behind Team Conan O'Brien in this whole NBC debacle. Because we're fair and always willing to lend an ear to what our readers think, we decided to view things from Jay Leno's perspective. Does he really deserve all this backlash he's currently getting, ours included? In the current late-night TV power struggle, it's a pretty easy task to defend O'Brien -- and rightfully so. There's no question that Conan's getting royally screwed. But, for a moment, clear your head of the anger and sympathy you're feeling toward O'Brien. Remember, in his statement yesterday addressed to the people of Earth (that includes you!), he specifically said, "No one should waste a second feeling sorry for me." So with that, let's step into Leno's shoes and explore why maybe he shouldn't be getting the brunt of the backlash ... after the jump.

Picture this: You're sitting in your office at work, and you're feeling on top of the world. Your production is bringing in by far the most money for the company, hands down. Sure, you're not winning any awards for business creativity, but what's an award mean anyway when you're winning the bottom line? In other words: You're the alpha dog and everyone knows it. One day your boss walks in your office. He tells you he appreciates the job you're doing -- no question, you bring in the most money and eyeballs -- but, sadly, he has to let you go because there's a younger guy that wants your job, and they're afraid to lose him. The younger guy is great at what he does but has no proven track record doing your job. Regardless, you're told that in five years he's getting your position and to not let the door hit you in the a** on the way out. This is what it was like to be Jay Leno in 2004.

Now, instead of sulking, or, even more impressive, not just outright tanking the job, therefore sabotaging the position for his younger, more hip replacement ... Leno excels. He brings in around 5.7 million viewers a night (compared with his eventual replacement O'Brien's roughly 2.9 million viewers). The five years go quickly but, it was agreed upon, even though his rating are the best, he's still losing his job. How is that at all fair to Leno? All he did was host the highest-rated late night talk show and, for his efforts, he was let go. And he hands the show over while still on top. But wait! The NBC executives woke up at the last minute. What if Leno goes to another network and dominates there, too? So, they offer him a 10 p.m. variety show in order to avoid that scenario. This is like, paraphrasing our previous scenario, a top dog sausage employee being given a new job, but instead of in bratwurst-craving Milwaukee, the new position makes him relocate to San Francisco -- one of the healthiest cities in America. There is no way he can match his prior production thanks to different demand. Not only that, his lack of production directly affects his replacement back in Milwaukee, which is bringing the entire company down. It was a no-win situation for everyone involved. Yes, it's the Kobayashi Maru -- and Leno is no James T. Kirk.

From most accounts (i.e. people not named Conan O'Brien or David Letterman) Jay Leno is a pretty nice guy. And, yes, the man completely dumbed down his comedy for the sake of ratings -- no question. But can you look at yourself in the mirror and honestly say that you've never compromised -- even a little bit -- for the sake of your job? Even Letterman and Conan dumbed down their respective shows when they moved to an earlier time slot, just not to the extent that Leno did. In the end, who got the highest ratings? Leno.

There are a lot of rumblings that Leno is behind the scenes of this NBC debacle, pulling the strings like a master puppeteer in order to get his old job back; fair enough, he's done this before in the early 1990s. But, really, that was his former manager Helen Kushnick's doing, who he fired shortly after that debacle. It's hard not to think Leno learned his lesson from that experience. And now we're hearing that Leno might leave NBC, too. Is this posturing? Maybe. But let's assume for a second that he is behind the scenes pulling the strings. Well, what would you be doing right now? That was your show and you loved it. You never wanted to leave, you had the highest ratings and you were forced out by a guy that is now losing to a competitor (Letterman) that you used to mop the floor with. And now YOU'RE the one taking a beating in the press? How is this fair? In your mind, that show is still rightfully yours. You wouldn't at least put up a little bit of a fight for it? Really, it's hard to blame him for having an eff you, I told you so attitude.

No one is ever going to confuse Leno's brand of comedy with anything even bordering on highbrow and he's never going to be the media darling, but, it's undeniable that he pulled in the ratings and, when at 'The Tonight Show,' kept the affiliates happy -- something Conan was not doing and Letterman, when at NBC, didn't care about. He dumbed his show down to reach the wider audience; which, ironically, as the ratings proved, was the smart move. Leno played the game. Leno was winning the game. Who can really blame him for wanting to collect his prize?

