Bill Murray, the first guest on David Letterman’s Late Show when it premiered on CBS August 30, 1993, will visit the show to celebrate its 20 years on the network Thursday. It’ll be a nice break for the media from The Summer of Jay Leno, as the NBC late-night host continues to dominate in the demo this summer while taking his last last lap before being replaced — again — on The Tonight Show — this time by Jimmy Fallon. Murray also was Letterman’s first guest on Late Night when it debuted on NBC in 1982 — making Letterman the longest-running late-night TV host in history at 31 years and counting.
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Bill Murray To Celebrate David Letterman’s 20 Years On CBS
Greta Van Susteren Urges Fox To Grab Jay Leno The Day After He Leaves NBC
Greta Van Susteren — network programming executive? The host of Fox News’ On The Record took to her blog today to urge Fox to hire Jay Leno after he leaves NBC after next year’s Winter … Read More »
President Obama Visit Boosts ‘Tonight Show’ Ratings
Jay Leno clocked his biggest numbers with President Obama’s Tonight Show visit last night since his last visit to the show nine months ago. Leno and Obama trounced their broadcast competitors according to early metered-market household stats. … Read More »
TCA: NBC Trying To Keep Jay Leno In The Fold Post February
NBC brass are not just buying Jay Leno a watch, sending him off to retirement. “We have been having conversations, talking about various ideas” for Leno to stay on NBC after he … Read More »
Adam Sandler To Leno: “Maybe Go To Fox”
Jay Leno is readying to exit stage left from NBC’s Tonight Show next February. So Adam Sandler was a guest Thursday and offered a little unsolicited advice about Leno’s post-Tonight plans. Of course, Sandler doesn’t mention that the problem is that Fox would have to get clearance for any late-night show from the affiliates who get to keep all the ad revenue from their late local news. Fox then might have to compensate them for any lost revenue. In other words, it’s complicated. Read the transcript after the jump: Read More »
Late Night At NBC Upfronts: Jay Leno To “Pass The Baton” To Jimmy Fallon During Winter Olympics; Seth Meyers To Start Feb. 24
BREAKING…NBC‘s Upfront presentation today officially announced that Jay Leno will end his 22-year run on The Tonight Show during the week leading up to the 2014 Winter Olympics which start February 7th. And that Jimmy Fallon will … Read More »
Jay Leno Slams “Cheap” CBS, Calls Out Les Moonves During Craig Ferguson Chat: Video
Jay Leno had some choice words for rival CBS and its brass during his interview Wednesday with Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson – who was making his second appearance on The Tonight Show in less than two months. When the conversation swung to a recent incident when … Read More »
Matt Lauer Addresses ‘Today’ Criticism, Kathie Lee Gifford’s Support On Jay Leno
“It’s been an interesting year — no question about it,” NBC‘s Matt Lauer said to Jay Leno on Thursday night. Understatement much? But, the embattled Today host told the embattled Tonight host, “I am not a guy who complains — I love this job, I … Read More »
Jay Leno Has Best Wednesday Night In 9 Weeks After Retirement Announcement; Jimmy Fallon Up Too
Jay Leno might be leaving The Tonight Show, but he can still really pull a crowd. And with all the attention NBC’s late-night shifts received Wednesday, that is exactly what he did. On the day his replacement Jimmy Fallon was made official, Leno had his best Wednesday since January 20. The Tonight Show got a 2.9/7 in the 56 metered markets households last night, according to Nielsen. He also drew a 0.9/4 in the 25 markets with Local People Meters. That’s up 12% from March 27’s Tonight Show in metered market households and a strong 29% in adults 18-49 in Local People Meters. That matches Leno’s best Wednesday result of the year so far, tied with January 2.
