Taking a cue from ABC, NBC had Jay Leno pose as a reporter and ask NBC's two-headed entertainment chief, Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, about when Leno would be leaving and when Conan would be starting. Only, instead of just wearing a baseball cap like Kimmel did, Leno donned a bald cap and beard to make him seem extra stealthy.Some of the "funny" lines are after the jump, but here's the gist of the news: Leno's last day on the Tonight show will be on May 29, with Conan O'Brien taking over the following Monday, June 1. Conan will do his last Late Night sometime during the first quarter, according to Graboff and Silverman, and Jimmy Fallon will take over the timeslot at an undetermined time during either March or April (that's after starting online, as Lorne Michaels announced yesterday). No word on what will play in Conan's 12:30 slot in the interim period.
OK, now for the "funny" stuff:
"Will Jay Leno be paid for the rest of the year?" Answer: "Sure, sure."
"Brett Farve said he was retiring and then changed his mind. What do you think of that?"
Silverman: "Everyone's entitled to change their mind but it puts management in a possible situation."
Leno: "Do you think it's cheesy coming in in disguise? Is it cheesy stooping to that level?"
More Leno: "Do you think he's more popular as a mechanic than a game show host?" "Is it true you offered Leno the fifth hour of Today? That would be a crappy idea." "You brought back Knight Rider. Any chance Manimal will be coming back?"
It's always tougher to be second. Also, it's tough to make things more complicated than they need to be. But Jay and NBC did both. I guess that means Jay's still an NBC guy for the moment. But you never know.
More on the executive session later today.
Giveaway Monday: Smallville season seven
Giveaways reminder: Office, Eli Stone, Supernatural, South Park
Giveaway Thursday: Tickets to the New York Television Festival ... all of it!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
7-21-2008 @ 4:00PM
SassylilB said...
WOW Leno ripping off Kimmel! What a Surprise! NOT!!
Kimmel is much more funnier and I hope ABC keeps Kimmel and leave Jay to tinker with his machine
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7-21-2008 @ 4:04PM
Alvaro said...
Thank You!!! Keep Leno away from ABC!
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7-21-2008 @ 5:08PM
Jack said...
This there any video of this?
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7-21-2008 @ 5:23PM
Jimmy said...
Jay ... have you no shame?
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7-21-2008 @ 5:29PM
doug said...
That's Leno. Funny as ever. Gosh, he'll be missed. Next?
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7-21-2008 @ 6:46PM
StillBash said...
He has to pay attention to what he says because of his demo. You know how easy it is to bust your hip falling over from laughing so hard and choke on your false teeth?
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7-22-2008 @ 11:30AM
Anita said...
I think Leno's personality best fits NBC. However, I wonder how Conan will do at the earlier slot. Dave has done well, but I loved his kooky humor in the later time and I wonder if Conan's will survive -
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7-23-2008 @ 12:25AM
Wyn said...
Conan will never replace Jay Leno. NBC has shot themselves in the foot moving that quirky Conan to the 11:30 p.m. time slot. He won't last -- viewers will leave in droves especially when Leno shows up on ABC in 2010.
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