What does Leno do that's so bad? - The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) Discussion

[–] FangsMcWolf 11 years ago

LostMiracle (Tue Apr 2 2013 22:31:49)
I barely watch Leno, but I've heard some negative things about him. What is it exactly that makes his show get a 4/10?

In a nutshell, trolls. Well, mostly trolls. There are some people who don't prefer his comedic style or the show itself and that's to be expected, so those people aren't trolls. However, people who vote him down because they are fanboys of other shows/personalities or just want to be "part of the crowd" are trolls.

I realize that not everyone will enjoy his style of humor or the show itself or even the network it's on. I happen to find him to be entertaining and would appear many others do as well, considering that he is able to bring in high ratings when hosting the show. If he was really as bad as some people try to claim, then his ratings would have been in the can for quite awhile. It's common sense really. Who are you going to believe, the average person who says that they don't care for Leno (or that he sucks, is unfunny, etc) or the fact that he brings in good ratings (more so than the other night talk shows)?

There are some who mistakenly blame Leno for Conan's failure. Let's be honest, if Conan was good at hosting The Tonight Show, then would Conan's ratings have gone straight to hell? It's not like Leno magically went into every household and changed the channel so the ratings would drop. People just didn't like Conan as host of the show and so they didn't watch it. Not Leno's fault, that falls onto Conan.

I actually knew that Conan would fail on the show. I had hoped he would have succeeded, because Leno encouraged people to watch and that told me that he was supportive of Conan, so I felt I should be too. But it just wasn't the right fit. Conan has his own style and there's nothing wrong with that, but it just wasn't right for the show. It's as simple as that.

reply

[–] megafauna005 10 years ago

IMDB posters are idiots! Leno is the KING of late night and beat ALL late night hosts except Carson. LetterBORE is a ex weatherman and failed morning show host. He had NO business hosting a comedy show!

Jesus NEVER existed! He is Judeo Christian MYTH!

reply

[–] Carycomic 10 years ago

Read my main review of his hosting finale' and you'll know what he did wrong.

reply

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

When you took over from Johnny Carson, in May of 1992, you were the only one who didn't congratulate him on his thirty years of hosting THE TONIGHT SHOW.

Yeah, even Jay admitted it was a mistake listening to Helen on that one. But, on the other hand, wonder why Johnny never wished Jay luck on his final telecast?

And, of course, in 2009 came the most ill-advised experiment since Prohibition: "The Jay Leno Show" in prime time.

Yes, it was the brainchild of Jeff Zucker, the guy who fired Jay to give Conan "The Tonight Show", then panicked when he was about to head for ABC and talked him into the 10pm show. Terrible idea, but then they couldn't know it was going to BOMB that badly or why would they have even attempted it? Every show's a gamble.

Not surprisingly, your prime time show was canceled after less than half a season. Prompting your return to the 11:35 time slot...and prompting NBC to break their promise to Conan O'Brien.

Yes, just as they broke their word to Jay several years earlier when they promised him "The Tonight Show" if he turned down CBS's offer of an 11:30 show of his own. Then, as we know, they decided they were going to give it to Dave when he, too threatened to go to CBS. That's the way NBC rolls, though. It's just a shame Conan didn't learn from Jay's experience and just went to FOX.

The latter subsequently--and justifiably--moved to [TBS], who gave him a talk show that started half an hour earlier than yours. And which, thereby, successfully drained away some of those life-sustaining Nielsen ratings you so badly needed during Phase 2 of your hosting tenure.

I personally doubt that Conan did that much damage to his ratings considering Jay remained #1 in all demo categories for the next 4 years he spent as host of "TTS". Kimmel going to 11:35 was more likely the change that had the most profound effect on Jay's numbers.

So, whatever you do, from now on? I hope you have better luck with it than you did these past four years.

He's supposed to have a new show on MSNBC so we'll have to wait and see.

reply

[–] Carycomic 10 years ago

Actually, Al, Carson half-seriously wished good luck to Letterman, Leno, and even Gary Shandling during his last month as host back in 1992.

And, yes, I not only _can_ say Conan did that much damage ("can't" implies inability; NOT unwillingness), I always shall.

reply

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Actually, Al, Carson half-seriously wished good luck to Letterman, Leno, and even Gary Shandling during his last month as host back in 1992.

The issue has always been how could Jay not have said anything about Johnny on his first night as host of "TTS"???, even though Carson said nothing about him during his final show. I believe you that Johnny said something kind about Jay during his final month, but at the same time I would be quite surprised if Jay hadn't also done the same at some point after Johnny announced he was stepping down.

And, yes, I not only _can_ say Conan did that much damage ("can't" implies inability; NOT unwillingness), I always shall.

