As Leno's fortunes fade at NBC, Zucker's continue to climb
Filed under: People, Media, General Electric , Comcast, News Corp.
Is a deal with Satan the kind of thing you're required to disclose in a proxy statement? If so, I'll be very curious to see the one filed after Comcast (CMCSA) completes its takeover of NBC Universal (GE).It's hard to imagine what else could account for the continuing employment of Jeff Zucker as the head of one of the world's premier media conglomerates -- even as it becomes increasingly clear how unfit he is for the job. Now it looks like not even the sale of his company will put an end to Zucker's reign of error: Reuters reports that Comcast has agreed to keep him on as the CEO of the joint venture created by the acquisition, if and when it comes to fruition. This despite the availability of former News Corp. (NWS) president Peter Chernin, a media executive with a substantially better track record than Zucker's. Chernin is advising Comcast in the deal.
In a nice bit of irony-flavored synchronicity, the news about Zucker's job security comes amid fresh reports of what a dismal failure his boldest initiative is shaping up to be. It was Zucker who dreamed up a 10 p.m. talk show as a way to keep Jay Leno at NBC, while reducing the network's prime-time programming costs.
The success of this strategy rested on several premises, one or more of which appear to have been faulty. Zucker believed that viewers who deserted NBC in the immediate aftermath of the format change would come surging back once the 10 p.m. dramas on ABC and CBS go to reruns. But, as I surmised would happen, the ratings suggest that those viewers are abandoning broadcast television altogether for cable and the Web, making it unlikely they'll notice or care when Private Practice is a repeat.
It's also not clear that The Jay Leno Show can sustain even the very humble ratings level it needs to meet in order to generate profits for the network. Recently, the show has on two occasions mustered only a 1.2 rating among adults 18 to 49, far below the 1.5 rating it needs to achieve. And it's an open question whether Jay Leno is responsible for the faltering ratings of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon: Is it because of smaller lead-in audiences or are viewers fatigued of talk-show humor by the time 11:30 rolls around?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 12)
11-11-2009 @ 12:13PM
Ed Graham said...
Mr. Zuker's dumbest idea was to make room for Conan O'Brien in place of Jay Leno at 11:30. O'Brien is the dumbest, hayseed
schmuck on TV, and one I can't or wouldn't watch even if you paid me. Jay's show should have been left at 11:30. David Letterman--even with 15-20 joke writers--can't be funny. Zucker should be FIRED immediately--if he's the one who made the decision about O'Brien.
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11-11-2009 @ 2:40PM
ricky949 said...
why are you commenting on programming that requires a sense of humor to watch?
11-11-2009 @ 4:58PM
Michelle said...
I agree w/Ed 110%. I cannot stand Conan O'Brien. If Jay wanted to leave the Tonight Show, they should have given it to Jimmy Fallon and left Conan where he belongs. He is so annoying and I hear Conan's voice and I cringe, he is not funny and I believe he is the downfall of the Tonight Show. Biggest mistake NBC has made was giving the reigns over to him.
11-11-2009 @ 5:17PM
lorraine said...
I totally agree. Leno is the best always making us laugh before retiring for the night.
11-11-2009 @ 5:34PM
rob said...
Are you insane or just have NO sense of humor? Perhaps you like the occasional classic car or do you like Jays equally as old jokes? Conan rules!
11-11-2009 @ 6:14PM
Merrily said...
I agree with Ed. When I heard that Jay was suggesting Conan for the Tonight show when he stepped down, I was horrified. I enjoyed Jay's wit and "flavor" of comedy. Just what you need - a few laughs before going to sleep. When Conan took over, I switched to Letterman. Now with Jay on at 10pm, it prevents every drama on NBC from that 10pm slot. There were shows cancelled (thank God Medium was picked up on CBS) and the whole programming has switched around so that Monday night is the only night there is anything to watch on NBC. If it is Zucker's fault - why keep him on or does NBC really want to go down in a huge cloud of dust?
11-11-2009 @ 6:25PM
Daniel Boni said...
