Obama Delivers Big Numbers for Jay Leno
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, Ratings,
Whether they tuned in to see him laugh or make a gaffe, people were definitely watching President Obama last night.
The president’s appearance on The Tonight Show gave the late night program its best numbers in four years. The sit-down’s 11.2 household rating (26 share) tied a mark achieved in January 2005. That was when the show paid tribute to the recently deceased Johnny Carson.
The number was an 187% improvement over the show’s average (3.9) for this year.
The last time Jay Leno saw a higher household rating was back in 1998. A post-Seinfeld finale broadcast that May pulled in a 12.4.
Read More 
| Variety
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Barack Obama Entertains with Leno
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Late Night, Reality, Talk Shows, NBC, Video,
Barack Obama, the forty-fourth president of the United States, appeared Thursday on The Tonight Show to chat basketball, presidential life and AIG with Jay Leno.
Click to continue reading Barack Obama Entertains with Leno
Read More | MLive
Obama Scheduled for Leno, Third Press Conference
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Specials, News,
In the next week, President Barack Obama will be addressing the television public on two different stages.
This Thursday night, Obama will hitting up The Tonight Show during a trip to Los Angeles. Although it’s not unusual to see presidential candidates on late-night fare, his visit will mark the first time a sitting POTUS has made such an appearance.
The chat with Jay Leno will be followed up by a more formal affair next Tuesday (Feb. 24). That is when President Obama is scheduled to hold another primetime event. There’s been no word yet as to how this hour-long presser (starting at 8:00 PM EST) will affect the schedules for American Idol or Dancing with the Stars.
Read More | Hollywood Reporter
Jay Leno Staying with NBC, Moving to 10 P.M.
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, News, Ratings,
What do you do when your network sucks, the economy sucks and your late night ratings leader is on the verge of leaving? Well - if you’re NBC, you simply restructure your whole schedule.
Although it was initially believed that we would be getting a start date for Jimmy Fallon’s new program today, the Peacock network apparently had much bigger news to deal with. Earlier Monday at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker got speculators buzzing about possible cutbacks in his network’s primetime programming. “Can we continue to broadcast 22 hours in primetime? Three of our competitors don’t,” Jeff said in Manhattan. “Can we continue to broadcast seven days a week? One of our competitors doesn’t.”
Hours after Zucker’s statement, the Peacock network announced a major decision for the its 2009-2010 season: they’ll be keeping Jay Leno around after all. (It’s always best to admit you’re wrong now than later.) But fans of Conan O’Brien shouldn’t be worried by the news; Leno’s presence won’t affect the redhead’s upcoming time shift. Instead of leaving Jay in his old slot, NBC will bring him into the primetime fold. Starting next fall, the 58-year-old will enter our homes at 10:00. (The network will now only have to worry about 17 hours of primetime programming.)
Click to continue reading Jay Leno Staying with NBC, Moving to 10 P.M.
Read More | Variety
Jimmy Fallon Begins Testing His Late Night Material
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, News,
Although he still has months to go before his official debut, Jimmy Fallon is making sure he gets off the ground running. Beginning tonight, the former SNL-er will try to get fans accustomed to a whole new face in late night television.
At 12:35 AM Tuesday morning, the man-who’ll-soon-take-over-Conan’s-time-slot will premiere his very first “video blog.” The five-minute segments, which will be posted daily during Late Night‘s usual hour, will vary in content. It’s hoped the freeform webisodes will allow the new program to find its groove.
NBC is expected to announce an official start date for Jimmy’s program sometime later today. It’s believed Conan O’Brien will step down at the end of February (he takes over for Jay Leno on June 1) leaving Fallon to begin his hosting duties in early March.
Read More | Broadcasting & Cable
Jay Leno’s Last Day Announced
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, ABC, NBC, Gossip, News, Rumors,
What seemed so far off in the future has now been given a date. Jay Leno‘s departure from The Tonight Show will happen on May 29, 2009.
This calendar announcement was announced earlier Monday by NBC. The news ended any speculation that the network might chicken out and keep the ratings winner in place a bit longer. Also solidifying the decision made years ago was the date chosen for Conan O’Brien‘s time shift: June 1.
Click to continue reading Jay Leno’s Last Day Announced
Hollywood Reporter
Jimmy Fallon Takes Over for Conan O’Brien
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Late Night, NBC, Saturday Night Live, News,
What was rumored over a year ago is now finally set to happen. Jimmy Fallon has been tapped to be Conan O’Brien’s late-night successor.
Speculation as to who would fill the 12:30 AM slot has been ongoing since NBC decided to end Jay Leno‘s run back in 2004. With the 2009 deadline now approaching, the network is formally expected to reveal its newest golden child next month. (I guess that means more ‘Last Calls’ for snubbed Carson Daly.)
Since leaving Saturday Night Live, Fallon has appeared in a few film projects including last year’s Factory Girl with Sienna Miller.
Hollywood Reporter
Leno, Kimmel Provide Each Other Assistance
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, ABC, NBC,
Although they are technically competitors, the inconvenient writers strike has given Jay Leno and Jimmy Kimmel something in common to gripe about: the struggle to land a guest. And since misery loves company, they have decided to set aside network differences to help each other out.
Usually one has to wait for a sweeps period to see a special crossover appearance. In this case, we only had to wait several weeks into January…and we get two in one night.
So if you really need your Kimmel fix, catch him as a guest on The Tonight Show this evening before flipping channels to see him as host. (The same remote instructions apply to Leno lovers as well.) Or you could simply stick to scripted fare and stay on CBS all night long.
Entertainment Weekly
Why Jay Leno’s Monologue Must Not Go On
Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Late Night, NBC, News,
Hey, even celebrities have to follow the rules - a fact that is being pointed out to late night host Jay Leno by many major media outlets. Here’s the deal: there’s an active writers’ strike going on, but the Tonight Show must go on anyway. At least, that’s the stand taken by NBC.
During a recent new episode of his late night show, Leno delivered a monologue and announced that he’s writing his own jokes. However, under Writers Guild rules those who are still on strike are not allowed to write for any studio’s project. NBC maintains they’re following the rules, while the Guild says Leno is a member and subject to all the strike rules therein - which means, no writing. The entire issue is now going before a union panel.
With all this itty bitty quibbling, it’s no wonder no one can seem to get any negotiations scheduled which might actually end this thing.
E! Online
This Week on TV (12/31-1/6)
Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Drama, Games, Late Night, Music, Prime Time, Reality, Specials, Sports, Talk Shows, ABC, Cable, CBS, FOX, HBO, MTV, NBC, Showtime, Apprentice, The - Donald, Desperate Housewives, ER,
(Reminder: You can view the whole Revamped TV Programming Schedule here.)
MONDAY (12/31)
- Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2008 (ABC, 10pm): Dick Clark and Ryan Seacrest will co-host the event. Is Miley Cyrus old enough to be associated with a drinking holiday?
- New Year’s Eve Live (FOX, 11pm): Idol alums Jordin Sparks and Blake Lewis will perform. In just a few short weeks, we’ll start caring about a new batch of idols.
- Tila Tequila’s New Year’s Eve Masquerade (MTV, 11pm): NYC masked ball will include Kid Rock and Mary J. Blige. Has it already been a year since we were forced to watch Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minnillo kiss?
- NBC’s New Year’s Eve With Carson Daly (NBC, 11:35pm): Alicia Keys and Lenny Kravitz will be performing. This may be the first time in a while someone has stayed awake to watch Daly’s show.
Click to continue reading This Week on TV (12/31-1/6)
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