I only ask because Conan's debut on TBS was huge (about four and a half million watched it), but his numbers quickly shrank to slightly less than what Carson Dailey was attracting at 1:35am. Even Bill Carter in his book on The Tonight Show Debacle made mention of how Conan's ratings were lower than what most had expected. So, it's just a little difficult to see how Conan could've had that much impact on Jay's ratings. I wouldn't be surprised if he did more damage to the "Late Show" as Dave's the one who was reduced to third place among the network shows while Jay went out still #1.

reply

[–] zurichpoet 10 years ago

They still show his show nightly here and Leno really is the best.

reply

[–] Carycomic 10 years ago

Second best when compared to Johnny Carson ("The Once and Future King of Late Night")!

reply

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] MovieMan1975 9 years ago

It's politics. Hollywood and the media does not like Jay Leno because he is not a lef-wing zombie who just shills for the Democrat party, like David Letterman.

reply

[–] a_l_i_e_n 9 years ago

It's politics. Hollywood and the media does not like Jay Leno because he is not a lef-wing zombie who just shills for the Democrat party, like David Letterman.

I think to a certain degree it is politics. Specifically, the politics of show business as we saw when many of Jay's late night contemporaries went after him. And the fact that he was man on top that none of them could beat in the ratings is not likely to be just a coincidence. I think there was professional jealousy at work there- especially from the famously bitter Dave Letterman. However, just to be clear, despite what some of his haters assume, Jay's not a conservative. His support for gay rights, for example, has been quite steadfast. During his time on "The Tonight Show" he made fun of whoever was in the White House whether it was Bush or Obama- both of whom appeared on the show. Jay mocked both parties pretty evenly which is to his credit.

reply

[–] tightspotkilo 9 years ago

Never forgetting or losing sight of the fact that we're talking about NBC here, proud owners and operators of CNBC.

Get the facts first - you can distort them later!

reply

[–] tightspotkilo 9 years ago

NBC wanted him gone by the 2016 elections at Hilary Clinton's insistence. No Hilary jokes will be allowed on late night TV this coming election, at least not on NBC.

Get the facts first - you can distort them later!

reply

[–] livingcinephile 9 years ago

We need to do something about the trolls a 5.3 does not reflect the show quality even if you think it's wasn't that good, how can people act like that just because some controversies, this is a rate page, you rate the show base on quality, dear lord is so childish

reply

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] imnotjohncandy 9 years ago

There are all kinds of insane hatedoms out there - Leno's hatedom is one of those hatedoms.

reply

[–] a_l_i_e_n 9 years ago

There are all kinds of insane hatedoms out there - Leno's hatedom is one of those hatedoms.

Yup, and I think we could spin that around and just call it dumb hate.

reply

[–] akg96-1 8 years ago

Of the replies I've read here, there's a whole lot people don't understand about why he has a low rating. So,...why do some people only like chocolate ice cream & others only like vanilla? Personal taste. Not saying one has & the other doesn't have good taste. It's just personal, subjective preference (or lack of preference). It has nothing to do with anyone else (like David Letterman). Personally I liked Craig Ferguson the most but got late to watching him so didn't even see but maybe 6 months of his show. I saw all of Dave's shows from the very beginning, & saw Johnny Carson year after year after year. Dick Cavett, Jack Parr had an intelligent audience, but I didn't watch them. I even loved Groucho Marks. But Jay Leno, well, sometimes when he had a guest that I liked. But Jay himself? Didn't like his personality, his pompous ego, his humor, & even though I like cars plenty I didn't like his obsession with them, like how he was so cool. Didn't like his looks either, nor his politics which I think it shouldn't be about that but about humor, the guests, music, etc. Who do I like & watch now? Pretty much nobody. The corporations snuffed the fun out of late night just like they killed the music with a bunch of commercial driven pretty faces without creative talent made for only the young audiences. It's the killing of America's soul, & Jay Leno never had that, well, maybe the killing part, but I ignored his show. Jay's audience being intelligent or 'with it'? Forget about it! Different strokes for different folks, different as in alien. But don't get me started. TV's not for a variety of people but rather for conform people to be NOT like me. We'd all would be better off like what the bumper sticker says (but you probably don't even see them where you or so many people live - KILL YOUR TV!!! Thank you & have a nice day.

reply

[–] a_l_i_e_n 8 years ago

Didn't like his personality, his pompous ego,

Could you give us some examples of this pompous egotism of his, please?

Didn't like his {---} politics which I think it shouldn't be about that but about humor, the guests, music, etc.

You mean in his monologue? Because, if that's the case, late night talk show hosts have been mocking whoever was in power for decades- and that includes Letterman and Carson whom you said you used to watch.

Jay's audience being intelligent or 'with it'? Forget about it!

If you don't like the show then that's certainly your right to say so. But insulting an audience for enjoying something that you don't seems a bit intolerant.

Thank you & have a nice day.

Right back atcha', mate.

reply