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Jay Leno Snapshots

Jay Leno poses in a publicity shot for 'The Jay Leno Show' which premiered on September 14, 2009. More Jay Leno photos >>

MCT

Jay Leno Snapshots

FILE - In this Aug. 5, 2009 file photo, Jay Leno speaks during the panel for "The Jay Leno Show" at the NBC Universal Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena, Calif. NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010 said that Leno's nightly prime-time show will end with the beginning of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 12. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, file)

FILE - In this March 19, 2009 file photo, host Jay Leno is shown on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

FILE - In this March 19, 2009 file photo, host Jay Leno is shown on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" in Burbank, Calif. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file)

FILE - On this Aug. 5, 2009 file photo, Jay Leno speaks during the panel for "The Jay Leno Show" at the NBC Universal Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles, File)

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - NOVEMBER 16: Jay Leno attends the grand opening of Thomas Keller's Bouchon in Beverly Hills on November 16, 2009 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Toby Canham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jay Leno

Getty Images

Tags: conan obrien, jay leno

Comments

(169)

Wednesday 13 January

By Maureen

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Jay Leno is a NICE guy! You never hear a bad word about him. He keeps out of the limelight and his life private. He doesn't smoke, drink, or cheat and I hate the bad publicity about him. I hope everything works out for him and everyone involved.

Thursday 14 January

By connie

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Jay Leno has been missed greatly in our house! I have never cared for Conan, Letterman,or Jimmy Falon. I would rather watch an old black and white classic movie than them. I loved to put the kids to bed, watch local news and weather, then sit back and watch Leno. And for what it's worth... I hate these freakin reality shows!!! That's why Netflix and Redbox are our choice most of the time. All you network dorks... do you ever wonder why everyone still rents movies? yuk, all the stupid crap you have to offer. OMG. Please bring back some sane, intelligent programs that we can watch with our children. Something a family can watch together, without all the filth! What makes box office hits? Blind Side, Fireproof, Facing The Giants, guess what... they're decent family movies... take a hint... that's what America needs to get back to...FAMILY. All you pill-poppin, crack-heads need to retire and give the jobs to people who have some sense. Anyway, good luck to Leno, and Conan

By barb

roseonyxis - DID YOU NOT READ THE ARTICLE? YOU'RE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO BRAIN CELLS THAT I TALKED ABOUT.YOU READ SOMETHING AND THEN PROCEED TO PUT IN YOUR OPINION. WERE YOU THERE WHEN THE NEGOTIATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE?

By Ted

Jay "Big Jaw" Leno took a blockbuster time slot in NBC's prime time and dropped it so far that he was being beaten by cable shows. Thats failure.

Why then reward him by once again giving him the time slot of the TOnight Show while screwing your new Tonight Show host at the same time? Leno doesn't deserve anything. Conan, whether you like him or not, does deserve to be treated better.

By delhorndog2002

Personally, I honestly can't stand talk shows PERIOD. That goes for Leno and Conan. I don't think they're funny, and when Leno was brougth to the 10:00PM slot I felt like they used him to get rid of even more quality television.

NBC is known for cancelling excellent shows. Now they're just bring late night CRAP and putting it on at the end of what I considered to be prime time viewing for the evening.

I say get rid of them both and get back to producing QUALITY television.

By Charles Carter

I gave up expecting Leno and Letterman to provide mature entertainment a long time ago and would rather watch an infomercial selling flood insurance in Death Valley.

By George

Jay, quit whining! Go buy a Bugatti and "bugoutti"!

What happened? Did Leno fail to meet his quota of Bush bashing jokes?

By jim

cocan is preverted and cant be funny without that item,,Send him to 4 am,,,He is only for the young and dumb They should change the name of his show as he killed the class of the Tonight Show,,,oh his queer sidekick can go to please

Oh,,I have a dish and watch ,,truth,, Nothing on nbc,,Nothing other than perhaps a half an hour of Leno ever so at 10pm,,
COCAN KILLED THE TONIGHT SHOW...hE HAS NO CLASS AND NEEDS TO BE PUT ON LATER MUCH LATER,,,JUMPING COCAN AND HIS LITTLE HOMO SIDEKICK

By greenacreannie1

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

I think Conan should stay and they should kick Jay to the curb...Conan will get a following especially after this whole mess

By Fred

Because you're fair?!!! What a crock. AOL has been after Leno for months. AOL and its columnists are the most biased in the media. Fair? Who do you think you're fooling. I doubt this will post.

