Comments on: I shoulda bought a lottery ticket…

By: Jac

Jac — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 01:24:20 +0000

By the way…I wasn’t saying old people go to bed early. But it does seem like that is NBC’s thought process.

And having lived on the east coast, I know how hard it was to keep up with those things, even when I was 18. Because when primetime doesn’t start until 8pm it’s hard to stay up for your 11pm news, very much leno, or even conan. I think it’s very smart.

By: The

The — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 09:44:04 +0000

“As for Conan and Leno pulling from the same pool of guests – not likely. Their audiences have different tastes and age ranges. Leno pulls an older demographic. Conan’s show should attract a younger audience.”

Well, yeah, but with the exception of the musical guests, the people booked for the two shows are not all that different.

It’s not as if Jay is booking Carol Channing and Conan is talking to Miley Cyrus every night. Leno even admitted in a story I read online the other day that he and Conan will be vying for bookings.

The question is will the A-listers go to Leno because he’s on in prime time or to Conan because he’s “hipper?”

By: RDS

RDS — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 23:23:13 +0000

I’m a year older than that, and if I didn’t have to get up at 6:30 everyday to go to work, I’d probably be up at least that late … Always was a night person. Bedtime now is around 10:30 – 11p. So, how old do I have to be to go to bed early?

By: Rainshadow

Rainshadow — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:35:40 +0000

Hey! I’m 61 and my bedtime is still 1AM.

By: The

The — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:37:47 +0000

“The entire matter is a good idea for all concerned.”

Except for anyone involved in the production of an hour-long drama, hoping to get it on network TV.

Thanks to NBC screwing up the Leno situation five years ago, there will now be five hours fewer per week for any show like that to fit into.

Also, what if the new Leno shows tanks? The scramble to find stuff to fill those holes isn’t going to be pretty.

Dick Wolf, the producer of the Law and Order shows, should probably cancel any yachts he was thinking about ordering.

By: Jac

Jac — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:40:02 +0000

Perhaps they are so old they can’t see?

Thank you Ian for always correcting my mistakes.

By: Ian

Ian — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 17:13:53 +0000

“So let’s say NBC is placating the “older” listeners by dealing with their bedtime, as it slides earlier and earlier.” -Jac

I believe you mean “viewers”. Common mistake for all of us here though. Carry on.

By: Rainshadow

Rainshadow — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 06:18:26 +0000

Economics and a strong lead-in for local news, both good reasons to keep Leno. While costs vary to produce TV shows, the average per-episode cost of a drama series is around $2,000,000. A talk show similar to the Tonight Show costs around $100,000 to $200,000 an episode. As for Conan and Leno pulling from the same pool of guests – not likely. Their audiences have different tastes and age ranges. Leno pulls an older demographic. Conan’s show should attract a younger audience.

Just watch, though, if this works at least one of the other networks will try to counter program in the same time slot within a year. I would give it a 50/50 chance. I would ALMOST put money on it, but I’m cheap.

By: Jac

Jac — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 05:42:34 +0000

So let’s say NBC is placating the “older” listeners by dealing with their bedtime, as it slides earlier and earlier. Then say (as a generalization) generation Y, who watches conan, now goes to bed slightly earlier than they did 5 years ago and this will make them happy too. And whoever in the world (what comes after Y?) likes jimmy fallon can stay up until 11:30 or 12 (1:30 or 2 on the east coast).

By: RadioActive

RadioActive — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 03:05:16 +0000

The entire matter is a good idea for all concerned. I think the network will come out the end winner since the show has automatic ratings with an established audience and its a very economical program to produce in terms of set production costs etc.

I will give Conan his due. He has earned his place. But, I think Leno has a better chance of keeping the established audience. Leno appeals to older folks whereass Conan comes off like a smart ass at times (me too for that matter) and tends to alienate older viewers.

NBC wins by keeping familar faces in tight knit places.