Leno is sticking around way past his shelf life

[MrScorpio]

It's pretty pathetic

[bigwillq]

1. Indeed.

Never was a fan. Like him even less now. Never thought he was very funny. I like "Headlines" on Monday nights but that was about it.

[MrScorpio]

2. Conan and Fallon and getting the raw deal big time if Leno gets his way

I hope that they team up and fight back

[bigwillq]

3. Don't like Conan, either

Only watched Fallon a few times. He's ok.

[MrScorpio]

5. But Conan has earned his Tonight Show spot

He's paid his dues

[bigwillq]

6. I agree with that (nt)

[Drunken Irishman]

9. He earned a chance to prove he was worthy of that slot.

He hasn't earned it just for being successful at a different hour.

He got his shot and he's lagging well behind Letterman - who often got his butt kicked by Leno.

NBC is hurting. They rarely beat out any other network for anything since their Must See Thursday lineup went the way of the Clinton administration.

Maybe it is premature and Conan, over time, will get the support.

But I don't think so. He was given a prime slot and his humor doesn't suit it. Not that Conan is bad. It's just that both played to different audiences. I think Bucky is absolutely right. Leno plays well to the 35-50 crowd. Conan does not. That's why they all went to Letterman. Conan does best with younger viewers - who happen to be up at one in the morning.

[Drunken Irishman]

8. How?

It's a business and Conan just isn't getting the pull Leno did. You might not like Leno, but he was popular in that timeslot.

More popular than Conan. He's dominated late-night since the mid-90s.

So obviously people like him. God knows I don't find him funny, but they're tuning in for a reason.

[driver8]

11. I disagree.

It's a business -- not a popularity contest. They gave Conan a shot and he's not delivering. Conan was lucky to get a show in the first place and even luckier to get a shot at The Tonight Show.

[jakefrep]

23. Fallon deserves a raw deal...

his show is terrible.

[blue_onyx]

4. Leno had the number 1 late night show

so I don't agree that he has stayed too long. I don't really watch late night talk shows much but I think Leno was one of the better hosts. I don't like Letterman or Conan.

[Bucky]

7. Except Leno pulls bigger ratings than Conan in that slot.

Conan is built for the 12:30 time slot (11:30 here and in Fort Worth). People who stay up that late are in the mood for his surrealistic goober shtick. There are far more people who want to go to bed around midnight; those folks want Jay to lull them into thoughtlessland. That's what he's good for. You gotta respect your audience.

I agree with Seinfeld on this. Once the camera's on you, it's your job to deliver the ratings. Given the level of personal control most talk show hosts have over their product, there's no excuses for weak viewer numbers. Regardless of overall quality, you either deliver the numbers or you get squeezed out.

I think, viewed properly, them offering to cut Leno down to a 25 minute programs was one hell of a big concession to O'Brien.

[Skittles]

10. I never understood why he ever HAD a shelf life

[rcrush]

12. Peter Griffin named his race horse Jay Leno

Why? Because like NBC he is going to take that horse and shove it down Americas throat!

[LostInAnomie]

13. I bet you Peter Griffin has more to do with Jay Leno's return than most people think.

At the 11:30 slot, Conan is dealing with some serious competition for his demographic. He's got Family Guy on Adult Swim, and the Colbert Report on Comedy Central. Those viewers are mostly people that would never watch Leno, but they would watch Conan.

[Initech]

14. I'm so pissed at NBC - they royally fucked Conan over big time.

[bluesbassman]

15. Jay Leno - The Brett Favre of Late night.

:evilgrin:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. I actually like Jay and Conan.

I never understood the "I can only like A if I hate B" line of thinking.

[mwb970]

21. I like both of them as well.

But I laugh a lot more when Conan & Co. is on.

[graywarrior]

17. What else can Leno do?

He's useless anywhere else.

[BlueIris]

18. That's what I say.

And how.

[Deep13]

19. He's been ripe for about a decade. nt

[Nye Bevan]

20. He trounced Letterman in the ratings every year from 1995 to 2009

What's pathetic about NBC wanting to beat Letterman again?

[timtom]

22. Shelf life for Leno = 1982