Updated January 10: NBC confirmed today that the plan reported by Media Decoder is a possibility–but none of the players involved (Leno, Conan and Fallon) have agreed to it yet. Discussions are ongoing but the network did say “The Jay Leno Show” will no longer air at 1o p.m. after February 12.

Updated January 8: Although NBC didn’t confirm–or deny–the changes, Media Decoder is reporting “NBC has a plan in the works to radically alter its late-night television lineup, restoring Jay Leno to his old spot at 11:35 each weeknight.”

Under the discussed plan Leno would return to the 11:35 p.m. spot, but only in a 30-minute program. O’Brien would then begin at 12:05 a.m., but his show would remain an hour-long program. This would push Jimmy Fallon’s show back to 1:05 a.m.

The reported changes would not be scheduled to take effect until after the 2010 Olympics at the end of February. In response to queries about O’Brien’s future, NBC released a statement saying, in part, ““We remain committed to keeping Conan O’Brien on NBC.”

Originally published January 7.: After rumors swirled today that Jay Leno could be returning to NBC’s late-night lineup, the network has confirmed discussions are taking place with both the former “The Tonight Show” host and his replacement, Conan O’Brien.

The New York Times’ Media Decoder blog reports, “The late-night discussions at NBC are directly related to pressure that has been brought on NBC by its affiliated stations, which have seen ratings for their 11 p.m. local newscasts plummet this television season because of much-weakened lead-in audiences from the network in the 10 p.m. hour.”

While ratings for “The Jay Leno Show” are on par with what NBC promised advertisers, NBC did not anticipate the backlash from affiliated stations. The affiliates are used to the 10 o’clock slot being filled with highly-rated dramas, whose viewers would typically then stick around for the news.

O’Brien has experienced rating troubles since taking over “The Tonight Show,” which airs after the local news. Media Decoder said O’Brien “has trailed the CBS late-night star David Letterman by about 2 million viewers a night – Mr. Leno had easily been the winner in that time period previously.”

A decision on whether Leno will in fact return to his old time slot–and what that would mean for O’Brien–is not expected to be made today.

Twitter users were mostly against Leno’s possible return to ‘The Tonight Show”:

1. 
   deucepower939 Conan O’Brien out as Tonight Show Host, to be replaced by Jay Leno… In other words they’re replacing one bad show with an even worse one.
2. 
   jjmayotte Lots of rumblings about Jay Leno taking back The Tonight Show and Conan O’Brien getting the axe! I say axe Fallon and move Conan back there!
3. 
   RatPackSopra Wondering if NBC teases Jay Leno’s return for 6 months this time? What abt Conan O’Brien, do they just say Sorry Charlie?
4. 
   JonNilles No one that isn’t 80 thinks Jay Leno is better than Conan O’Brien….I hope NBC doesn’t blow this.
5. 
   stevethefirst Screw you, Jay Leno! You’re the Joe Lieberman of late night. Just retire! You had your time. Leave Conan O’Brien alone and fade away.
6. 
   antonjackson Jay Leno better not be replacing Conan O’Brien’s time slot. C’mon NBC.
7. 
   SouljahSingh Forget about Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien; Watch The Daily Show With Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report. They’re so much better and funnier!!!
8. 
   jeffdcohen @msager Well, s**t. Can I just say for the record that Jay Leno is not funny, and NBC would be idiotic to boot Conan for him?
9. 
   countingtofive This Jay Leno stuff makes me unnecessarily angry.
10. 
    peterhassett I’m willing to kill someone over this Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien thing.
11. 
    Rastailian I’ll be deeply disappointed if the Leno rumor is true. Did Jay talk to Brett Favre about retirement or something? #Iloveconan #backoffleno 0
12. 
    mjmunden Holy shit, Conan O’Brien may get fired, because Jay Leno is going back to his old time slot and show. What the f**k NBC?
13. 
    luketadams NBC, if you screw over Conan like this you are dead to me! Jay Leno isn’t funny!!! NBC, stop looking backwards and start looking forward!!!
14. 
    Keols #Conan O Brien is so much better at what he does than Jay Leno, NBC better not put Jay back on his old time slot
15. 
    Bluegrassish I swear if they replace Conan O’Brien with Jay Leno I will write an angry letter to 30 Rock or whatever place I have to.

Share This Post

Close Bookmark and Share This Page

Save to Browser Favorites / Bookmarks

Ask backflip blinklist BlogBookmark Bloglines BlogMarks Blogsvine BuddyMarks BUMPzee! CiteULike co.mments Connotea del.icio.us

Digg diigo DotNetKicks DropJack dzone Facebook Fark Faves Feed Me Links Friendsite folkd.com Furl Google

Hugg Jamespot Jeqq Kaboodle kirtsy linkaGoGo LinkedIn LinksMarker Ma.gnolia Mister Wong Mixx MySpace MyWeb

Netvouz Newsvine oneview OnlyWire PlugIM Propeller Reddit Rojo Segnalo Shoutwire Simpy Slashdot Sphere

Sphinn Spurl Squidoo StumbleUpon Technorati ThisNext Twitter Webride Windows Live Worlds Movies Yahoo!

Email This to a Friend

Copy HTML: 

 If you like this then please subscribe to the RSS Feed.

Powered by Bookmarkify™

More »

Powered by Bookmarkify™

Tweet This Post