BLOGS
While NBC's decision to move Jay Leno back to 11:35 PM and to try to make Conan accept a Leno-Fallon sandwich timeslot is aggravating for Conan fans and embarrassing for everyone involved (and may leave sad little Carson Daly unemployed), we're pretty psyched for it. If Conan ends up leaving NBC (and he really should) for Fox, as is being reported he likely will, that's great for Conan fans. And even if he stays, getting Leno out of primetime and freeing up all those timeslots is nothing but good news for a floundering NBC. Here's why.
First and Foremost: It Gets Leno Out of Primetime
That's an obvious fact, but it's also possibly the best part of this whole debacle. Now we can go back to ignoring him like we used to.
Scrambling to Fill all Those Timeslots Could Lead to Great Things, Creatively
With five extra hours to fill every week, NBC is considering bringing Friday Night Lights back as early as March 1, and there's less competition for shows like Chuck to stay alive, especially after a strong (but not earth-shattering) 7 million-viewer premiere last night. They've also ordered approximately 47 million new pilots, and it's potentially exciting -- or at least potentially popular -- stuff: shows from J.J. Abrams, David E. Kelley, David Shore, Jerry Bruckheimer, Cindy Chupak, a Prime Suspect remake from one of the guys behind Kings, a show starring David Tennant -- it just goes on and on and makes it look by all accounts that the network is trying very hard, and very smartly, to restore itself to its heyday. And that's all due to this late-night disaster.
Fox May Give Conan a Better Timeslot and More Creative Wiggle Room
Not having to do "The Tonight Show" could allow Conan to loosen up and do the absurdist show he used to, and besides, Fox is on crack -- it's not like the network of Jack Bauer and More to Love is going to tell Conan he can't do a nipple-slapping string dance, among other things. They also have the option of giving him an 11 o'clock timeslot because of the 10 o'clock news, which would not only give him a half-hour lead on Leno, but also help me go to bed earlier. Though it does annoyingly conflict with The Daily Show, because we just can't outright win here.
It'll Give Jimmy Fallon a Bigger Spotlight
He's sort of been the forgotten caboose of NBC late night since Leno took 10 PM, but he does a funny little show that's all his own. Maybe now that NBC will (probably) only have two after-hours shows, Jimmy will get the critical and network attention he really does merit.
And Hey, Maybe It'll Lead to Heroes Being Canceled
In all likelihood, we are stuck with another year of Heroes. But if Conan decides not to take the Fox opportunity and just opts for a paid four-year vacation instead, NBC reportedly may have to pay him $80 million, while at the same they're going to lose money on the Olympics this year, for the first time in forever, because of the bad economy. Heroes has slashed its budget, yes, but it's still not cheap to make, and it has shit for ratings, not to mention nothing but bad press critically. In light of all the drama pilots ordered from the folks mentioned above, certainly at least one of them will be deemed more profitable -- and less embarrassing -- to put in place of Heroes at 9 PM on Mondays, right?
Your thoughts? Betting odds on a new Late Shift movie being made? Unleash it all in the comments.
That's an obvious fact, but it's also possibly the best part of this whole debacle. Now we can go back to ignoring him like we used to.
Scrambling to Fill all Those Timeslots Could Lead to Great Things, Creatively
With five extra hours to fill every week, NBC is considering bringing Friday Night Lights back as early as March 1, and there's less competition for shows like Chuck to stay alive, especially after a strong (but not earth-shattering) 7 million-viewer premiere last night. They've also ordered approximately 47 million new pilots, and it's potentially exciting -- or at least potentially popular -- stuff: shows from J.J. Abrams, David E. Kelley, David Shore, Jerry Bruckheimer, Cindy Chupak, a Prime Suspect remake from one of the guys behind Kings, a show starring David Tennant -- it just goes on and on and makes it look by all accounts that the network is trying very hard, and very smartly, to restore itself to its heyday. And that's all due to this late-night disaster.
Fox May Give Conan a Better Timeslot and More Creative Wiggle Room
Not having to do "The Tonight Show" could allow Conan to loosen up and do the absurdist show he used to, and besides, Fox is on crack -- it's not like the network of Jack Bauer and More to Love is going to tell Conan he can't do a nipple-slapping string dance, among other things. They also have the option of giving him an 11 o'clock timeslot because of the 10 o'clock news, which would not only give him a half-hour lead on Leno, but also help me go to bed earlier. Though it does annoyingly conflict with The Daily Show, because we just can't outright win here.
