Ya think?
I was against it from the start, removing 5 great prime time TV shows in exchange for one nightly variety show and now it seems the masses have spoken in the most effective way they can, by not choosing to tune-in to the Jay Leno Show.
NBC brass, who callously tossed out all the great Crime Time productions in a scramble to same money and Leno, have in fact shot themselves in the collective foot.
And it’s not just a matter of the the public not choosing to tune-in to Leno, arrogant NBC would simply scoff at bad ratings, touting that “they know what’s best” for the viewing audience and it’s up to “the little people” to come to their collective senses and fall in love with a prime time Leno. Now NBC has a bigger problem on their hands that they have to pay attention to, the local affiliates.
The all-important local stations, who bring us our local newscasts, usually airing it after the prime time hour have apparently hit the boiling point, demanding NBC “do something” about the dismal ratings Leno has generated, which in-turn effects the people who are present or in this case “not present” to lead in to their ultra-important money generating newscasts.
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Well The Jay Leno Show sure started with a bang last night. Aside from the news made by the Kanye West interview, the show debuted with an estimate 18.4 million viewers. That’s pretty great, even for a show airing at 10 PM.
The other news is the show assisted The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, in a way. You see, Conan’s audience was up 22% last night, to 4.3 million. However, the audience that increased the most was the over 55 crowd, which was up by 51%. The audience that Conan most craves, the 18-34 range, was actually down by 5%. Dang.
I thought The Jay Leno Show was okay. It was enjoyable enough I suppose but nothing to write home about. Also, we’ll have to wait awhile before we know if the show is an actual hit. As for Conan, just keep on doing what you’re doing! The Tonight Show is way better under you and the audience will find you eventually. As for your true fans, like myself, we’ll loyal and will stick with you.
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IF it were up to Jay Leno, we would see a 24 hour version of The Jay Leno Show on all channels seven days a week, as it stands, I will have to turn the channel five nights a week at 10 p.m. (instead of 11:30 p.m.) thanks to NBC’s decision to kick scripted television to the curb and air a bloated primetime version of the late night variety show hosted by Jay Leno.
While NBC spots advertising Leno’s new show (and they are endless,) tout Leno as an alternative to “crimetime” there is nothing funny about folks in the entertainment industry, in front and behind the camera, hammering tears over the amount of jobs that have dried up as a direct result of Leno’s new primetime monster.
With actors and studios avoiding Leno like the black lung, he is in serious trouble booking his new show with anyone meaningful and thus has resorted to calling in all favors from the likes of the bulletproof Jerry Seinfeld, who is to be Leno’s first guest.
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The other day, news came that Saturday Night Live had hired two new female cast members for the upcoming season. Now word comes today that the show has also fired two female cast members. Therefore, these new additions were actually replacements.
Michaela Watkins and Casey Wilson, two cast member who joined the show in the last season, are no longer a part of the cast. Both had some memorable moments on the show, Watkins as the Bitchpleeze! blogger and Wilson as…well, I don’t remember a lot of Wilson’s parts but I know she was there. As usual, Lorne Michaels hasn’t given a definite reason why the girls were let go. He’s sneaky like that.
Watkins released this statement to The Comic’s Comic:
I will say to you now, though, that I had a GREAT time there. Met some of the most truly talented and fantastic people, had the most exciting job and I honestly can say I don’t have any regrets I can think of right now. Although it seems kinda crazy right now, this may shake out to make sense to everyone. Lorne isn’t known for indulging in any lip-service and I feel very encouraged by his words last week. I’m working on something I’m very excited about now, so… the journey continues, and I feel so lucky I got to stop off at 30 Rock. It was awesome.
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I don’t watch America’s Got Talent but I’ll be tempted tonight when my hero Kermit the Frog and his longtime girlfriend Miss Piggy will perform on the show. Also appearing will be Statler and Waldorf, those grumpy old men who seem to dislike everything the Muppets do. Before Simon Cowell, before Piers Morgan, there was Statler and Waldorf. Those guys are old school.
This is the 40-year anniversary of the Muppets. Personally, I owe a lot of my childhood to the Muppets and I’m glad to see them being celebrated.
The show airs tonight at 9 PM. Make sure to catch it if you’re a fan of the Muppets. Or, you know, talented Americans.
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Jenna Hager, daughter of George W. Bush
Former President George W. Bush’s daughter, Jenna, has been hired as a correspondent for The Today Show, a show producer has said. Jenna Hager will contribute stories about topics such as education about once a month to the morning talk show.
