How about doing away with a format that died 20 years ago? and btw Steve Allen, who pioneered tv talk, was better than Carson. And Carson was very good.
One of the hazards of now having an earlier deadline. When I did this one, it was early in the Late Night wars, before they decided to completely bump Conan. I filed it right before deadline and started work on the following week, then everything changed.
NBC created this whole problem, not Leno. Leno never wanted to retire - he’s still in his 50’s. NBC forced him into that because Conan wasn’t happy in the late night slot. But then NBC didn’t want Jay to go work for someone else, so they gave him that lame 10pm slot. The whole thing turned out to be a bust, since Conan never could deliver the audience, & lost the #1 slot that Jay had held when he was in the Tonight show.
And don’t blame Leno for Conan’s bad ratings. First of all, Conan was in that slot for 3 months before Jay’s show started, & he couldn’t deliver then, either. Jay didn’t always have great lead-ins when he was in that slot, yet he managed to stay #1. Conan just doesn’t have a broad appeal - he’s popular with a small niche audience, & that’s it. That makes him fine for late night, but at 11:30, he comes up short.
when i first started watching Letterman on NBC, a lot of the stunts he did were either inspired by or remakes of stunts that Steve Allen did on the Tonight Show. However, because of Carson’s longevity, I would rate him as #1, Allen as #2.
Leno is the worst, lame jokes from 20 years ago. Eventually, most of his audience will age out. Conan was never given a chance, especially with Leno in the 10 pm slot. Leno’s show was terrible in the ratings hurting the local news which in turn hurt Conan’s ratings. Sure he had all summer to build an audience. NBC gave Leno several years to find his audience. Plus, Leno is stingy and treats his writers poorly.
I really liked Steve Allen (what I can remember) but it was a very different time. Literally grew up with Carson and was stunned when NBC went with Leno instead of Letterman. I used to like Letterman but he lost his edge years ago.
Nobody gets years to build an audience anymore. Most shows only get a few weeks, & if they don’t deliver, they’re gone, Conan got nine months, which is an eternity in tv time these days.
I said a long time ago that replacing Jay with Conan was a mistake, and they would have to change it back after they realized their error. Leno was the right guy for the show, as shown by the ratings.
And if Conan said he doesn’t want the show, why is it a problem if Jay gets put back. NBC is doing all this rearranging anyway, so if Jay says that he’ll go back to the way things were, it doesn’t mean that he’s maneuvering.
I say, look at the ratings. Jay beat Letterman, Conan was floundering. Conan’s not a bad guy, just not as good. And he had his time to build his audience, because he should have brought them from his own show.
All this Jay knocking is ridiculous. He’s a nice guy who’s being pushed around, and he’s better for the Tonight Show anyway.
yyyguy over 14 years ago
if his chin deflated, no one would recognize him.
Edcole1961 over 14 years ago
On the other hand, it can be considered an ego boost to have people falling asleep before your show instead of during.
Hugh B. Hayve over 14 years ago
Maybe NBC should spend it’s money to try and figure out how to resurrect Johnny.
zero over 14 years ago
How about doing away with a format that died 20 years ago? and btw Steve Allen, who pioneered tv talk, was better than Carson. And Carson was very good.
Pab Sungenis creator over 14 years ago
One of the hazards of now having an earlier deadline. When I did this one, it was early in the Late Night wars, before they decided to completely bump Conan. I filed it right before deadline and started work on the following week, then everything changed.
Charles Brobst Premium Member over 14 years ago
Keep Conan, dump Jay.
vldazzle over 14 years ago
With TiVo and other DVRs, nobody NEEDS late shows. I have good comedy on my bedroom TV- right now it’s episodes of vintage Pythons and Bewitched;-)
3hourtour Premium Member over 14 years ago
..Leno’s taking it on the chin…
Nighthawks Premium Member over 14 years ago
yes, steve allen was the best
Pab Sungenis creator over 14 years ago
Big clearance sale this week in the TNAOQV store: http://bit.ly/6lM8Xy
Jeffpaul over 14 years ago
Amen, Queen Vic!
jerzy over 14 years ago
NBC created this whole problem, not Leno. Leno never wanted to retire - he’s still in his 50’s. NBC forced him into that because Conan wasn’t happy in the late night slot. But then NBC didn’t want Jay to go work for someone else, so they gave him that lame 10pm slot. The whole thing turned out to be a bust, since Conan never could deliver the audience, & lost the #1 slot that Jay had held when he was in the Tonight show.
And don’t blame Leno for Conan’s bad ratings. First of all, Conan was in that slot for 3 months before Jay’s show started, & he couldn’t deliver then, either. Jay didn’t always have great lead-ins when he was in that slot, yet he managed to stay #1. Conan just doesn’t have a broad appeal - he’s popular with a small niche audience, & that’s it. That makes him fine for late night, but at 11:30, he comes up short.
LibrarianInTraining over 14 years ago
vldazzle. Bewitched is awesome. SO was I Dream of Jeannie. :)
Dapperdan61 Premium Member over 14 years ago
I wonder if SNL also on NBC dares to satirize this whole sordid late night affair ?
fredbuhl over 14 years ago
Sorry, Steve Allen was the best, followed closely by Ernie Kovacs.
yyyguy over 14 years ago
when i first started watching Letterman on NBC, a lot of the stunts he did were either inspired by or remakes of stunts that Steve Allen did on the Tonight Show. However, because of Carson’s longevity, I would rate him as #1, Allen as #2.
yyyguy over 14 years ago
Steve Allen was highly underrated as an author, as well. try reading “The Public Hating” - a science fiction short story.
tallmomof2 over 14 years ago
Leno is the worst, lame jokes from 20 years ago. Eventually, most of his audience will age out. Conan was never given a chance, especially with Leno in the 10 pm slot. Leno’s show was terrible in the ratings hurting the local news which in turn hurt Conan’s ratings. Sure he had all summer to build an audience. NBC gave Leno several years to find his audience. Plus, Leno is stingy and treats his writers poorly.
I really liked Steve Allen (what I can remember) but it was a very different time. Literally grew up with Carson and was stunned when NBC went with Leno instead of Letterman. I used to like Letterman but he lost his edge years ago.
Long live Coco!
jjff over 14 years ago
I still don’t know why they can’t share the show. Half and half. Will HRH watch the Young Victoria movie?
jjff over 14 years ago
When I say half and half I mean one host for hlaf the season one hosts the other half.
aardvarkseyes over 14 years ago
Oh. I thought you meant half of one host for a show, then half of the other host for the next show.
fredbuhl over 14 years ago
Ira- now THAT I’d like to see.
JP Steve Premium Member over 14 years ago
Steve Allen and Jack Parr made people stay *up* to watch tv. Carson and crew put tv’s in the bedroom – something to fall asleep to…
jerzy over 14 years ago
Nobody gets years to build an audience anymore. Most shows only get a few weeks, & if they don’t deliver, they’re gone, Conan got nine months, which is an eternity in tv time these days.
auricle over 14 years ago
I said a long time ago that replacing Jay with Conan was a mistake, and they would have to change it back after they realized their error. Leno was the right guy for the show, as shown by the ratings. And if Conan said he doesn’t want the show, why is it a problem if Jay gets put back. NBC is doing all this rearranging anyway, so if Jay says that he’ll go back to the way things were, it doesn’t mean that he’s maneuvering. I say, look at the ratings. Jay beat Letterman, Conan was floundering. Conan’s not a bad guy, just not as good. And he had his time to build his audience, because he should have brought them from his own show. All this Jay knocking is ridiculous. He’s a nice guy who’s being pushed around, and he’s better for the Tonight Show anyway.