It'll Give Jimmy Fallon a Bigger Spotlight
He's sort of been the forgotten caboose of NBC late night since Leno took 10 PM, but he does a funny little show that's all his own. Maybe now that NBC will (probably) only have two after-hours shows, Jimmy will get the critical and network attention he really does merit.
And Hey, Maybe It'll Lead to Heroes Being Canceled
In all likelihood, we are stuck with another year of Heroes. But if Conan decides not to take the Fox opportunity and just opts for a paid four-year vacation instead, NBC reportedly may have to pay him $80 million, while at the same they're going to lose money on the Olympics this year, for the first time in forever, because of the bad economy. Heroes has slashed its budget, yes, but it's still not cheap to make, and it has shit for ratings, not to mention nothing but bad press critically. In light of all the drama pilots ordered from the folks mentioned above, certainly at least one of them will be deemed more profitable -- and less embarrassing -- to put in place of Heroes at 9 PM on Mondays, right?
Your thoughts? Betting odds on a new Late Shift movie being made? Unleash it all in the comments.
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Honestly, getting Leno out of prime time is worth just about anything to me. Here's hoping NBC can finally get it's act together.
Heroes is on at 9 (as of today, anyway)... and yes- Chuck should have something way better to air after it.
Heroes is still around? It needs to die. Let Chuck live on forever.
I stopped watching Leno after it caused one of my fave shows, Southland, to be canceled. Now if NBC could buy back Southland from TNT so I don't have to pay for cable, that would be great!
Seriously? Does anyone really have any confidence in NBC creating any decent new shows at 10:00 pm? Maybe they should try cloning The Office. Oh....
Bring back Life and Southland!
(and three others, I guess, don't care which...)
And yes, by all means, get Conan over to FOX.
"Betting odds on a new Late Shift movie being made?"
CNN was talking to the author of the book (which became a movie) a few days ago.
You better believe he's "writing all of this down".
I smell a sequel!!!!
A perfect summary of the silver linings that this tumult has created.
Very excited about the pilots that have been ordered.
It's funny how they finally cancel Leno when TNT is rearing up to air the episodes of Southland that NBC paid for. That's karma for ya.
On to Heroes: there are people that still enjoy the show (I only enjoy the Sylar scenes). If you don't like a show, don't watch it. Just because YOU don't like something doesn't mean it's okay to take that away from the 3-5 million people that still watch it.
I like Chuck, but honestly, it's not THAT great. And Kristin Kreuk coming on isn't going to make it any better.
I don't care as long as Leno is gone. That was a moron move if ever I saw one. I haven't watched one second of his his 10pm show.
IO am sad that Conan seems to have gotten a bit short shafted in all of this. Idiot Leno should have just bowed out gracefully.
Bring back Kings!!!
Damn, please lay off the Heroes hate. It's a good show. It's just not first-season good.
One suggestion from Bill Simmons of ESPN: Comedy Central snares Conan, gives him a midnight slot following Jon and Stephen. Or maybe TDS gets moved up to 10:30, and Conan goes against Leno at 11:30.
Get Leno out of Prime time? Great.
But its not what's REALLY needed--getting him off of TV completely.
Could someone explain why they are suggesting a 1/2 hour show for Jay? I don't get that.
I read Leno's half-hour show would just be his stand-up. I think Leno's a nice guy and all, but I prefer his interviews to his jokes.
Conan's always been my favourite talk show host, so I'll watch him whenever/where ever. Though, it would be great to see him somewhere where he has more freedom and like the article said, get back to his absurdist humour.
On another note, I too love Southland, and think it'll be lost and forgotten on TNT and needs to come back to prime time. Maybe Fox should take both Coco and Southland?
Bringing back Friday Night Lights before summer to NBC would be great .... so long as NBC gives the viewers notice and this critically acclaimed show the promotion and publicity it deserves, unlike the way NBC did not promote it in past seasons.
I still love Heroes. Bringing back FNL would be awesome, but it's another show with bad ratings. Damn it, why do I love the ones that no one else watches?
