On VIP Breakdown: Jon and Kate Plus One Big Break Up

Friday Ratings: Jay Leno Leaves on a Record High

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, Ratings

Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien on The Tonight ShowWhether they were there to say “goodbye” to or “hello” to Conan O’Brien, the late-night viewers turned out in droves.

May 29’s telecast of earned the program’s best Friday numbers in Leno’s 17-year history with the program. Leno’s pseudo-finale earned a 8.8 rating/20 share in overnight metered markets—that’s a 126% increase over what the average was for this quarter.

Had it not been for President Obama’s appearance on March 19, the show would have had the best ratings for the whole year. (Obama’s visit drew in a 11.2/26 share.) It would have also been the highest performance for a telecast since the tribute to Johnny Carson in January 2005.

Read More | TV Guide

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Mel Gibson Talks to Jay Leno About Girlfriend’s Pregnancy

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, Video


Jon and Kate Gosselin might have been addressing rumors last night, but it Mel Gibson’s chat that drew laughs.

During a sit-down with exiting Tonight Show host Jay Leno, People‘s first “Sexiest Man Alive” gave himself a new title: “Octo-Mel.” The new nickname is a result of his girlfriend’s pregnancy. (The 53-year-old has seven other children with his first wife.)

When asked how he met the Russian singer, Mel said he heard Oksana Grigorieva’s voice before he actually met her in person. “Did you hear Susan Boyle?” Jay then joked.

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Read More | Entertainment Weekly

Jay Leno Lines up Schwarzenegger, Gibson and O’Brien for Final Week

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC

Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien

Just because he won’t be moving far doesn’t mean can’t throw himself a party.

Starting next Monday, a list of celebrities will be stopping by to offer their goodbyes. The weeklong “farewell” will cap off Leno’s 17-year run at 11:30 PM.

On May 25, Mel Gibson will kick off the celebration with singer Dwight Yoakam. This will be the Lethal Weapon star’s first television interview since news of his impending divorce broke. (I wonder if he will be addressing rumors his girlfriend’s pregnancy?)

Click to continue reading Jay Leno Lines up Schwarzenegger, Gibson and O’Brien for Final Week

Read More | Broadcasting & Cable

Jay Leno Talks About Hospital Visit

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Comedy, Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, Video


So was it really a case of dehydration? No. It turns out Jay Leno may have been hospitalized last week because of food poisoning after all.

“What happened was — and I think was a mistake — I ate a raw pig a friend brought back from Mexico. ... It was delicious,” he joked last night.

Although a real reason for his sick days - his first since starting the Tonight Show gig in 1992 - was never disclosed, Leno did reveal a scary moment he had during his overnight stay. “I had a horrible dream that I couldn’t breathe. I felt like I was suffocating ... then I woke up and realized Conan was holding a pillow over my face,” Jay claimed.

Check out more videos from his return after the jump.

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Read More | TV Guide

Hospitalized Leno Forces Tonight Show Cancellation

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, News

Jay LenoUPDATE: Leno will return to work on Monday.

is currently suffering from some big bad voodoo.

This evening’s taping of has just been canceled due to an absent host. The 58-year-old comedian checked himself into the hospital earlier today after reportedly not feeling well.

According to show rep Tracy St. Pierre, Leno is currently in “good spirits” and working on material from his hospital bed. Although it’s been speculated that food poisoning is to blame, no other information has been released on Jay’s condition.

Ryan Reynolds, wildlife expert Jules Sylvester and musical guest Big Bad Voodoo Daddy had been scheduled to appear on tonight’s program. A repeat will now air in its place.

Read More | KTLA

Obama Delivers Big Numbers for Jay Leno

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, Ratings

President Barack Obama on The Tonight ShowWhether they tuned in to see him laugh or make a gaffe, people were definitely watching President Obama last night.

The president’s appearance on The Tonight Show gave the late night program its best numbers in four years. The sit-down’s 11.2 household rating (26 share) tied a mark achieved in January 2005. That was when the show paid tribute to the recently deceased Johnny Carson.

The number was an 187% improvement over the show’s average (3.9) for this year.

The last time Jay Leno saw a higher household rating was back in 1998. A post- finale broadcast that May pulled in a 12.4.

Read More | Variety

Barack Obama Entertains with Leno

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Late Night, Reality, Talk Shows, NBC, Video


, the forty-fourth president of the United States, appeared Thursday on The Tonight Show to chat basketball, presidential life and AIG with Jay Leno.

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Read More | MLive

Obama Scheduled for Leno, Third Press Conference

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Prime Time, Specials, News

President Barack ObamaIn the next week, will be addressing the television public on two different stages.

This Thursday night, Obama will hitting up during a trip to Los Angeles. Although it’s not unusual to see presidential candidates on late-night fare, his visit will mark the first time a sitting POTUS has made such an appearance.

The chat with Jay Leno will be followed up by a more formal affair next Tuesday (Feb. 24). That is when President Obama is scheduled to hold another primetime event. There’s been no word yet as to how this hour-long presser (starting at 8:00 PM EST) will affect the schedules for or Dancing with the Stars.

Read More | Hollywood Reporter

Jay Leno Staying with NBC, Moving to 10 P.M.

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, News, Ratings

Jay LenoWhat do you do when your network sucks, the economy sucks and your late night ratings leader is on the verge of leaving? Well - if you’re NBC, you simply restructure your whole schedule.

Although it was initially believed that we would be getting a start date for Jimmy Fallon’s new program today, the Peacock network apparently had much bigger news to deal with. Earlier Monday at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference, NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker got speculators buzzing about possible cutbacks in his network’s primetime programming. “Can we continue to broadcast 22 hours in primetime? Three of our competitors don’t,” Jeff said in Manhattan. “Can we continue to broadcast seven days a week? One of our competitors doesn’t.”

Hours after Zucker’s statement, the Peacock network announced a major decision for the its 2009-2010 season: they’ll be keeping Jay Leno around after all. (It’s always best to admit you’re wrong now than later.) But fans of Conan O’Brien shouldn’t be worried by the news; Leno’s presence won’t affect the redhead’s upcoming time shift. Instead of leaving Jay in his old slot, NBC will bring him into the primetime fold. Starting next fall, the 58-year-old will enter our homes at 10:00. (The network will now only have to worry about 17 hours of primetime programming.)

Click to continue reading Jay Leno Staying with NBC, Moving to 10 P.M.

Read More | Variety

Jimmy Fallon Begins Testing His Late Night Material

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: Late Night, Talk Shows, NBC, News

Jimmy Fallon

Although he still has months to go before his official debut, is making sure he gets off the ground running. Beginning tonight, the former SNL-er will try to get fans accustomed to a whole new face in late night television.

At 12:35 AM Tuesday morning, the man-who’ll-soon-take-over-Conan’s-time-slot will premiere his very first “video blog.” The five-minute segments, which will be posted daily during Late Night‘s usual hour, will vary in content. It’s hoped the freeform webisodes will allow the new program to find its groove.

NBC is expected to announce an official start date for Jimmy’s program sometime later today. It’s believed Conan O’Brien will step down at the end of February (he takes over for Jay Leno on June 1) leaving Fallon to begin his hosting duties in early March.

Read More | Broadcasting & Cable

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