BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Should NBC have let Leno go?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/10/should-nbc-have-let-leno-go/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/10/should-nbc-have-let-leno-go/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/12/10/should-nbc-have-let-leno-go/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I found myself writing about General Electric's (NYSE: GE) NBC the other day, specifically about CEO Jeff Zucker's apparent flummoxed realization that radical changes may be needed to stanch the ratings erosion that have plagued the major broadcast networks in this brave new media world. Now, I have another, equally interesting subject to look at: Jay Leno will be given a talk show after he hands The Tonight Show over to Conan O'Brien. The program will air on weeknights from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

As we all probably know by now, NBC was intent on having O'Brien take over Leno's position as a way of ensuring that he would stay at the network. Leno, as one would imagine, reportedly hated giving the job up. NBC, however, did not want Leno to head over to another network. Supposedly, Disney's (NYSE: DIS) ABC was perhaps interested in taking Leno on. So, the powers that be at the Peacock net have secured the services of Mr. Leno by offering him the chance to do something new: namely, distribute his schtick at an earlier time.

Okay, I'll tell you, I think this is a ridiculous idea. On many levels. Let's talk about level one: is this even going to work? Do people want to see Leno at 10 p.m.? Hey, maybe they will. But I get the feeling that this might be too much of a change for people used to seeing Leno at 11:30. Let's go to level two: why does NBC want to program what would essentially be two Tonight Shows? Won't there be some cannibalization going on here? You always hear media companies whining about cannibalization.

Continue reading Should NBC have let Leno go?

Should NBC have let Leno go? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ABCCBSconan obrienConanObrienDavid LettermanDavidLettermanDISDisneyfeaturedGEGeneral ElectricGeneralElectricJay LenoJayLenoJeff ZuckerJeffZuckerJohnny CarsonJohnnyCarsonNBCPixartalk showsTalkShowstelevisionWed, 10 Dec 2008 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[Late night hosts are about to prove just how funny they really are]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/28/late-night-hosts-are-about-to-prove-just-how-funny-they-really-a/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/28/late-night-hosts-are-about-to-prove-just-how-funny-they-really-a/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/12/28/late-night-hosts-are-about-to-prove-just-how-funny-they-really-a/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

With the writers still on strike, late night hosts are gearing up to putting on shows without help from any writers [subscription required]. For the past two months, while Hollywood writers have been on strike, late night television viewers have been served up re-runs of their favorite talk shows, but that is about to change.

It has definitely been a strange time for our late night shows to be on hiatus. With the now heating up presidential race offering up loads of good material, you know that the late night hosts have just been dying to get back into the action. But, don't expect to be seeing the same sort of shows you are used to seeing when they return to the air next week. The shows should prove to be very different than business as usual.

The exception to this rule may be the two late night shows on CBS (NYSE: CBS). David Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Inc., is currently in talks with the Writers Guild of America and hopes that its "Late Show with David Letterman" and "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" will be able to reach a deal to allow its writers to be able to contribute to its shows.

Continue reading Late night hosts are about to prove just how funny they really are

Late night hosts are about to prove just how funny they really are originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 28 Dec 2007 13:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CBSDavid LettermanDavidLettermaninthenewslettermanWorldwide PantsWorldwidePantswriters strikeWritersStrikeFri, 28 Dec 2007 13:26:00 EST<![CDATA[IAC planning a comedy news website called 23/6]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/09/iac-planning-a-comedy-news-website-called-23-6/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/09/iac-planning-a-comedy-news-website-called-23-6/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/11/09/iac-planning-a-comedy-news-website-called-23-6/#commentsFiled under: , ,

InterActive Corp. (NYSE: IACI) seems to be following the herd with this week's announcement of a comedy news channel that sounds very similar to Comedy Central's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. The new IAC property, titled 23/6, will partner with liberal political site the Huffington Post and will be in full comedic charge of satirizing the news with humor interlaced throughout all moments.

Bloggers from the Huffington Post as well as comedy writers from The Daily Show and The Simpsons will be part of the cast, so expect some funny moments from the new network. 23/6 joins a growing roster of online and television networks and series dedicated to taking normal (and highly predictable) news and turning a spin on those stories to keep the bay of reality, well, away from the mind of the normal consumer. At least, that's my two cents here.

I especially like 23/6's planned "Monolog-o-tron," which will be an online tool for generating your own talk show using drop-down menus on a website. That's a shot at Letterman and Leno and my guess is that it won't be the last one taken. With a whole new generation taking to the web for news and satire instead of played late-night shows, this could very well be another great hit for Barry Diller's IAC.

IAC planning a comedy news website called 23/6 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 09 Nov 2007 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>23/6Barry DillerBarryDillerComedy CentralComedyCentralDavid LettermanDavidLettermanIACinthenewsJay LenoJayLenoThe Colbert ReportTheColbertReportFri, 09 Nov 2007 12:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Jay Leno leery of leaving The Tonight Show?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/29/jay-leno-leery-of-leaving-the-tonight-show/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/29/jay-leno-leery-of-leaving-the-tonight-show/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/29/jay-leno-leery-of-leaving-the-tonight-show/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Despite filling five hours of our weeks with what some (...innocently drums fingers ...) consider to be softball questions and hacky jokes, Jay Leno has managed to remain the king of the late-night time slot, consistently banking the best ratings for the hour following the evening news.

And it's looking like Tonight Show host may not want the party to end.

Three years ago, Leno, who took over the hosting chair from the beloved Johnny Carson in 1992, told General Electric Company (NYSE: GE)'s NBC Networks that he would be retiring in 2009. At that point, NBC gave the nod to auburn-haired late-late-night funnyman Conan O'Brian. But as the swan song grows closer, the Los Angeles Times reports, Leno may be having misgivings about this plan.

Leno is reportedly a workaholic and will only be 59 when 2009 rolls around. Johnny Carson was 74 when he stepped down from the gig. NBC clearly wouldn't mind keeping their number-one guy on the payroll, and if he wants to keep working, they definitely want him in their employ rather than with the competition. Leno has a non-compete clause to keep him off the air for six months after leaving NBC, but what's six months out of a 20-year career?

Continue reading Jay Leno leery of leaving The Tonight Show?

Jay Leno leery of leaving The Tonight Show? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Oct 2007 19:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CBSConan O'BrienConanO'brienDavid LettermanDavidLettermanFOXGEJay LenoJayLenoNBCNWStelevisionTVMon, 29 Oct 2007 19:09:00 EST