I would like NBC to give Kings another mini-season or TV movie to give that wonderful show some kind of closure. I guess it's too late to ask for Southland back from TNT.
Anything that brings Friday Night Lights back to my screen faster (never paying for DirecTV, even for Timmy Riggins) makes me a very happy girl. One of the best television shows ever, and people blow it off for crap. I only watch NBC for our local news affiliate, The Office and FNL anyway.
It's a shame that NBC and Jay Leno already killed the two best shows on Tv - Life and Southland. I will never forgive Jay Leno for that.
It's just frustrating to see Conan being dicked around like this. I'll keep watching his show wherever he goes, so hopefully a lot more people feel the same way as well.
Hey NBC!
Ever heard the saying "What goes around, comes around"?
I've given up watching you SOBs for taking away LIFE.
You want me to tune in?
Bring back Charlie Crews and The Taylors. You'll get me for at least 2 of your 5 hours.
"Could someone explain why they are suggesting a 1/2 hour show for Jay? I don't get that."
I suspect it's just to appease Conan -- they're basically telling him they'll only push him back 30 minutes, whereas giving Jay the entire hour and moving Conan to 12:35 would essentially be firing him from his Tonight Show gig, which would have serious financial implications for the network.
Don't cancel Heroes yet, I still have some hope left for that show.
What NBC should do is make an edict for the new shows "No Cops, No Courts, No Docs". Find some shows that get away from the police, lawyer and doctor procedurals. Heroes fits that mold perfectly, as does FNL.
Then, once they've established the new rule make an exception or two, like bringing Life back. Though I'd prefer an purely episodal Life exploiting that great cast over trying to rehash and resume the whole grand conspiracy story arch.
I too like Heroes, actually more than Chuck. I would be sad if Heroes is canceled. I am glad that NBC will be airing more dramas in the 10pm time slot.
Heroes getting cancelled? More likely they'll have a spinoff next year, along with two new Law and Order's, a new Dateline, and a re-retooling of Knight Rider.
It's kinda sad for the lack of Heroes love, especially considering it was 'the' most downloaded show of 2009... If only more people actually watched it on tv..
According to the link on this site, Conan seems to be set to quit if they make this change... I'd expect nothing less from Coco.
How did Leno kill Southland?
Why not sandwich Leno between Conan and Jimmy Fallon -- or better yet, after Jimmy Fallon? Leno is the one who didn't want to go away, so why should Conan, Jimmy and the rest of us suffer for his indecision at the end of his Tonight Show contract?
Well it wasn't really Leno but he has the misfortune of being associated with it. Southland was a 10pm show on NBC, the 10 pm slot is traditionally where you put you grittier/mature shows that are good but better to have on after the kiddies have gone to bed. When NBC announced their plans for Jay they were asked what about shows like Southland them seem to be made for 10pm slots and they swore up and down that Southland would be a 9pm show and was fine there even after that had seen some of the season two footage. Then a couple weeks before Southland was to air it's second season NBC said never mind it's to gritty for 9pm and pretty much canceled it. So if NBC hadn't given all the 10pm weekday slots to Jay there would've been space for Southland probably. Honestly it seemed that NBC just wanted to save money and Jays show is cheaper then putting on new scripted shows.
Oh yes, that was really the only pro when it came to the Leno show... less production costs. NBC only tried to save money and look where it got them! Silly NBC.
Knowing NBC, they'd probably pick Heroes up for another season and ditch Chuck. Then what?? We'd have Leno and Heroes on THE! WORST! NETWORK! EVER!
Conan's such a classy guy. Frak NBC, frak Zucker, and frak Leno. #teamconan
I HATE what Leno has done. He's demanded and got his show which wrecked it for the affiliates, fans of Southland, Conan fans, the Tonight Show legacy, and for what? He reminds me of all the 60-somethings out there who won't freaking RETIRE! Move along gracefully and exit on top! What an ego maniac and what a stupid desperate move on the part of NBC.
I would be thrilled if Conan went to Fox (or any other network for that matter) for a different show. I supported his decision to leave - and if there was any chance that Hero's could get canceled because of all of this...Well, that would just be EXTRA icing on the cake.
Agreed. I have the series on dvd and it is so awesome! I miss that show so much.
And kudos for Leno leaving. It was a total idiotic move putting him on every night anyway.
