Things are heating up in the late, late night wars. That's the 12:35 AM talk shows, as opposed to the late night 11:35 shows. In the most recent Nielsen ratings, Craig Ferguson's CBS Late Late Show rated higher than Conan O'Brien's Late Night. That's the first time that's ever happened, and industry analysts are scratching their heads to figure out if this is the pendulum swinging in CBS's direction, or simply a minor glitch in NBC's late night dominance.
NBC has declared that it supports Conan O'Brien completely and is unconcerned about the gradual shift in the numbers that have been going on for a while. It's in NBC's interest that Conan remain a strong player, especially since he will be taking over the Tonight show in the near future -- once Jay Leno's contract comes to an end in 2009. While tipping its cap to Ferguson for the ratings victory, NBC also noted that in the 18-49 demographic, Conan is still the leader in that time slot.
So, Disney CEO Robert Iger was having one of those yummy breakfast confabs talking about the future of the network and new media, alternate platforms and all those other fun buzz words about how we're going to be watching shows in the next few years. Then, kind of as an aside, he was asked about Jay Leno. With the end of Leno's era as the host of The Tonight Show looming -- and Conan O'Brien chomping at the bit to take over -- Mr. Iger said that he wouldn't rule out ABC going after Jay.
Ken Auletta of the New Yorker pressed Iger about Leno, to which the ABC head man squirmed and said, "It's not something we typically comment on."
You would think since Don Imus and his dumb attempt at humor got him kicked off of MSNBC that TV personalities would think before they joke. You would like to think that's true -- but it's not. In the latest bit of amazing insensitivity and stupidity, NBC's Jay Leno has apologized for a gay gag.
The star of Tonight was chatting with Ryan Phillippe the other night about the star's new film Stop-Loss. Thanks to some crack researcher on the Tonight writing staff, Jay decided to ask Ryan about one of his earliest acting jobs -- playing Billy Douglas, a closeted, gay teenager on One Life to Live struggling with his sexual identity. In a flip way, Leno asked Ryan to show him what it was like when he was playing gay. He said, "Can you give me your gayest look? Say that camera is Billy Bob... Billy Bob has just ridden in shirtless from Wyoming."
So, AOL TV did a poll about America's favorite talk show hosts and 1.3 million people made their feelings known. Interesting results. I didn't agree with some of them, like who I like waking up with. Diane Sawyer was the top choice, but I'd go for the second place finisher, Matt Lauer. As for whom to go to bed with -- TV talk show wise, that is -- I can't believe most of the people chose Jay Leno. Is he really that popular? I prefer David Letterman; I'm a sucker for the Top Ten lists.
Oh, the humanity!Wheel of Fortune is not all frivolity and fun. Merv Griffin knew what he was doing when he created this venerable game show. Drama, ensues! You think it's so easy spinning the wheel, buying a vowel, laughing at Pat Sajak's jokes and ogling Vanna's gorgeous gait? Well, it's not. Under all that pressure you'd be surprised -- or maybe you wouldn't -- to see how some people simply come up short in the solution department. The letters all float together and instead of spelling a word you know as well as your own name, you pick the wrong consonant and you're WAH-WAHed in shame and regret. The fortune goes to the next player and you're left with egg on your face.
Watch these great examples and you'll see what I mean (a sample is after the jump). Like Jay Leno's simple "man in the street" questions about common knowledge, you see that there's no telling how stupid people can be, especially with a camera and microphone in their face.
Jay Leno is in trouble with the WGA. When he returned to late night television on Wednesday, he told his audience that he wrote the jokes for his monologue and that he wasn't relying on "scabs" to do his writing. It was a proud proclamation on his part, but it turns out that he was still violating the rules of the WGA strike. As a member of the WGA, he's not allowed to write. The WGA has met with Leno and let him know he broke the rules, and now the guild is trying to determine whether Leno needs to be punished.
Other late night hosts like Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Kimmel returned without writers and obviously without any sort of scripts. Conan spent a good part of last week spinning his wedding ring on his desk. David Letterman and Craig Ferguson also returned last week, but they have writers because Worldwide Pants, which produces both shows, came to an agreement with the WGA.
As the strike lingers on and the Writers Guild of American (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) seem no closer to bridging their philosophical and monetary gap, the WGA is set to try a new tactic. According to Variety, the WGA is going to make a "legal demand" today for individual members of the AMPTP to schedule bargaining meetings with the WGA. However, at this point it isn't clear if the companies are legally obligated to do so, and if not, will they?
In the real world, fighting for your rights has consequences. NBC has proven this by laying off the non-writing staffers on The Tonight Show. Apparently, it never occurred to some of them that this move could potentially cost them their jobs. Fortunately, Jay Leno has stepped in and offered to pay the salaries of the non-writing staff through next Saturday.
Mind you, the strike isn't over. One of the bargaining conditions could be to rehire everyone. However, upon reading the article it doesn't look likely that the staffers will be rehired even if the strike ends. Frankly, I don't see why not since they have the skills and experience. NBC would likely quietly rehire them over time to save face.
