The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
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The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is an American late-night talk show hosted by Jay Leno that initially aired from May 25, 1992 to May 29, 2009, and resumed production on March 1, 2010. The fourth incarnation of the Tonight Show franchise made its debut on May 25, 1992, following Johnny Carson's retirement as host of The Tonight Show. The nightly broadcast at 11:35 p.m. (Eastern) originated from NBC's studios, in Burbank, California and ran until May 29, 2009. Its successor program, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien premiered on June 1, 2009 and ended on January 22, 2010. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno then began its current incarnation, the sixth of the franchise, on March 1, 2010.
On April 26, 1999, the show began broadcasting in 1080i HDTV, becoming the first American nightly talk show to be shot in high definition. The show is shot in 16:9 aspect ratio.
Leno's incarnation of The Tonight Show followed the same basic format as that of his predecessors: an opening monologue followed by comedy routines, interviews and performances. Unlike Jack Paar or Johnny Carson, however, Leno only once utilized a guest host, preferring to host the series by himself (see "notable episodes" below).
NBC announced in 2004 that Leno would leave The Tonight Show at the end of May 2009, handing the reins to Conan O'Brien. Leno also made an announcement on his show promising a smooth transition and that he was pleased with this decision.[2] Leno's last episode aired on May 29, 2009. However, following rumors of Leno being interested in moving elsewhere to launch a competing program, NBC signed Leno to a new deal for a nightly talk show in the 10:00 p.m. ET timeslot. The primetime series, titled The Jay Leno Show, debuted on September 14, 2009,[3] following a similar format to the Leno incarnation of Tonight.[4][5][6]
On January 7, 2010, multiple media outlets reported that effective March 1, 2010, The Jay Leno Show would be moved from the 10pm (Eastern/Pacific Time) weeknight time slot to 11:35pm and O'Brien's The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien would be moved from 11:35pm to 12:05am.[7][8][9] On January 12, 2010, O'Brien publicly announced in an open letter that he intended to leave NBC if they moved The Tonight Show to 12:05AM ET/PT in order to accommodate moving The Jay Leno Show to 11:35PM Eastern/10:35PM Central.[10] After several days of negotiations, O'Brien reached a settlement with NBC that allowed him to leave NBC and The Tonight Show on January 22, 2010.[11] Leno began his second tenure as host of The Tonight Show on March 1, 2010, after the 2010 Winter Olympics.[12]
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Format
The show follows an established six-piece format. After the announcer announces the opening credits for the show, the first segment is a monologue by Leno, with quick one-liners about current events and brief comedy sketches occasionally mixed in. Unlike fellow late-night comics David Letterman or Conan O'Brien, Leno—with his background in stand-up comedy—emphasizes the monologue perhaps more than any other segment in the show, usually telling jokes for the first six or ten minutes of the broadcast. The second segment is a full comedy sketch, often a mini-documentary by a "Tonight Show correspondent" (e.g., Ross the Intern or Mikey Day), or a trademark of Leno's, like "Headlines."
As the nightly broadcast approaches midnight, the first guest appears. The interview is divided into two segments, then followed by the fifth segment, which is the interview of the second guest. The sixth and final segment is almost always a musical performance, but occasionally, a stand-up comedian will perform instead.
Immediately following the last performance segment, Leno walks on camera to thank the performers, bid farewell to the audience and recommends watching Late Night which immediately follows The Tonight Show. As the closing credits roll on-screen, the closing theme, composed by bandleader Rickey Minor plays the show off the air. Minor composed a new opening and closing theme when he began his reign as bandleader on June 7, 2010.
Recurring segments
Notable episodes
- On May 12, 2003, Leno and Katie Couric swapped places as a publicity stunt, with Leno anchoring The Today Show and Couric guest hosting The Tonight Show. This was the only episode during Leno's tenure to feature a guest host.[13] The guests were Mike Myers and Simon Cowell that day.
- On July 20, 2006, as Colin Farrell was being interviewed by Leno, Farrell's stalker, Dessarae Bradford, evaded security, walked on stage as cameras were rolling, confronted Farrell, and threw her book on Leno's desk. In front of a silent, stunned audience, Farrell escorted her off the stage himself, told the camera crew to stop filming, and handed her over to security. As Bradford was led out of the studio, she shouted "I'll see you in court!" Farrell's response was simply, "Darling, you're insane!" Outside the studio, NBC security handed her to Burbank police, who eventually released her. While waiting to begin filming again, a shocked Leno sarcastically called for "a round of applause for NBC security" from the audience. After Farrell apologized to the audience, describing Bradford as, "my first stalker," the show then continued filming and the incident was edited out of the broadcast aired that night. Farrell later requested a restraining order in court against Bradford.[14]
- On January 2, 2008, The Tonight Show (along with Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Late Night with Conan O'Brien) returned to air without writers, with the WGA still on strike. This was in response to the deal by David Letterman's production company Worldwide Pants with the WGA to allow the Late Show with David Letterman and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson to return with writers. Leno's guest that night, Republican Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee, was criticized for crossing the WGA picket line to appear on the show.[15] Huckabee would go on to win the Iowa caucuses the very next day.[16]
- On July 24, 2007, the monologue was animated, and was not hosted by Leno, but Homer Simpson. Simpson gave a boring monologue to the audience (who were also animated), and was "kicked out" by Leno. This sketch was to promote The Simpsons Movie.
