Loved Johnny, but never been a fan of Jay Leno. I know that we miss the 10:00 drama slot, when edgier shows than what can be shown during kid-friendly time slots can be shown. It comes to me as no surprise that his ratings are tanking and that the affiliates are grumbling.Jay Leno's move to prime time was viewed by some as a savvy show business decision. A popular, well-known comedian, the former host of the Tonight Show would provide NBC with a cheap, talk-show alternative to the network's previous line-up of dramatic programming, which is costly to produce.
After a solid start last month, ratings have a slipped to a quarter of what they once were. That has local news programs nervous, as they count on viewers of 10 P.M. shows to stick around for the 11 P.M. news. Viewership of 11 P.M. newscasts has tanked in more than three-fourths of the top 56 metered TV markets, falling an average 13% in the first four weeks of the season.
NBC's ratings slippage is leaving some local station managers to predict that the clock is ticking on Leno, and that he may be out of a job by February should ratings not improve. That would not surprise me a bit.
Currently, NBC is standing by Leno, saying that the reasons behind ratings fall are bigger than the lantern-jawed comedian himself. The strategy sounds similar to one CBS adopted when Katie Couric took over the CBS Evening News in 2006. However, it is one thing to mess with a 30 minute network news slot, versus an hour of prime time viewing, which leads into the evening news. Without the affiliates, the networks are nothing.
I hate to say it, but I'm experiencing a bit of schadenfreude about this. I've never cared for the guy, and could not believe they were putting him in the 10 o'clock slot...for five freakin' nights? FAIL
ReplyDeleteFor late-night viewing, Jay was my pick. In primetime? I've watched him one time. What were they thinking?
ReplyDeleteI don;t hate him, but the most interesting thing about him to me was his car collection- alot of cool steam cars and whatnot..other than that, not much to keep me interested enough to watch him
ReplyDeleteI actually like his new show. There's nothing on at 10pm that we watch, so he's provides a giggle or two before heading for bed. Linda in Washington
ReplyDeleteI can safely say that since Leno took over The Tonight Show, I have never seen a full episode, and if you take the scatered minutes that I have seen, I doubt even that would add up to a full episode.
ReplyDeleteHis 10PM show? Never seen it, never will. Jay should have taken a cue from Johnny and known when it was time to quit.
very interesting...Ken is he too frivolous for you? lousy jokes? I'm just curious because I really don't know him...
ReplyDeleteHow do yuo feel about him compared to say Letterman?
hugs
natalie