NBC's Jay Leno Dilemma - Another Zucker Fumble

Is there a word that means "catastrophic lack of vision"? I propose the term "Zuckervision," in honor of Jeff Zucker, the NBC Universal (GE) chief who's shown an unparalleled knack for driving straight into crater-sized potholes.

Zucker was at the helm in 2004 when Friends went off the air after 10 years. His failure to line up an adequate replacement for it reportedly cost NBC $1 billion and its dominance among young viewers.

Coincidentally, it was also in 2004 that NBC cut a deal to keep Conan O'Brien from defecting to another network by promising him Jay Leno's job hosting The Tonight Show starting in 2009.

Well, look how that's turning out. The New York Times reports that ABC, Fox and Sony are all circling Leno, ready to pounce with huge offers the moment his negotiating window opens up. And why shouldn't they? After all, Leno, at 57, is younger than David Letterman, and almost a decade younger than Johnny Carson was when he retired in 1992.

NBC could break its promise to O'Brien, but that would cost it a $45 million penalty, and it's doubtful Leno, whose pride was said to be wounded by NBC's decision, would deign to stay.

The premature writing-off of a still-viable star carries echoes of what happened in 1989 when Today dumped Jane Pauley in favor of Deborah Norville. Of course, that was no fault of Zucker's, who didn't take over as executive producer of Today until 1992. But it was very much an instance of Zuckervision.

Comments

[booker:]

Jay was much funnier when the writers were on strike. The writers write the same old stale jokes every night....mostly unfunny political humor.

2008 Feb 27 02:35 PM

[booker:]

Conan is much funnier than Jay and has much better writers. Jay can barely speak clearly and it's tiresome when he keeps saying "Exactly, Exactly" after he tells a joke.

2008 Feb 27 02:40 PM

[capstan:]

I disagree with the comment above. Leno is funnier than Conan. Leno also appeals to a broader audience than Conan. GE needs to jettison NBC. The network just can't seem to come up with a winning formula.

2008 Feb 27 03:44 PM

[bigT:]

Neither one have the class and style of delivery like Carson! Who needs writers except for opening monologue. Conan can't interview without a cheat sheet and forcing himself on a guest with asinine faces and comments. Writers ? Don't think so! Same goes for Scotsman who mumbles so much with goofy accent you can't follow.

Give them all up and get back to the original late night format for us older viewers. Until then, beddy bye comes at 11:30PM

2008 Feb 27 05:34 PM

[booker:]

Carson?? You've got to be kidding me. All he cared about was talking about himself. He never wanted to let the guests talk. It was all about him.

2008 Feb 27 08:03 PM

[Texrat:]

Craig Ferguson is hands-down the best host on television. Just look at Parade magazine's recent poll-- no one else came close.

2008 Feb 27 08:49 PM

[Judy Hughes:]

Jay Leno has always been our favorite. Most of the others aren't worth watching at all even if we didn't miss any sleep to watch them. The other networks would be smart to try to hire Jay. He certainly proved he has more talent than the others by not needing writers to feed him funny lines.

2008 Feb 28 11:49 AM

[K. Lewis:]

This article didn't really contain any "news." All old info.

2008 Feb 29 09:37 AM

[lefzee:]

Jay is the funniest, and if for no other reason, he exposed the stupidity of our younger generation on JayWalk. Yes, his jokes are funnier that the writers. Constantly making jokes about Monica Lewinsky (10 yrs. ago?), Camilla, the Brit's and no toothbrushing, are all ooooold, and overused. Let's get into the 21st Century, writers. Conan ("Bob's Big Boy" hairdo) who needs to give up his jumping antics, is a l/2 star, in my book.

2008 Feb 29 02:53 PM

[blinks:]

Conan can't hold a candle to Jay. It would be so nice to have Craig Ferguson move into Letterman's spot for some decent variety. Until then, Jimmy Kimmel, here we come!

2008 Mar 01 01:05 AM

[gman01:]

I think Leno is going to the dogs and wouldn't miss him if he left tonite. His jokes were better without the writers and now he can't tell a joke with insulting someone or recycling the same jokes as before. Even Leno make fun of the jokes he is forced to use by the writers. Get him some decent material to work with and he might be OK. If Leno has to go, find someone fresh with new ideas.
On the other hand, Conon strikes me as no more than a kid with an advanced case of attention deficit disorder - not funny at all.
If Leno goes and Conon comes on, I'll go to sleep cause I don't really care for Letterman that much.
Maybe Johnny Carson spoiled me, but I think late nite comedy sucks.

Lynn

2008 Mar 04 05:01 PM

[User 398790:]

How does Zucker manager to keep his job at GE?
Maybe, it is because is is as incompetent at his
boss Immelt, the GE CEO. Both need to go and go now!

Apr 21 12:23 AM