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Politics : Sioux Nation -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: SiouxPal who wrote (186081)	2/1/2010 7:24:25 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 361858

Jay Leno Explains His Position On The Oprah Winfrey Show bestsyndication.com by Dan Wilson on January 31, 2010 (Best Syndication News) -- Jay Leno says he didn’t want to leave his Tonight Show slot but NBC executives wanted Conan O’Brien in there. After a disastrous prime-time show, NBC decided to move him back to the late-night slot displacing O’Brien. Last week Leno explained his feelings to the Oprah Winfrey Show audience (see funny montage below). The Tonight Show is one of the longest running shows on television. In 1954 Steven Allen was the first host followed by Jack Paar in 1957. Johnny Carson was the longest running host from 1962 through 1992. He had the show for an astounding 30 seasons when Leno took over. Leno left in 2009 and O’Brien served the shortest time; less than one year (7 months). After his five-year contract ran out for the new show, Leno said he was going to retire. “I did tell a white lie on the air. I said I am going to retire. It just made it easier that way.” But in reality, he was hoping to find another job in show business. Several months ago NBC wanted Conan to be the new “The Tonight Show” host and wanted Leno out. To get Leno out before his contract expired, NBC sold him on the idea of a prime-time show. They showed him charts and graphs explaining why they thought the show would work. Oprah asked Leno if he felt disrespected by the NBC executives. “Yes, I most certainly did,” Leno answered. It was difficult for Leno to say goodbye on his last episode of The Tonight Show. “America seems to be taking this personally,” Oprah said in a monologue. “Some people are calling Jay selfish, while others say Conan just couldn’t cut it.” “I think the show failed because it was basically a late-night show at ten o’clock,” Leno said. Leno felt bad for the affiliates and his 100+ employees. The show was making money for the network but not the affiliates. “A lot of people are not on your side”, Oprah proclaimed. “They think you have been selfish.” “Well, it all comes down to numbers,” Leno answered. “This was almost the perfect storm of bad things happening. You have two hit shows… you move them both to another situation. What are the odds that both would do extremely poorly?” “If Conan’s numbers had been a little bit higher, it wouldn’t have been an issue. But in show business, there is always somebody waiting in the wings.” Leno’s new show was down 14 percent in the ratings while Conan O’Brien’s show was down 49 percent. NBC wanted to keep both employed and would not release Leno from his contract. Leno agreed to allow O’Brien keep The Tonight Show and take the 11:35 slot giving O’Brien the 12:35 am slot. But Conan thought it would destroy The Tonight Show franchise. Conan and Leno have not talked since the blow-up.