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Jay Leno & Jimmy Fallon Play Nice In Tonight’s Monologues
In Letterman-Leno Rivalry, Dave Gets Last Laugh
Like Leno, Fallon addressed his move to the Tonight Show on his show last night. His show saw a bump too. Read More »
In Letterman- Leno Rivalry, Dave Gets Last Laugh
Two decades after the Jay Leno-David Letterman battle for The Tonight Show, the Tonight Show curse has struck again with yet another messy host transition. In 1992, NBC had two hot young comedians eager to replace longtime Tonight host Johnny Carson, Leno and Letterman. The network chose Leno and created a formidable late-night rival in Letterman, who defected to CBS to launch The Late Show. Leno and Letterman had been going at each other ever since, looking to outrate and outlast each other. Letterman had the upper hand in the ratings early on before Leno took the lead, holding onto it for the most of the past 17 years. The two even have been timing their contracts to end at the same time. They did it again this time, with Leno’s deal up in September 2014 and Letterman’s contract also going through late 2014.
Related: NBC Sets ‘Tonight Show’ Transition With Jimmy Fallon Taking Over In Spring 2014
NBC‘s announcement today that Leno will retire in spring (likely February) of 2014, assures that Letterman will be the last man standing in the duo’s 20-year rivalry. Having outlasted his archrival, 65-year-old Letterman too may decide to retire at the end of his deal instead of going toe-to-toe with younger new competitors, Jimmy Fallon (38) on NBC and Jimmy Kimmel (45) on ABC. The key thing is that it will likely be his decision to make. Letterman has largely been given carte blanche to do the show for as long as he wants to. (Though in his recent interview with Oprah, Letterman claimed he has an agreement with CBS topper Les Moonves that Moonves has to tell him when it is time to go.) Read More »
UPDATE: Jay Leno & Jimmy Fallon Play Nice In Tonight’s Monologues: Video
UPDATE, 6:33 PM: Jay Leno admitted tonight to the Tonight Show studio audience that he had a “really awkward day.” During today’s taping, the now officially departing late night host addressed NBC’s announcement that Late Night host Jimmy Fallon would be taking over the Tonight Show next year. … Read More »
David Letterman Slams NBC & Jokes About Jay Leno’s ‘Tonight Show’ Departure: Video
David Letterman didn’t waste any time to take his digs at NBC and the official announcement that Jay Leno is leaving The Tonight Show next year to be replaced by Jimmy Fallon. “I got a call from my mom today, she says, ‘Well, David, I see you didn’t get the Tonight Show again,’ ” the CBS Late Show host said in his monologue to air tonight (see the preview below). “NBC, God bless ‘em, announced the official date for Jay Leno’s departure — no mention of his official date of return, however,” he added, alluding to the last time his longtime late-night rival was dumped from the Tonight Show for Conan O’Brien — only to return eight months later. Added Letterman: “It seems like we just went through this. Didn’t we just go through this? Jay Leno now is being replaced, and this is the second time this has happened. I mean, it’s crazy. He’s being replaced by a younger late-night talk show host — what could possibly go wrong? Honestly. They had pretty good luck with this in the past”.
Related: NBC Sets ‘Tonight Show’ Transition With Fallon Taking Over
As well as doing a Leno-themed Top 10 tonight, Letterman — who was passed over for the Tonight Show job in favor of Leno in 1992 and soon after departed for CBS – had more to say. From his desk tonight: Read More »
Mayor Michael Bloomberg Welcomes ‘Tonight Show’ To New York, Will Burbank Mayor Dave Golonski Go On Hunger Strike?
As part of its Jay Leno-Jimmy Fallon announcement today, NBC confirmed that The Tonight Show will return to New York, where the veteran late-night show originated. In addition to the symbolism of the move, it would mean a windfall for New York, which has been lobbying hard to lure Tonight back to the Big Apple 40 years after the show relocated to Burbank. The wooing including slipping a provision in the proposed NY state budget clearly written with The Tonight Show that would reimburse up to 30% of the talk show’s production costs. The efforts payed off, and today New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg issued a jubilant statement welcoming Tonight to the city.
“We’re thrilled The Tonight Show is returning home to New York City, and it’s the perfect symbol of incredible comeback we’ve worked to create in our city’s film and television industry,” he said. “The Tonight Show will bring even more jobs and economic activity to our city — and we couldn’t be happier that one of New York’s own is bringing the show back to where it started — and where it belongs.”