Another good thing that could happen is that Conan walks and Jay walks and then Jerry Seinfield takes over the Tonight Show at 11:35 in September.
Call it serendipity.
If NBC was smart (which obviously...), they would correct the HORRIBLE MISTAKE THAT ABC COMMITTED LAST YEAR and pick up Pushing Daisies! They would say a fond (or not, who gives a poop!) farewell to Jay Leno and let him go gently into that good night. Then leave Conan where he is because he is awesome, but give him more freedom (for the same reason). And then, bring back Southland for one of those five hours and insert the phenomenal Pushing Daisies.
oh, Lee Pace, how I miss you! I've been watching Wonderfalls all weekend and dreaming of your return to television. WHY oh WHY doesn't the networks give us more insightful, funny and intelligent shows like yours instead of season four thousand, eight hundred and twenty-three of The Bachelor (and let's not forget... Conveyor Belt of Love. WTF?!)*sigh*
Regardless of the ridiculous amount of money he's going to get, Conan totally uprooted the life of his entire family to take the Tonight Show gig. It's pretty shitty the way they've treated him - the ridiculous amount of money notwithstanding.
If you love FNL, just wait until you see the new season (I have DirecTV). The first few episodes are heartbreaking in their reality and almost difficult to watch.
As for Leno, I get up at 4:45 am to I never watch late night, but found his 10 pm show great for making me fall asleep! That, I'll miss.
What NBC should have done is make Leno the face of the network. Give him the Golden Globes, the lighting of the Rockefeller Center tree, New Year's Eve, et cetera. Make him host of Last Comic Standing, go-to substitute for Conan, interviewer for Today Show segments...the list is endless. Dick Clark was the face of ABC for years.
It would have kept Leno happy and busy. It would have given Conan time to grow into the Tonight Show (because let's face it, we all knew that the rug would be pulled out from under him if this Leno 10pm plan fell through).
Right on, Pinky!
Here's what I don't get: way back in 2004, Leno announced he'd be leaving the tonight show in 2009. I thought that was because he wanted to retire! So why is he still in the mix? The Jay Leno Show failed, so why can't he just bow out?
A lot of people are completely misrepresenting Conan's statement. He merely stated he would not accept a move like what NBC wants. He did not resign his position; in fact, the way it sounded, it sounded like he wanted to keep the spot first and foremost.
Just give Leno the show and everyone gets what they want.
Jay gets the tonight show.
NBC gets someone that can beat Letterman in the ratings, provided he still isn't banging interns behind his wife's back.
Conan can go to a network that appreciates him.
The people in America that have no use for pop culture shirts and making bon mots on the internet can get the tonight show host they want.
The people that love pop culture shirts and making bon mots on the internet can continue to feel superior to those that don't.
The problem is, I don't think Leno knows what he wants. He had the Tonight Show, and he quit, or retired, or something - either way, he gave it up back in 2004. He should've faded into a life in his garage, staring at his 300 cars, but instead he freaked and went "No, I still need a show," and the Network had to appease him. Judging by this behavior, even if he was made the face of the network, he'd probably get antsy and quit, or say no to the Awards Show gigs, or the lighting gigs, and he'd "retire" again for about ten seconds before begging to return to Late Night TV.
"a show starring David Tennant"
Hi, hello, sorry, what's this and where can I cheer about it?
The Tennant show is only at the pilot stage at the moment, and is called REX IS NOT YOUR LAWYER, about a lawyer with anxiety issues who can't perform in court, so coaches his clients to do it.
Doubt this would be a popular alternative, but is there anything that would prevent NBC from moving local news to 10PM like Fox affiliiates?
Then Leno could be on at 10:30 or 11 depending on if they do an hour long late news. Conan could stay at 11:30.
For all the talk of wanting more slots for programming, why doesn't anyone get on Fox for starting their late news at 10?
I'd just like to take a moment to vent. Excuse me if I offend. NBC's been bugging me 4ever!!! They're just plain ungrateful, to put it nicely. They worship 30 Rock & I don't even know WTF that Kath & Kim crap's all about! Needless to say, they screwed Scrubs & My Name is Earl. I started watching Conan in 1995. I was afraid he was too risk-ay for them since he wouldn't bow down.
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