- On March 19, 2009, Barack Obama appeared on show. This marked the first time that a sitting President of the United States appeared on a late night talk show. President Obama came under fire for a remark made about the Special Olympics, which he made in reference to Leno's congratulations to Obama's low bowling score.[17][18]
Ratings
On September 22, 2006, Variety reported that The Tonight Show led in ratings for the 11th consecutive season, with a nightly average of 5.7 million viewers – 31% of the total audience in that time slot – compared to 4.2 million viewers for the Late Show with David Letterman, 3.4 million for Nightline and 1.6 million for Jimmy Kimmel Live. When Leno's show initially directly faced Letterman's, Letterman led in ratings. Two events helped Leno gain and keep the lead: a new set brought Leno closer to the audience and Hugh Grant kept his July 10, 1995 scheduled appearance, despite having been arrested for seeing a prostitute, where Leno famously asked Grant "What the hell were you thinking?"[19]
The final telecast of the first incarnation of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno had the show's highest overnight household rating for a Friday episode in the comedian's 17-year run as host of Tonight, averaging an 8.8 rating in metered-market households.[20] For at least six weeks following his return to The Tonight Show, Leno's program beat Letterman in the overall ratings each night; however with a reduced lead - in comparison to his first tenure.[21] By mid-2010, The Tonight Show reached the lowest ratings since 1992, an average of 4 million total viewers, though still ahead of Letterman, who experienced a coinciding decline in ratings.[22]
History
Succession from Carson
Johnny Carson retired from The Tonight Show on May 22, 1992, and was replaced by Jay Leno amid controversy. David Letterman not only wanted to move into that earlier time slot from his late night spot after The Tonight Show, but was also considered by Carson and others as the natural successor[23] (despite Leno having been Carson's permanent guest host for several years). Letterman, having had his heart set on the earlier time slot, left NBC and joined CBS. Late Show with David Letterman, airing in the same slot, has been competing head to head against The Tonight Show ever since. Conan O'Brien slid into the late night time slot vacated by Letterman.
WGA strike
Production of new episodes was suspended due to the 2007 Writers Guild of America strike. Leno, himself a member of the Guild, decided to honor the picket lines, resulting in the show going into repeats, effective November 5. Shortly after the strike started, it was rumored that guest hosts would fill in for Leno during the duration of the strike, beginning November 19, 2007.[24] The show aired reruns from different periods of Leno's tenure as host until January 2, 2008, when after two months the show returned with Leno writing his own lines without using replacement writers.[25]
First end of Leno on Tonight
Would I have preferred to stay at 11:30? Yeah, sure. I would have preferred that.
On September 27, 2004, the 50th anniversary of The Tonight Show's debut, NBC announced that Jay Leno would be succeeded by Conan O'Brien, in 2009. Leno explained that he did not want to see a repeat of the hard feelings and controversy that occurred when he was given the show over David Letterman following Carson's retirement.[27][28]
It was announced on July 21, 2008 that Jay Leno would host his final episode of The Tonight Show on Friday, May 29, 2009 with Conan O'Brien and James Taylor as his guests.[29] O'Brien took over hosting duties commencing the following Monday, on June 1, 2009. On December 9, 2008, it was announced that Jay Leno would be hosting a new nightly show in September, 2009, which aired at 10pm EST, during the network's prime time period. The Jay Leno Show ended after a short run on February 9, 2010.[4]
Succession from O'Brien
After The Jay Leno Show and its lower ratings caused a domino effect on late local news, NBC affiliates demanded changes. NBC announced its intention to move Leno to 11:35 and cut the program to a half-hour to be followed by Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show at 12:05. O'Brien refused to host his show at that time and, on January 21, 2010, reached an agreement with NBC allowing him to leave the network.
