NBC Shakes Up The Format For ‘The Jay Leno Show’
When NBC announced the format of The Jay Leno Show, the network made it a point to note that it would be turning the structure from The Tonight Show on its head. While it would start with a monologue, the network said Jay would save the signature comedy bits for the end of the episode in order to provide the strongest news lead-in for its local affiliates.
“The signature pieces people like such as ‘Headlines,’ ‘Jay Walking,’ those will be the pieces that bring us into the 11 o’clock news,” Leno said at the Television Critics Association Summer press tour in August. “We want to provide a strong lead-in for the 11 o’clock news.”
Indeed, since its launch September 14 launch, Leno has presented Headlines every Monday night as the last segment of the show.
However, on Monday, November 9, the show finally broke from that mold, and returned to a format much closer to that of Leno’s Tonight Show. As usual, the program opened with Leno’s monologue, followed by a commercial break. Then, just as on Tonight, Leno presented Headlines, less than 15 minutes into the program. That was followed by another commercial break, before welcoming Kathy Griffin on as his first guest.
The first half hour or so of Monday’s Jay Leno Show was nearly identical to the first half hour of Leno’s Tonight Show.
A spokesperson for NBC says that Headlines will be towards the front of the show again next week (Nov. 16). Other episodes will feature a retooled format as well, with certain comedy bits and interviews appearing earlier or later than they normally would.
Nielsen fast nationals data shows that Leno averaged a 1.2/3 rating/share, with the second (Headlines-free) half hour dropping to a 1.1/3. The 1.2 rating matched a series low.
The second half of the show returned to the more normal Leno format, with Griffin taking the “green car challenge” in the next segment, followed by a satellite interview with Diablo Cody and another comedy bit about internet videos closing out the show.
Of course, as NBC executives (and Leno himself) have noted, it is the long haul that matters. Maybe shifting the format to something more in line with Tonight can help boost its ratings, or maybe it won’t.
Regardless, it looks as though NBC and Leno are taking the ratings and affiliate feedback seriously and tweaking the show. How it plays out will have to wait for another day.
Goon commented:
This show does not work at 9pm where it airs in the Central and Mountain time zones. It is too early. NBC should just let Jay go and host a new late night show on ABC or Fox if they don't want to give him the Tonight Show back.
Dan Uff commented:
Here's an idea:
1. Cancel Leno.
2. Put Trauma on at 10pm on Thursdays.
Enough said,
Dan
Flick commented:
Ship Conon to ABC and give Leno "his" show back. I record Leno and play it during Conan, just like the Late Show but slightly better. The stage is too wide and the set is awful. I can't wait until a guest falls over the those stupid steps.
conman commented:
Conan is the MAN. He has it all over Leno. Leno should retire.
charlie commented:
The problem is this: Jay Leno is not funny! This show is even worse than the tonight show. It's painful to watch. It will be canceled by spring, no doubt.
idiots commented:
Conan is the most original, hilarious, and smart tonight show host to date. Its to bad none of your opinions matter, because your old and you will die soon.
Jay Bird commented:
Jeffrey Lyons: The set IS gigantic, and Kevin and the band are crammed in a little corner by the entrance. The band is also much smaller now ... no more brass section; just guitars, keyboards, Smitty the drummer, and that chick who tries to sing.
Jeffrey Lyons commented:
Bring back Gilbert Gottfried and "Steve, the Judgemental Bastard," along with Fred Willard, three of the best elements of Jay's "TONIGHT" show. That green car is stupid and an obvious tradeout with Ford. Well-intentioned, I suppose, but dull television. And get better guests...Sandra Bullock's a big star, but that 10@10 segment on a flat screen is bad TV. The guest isn't in the studio, as if he/she has more important things to do, and they can't react to the audience, and there's that annoying wait for the satellite to deliver audio. And why the insistance on having unknown younger comedians on doing sthick? Standup is fine, but the contrived pieces out on remotes are never funny. The set also looks gigantic, with Kevin in another area code. But at least they're beginning to come around to the formula which worked so well for 17 years.
Jay Bird commented:
I love Jay! Saw a taping of his show a couple of weeks ago; it's much more hilarious in person. But NBC should definitely put Jay back on the Tonight Show. Conan is horrible and an egomaniac. Jay should appear in skits a la Carson, instead of those other idiots' segments.
msmerlin commented:
Move Conan back to his previous spot; he's awful (not funny, mean-spirited, and only focused on what a star HE -- and he only -- thinks he is). Put Jay back on The Tonight Show. Put regular 10:00 programming on at 10:00. I've even taken to watching Letterman, who I've NEVER watched, because I simply can not stand Conan.
Bob commented:
Fix the comedy. Make it funny. Jay is an icon. He needs funny stuff/people to work with. Toning down the vulgarity wouldn't hurt either. How about moving it to 8ET?
Perry commented:
The Leno show is at a bad time and inspires me to channel-syef hunting for anything else, preferably something entertaining. The thing that makes me truly sad is the fact that NBC apparently truly believed that the grimly unfunny and self-absorbed Conan could replace Leno, who was perfectly attuned to the Tonight Show's time slot and audience.
Buddy commented:
You know the real problem is the show alone. The comedy isn't funny. Period. Jay is likable, but the lame bits and correspondents are poorly written. If the show had more substance and make people really laugh (look at The Daily Show or The Corbert Report), then you have a hit. A successful executed variety/comedy series could be stripped at 10PM, but the JLS, sadly, isn't it.
gpxo commented:
This ship has long sailed-nobody cares anymore-affiliates want their scripted programming back!!!
StewartIII commented:
ChickaBOOMer: Jay Leno Ate My Homework
chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2009/11/jay-leno-ate-my-homework.html
EricPost commented:
I second it, bring back the desk.
Barack Like Me commented:
Deck. Chairs.
elreymon commented:
i think it's the timing,there are too many good show at 10pm!!
mlgoheen commented:
GET RID OF THE SUIT AND TIE
mlgoheen commented:
here's an idea... losen up Jay, we don't want to see Johnny Carson
Octobrain commented:
Maybe now they'll bring back the stupid desk so we don't have to look at Leno's crotch.