Most of the invective, notably, has been leveled not at [Jay] Leno specifically but rather at NBC for having “given up,” as writer-producer Peter Tolan put it, by abandoning scripted dramas in an hour where the Peacock once aired such acclaimed programs as “Hill Street Blues” and “ER.” Nevertheless, for the ire expressed toward NBC to be fulfilled, Leno’s new endeavor, logically, has to fail.
From a Variety op-ed making the case for Leno as an enemy of creative Hollywood by moving to 10:00pm.
This is just my gut, and people are bitching about it but I think it’s a good thing, but I think people like my mother, who’s 82, are going to love to watch Jay at ten o’clock because they want to go to bed. And they love Jay. That’s going to make programming at ten o’clock much cheaper for all the networks. They’re going to lean in that direction. It’s going to make the business that I’m in, the ten o’clock, hour-long drama, it’s going to force it more into cable, which is where it should be because you can take more chances. Everybody’s going to be happy. That’s what I think. It’s going to be beneficial to actors and writers and producers over the long haul.
From my July interview with Peter Tolan’s “Rescue Me” partner, Denis Leary.
Comments
3 responses to “Duelling Leno perspectives”
Everytime I try to like NBC [The Office]…and I really do try they remind why they’re NBC. I hope this fails not to spite Leno…against whom I have nothing…but just to spite NBC…who I despise.
Cable has shown, over and over again, that the traditions the networks hold dear (half hour national news, strictly scripted prime time, the school year approach to seasons, the 22-episode format, analog) are outdated. The Big Three have to make serious changes to counter the serious challenges from the rest of home entertainment.
I started respecting NBC a little bit more for admitting that they’ve given up. This is a low-risk, potentially high-yield move. Within 5 years ABC and CBS will follow suit. Leno’s new gig is essentially 5 hours of carte blanche airtime per week, close to home. Wouldn’t a much bigger entertainer (say, Steve Martin) be jealous and try to get some of that action? And wouldn’t the other networks rush to take THAT call?
Leno gives the funniest monologue in late night. Period. Letterman’s monologue is unwatchable. Conan’s awkwardness isn’t funny in the more mainstream format. Leno will rule late night once he comes back…like he has for close to two decades.