All Stories FeedProgramming Archive:
Oprah: The Tonight Show Fiasco
Monday afternoon will be a busy time with an interesting episode of Oprah going up against Nine’s live Oscars.
Jay Leno is the guest star, talking to the big O about the changes at NBC that saw Conan O’Brien exit The Tonight Show.
Here is an excerpt:
Oprah: Do you feel any personal responsibility for Conan’s disappointment?
Jay: No. It had nothing to do with me. I mean, as I say, there is always someone waiting in the wings in this business to take your job. If you’re not doing the numbers, they move on. …
The Marriage Ref: Reviews
They didn’t just hate it. They reaaaaally hated it.
US critics have been scathing in their opinions on Jerry Seinfeld’s new show The Marriage Ref, hosted by comedian Tom Papa.
NBC premiered the show on the back of the Olympics Closing Ceremony (in fact it even cut away from the event early to roll this one out) and scored a healthy 14.5m viewers as a result.
Seven has both the US rights and local format rights to this, which it said was a big crowd-pleaser at the MIPCOM sales-fest last year. It is already …
Returning: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno returns to television at 12am Wednesday (that’s straight after Tuesday’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon if you prefer) on the Comedy Channel.
Leno returns to the helm the show following his much-publicised run on The Jay Leno Show, which led to the exit of Conan O’Brien.
The new show features a new-look set design and Kevin Eubanks and his band.
The Comedy Channel says “The series return sees heavy-hitting special guests seated on the couch including Jamie Foxx, Sarah Palin, Matthew McConaughey, Chelsea Handler, Morgan Freeman, Olympic …
2010 Super Bowl ads
Look who joined David Letterman on his couch for a once-only advertisement that aired during today’s Super Bowl.
The ads are America’s premium TV commercial showcase, with campaigns launched and production values generally unmatched.
At least two other TV shows made an appearance this year, including a Lost parody and The Simpsons plugging a certain beverage….
David L, Jimmy F, Jimmy K and Jay L.
In the wake of the Conan / Leno debacle, the Comedy Channel has amended its late night line-up as of this week.
The final Jay Leno Show will air on February 10 before he returns to The Tonight Show.
Here is the new line-up:
Late Show With David Letterman
Monday to Friday at 10.30pm. New timeslot
David Letterman marks his 28th year in late night comedy this year, and his 15th year as the host of the Late Show With David Letterman. After more than 4,500 late night broadcasts, he remains one of the most influential …
Conan finale in Oz
Conan O’Brien is so keen to go out with a bang that his show on Wednesday (to air in Australian on Thursday) contained content that impacted on music rights. The inclusion of the Rolling Stone’s “Satisfaction” prompted NBC to contact all broadcasters outside of the USA to advise that the scheduled episode was to be withdrawn and must not be aired.
The Comedy Channel was contractually obliged to follow suit and aired a repeat episode in its place.
The final episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien airs on Friday (US) and …
Conan deal worth $44m
The exit deal between NBC and Conan O’Brien has been finalised and expected to be announced today.
The deal is worth a reported $44 million. According to The Wall Street Journal, O’Brien is getting $32 million from NBC, with the network also agreeing to pay his staff $12 million in severance.
O’Brien will be allowed to return to television on Sept 1., according to one source. At the time of writing, no further details are available, including intellectual property ownership over some of his characters.
Jay Leno will return to his late night show …
Conan: Exiting NBC
And now all we have to do is wait for NBC to confirm Conan O’Brien is leaving the network…
Over the weekend US media have been running rife with the news that O’Brien is exiting the network. It follows his public statement that he would not host The Tonight Show at 12:05am.
The deal is reportedly done, with various reports about how many million (up to $40m) he will walk away with, along with the conditions which would stipulate how long before he can join another network, and that he musn’t trash NBC. …
Renewals: NCIS: LA, The Good Wife
Good news for TEN with CBS renewing both NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife.
“Two great new series, fronted by talented stars on one big night of television,” said Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment. “We’re proud of these shows and what they’ve accomplished on Tuesday night.”
They will add to TEN’s new slate which has already seen Glee and Modern Family renewed.
Both NCIS: Los Angeles and The Good Wife, featuring Julianna Margulies, have enjoyed healthy ratings in the US.
Meanwhile, NBC has announced its replacements for the early-March, 10pm post-Jay Leno schedule …
Conan: I won’t budge
Statement from Conan O’Brien:
People of Earth:
In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take …
NBC considers Leno back at late nights
US media commentators are all speculating what NBC will do with The Jay Leno Show, widely perceived as a scheduling failure since it moved to the competitive 10pm timeslot. In the US, 10pm is still prime viewing where shows like Brothers and Sisters, Castle, Ugly Betty, Private Practice, Criminal Minds, The Good Wife and CSI: Miami all air.
Moving Leno to 10pm was considered the boldest programming move of the Fall Season, with Hollywood Reporter recently including his switch in a retrospective story on the decade’s biggest blunders.
NBC knew Leno’s shift …
September 09: Patrick Swayze, Kanye West, Hey Hey, Glee visit
September:
ABC most reliable network, Nine worst -readers
Supernatural creator eyes 2010 finale (kinda…)
Popular characters banned from children’s ads
New boss for FremantleMedia
Freeview wants streaming video
Audience anger: “Finish my show or tell me where it’s gone!”
NBC to remake Prime Suspect
TimeShifting Viewing in 2010 ratings
Seinfeld: Reunion “a miracle”
WIN Television general manager exits
Adam Brand wins Dancing trophy
Call to flick SBS ad breaks
Tila Tequila ‘choked’ by boyfriend
Deputy PM “not smarter than a Fifth Grader.”
Poh lands ABC cooking series
Melrose remake: …