In case you missed the $10 million tidal wave of promotion that NBC has thrown at this show, here's another reminder that Jay Leno debuts tonight at 10pm. The blogosphere buzz on this premier is off the charts, as NBC experiments with a stripped variety show at 10pm instead of the usual TV dramas.
Tonight's guests will include Jerry Seinfeld as well as Kanye West, who will undoubtedly be puking up mea culpas all over the stage after his shameful interruption on last night's MTV music video awards.
The real excitement will come tomorrow after the ratings are in. Will Jay at 10pm be a disaster or a brilliant way to bring viewers back to broadcast prime? Will 10pm TV dramas on cable reap the benefits? Tonight's premier will undoubtedly get a ratings surge from curiosity. Whether they can keep it up night after night is another story.
As they stay in the business....stay tuned......
I think this is a good move by NBC -- could be amazing for them -- but I can also see it bombing. More chance for it to work than not, would be my take. Of course, I can't stand Leno and wouldn't watch him under any circumstances, but if he can keep up the pace and material, he's the man! This is one for the long haul -- and by Friday it will already feel that way...
ReplyDeleteIf I had to bet (and thank God I don't have to because I am a terrible gambler) I would say that this will have very little effect on anything. It won't save NBC, the ratings will eventually be inconsequential, and because everything is so fragmented anyway, it may not even lead to bigger numbers on 10pm cable network dramas. It's a different world. I'm a Conan O'Brien fan anyway, so it's not like they are going to get my eyeballs or my VCR recording.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Jane. This certainly isn't a game-changer, but will be interesting to see if Leno's insipid comedy sense makes any splash in primetime.
ReplyDeleteIt sure IS a different world now, you are so right about that!