Leno Sucks

I must keep myself based in reality, by saying that it's only TV, and nothing to get worked up about. But I hate NBC and Jay Leno right now.

I've never found Jay Leno to be funny on the Tonight Show. I like only one of his bits, Headlines, which he borrowed from Steve Allen, and isn't a testament to HIS comic genius, but rather the humor in the misprints he shows us. I'm a HUGE Conan O'Brien fan, as well as a fan of Jimmy Fallon.

Last year, Jay Leno gave up the Tonight Show. I've heard many theories as to why he did that: Conan's contract was up, and he had to clear the way for Conan to take over the Tonight Show in order to keep him at NBC; or my personal theory, Jay orchestrated this early retirement in order to push NBC into boosting his contract somehow in order to keep him there.

But here's the thing... Whatever the motivation, Jay Leno left the coveted 11:30 slot! He gave up the Tonight Show, he doesn't get to have it back. Johnny Carson didn't come back, neither did Jack Paar or Steve Allen, they either REALLY retired, or did some other show.

If you recall the circumstances whereby Jay got the Tonight Show (instead of David Letterman) there was some political manipulation which eventually won him his contract, famously depicted in the HBO movie "The Late Shift." Jay was quite popular, but let's face it, it was THE TONIGHT SHOW with jay leno.... not JAY LENO'S the tonight show.

Now, I've seen the 10pm show. It's everything that the Tonight Show was with Jay at the helm. Fewer guests, but the same brand of comedy, in fact even MORE comedy for the 10pm format. The show isn't doing well. And the poor ratings of the show were hurting the local news ratings. That right there... shows you that he just doesn't have the pull without the Tonight Show brand backing him up.

A Talk show is a talk show is a talk show, what sells it is the personality of the host, which comes through in the comedy. I have a theory that Jimmy Kimmel starts at 12 because that's when the comedy portion of Tonight and Letterman ends, and the guests begin. That way, Kimmel doesn't have to compete against these two powerhouses of comedy.

I'll tell you... if Conan O'Brien were to get a nightly show at 10 PM, I'd be tuning in every day because I find him just THAT funny. I DVRd Conan's show at 12:30, and I DVR it now at 11:30. The audience will follow the talent. If Jay Leno's audience won't do the same, then that says something about the guy you have there.

So they cancelled the 10pm Jay Leno Show, and now they, for some reason, need to find a place for him. WHY? He sucks! People aren't watching him! CUT HIM LOOSE! Instead, NBC plans to put him BACK at 11:30. Moving Conan and Jimmy Fallon up to 12 and 1am, and Cancelling the Carson Daly show. A complete disruption of the late night schedule.

As I said, wherever Conan and Jimmy are, I'll follow. That's not what's bugging me. What's bugging me is that NBC is disrupting their entire schedule and moving everyone to very inconvenient times for what... an unfunny insufferable douchebag who has just proven in this move to 10pm that he shouldn't have his own talk show! Mediocrity should not be rewarded like this. It lessens the quality of entertainment all around. Plus, Conan worked for 14 years at the Lat Night show. He EARNED his turn at the helm of the Tonight Show.

If NBC feels the need to keep Jay Leno in their employ, how about putting him on after Carson. Yeah, a 2am show. Really Freakin' Late Night with Jay Leno.

As Johnny Carson reportedly said to Letterman when Dave got screwed by NBC in favor of Leno, "If it were me, I'd walk."