Jim Bell, producer of the show, said he got the idea after watching some of Hager’s old appearances on the show, back when she was promoting her childrens’ book. Bell said she has a natural television presence and thinks she’ll add a lot to the show. I think it’ll prove to be very interesting. Maybe she can even invite her dad on from time to time. Who better to talk about education than a shining example of it, George W. Bush!
Just in case you were wondering, no, she won’t be talking about politics on the show. That’s probably for the best.
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Are you kidding me?
You would think when the President of the United States calls for a news conference to discuss issues such as universal health care, the networks would carry it, no questions asked. Think again…
FOX has refused to carry Wednesday’s broadcast! ABC and CBS have agreed but only after the White House agreed to move it from 9 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The reason the networks are being so difficult? Reality TV! You heard me right, and instead of seeing the President talk about health care at 9 p.m. on ABC, you will see the regularly scheduled reality TV program “America’s Got Talent,” featuring singer, Susan Boyle from “Britain’s Got Talent.”
For CBS, who agreed right away to air the President, broadcasts only repeats on that night, however, FOX’s 2 hour “So You Think You Can Dance” broadcast wins out over the President of the United States.
First scripted TV and now the President… Is no one safe from the reality TV?
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Letterman
David Letterman has beaten Conan O’Brien in the ratings again. Last week, The Late Show with David Letterman beat The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien by more than 800,000 viewers. This is Letterman’s best run since 2000 when he recovered from heart surgery. He’s had a great guest list, including Sacha Baron Cohen and, most recently, Paul McCartney. Also, his publicized feud with Gov. Sarah Palin boosted his ratings even more. Things have really been going well for Mr. Letterman.
Not that Conan’s doing poorly. He is well-received by the critics and seems to be keeping his fanbase intact. Indeed, Conan is cleaning up when it comes to the coveted 18-49 age demographic. That means that while my dad watches Letterman, I’m watching Conan. As we all know, advertisers are constantly aiming to attract young viewers so NBC is quite happy with Conan’s ratings. Of course, I’m sure they’d like to be number one.
A little late night competition never hurt anybody. For viewers, it’s a win-win either way. David Letterman is hilarious and an obvious influence on Conan O’Brien, who delivers great comedy night after night. As a late night viewer, I’m happy with both shows. We can all exist in harmony! Still, it’s fascinating to watch this little back and forth ratings battle.
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Maura Tierney
Newsradio and ER star Maura Tierney has revealed the cause behind her leave from Parenthood, the new NBC show. She has a breast tumor that requires surgery and will not be able to work until the procedure is done.
“I have discovered a tumor in my breast which requires surgery. I will not know either my exact diagnosis or course of treatment until that surgery is performed. My doctors have all assured me this is a very treatable condition. I’m very optimistic as to the outcome and want to thank everyone who has sent positive thoughts and support. I look forward to going back to work soon,” Tierney said in a statement today.
Last week, NBC announced that its new fall show Parenthood (based on the Steve Martin comedy) will be delayed because of Maura’s illness. Unfortunately, not revealing the condition caused more confusion and speculation. Tierney realized this and decided to step forward. “It seems that the wording of NBC’s press release has unfortunately caused some confusion and undue alarm about my health,” she said in the statement.
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Speidi get schooled by Al Roker
Today was Heidi and Spencer overload on national television, as America’s sweethearts made not one but two appearances on the morning shows. While their stop by The View was entertaining (if by “entertaining” you mean “completely annoying”) it was their sit-down chat with Today’s Al Roker that was far more memorable.
Roker grilled the couple, who were expecting a list of easy, softball questions. He interrupted them, asked them questions repeatedly and brought up old quotes from their past. Obviously not a fan of Speidi, Roker asked them if they were “ashamed” of their actions and even questioned their Christianity.
Heidi wasn’t having it, as she later told Ryan Seacrest “I was shocked at how rude he was. I was crying afterwards because I couldn’t believe I felt personally attacked.” Spencer was also upset after the airing, referring to Roker as “the weatherman” Of course, during the interview, the pair acted as sweet and innocent as can be.
But it was Roker who got the last laugh, tweeting this only hours later: “Heidi and Spencer are an interesting couple. famous for…being infamous. Bad and vacuous behavior. I think we’re at minute 11 of their 15.”
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