Second tenure
On January 21, 2010 NBC announced that Jay Leno would return to The Tonight Show. Jay Leno began his second tenure on March 1, 2010.[30] The show now originates from Studio 11 in Burbank, the former home of The Jay Leno Show, with a similar set and theme song of The Jay Leno Show. Tonight Show bandleader Kevin Eubanks announced on April 12 he would be leaving The Tonight Show on May 28 after 18 years with Jay Leno.[31] Eubanks' replacement is former American Idol musical director Rickey Minor.[32] Minor composed a new main theme when he took over.
On July 1, 2010, Variety reported that only six months into its second life, Jay Leno's Tonight Show posted its lowest ratings since 1992.[33]
The Tonight Show in other countries
CNBC Asia
The Tonight Show episode from the week run back-to back on Saturday and Sunday on CNBC Asia, available to Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand at 1500hrs-1800hrs (GMT).
CNBC Europe
CNBC Europe confirmed they would show The Tonight Show when Conan O'Brien, took over from Jay Leno in June 2009. After Jay Leno returned, they have been showing The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Since Monday 19 April 2010 CNBC Europe currently airs the show on weeknights from 12.00am CET in a one hour format, with double bill re-runs on Saturdays/Sundays from 9.00pm-9.45pm & 9.45pm-10.30pm CET. The show airs on a one day delay from original transmission in the USA. [2] [3]
Australia
The show formerly broadcast in Australia by The Comedy Channel until July 2010.[34] It previously broadcast Leno's first tenure of The Tonight Show and his primetime show, as well as The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien along with Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and Late Show with David Letterman as part of their Late Night Legends line-up.
India
The show is currently broadcast on Zee Café at local time 23:00 with a one night delay.
Italy
In Italy (with Italian subtitles) from 2003 to 2007 when RaiSat Extra cancelled the program.[35]
Philippines
In the Philippines, the channel etc. broadcasted the Tonight Show from 2004 until 2007, when the show was turned over to sister channel JackTV.
Portugal
In Portugal, the show was first shown on SIC Comedia until the channel was off the air by the end of 2006. The show was switched to SIC Mulher until Jay Leno moved to prime time. Sic Radical used to broadcast the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien following the demand from their target audience to Conan's humor, after Jimmy Fallon took over the Late Night Show. The contract that both NBC and SIC had wasn't expired by the time. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien got cancelled, so the network received the rights to exhibit The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Sweden
In Sweden, Kanal 5 started airing The Tonight Show every night Monday to Friday with a one week delay in 2000. The show was also retitled "Jay Leno Show". In 2008, Kanal 5 chose to replace it with Jimmy Kimmel Live, and moved The Tonight Show to their sister channel Kanal 9, with a rerun aired the next day on Kanal 5.[36]
Finland
In Finland, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno is broadcasted by MTV3 MAX from Monday to Friday with a three night delay.
Turkey
"Tonight Show with Jay Leno" is broadcasted by CNBC-e on weekdays at 24:00 with a one night delay.
References
- ↑ The Official Show Calendar
- ↑ "O'Brien to replace Leno on 'The Tonight Show'". CNN. September 28, 2004. http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/27/leno.obrien/index.html. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
- ↑ "The Jay Leno Show". NBC.com. http://www.thejaylenoshow.com/index.shtml. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Jay Leno Taking Over 10 P.M. On NBC". BroadcastingCable. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6620935.html. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ↑ Carter, Bill (2008-12-09). "Where Is Leno Going? To Prime Time, on NBC". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/09/business/media/09leno.html. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ↑ "Jay Leno Comes to Primetime on NBC". NBC. 2008-12-09. http://www.nbcumv.com/release_detail.nbc/entertainment-20081209000000-jaylenocomestopr.html. Retrieved 2008-12-09.
- ↑ LA Times article: "Future For NBC's Tonight Show Up In The Air".
- ↑ Access Hollywood article: "Jay Leno Heading Back To Late Night, Conan O’Brien Weighing Options".
- ↑ Carter, Bill (January 24, 2010). "O’Brien Undone by His Media-Hopping Fans". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/25/business/media/25conan.html. Retrieved 26 January 2010.
- ↑ Conan O'Brien: I Won't Do "The Tonight Show" at 12:05AM, Zap2It.com, January 12, 2010
- ↑ NBC Dumps Conan for $45 Million Payoff; Reinstates Jay as "Tonight Show" Host, TV Guide, January 21, 2010
- ↑ Conan O'Brien: I Won't Do a 12:05AM "Tonight Show", Fancast.com, January 12, 2010
- ↑ Borowitz, Andy (2003-05-13). "Interview With Andy Borowitz". CNN. http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0305/13/se.14.html. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ↑ "Farrell Files for Restraining Order". TMZ.com. 2006-07-21. http://www.tmz.com/2006/07/21/farrell-files-for-restraining-order/. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ↑ "Late shows return with Huckabee, Clinton". Associated Press via Muzi.com. 2008-01-03. http://lateline.muzi.net/news/ll/english/10056964.shtml?cc=25056. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ↑ "Huckabee, Obama have huge night in Iowa". CNN.com. 2008-01-04. http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/03/iowa.caucuses/index.html. Retrieved 2009-01-15.
