Day 18: Shame on you Mr. Leno

January 13, 2010

I normally won't comment on stuff like late night television, but I really can't believe what NBC and Jay Leno are doing. I understand that perhaps he did not want to leave The Tonight Show when NBC told him he had to. I understand that this is a business and that very large sums of money are on the line. I also understand that The Jay Leno Show was a bit of a disaster at 10pm this past fall. What I don't understand is how Jay Leno could literally spit in the eye of not only every talk show host on television, but the entire history of the late night genre.

I know that the real enemy here is NBC. They are ultimately at fault here for even contemplating this idea. The only reason they offered Conan the 12:05am time slot for The Tonight Show. is because they knew he would never take it. Now they are going to lose(and they are going to lose him) the best talent they have.

Back to Leno though. Like I mentioned earlier, Leno was not exactly happy about leaving The Tonight Show and making room for Conan. I can understand this to a point, but it is not like he only had the show for a year or two. He was the host of The Tonight Show for 17 years. The second longest tenure as a host by far, next to the late Johnny Carson of course. He had a long established run at the top and after knowing full well about Conan's 2009 start date, it was time for him to hang up his hat(regardless of whether he wanted to or not). Conan worked his butt off for 16 years on his own show, just to get an opportunity to host The Tonight Show. Now, seven months into his run, he is going to lose it.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like Conan is going to be some broke loser living in some seedy motel. He is already a multi-millionaire and after this whole thing is over with, he is going to be worth a great deal more. There is just something about this whole thing that leaves a foul taste in my mouth. It just doesn't seem right to me that Leno is going to get his old gig back. I can't imagine as a viewer, not taking this whole thing a bit personally. How can anyone watch Jay Leno anymore after this. I can't imagine there not being a boycott of The Tonight Show, once again featuring Jay Leno. For NBC even coming up with the new late night time schedule shows me that they have no regard at all for the show that literally kept them afloat for all those years.

At least have the common decency to fire either Leno or Conan. Though that would imply some honor on the part of a network executive and that's just to much to ask.