Does anyone know why Jay Leno was picked to host the Tonight Show? [Archive]

anticheese

28 Nov 2003, 03:52 PM

This guy has absolutely no talent for the job. The only reason I can think of is that producers thought people would watch because they want to laugh at how bad he is and would keep watching to see if he could get any worse. Kind of like when you watch a horrible movie that is so bad that it's funny and you just keep watching and waiting for it to get worse and even more funny.

Motterman

28 Nov 2003, 05:59 PM

There was a TV movie a couple of years ago that was about the whole "Leno or Letterman" for the Tonight Show job. Late Night Wars?

Anyways, I remember Cathy Bates as Leno's "handler" and it's pretty much her character's "fault" that Leno has the job.

CHICO13

28 Nov 2003, 06:25 PM

Cause Frank Zappa had prostate cancer......

Renegade of Funk

28 Nov 2003, 06:59 PM

My take is that Hollywood knew the Golden Age was ending and decided to ride the wave to oblivion.

But another interesting question is: "Why is the Tonight Show top rated?"

billyireland

28 Nov 2003, 07:10 PM

I HATE Leno, he is horrendous. I don't think too highly or Letterman or Kilbroen, either. Get Patrick Kielt,y Frank Skinner or Jonoathan Ross (just had a FANTASTIC interview with Russell Crowe) on the job. Conan, however, is one of the funniest presenters perhaps ever. Perfect for his timeslot, this guy is the gem of American TV hosts.

anticheese

28 Nov 2003, 07:28 PM

Originally posted by Renegade of Funk
...
But another interesting question is: "Why is the Tonight Show top rated?"

That is another question I was wondering about. Maybe NBC has the best news coverage across the country and people just fall asleep during the news and then Leno comes on and they don't even know it.

Conan, however, is one of the funniest presenters perhaps ever. Perfect for his timeslot, this guy is the gem of American TV hosts.

I totally agree with that. I laugh out loud during his show more than any other.

metrocorazon

28 Nov 2003, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by billyireland
I HATE Leno, he is horrendous. I don't think too highly or Letterman or Kilbroen, either. Get Patrick Kielt,y Frank Skinner or Jonoathan Ross (just had a FANTASTIC interview with Russell Crowe) on the job. Conan, however, is one of the funniest presenters perhaps ever. Perfect for his timeslot, this guy is the gem of American TV hosts.
Unfortunately if Conan was to move to 11:30 that would probably kill him, since his demographics will change and so would his jokes. Then, he'll be just another Letterman.

sch2383

28 Nov 2003, 08:12 PM

I hope there is a day when Jon Stewart and Conan O'Brien have the 11:30 slots. The one thing those two guys have in common is that they are smart as hell. Conan went to Harvard and Stewart went to William and Mary (played soccer for them too) and there are nights when they are noticeably smarter than their guests and have to dumb it down.

655321

01 Dec 2003, 07:55 AM

Because the Tonight Show really can't compete for the younger crowd the way Letterman does, and Leno is loved by the old folks...he's non-threatening and about as non-controversial as you can get.

Mind you, Letterman is pretty bad these days, as well.

metrocorazon

01 Dec 2003, 08:22 AM

Originally posted by sch2383
I hope there is a day when Jon Stewart and Conan O'Brien have the 11:30 slots. The one thing those two guys have in common is that they are smart as hell. Conan went to Harvard and Stewart went to William and Mary (played soccer for them too) and there are nights when they are noticeably smarter than their guests and have to dumb it down.
Like I said before if they get 11:30 slots they will have to compromise on alot of things. If you remember, Letterman was basically Conan back when he was on @ 12:30 am. Both of them wont be able to do half the skits they do on their shows now.

Matt in the Hat

01 Dec 2003, 12:59 PM

HalaMadrid

01 Dec 2003, 01:47 PM

I think Leno won a contest sponsored by Doritos.

skipshady

01 Dec 2003, 02:04 PM

Originally posted by 655321
Leno is loved by the old folks... non-threatening and about as non-controversial as you can get. Exactly.

The 11:30 pm audience is a completely different animal from the 12:30 am audience. 12:30 wants irreverent humor, the 11:30 wants jokes they already know the punchlines to. 12:30 wants an insult comic dog that poops on celebrities, the 11:30 wants a quirky, fish-out-of-water interviewer fawning at celebrities at parties.

Foosinho

01 Dec 2003, 02:12 PM

Originally posted by anticheese
I totally agree with that. I laugh out loud during [Conan's] show more than any other.

Me too. The wife - for some unknown reason - likes Leno, but at least Conan follows up (if I'm still awake).

Unfortunately, the wife needs the TV on to sleep (I don't know why - certainly makes it more difficult for me to sleep) and if I wake up during Conan, I'm not falling back to sleep. It's too damn funny. And they replay the show again (or a rerun - not sure which) at like 3 AM in our market. Conan is the number #1 cause of insomnia in our household.

TheSlipperyOne

01 Dec 2003, 02:22 PM

Originally posted by skipshady
12:30 wants an insult comic dog that poops on celebrities

Don't forget the masturbating bear.

skipshady

01 Dec 2003, 02:53 PM

Originally posted by TheSlipperyOne
Don't forget the masturbating bear. One of the greatest moments in television was when the masturbating bear removed its head to reveal Jim Carrey. Seriously.

And I doubt Middle America (and I use the term loosely, lest I offend anyone those who live in those useless flyover states) could fully appreciate the brilliance of the old Conan vs Andy staring contests or the sheer genius of doing the Year 2000 bit in 2003.

TheSlipperyOne

01 Dec 2003, 03:00 PM

Originally posted by skipshady

And I doubt Middle America (and I use the term loosely, lest I offend anyone those who live in those useless flyover states) could fully appreciate the brilliance of the old Conan vs Andy staring contests or the sheer genius of doing the Year 2000 bit in 2003.

And also convincing famous people to do
"Celebrity...Secrets" or having midget Jay Leno come out.

Father Ted

01 Dec 2003, 04:30 PM

John Stewart and his gang are the funniest of the lot. I rarely miss one.

Unorthodox Yank

01 Dec 2003, 07:26 PM

Time to put a spear in all you dern theories.

I am 17.

I think Jay Leno is funny.

I do not think Conan is funny.

Take that, data.

sch2383

01 Dec 2003, 10:53 PM

Originally posted by Unorthodox Yank
Time to put a spear in all you dern theories.

I am 17.

I think Jay Leno is funny.

I do not think Conan is funny.

Take that, data.

Thats fine, but you are from Kansas City so you don't count.