Jeff Zucker Addresses Late-Night Controversy on 'Charlie Rose'
NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker appeared on Charlie Rose Monday to address the controversy that has engulfed his network and the media vitriol aimed at him personally.
Zucker told a shocked Rose that the network’s gambit to move Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m. to make room for a half hour of Jay Leno has resulted in “death threats.”
Rose expressed shock but did not ask Zucker to elaborate.
Zucker also seemed to take full responsibility for the aborted Jay Leno experiment and the decision in 2004 to hand The Tonight Show over to O’Brien.
“Ultimately, it did not pan out. It was a mistake. But the worst thing you can do is let those mistakes linger.”
He also said that he would have preferred that O’Brien stay at NBC.
“I wished that Conan had found a way to stay and do 12:05. Ultimately, he couldn’t get his head around it.”
And Zucker brushed off the notion that the debacle would permanently damage Leno.
“We think that Jay will go back to 11:35 and be successful.”
NBC expects to announce O’Brien’s departure and Leno’s re-instatement on The Tonight Show Tuesday (Jan. 19.)
tvmonger commented:
why doesn't nbc slot rosie o'donnell or george clooney and remove jay? jay's ratings were only good because he was up against dave who is old, boring, and silly. America needs fresh, creative talent with intelligent wit, less silly.
StewartIII commented:
ChickaBOOMer: Jeff Zucker's Pulp Fiction
chickaboomer.blogspot.com/2010/01/jeff-zuckers-pulp-fiction.html
whatever... commented:
Leno knows it's a business, Conan hasn't figured that out yet. Conan needs to grow up and recognize it's about numbers and money.
John commented:
Why has Jeff Zucker not been fired? He has been a failure since he left his job Producing the Today Show. Under Bob Wright NBC use to make $1 Billion Profit, now they make less than a third of that, where is Jack Welch when you need him.
DallasParish commented:
Jay Leno will never win that time period again.
Hmmm commented:
Conan and Jay are both smart guys. The difference is, Jay knows how to entertain the masses; Conan doesn't. Conan's appeal is much narrower.
Terrence commented:
Why in the name of holiness does Zucker think Conan would take what amounts to a demotion by airing at 1205 in order to stay with a network that has so little regard for its talent?