I have to remind you all that I do support the writers in their effort when I say the following statement: I hope the writers weren't naive enough to think that Corporate America (or corporate entertainment for that matter) has a heart or a conscience when it comes to business. It doesn't. Most of the time (with rare exception), it cuts its losses.
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, currently in reruns due to the Writers Guild of America strike, will dig deep to air five vintage episodes. That's rarely done with the late night talk shows as the monologue and many of the movies promoted by guests are dated.
Included in the vintage rerun plans are a 1992 Tom Hanks appearance, Julia Roberts from 1993, 1995 appearances with Johnny Depp and Jennifer Aniston, and a Matt Damon 2000 appearance. As the strike continues, the late night talk shows are running out of more current reruns according to an article in The Hollywood Reporter. I would think they're also a bit concerned with losing the audience and older shows at this time would almost be "new."
Even though TheLate Showand The Late Late Showare in reruns, the company that produces them, Worldwide Pants, is continuing to pay their staff. The announcement came from the offices of WWP and went on to say that the writers (Update: the entire staff is being paid)for both shows in New York and in Los Angeles will continue to earn a salary, at least through the end of the year.
Worldwide Pants is owned by David Letterman who, as a writer for his talk show is in a precarious position. As a member of the WGA, Letterman is forbidden to do any writing for the show but as an executive producer he is still involved in the day to day decisions regarding the show.
According to E! Online, NBC and CBS have told the non-writing staff of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and The Late Show with David Letterman that they will be laid off beginning the end of next week if the writers do not return.
Leno and the other late night talk shows have gone dark this week as their writers join the strike. Leno has even joined his writers on the picket line.
While NBC is threatening layoffs for Tonight Show staff, E! reports that the network was also looking for guest hosts to replace Leno starting on November 19th. Apparently no one wants to be that guy/gal who crosses the picket line (and Leno!) to host a show.
The pending writer's strike could mean a surge in demand for reality tv. That is the only reason I can think of why they might be giving Coolio his own reality show.
Kid Rock won't be charged for that "brawl" he was in at the VMA's.
Ellen DeGeneres will be the first celebrity "briefcase babe" on Deal or No Deal.
We've been hearing a lot of stories about Jay Leno and what he will (or won't) do after Conan O'Brien takes over The Tonight Show in 2009. Could he move to another network?
On the heels of news that NBC might be building Conan O'Brien a new studio on the Universal lot (O'Brien will probably have to move from New York to L.A. when he takes over the show) comes word from gossiper Cindy Adams that Leno might be moving to FOX. Adams says that there's no way that Leno is going to retire (Leno is making more and more jokes about leaving NBC lately, and you can tell it's not all in jest), and the best odds are that FOX will want to get back into the late night game.
FOX makes the most sense. He certainly wouldn't go to CBS since Letterman has 11:30 (and produces the 12:30 show). Would ABC want to get rid of Kimmel in some way to make room for Leno?
Back in June we told you about the the possible resentment that Jay Leno has towards NBC, because he feels they are kicking him out to make way for Conan O'Brien to take over The Tonight Show in 2009. He made a comment on his show at that time that was rather sarcastic, and now he's made another one.
Nikki Finke reports that on Monday Leno was giving a quick tour of the new additions to the set of his late night show. One of the additions the show added while Leno was on vacation was a new desk. Leno didn't see what was wrong with the old one and said, "it's not like NBC to get rid of something that's worked perfectly for 15 years." Ouch.
I doubt that Jeff Zucker is on Leno's Christmas card list. He probably doesn't even use GE lightbulbs in his house.
Things are heating up in the late, late night wars. That's the 12:35 AM talk shows, as opposed to the late night 11:35 shows. In the most recent Nielsen ratings, Craig Ferguson's CBS Late Late Show rated higher than Conan O'Brien's Late Night. That's the first time that's ever happened, and industry analysts are scratching their heads to figure out if this is the pendulum swinging in CBS's direction, or simply a minor glitch in NBC's late night dominance.
So, Disney CEO Robert Iger was having one of those yummy breakfast confabs talking about the future of the network and new media, alternate platforms and all those other fun buzz words about how we're going to be watching shows in the next few years. Then, kind of as an aside, he was asked about Jay Leno. With the end of Leno's era as the host of The Tonight Show looming -- and Conan O'Brien chomping at the bit to take over -- 
You would think since Don Imus and his dumb attempt at humor got him kicked off of MSNBC that TV personalities would think before they joke. You would like to think that's true -- but it's not. In the latest bit of amazing insensitivity and stupidity, NBC's 
So, AOL TV did a poll about 
Oh, the humanity!
Jay Leno 
As the strike lingers on and the Writers Guild of American (WGA) and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) seem no closer to bridging their philosophical and monetary gap, the WGA is set to try a new tactic. 
In the real world, fighting for your rights has consequences. NBC has proven this by 
Even though 
According to 
We've been hearing a lot of stories about Jay Leno and what he will (or won't) do after Conan O'Brien takes over The Tonight Show in 2009. Could he move to another network?
Back in June 
The Upfronts: FOX
Carter Bays of How I Met Your Mother: The TV Squad Interview
The Upfronts: CBS