Related: NBC Sets ‘Tonight Show’ Transition With Fallon Taking Over Read More »
UPDATE: NBC Sets ‘Tonight Show’ Transition With Jimmy Fallon Taking Over In Spring 2014
UPDATED WRITETHRU: After months of speculation, a slew of news stories, a ton of late-night jokes and a Jay Leno-Jimmy Fallon duet, NBC has set a date for Leno’s departure from The Tonight Show and officially anointed Fallon as the new host of the venerable late-night franchise. Leno will depart in spring 2014 after 22 years. The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon will be based in New York, where the show originated, and be set at the 30 Rock studio that now houses Fallon’s Late Night; the studio is undergoing renovation that is slated to be completed in 2014 in time for the Tonight Show relaunch. The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon will be executive produced by Lorne Michaels, marking the first time the Saturday Night Live and Late Night executive producer has been in charge of NBC’s flagship late-night show.
Related: Lorne Michaels: The Real NBC Late-Night King
The timing of the Leno-Fallon changeover mirrors the events of 2009, when Leno handed The Tonight Show to Conan O’Brien in late May. This time around, the transition will be earlier (likely in February), taking advantage of NBC’s broadcast of the Sochi Winter Olympics, something NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke alluded to in today’s announcement (see it below). Ironically, NBC used the previous Winter Olympics in 2010 as a launching pad for Leno’s return to The Tonight Show after a nine-month hiatus. “Congratulations Jimmy,” Leno said today, keeping with the friendly relationship he and Fallon had been projecting. “I hope you’re as lucky as me and hold on to the job until you’re the old guy. If you need me, I’ll be at the garage.” Said Fallon: “I’m really excited to host a show that starts today instead of tomorrow.”
Related: Letterman Slams NBC & Jokes About Jay Leno’s Departure
Like the first time he was pushed out of The Tonight Show, Leno will likely leave while on top, as Tonight Show has consistently been ranking as the No. 1 late-night program despite NBC’s woeful primetime ratings in the first quarter. As for Late Night, Saturday Night Live’s Seth Meyers has been in discussions to replace Fallon when he moves to 11:30 PM and appears on track to succeed him. Both Fallon and Meyers honed their skills behind the anchor desk of SNL‘s Weekend Update. Michaels will remain as executive producer of SNL in addition to his exec producer duties on Tonight and will likely also stay on as exec producer of Late Night, especially if Meyers closes a deal as host.
Related: Speculation On NBC’s Jay Leno-Jimmy Fallon Transition Intensifies
Today’s announcement comes on the heels of Fallon signing a new deal with NBC. Leno’s contract with the network is up in September 2014. Here’s NBC’s release: Read More »
Jay Leno & Jimmy Fallon Sing Duet About ‘Tonight Show’ Rumors: Video
UPDATE: If this isn’t a shameless play for late-night ratings by both hosts, hard to imagine what is. Tonight NBC released this video early of Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno addressing those rumors of who will take over as host of The Tonight Show. (Fallon seems to … Read More »
Jay Leno Jokes Peace With NBC “Will Never Happen” On ‘The Tonight Show’
Jay Leno tonight took again on his favorite joke target, NBC, mocking the chances for reconciliation with the network. “Before we get started, let me say that NBC and I have reached a peaceful, amicable agreement that will be beneficial to both sides… April Fools! It will never happen,” Leno … Read More »
Jay Leno’s Jabs At NBC Pay Off In The Ratings
Maybe NBC has a ratings resurgence plan that goes beyond getting The Voice back on the air? Although Jay Leno‘s ratings have been solid for a while, something seems to be stirring for … Read More »
NBC Jokes Back In Jay Leno’s Monologue
After giving NBC a reprieve for the past few days, Jay Leno was back at it in his monologue tonight. He opened with a backhanded compliment about NBC’s strong rating performance on Monday with the return of The Voice and Revolution. “Monday night the primetime shows The Voice … Read More »
Jay Leno Backs Off NBC After Weeklong War Of Words
Monday night Jay Leno took aim at spring breakers, exercise, President Obama’s trip to Israel, and Lindsay Lohan, twice — talk about low-hanging fruit. But after sniping at NBC for … Read More »
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