Ed Graham I am baffled by your stupidity. Conan O'Brien is one of the funniest most clever comedians on the planet. His jokes are more hit than miss and his shtick never gets tiresome. He is also funnier than Leno, who I also like watching but I never miss Coco. You seem like a bitter person who doesn't think that anything is funny.
I am sorry Jay isn't doing well but they really need to make a ton of changes to his show. The green car challenge has gotten old, earning your plug is pointless and the monologue is a few minutes too long.
Conan, on the other hand, is perfect. The funniest talk show host of all time, even when his guests aren't people I would generally watch I always crack up.
11-11-2009 @ 7:31PM
Harold Wurst said...
I agree 100 percent. Conan is a fake.
I sent an email to NBC when this was first put out. Conan is a Carson want a be. I have not and will not turn on the Tonight Show as long as Jay is not the host.
Jay is the only game in town.
The only good thing is that I get to watch Letterman instead of the other jerks.
I'm in the 64 age group.
I said the same thing when they added Kathy the Bitch to the Today Show. I have not watched it from her first day.
When will the viewer get to have a say.
Thank you.
11-11-2009 @ 7:30PM
Ryan said...
You're an idiot, Conan O'Brien appeals to internet savvy and smart young people. Jay Leno is clean fun humor for the elderly who long for the 40's and 50's. This is 2009 not 1949.
11-11-2009 @ 7:46PM
Mike said...
I agree can that idiot CEO/President or whatever bogus title he claims. Jay Leno should have stayed on the Tonight show as long as he wanted. Hey NBC has nothing to worry about with quality hyped shows like ZEROES! The guys running NBC. Remind me of the idiots running our Green Bay Packers organization. He'll we don't need Brett farve he's old & Gray! Like Jay! HHHaaa!! Conan Stinks! This new guy Stinks! David Letterman's audience? Whoever they are, must like corn ball stale jokes from the 50's! Hee Haw era crap!
11-11-2009 @ 8:49PM
chris said...
i agree bring back leno at 11:30 and get rid of obrien he is so childish
11-11-2009 @ 1:03PM
jshep said...
Not usually one to offer my opinion, I am a long-time fan of Jay Leno. Though I do not watch every evening, he provides a ready alternative to the "So You Think You Can Dance, Act, Entertain, etc" crap that TV is so full of these days. OK, some of his stuff is lame and he seemed more comfortable behind a desk.
Fatigued of talk-show humor by the time 11:30 rolls around? When Leno moved to the earlier time, all the real talk-show humor went with him.
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11-11-2009 @ 8:33PM
Katieann said...
My sentiments exactly.
11-11-2009 @ 1:26PM
larry said...
george lopez is up and coming baby
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11-11-2009 @ 3:04PM
Julie said...
What are you smoking? Lopez is about as funny as Conan.
11-11-2009 @ 4:04PM
mitch said...
just what we need a pos racist on tv.
11-11-2009 @ 5:48PM
Mirzie said...
I agree. He has a fresh approach and he is not censored.
11-11-2009 @ 1:28PM
LtlHugo said...
I doubt that Leno is hurting Conan's ratings, I honestly feel it was a mistake to put Conan in the Tonight Show spot. I along with many others just can't stand this individual. Last night when Howie Mandel said he felt unconfortable not seeing Leno behind a desk he was 100% right. How many readers and comments made telling the same thing. Leno ought to get back to the same surroundings and format he had in his last show and forget all of the stupid things he is now showing. The guy who sings jingles to store owners, the 10 questions asked by way of television, and so many others stupid things that were added. Let Leno be Leno and put him back on the Tonight Show, the 9/10/PM time slot is not right, too many great shows airing at that time.
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11-13-2009 @ 11:02PM
sherdon said...
I couldn't have said it better myself. Right on..let Leno be Leno and cut out the vulgar stuff too so my Grandson can watch it again.
11-11-2009 @ 3:54PM
Marilyn in Okahoma said...
I love Jay Leno, but not on his new show...He needs a desk and he needs to be Jay Leno again!!!