LENO PRIMETIME

In a time slot usually reserved for drama NBC’s going for laughs this fall with Jay Leno.

Leno gets to be the comedy alternative every night, Monday through Friday in primetime.

NBC had to make the move, in part, because it remained committed to its decision five years ago to give Conan O’Brien “The Tonight Show”.

But as that change drew closer, it was obvious the late night ratings king wasn’t ready to retire.

If we didn’t find a place for Jay, he probably would have ended up on the competition and that was something we didn’t want to see,“ said NBC President Jeff Zucker.

So, NBC created a new home for Leno at 10pm.

A time period that in recent years had been a ratings trouble spot for the network.

Even if Jay’s ratings aren’t as high as a show like Law and Order SVU, the network will make money.

They’ll make money by saving it.  Leno’s new show will cost about 1/5th of an average 10pm drama.

That’s because Leno will be able to stay current, with new shows long after the dramas have run out of fresh episodes. 

If TV has any more relevance now, it’s in immediacy. 

If something happens, the President of the United States is in town and wants to come on the show, boom, you can do it that night.“ 

But Leno’s still seen by most critics as the underdog as he heads to primetime it’s a role he’s gotten used to.

I’m a little dyslexic, my mom would always say, you’re going to have to work a little bit harder than the other kids to get the same thing.  That was my mom’s motto and it seems to have worked,” said Leno.

The next test comes this fall.