sign up for the Extra newsletter

December 9, 2008

Leno Moving to Prime Time

Posted on December 9, 2008

1209leno.jpg

Jimmy Fallon is replacing Conan O'Brien. Conan is replacing Jay Leno. And Jay is replacing "ER"?! NBC is planning to keep Jay Leno on the air by moving the comedian's show to the prime time slot.

It is reported the network will announce Leno's "The Tonight Show" will air weeknights at 10:00 PM. Five years ago, NBC announced Conan O'Brien would replace Leno's late night spot in May 2009.

"The Tonight Show" is the leader is late-night ratings and NBC feared the funnyman would start a new late-night show on another network. "The Tonight Show" with Conan will move from its historic Burbank studio to a new home on the NBC Universal lot in Universal City.

The cost of Leno's new show will be a bargain compared with what networks pay for prime time dramas, which average about $3 million an episode. Leno's show is expected to cost less than $2 million a week.

follow us on twitter become our fan on facebook NEXT: More Money for Madonna

 

Honestly, I think Johnny Carson was much better than Jay Leno. His monologue was cleaner plus the characters he played, like Carnac the Magnificent, were priceless as well as the skits. Leno is good..much better than Letterman and even better than Conan,which I will NOT watch when he takes over. I will just be able to get to bed earlier and get more sleep.


- jakemax
Posted 12/10/08 05:33 PM
 
 

if jay leno can do talk funny jokes still more in prime time then over night?.


- michelle
Posted 12/10/08 02:28 PM
 
 

You finally think that your wildest dreams have come true and then NBC dashes your hopes by announcing that they are keeping Leno on… and even worse - they will be putting him on earlier.

Oh well… there’s always cable…


- Bob
Posted 12/10/08 10:09 AM
 
 

Love The-Tonight-Show. I found myself missing most of the shows due to it’s present time-slot starting so late. Glad to see it will now be scheduled at an earlier time. I enjoy watching Leno and would of been disappointed if he chose not to stay with NBC.


- Beatrice
Posted 12/10/08 01:12 AM
 
 

I’m not so sure. People watch at 11:30 cause there’s nothing else on and he’s so much better than Letterman but at ten there are lots of options. I always tape him now and watch earlier the next day, but if there’s two other shows at ten like there is now on some nights I won’t get to tape him.
Hope he does well, though, I like him.


- Anne
Posted 12/09/08 07:35 PM
 
 

This is GREAT news!!! I was just thinking last night as I was watching Headlines, my favorite Leno feature, that I need to enjoy Jay while I can, because he will soon be gone, and now, NBC has found a way for him to stick around. Jay cracks me up like no other late night talk show host can, and I look forward to many more years of his special brand of humor, as well as Headlines, Jaywalking, and Things From the 99 Cent Store.


- Barnsinger
Posted 12/09/08 05:12 PM
 
 

I’m sorry to see that Jay Leno will continue to be on television. He isn’t funny - never has been. I’m glad that I have cable, so I can avoid NBC at 10:00 p.m.


- Parker
Posted 12/09/08 04:46 PM
 
 

Jay will continues to have the audience he had and will also add to it with the new time slot…. It is a wise move for Jay and NBC. We the viewers will continue to be faithful to Jay, the best talk show host since Johnny Carson…


- cathy
Posted 12/09/08 04:15 PM
 
 

Smart move NBC. You have one viewer right here.


- steve
Posted 12/09/08 08:23 AM
 
 

NBC has finally come to its senses. They almost blew it by losing Jay. They should still call Jay’s show the Tonight Show.


- Robbie
Posted 12/09/08 07:55 AM
 
post comment

Name

Email
(not displayed)
remember me?     

Back to Top »

Video: Penelope Cruz Dodges Engagement Questions
Lifechangers Challenge New Breast Cancer Guidelines
Get the scoop by mail!

See what's next -- from celeb splits to fabulous pics!