- ↑ Mail Foreign Service (2009-03-18). "Obama to make history with Leno as he becomes the first sitting president to appear on chat show | Mail Online". Dailymail.co.uk. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1162866/Obama-make-history-Leno-sitting-president-appear-chat-show.html. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Hirschberg, Lynn. "Heeeeere's . . . Conan" The New York Times Magazine, 20 May 2009.
- ↑ "Leno's last 'Tonight Show' delivers record ratings". The Live Feed. May 30, 2009. http://www.thrfeed.com/2009/05/lenos-last-tonight-show-delivers-record-ratings.html.
- ↑ Gorman, Bill (April 15, 2010). "Jay Leno’s Tonight Show: 6 Ratings Wins In 6 Weeks". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/04/15/jay-lenos-tonight-show-6-ratings-wins-in-6-weeks/48695. Retrieved April 15, 2010.
- ↑ Levine, Stuart (July 1, 2010). "'Kimmel,' 'Nightline' show demo increase". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118021316.html?categoryid=14&cs=1. Retrieved July 4, 2010.
- ↑ "New York Post". Carson Feeds Letterman Lines. http://pqarchiver.nypost.com/nypost/access/781543221.html?dids=781543221:781543221&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jan+20%2C+2005&author=Post+Wire+Services&pub=New+York+Post&edition=&startpage=102&desc=CARSON+FEEDS+LETTERMAN+LINES. Retrieved December 17, 2006.
- ↑ Finke, Nikki (2007-11-09). "Tonight Show Returns With Guest Hosts After Leno's Nonwriting Staff Laid Off". Deadline Hollywood Daily. http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/tonight-show-returns-nov-19th-with-guests-hosts-lenos-nonwriting-staff-laid-off-next-week/. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ↑ "January 2, 2008". The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. 2008-01-02.
- ↑ Grossman, Ben (November 2, 2009). "Jay Leno Talks Back: An Exclusive Interview With B&C". Broadcasting & Cable. http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/366971-Jay_Leno_Talks_Back_An_Exclusive_Interview_With_B_C.php. Retrieved 2009-11-03.
- ↑ "Leno promises smooth transition to O'Brien". MSNBC. 2004-09-28. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6115643/. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ↑ "O'Brien to replace Leno on 'The Tonight Show'". CNN. 2004-09-27. http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/27/leno.obrien/. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
- ↑ Elber, Lynn (2009-05-14). Leno's last `Tonight' guest is Conan O'Brien. Associated Press via The Buffalo News. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
- ↑ "NBC Announces That Jay Leno Will Return To Host “The Tonight Show” Beginning March 1". Tvbythenumbers.com. 2010-01-21. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/21/nbc-announces-that-jay-leno-will-return-to-host-the-tonight-show-beginning-march-1/39671. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
- ↑ [http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/kevin-eubanks/1218344/?__source=tnt%7Chome%7Cslidepromote%7Cslide4 = "Kevin Eubanks set to leave The Tonight Show"]. The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/kevin-eubanks/1218344/?__source=tnt%7Chome%7Cslidepromote%7Cslide4 =. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
- ↑ "Rickey Minor leaving 'Idol' for Leno's 'Tonight Show'". Los Angeles Times. 2010-04-13. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2010/04/rickey-minor-leaving-idol-for-lenos-tonight-show.html. Retrieved 2010-04-14.
- ↑ "'Kimmel,' 'Nightline' show demo increase". Variety. 2010-07-01. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118021316.html?categoryid=14&cs=1.
- ↑ Knox, David (29 June 2010). "Comedy Channel drops Letterman, Fallon, Leno". tvtonight.com.au. http://tvtonight.com.au/2010/06/comedy-channel-drops-letterman-fallon-leno.html. Retrieved 6 July 2010.
- ↑ "Niente più Jay Leno su RaiSat Extra…". Antonio Genna. http://antoniogenna.wordpress.com/2006/05/31/niente-piu-jay-leno-su-raisat-extra/. Retrieved 2008-05-12.
- ↑ "Jimmy Kimmel till Kanal 5". Dagens Media. August 6, 2008. http://www.dagensmedia.se/mallar/dagensmedia_mall.asp?version=179724.
External links
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at the Internet Movie Database
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at TV.com
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