Friday 15 January

By Tannay

There is no question about it...Jay belongs on the tonight show...he should never have left!!!! The other one is a dork! He needs to go period to FOX with all the other dork like Palin!
Unreal!

By Sweet598

Its not Jays fault that Conan could not bring up his numbers. But Lets just blame Jay anyway.... Jay was able to do such a great job with the Tonight show for such a long time before the executives made all their brillant changes. Why NBC executives just had to make all of these disastrous changes I will never know. Conan needs to go elsewhere. He simply is not making it in the big boy chair....

By robert

this whole thing is a upper mangament screw up fire them education is a great thing but there also some that are educated A HOLES bet alot of us has worked for some press on ive been here for 73 years there still among us

By rob

BigKahuna, you're right..Leno and his manager pushed for Johnny Carson's seat, and stabbed Letterman in the back to get it. I remember Letterman thanking Carson "for my career." Leno showed no such gratitude or class. Have a show on at 12:30 on NBC, and being groomed to take over the tonight show? Leno will whine and cry and and stick you in the back! Don't go away mad Jay, just go away.

By Meri

This is what they should have said in the first place -- at least it's closer to the truth, but not the whole truth.They left out the part where 6 years ago they offered Leno a longterm contract that would have kept on the Tonight show into well into this decade. CONAN BLEW a HISSY FIT! As in huge fit. So they backed off and went back to Leno to get him to agree to retire earlier, but HE NEVER WANTED TO RETIRE, CERTAINLY not when he was the ONLY CASH COW on NBC, when daytime, prime time, and even sports was pretty much taking for the network, The tonight show stood out. BUT Leno's fans made it clear that they would not follow Conan, and Conan HAD to keep Jay's fans to even stand a chance against Letterman. Now he's even getting beaten by NIGHTLINE! This can't continue. If they had been smart and kept their eye on the prize years ago, this wouldn't be happening, and let's keep something else in mind. The person who has the most to lose if Leno moves back to the Tonight time slot is David Letterman, so of course, he's taking Conan's side. He's beating him everynight. These So called "reporters" are pseudo and when they first posted the story, they clearly forgot to check the facts,let alone recognize who the fans really were loyal to -- Leno.

By Jim Fedullo

THEY ARE ALL JOHNNY CARSON WANNA BE'S. THEY ALL SUCK, AND ANYBODY THAT ENJOYS ANY OF THEM SHOULD HAVE A LABOTAMY ?. NONE OF THEM ARE FUNNY AT ALL, THEY WOULD HAVE TO SIT ON A PUNGI STICK TO MAKE THEMSELVES LAUGH. I'M SORRY BUT NBC HAS NO TASTE NOR ANY CLASS FOR PUTTING THIS CRAP ON LATENIGHT TV, IF THERE WASN'T CABLE AVAILABLE I WOULD THROW MY TV IN THE GARBAGE.HOW ABOUT LEWIS BLACK, HE'S GREAT OR RON WHITE OR EVEN GEORGE CARLIN, ( DIG HIM UP, HE WOULD STILL BE FUNNIER). IF YOU YOUNGER PEOPLE HAVE NEVER SEEN JOHNNY CARSON, THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE MISSING, THE SCENES W/ DYAN CANNON, DOLLY PARTON, ED AMES AND SO MANY MORE WERE ABSOLUTR CLASSICS. IF NBC HAS NO MORE IMAGINATION THAN THIS, THEY HAVE TOTALLY LOST ME.

The contract for Conan NEVER specified a time period, so if he tries to use legal means to keep that slot, he may be showing himself the door. I think he has a case for better than he and his staff are getting considering they uprooted their lives, but that doesn't mean he can keep that time slot where he's lost all the fans that Jay had. I don't think they owe him the Tonight show, but then that's a deal they never should have made years ago.

By Stella

-- (that's includes you!) --

that's includes you ???

Proof-read much?

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