Jay Leno has spoken on subjects including his new show’s disappointing ratings, his own coverage by the media, and David Letterman’s sex scandal in a lengthy interview with Broadcasting & Cable.
Leno openly acknowledged that the move to the 10 o’clock hour was not his personal choice. (“Would I have preferred to stay at 11:30? Yeah, sure.”) Yet he seemed confident his show’s ratings would improve with time, and he said he was unconcerned by negative opinions in the press. “You don’t take it personally because there’s really no fun in an upbeat story. The fun is, they did this and let’s watch it fall. I enjoy being the underdog.”
Leno also discussed coverage of his sometime rival, David Letterman: “I wouldn’t trade places with Dave now for anything! I don’t think he’s getting a free pass.”
Comments (1-15) of 94 Add your comment
I think Jay is a fine person and he clearly has the right attitude about playing the cards NBC delt him.
But at the same time, I find his show so painfully boring and unfunny, I can’t bear to watch it. If it weren’t so desperately similar to his version of The Tonight Show, it might be interesting. But instead, I think The Jay Leno Show is going to play out like Michael Jordon playing minor league baseball.
wow – bite the hand – didn’t really want the prime time hours – maybe because he knew his show was lame
Jay is an all around good guy and I still watch him.
Jay is an all around good guy. He’s just not a funny guy, at least not for about 15 years or so.
neither are you
go away David Letterman (Jack)
If you think Jay is a good guy, you obviously haven’t read “The Late Shift.”
“Just days before Carson surprised the world with his retirement message, Jay Leno signed a secret contract with NBC guaranteeing him The Tonight Show. Not even Letterman knew.”
Plus, he was listening in on meetings from inside closets and etc.
SO???????
Leno’s new show has a much more improved format; actually enjoy it. Of the two libs, I like Jay best.
Libs?
Nice catch. Yeesh, the ridiculousness of some people’s myopic world-view…
The new show is ok. It could become very good. Keep 10 at 10. Ditch the “young people’s crappy and mindless video segments” (or whatever they’re called.) Add some good young performers, standups, chefs, artists. I like Earn Your Plug because we get to see known faces sorta forced into doing something out of their bailiwick.
Stop the forced smiles.
NBC needs to throw in the towel with this Jay Leno Experiment and bring back good scripted drama. . .
Agreed! I watched it, in part, the first night when Kayne West was on…no desire to watch it again.
Because NBC was chock-full of good shows before? This is easy and cheap for them. Expect more of it from networks and less thoughtful/creative shows.
Actually, I wouldn’t expect more of it from other networks John. The ratings aren’t there, and the noly revenue you can make on a show like this is ad revenue, there will be no DVD, and if there was, it would lose it’s charm fast because it’s based on current events. Most stations decide to keep to scripted dramas and sitcoms because they’ll still sell long after they’ve been on TV through DVD rentals and sales. That means more money, which is all the suits want. The suits chose to keep Leno because he would have moved to another network and supposedly brought in ratings elsewhere.
I love Jay Leno. I record each night’s segment and watch it when David Letterman’s show comes on.
Ugh, I feel sorry for you that you have no taste.
I like Leno and I continue to watch him.
Suggestions? Stop acting so cynical and bordering on rude with some guests. It’s not like you.
More interviewing and less of those boring “mindless segments” with the comedian ranting about stuff.
Yeah, I agree with the boring segments with the “comedians”. They go on wayyyyy too long, and more often than not, are not very funny.
If he wanted to stay at 11:30, then he shouldn’t have quit! His going back and forth and then threatening to go to ABC opposite Conan is what got him this time slot, and is the main reason why NBC is cancelling good shows to make room for more of him. I used to love Jay, but my god, enough is enough! Do you realize there’s more Jay on NBC now than Law & Order’s…I didn’t even think that was possible.
I don’t think this is correct. NBC announced they were switching to Conan a couple of years ago. They just assumed Leno would retire, when it became apparent he’d go to ABC, they offered him the new timeslot.
They thought he would retire because that is what he TOLD everyone that he was going to do… If he wanted to stay on TV, he should have stayed at 11:30.
Jay is OK this go-around. However, he is lagging due for two reasons. First, too much adult content. Second, the format from sitting in a chair, “earn your plug,” and skits at the end are obsoletely boring. He should have stuck with the traditional format for all talk shows. If it works don’t fix it.
The show is on at 10 pm. Why shouldn’t it be adult content? Do your little children typically watch TV that late?
Do you realize einstein, that some ADULTS just don’t want to watch shows with “adult” content?!? Some just want to see a good clean show for a change.
Please, ENOUGH w/ the dumb “Green Car Challenge” waste of time.
Every night Jay makes gay and fat jokes. I’m so over him. He sucks.
Why??? Are you gay and or fat?
You. Are. An. Idiot.
No more Leno, it was a bad idea and he knows it.
Letterman got caught, with his bad behavior…the media is giving him a free pass. If it was Joe Schomo they would not be able to show their faces. Letterman has also gotten very bitter (no funny) over the years.
agree…it is sadly uncomfortable for him. the band still sounds like they are tuning up instead of playing. maybe he can scale it back to a one night a week….but all 5 is booooring.
I’ve never liked Leno – just don’t think he’s very bright or funny, and he gibbers. The only bit of his I’ve ever enjoyed was the news bits.
Here’s the gig..Jay is a funny guy but he is an absolutely horrible interviewer. His discussions with guests are contrived, awkward and sometimes creepy. My sense is that people aren’t looking to be amused with a regurgitation of a slightly altered the late night format an hour earlier so they can get an extra hour of sleep. They want to laugh their asses off to reduce their daily stress no matter what time of day it is. That is why I no longer watch Letterman, who has become a political hack trying to be funny instead of making jokes at the expense of politics. Jimmy Kimmel is the true king of late night in my estimation. He does what these guys used to do only he is the total package. He’s a very likable guy who knows how to talk with quests and is “piss your pants” hilarious to boot.
I really like this show. Jay is trying to add new segments and keep it fresh, some are better than others but in general I am watching and enjoying. It is a good alternative to the boring crime dramas which dominate 10 PM.
New segments generally means his writers listen to the Howard Stern Show and rip it off…Lets see Earn a Plug and man on the street to name 2…