Hit The Road Leno

Tuesday evening was the last episode of 'Das Experiment' - Jay Leno's move into a time slot that no mere mortal could ever conquer.

View as you will: Malicious fabricated hoax or one of the most grossly misguided calculations with hugely embarrassing consequences ever seen in Television history (I am sure there will be others), not one was certain of the outcome of this debacle. As for Leno, it's disappointing that he would claim to be the 'Victim' all the while in cahoots with the perpetrators (NBC). I would have simply taken the guy off the air entirely - no retread or network back peddling required. (Photo/Herbert/AP)

Conan O' Settlement

The on-going ruckus going on over at NBC appears to have reached a final conclusion. To quickly summarize, Conan: 32 million, NBC: 0.

Jay is apparently back in his old time slot of *yawn* 11:30 PM. Quite frankly, to balance what may appear to be a completely unfair situation, I do not know of anyone within my immediate circle that actually watches Jay Leno's program.

Further, having seen and heard various comments from a number of you (eg. Jay is a bully who should retire, Conan is not funny, Jay is not funny, Et al), I could with a great amount of certainty spend hours dissecting the obvious of this debacle.

Really when all is said and done, I do not know of anyone that actually spends time watching late night network television. I am sure that SOMEONE/SOMEWHERE is watching the programs - ? (Photo/ NBC)

Out With The Old In WithThe Fall...

Greetings Friends!

We are about to start another GREAT week and I am just wrapping up an extensive vacation. It has been a remarkable time and I have a new business venture underway as we speak. For you see, this is what happens when I take vacation, I return with even bigger and more outlandish ideas - can't wait to tell you more - stay tuned!

Thank you for your thousands of emails (Literally). Although I am unable to personally read and respond, I am thinking of one email in particular that read, "...Can I (As in me) please hurry up and get back from vacation because my comments are despiratly (The writer misspelled desperately) needed!" - touching. As my friend in Hawaii would say, "I Get Tons!".

Anyway, there have been a number of outlandish events that have recently transpired and without further delay, let's launch right into the recap.

Today's Blog is in the popularly requested format: Statement of fact followed by my thoughtful commentary, now let's have one last go around as summer is now officially over (Ordered from most important to least important):

1. Jay.

NBC has announced the official debut this week of the Jay Leno Show.

My Comment: My appreciation for Jay has grown considerably since his absence over the past few months.Really, having Jay in the 9'o hour is a new idea and largely untested concept for NBC. Will variety comedy shows work in Prime Time?

You may recall my idea for this concept about two years prior. However, my pitch was similar but with Rosie O'Donnell as the host of the Tonight Show - NBC attempted the idea with Rosie as host of a variety show, but it did not work from a numbers standpoint. My idea was to have Rosie as Talk Show host, not variety show host - I am inclined to believe that was a reason of failure. Furthermore, there were also a number of other reasons. The Networks never listen to my advice, Oprah.

This will be a great experiment, but more importantly, will the advertisers be likely to receive delivery of consistent viewers, less than 50 years in age? For this, remains to be seen.

2. Ellen.

Last week, producers of American Idol (FOX) announced Ellen Degeneres as the 4th judge to replace Paula Abdul.

My Comment: First, there is no replacing Paula. Quite frankly, I have posted comments all over the Web - and I still say bring Paula Abdul back. Enough with the negotiations - get her in the door. Of course, Paula may eventually appear on rival show: So You Think You Can Dance, which would be just as well, after her Diva show on Vh1.

Regarding the choice of Ellen Degeneres, I am not thrilled around this decision to say the least. Let's see, I liked Ellen as a stand-up comedian when she performed in front of the student body at University of Oregon (This being prior to her TV Show Ellen- Not to be confused with the current Talk Show version also called Ellen, but the comedy series of the late 90's).

Second, I thought she was hilarious in the movie "Mr. Wrong". However, I believe that my lack of preference began to happen somewhere around the bad dancing and the incident with the dog and her very public on-air blubbering...It was an accelerated pace downhill from that point.

3. Melrose Place.

Last week was the official debut of the returning hit of the 90's Melrose Place on The CW Network.

My Comment: As you may know, MP was my absolute favorite show of the 90's. You may recall the "Melrose Mondays"parties that I used to have at my apartment while in college. Ah, good times...Let the revival begin!

Well, do not be disappointed, but I still have not yet viewed the first episode. My TIVO is full of programs and I will surely spend the entire weekend pouring through everything that may have been missed. While my significant other (My gorgeous man) is busy watching NFL football, I will be in the next room viewing Melrose Place.

--In Other CW News--

America's Next Top Model and Vampire Diaries (Twilight movie inspired serial), also debuted this past week for the fall line-up.

Really, where was CW when I was a 15 year old teenager?!

Happy viewing...

The New Face In Late Night...

Hey PEEPS!

Late Night with (Insert Name Here)
Not sure about you, but I have been recently viewing this new late night Talk Show called,"Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (NBC).

For starters, this was the program originally occupied by Conan O'Brien. Now, I am not much of a late night TV person (Unless we are in Production, for then there is no rest!), however had viewed the promos for Fallon's show during my TIVO shifting viewing habits.

Why not? After all, I did somewhat like Fallon out the few times that I had seen his Weekend Update gig with Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live - why not check out his late nighter as a show of support.

Last week was the official first week of the show on NBC and an all star guest panel that includes the likes of Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Justin Timberlake and Robert DeNiro. Truly an impressive line-up for the first full week of the program and quite possibly difficult to expand the momentum during the coming weeks. There are only small number of A-listers - we will exhaust the options soon at this pace.

Quite frankly, I did not expect too much. Again, I am not typically viewing network television after hours, however was pleasantly surprised. The show and the tempo were upbeat and current - finally, I felt as if I were the target the audience.

Other late nighters (Excluding Carson Daly) are extremely dry (Jay Leno) as something a group of seniors or mature parents would actually deprive themselves of sleep to stay up and watch - hardly appealing.

The Jimmy Fallon show feels younger, hipper and certainly more relevant with someone closer to my age group/ generation who "Gets It". A show that I could actually would not mind having conversations with my group. Finally - Thank you Ben Silverman!

No Variety In Late Night
In a landscape cluttered with an abundance of male perspective and bad jokes (Jay, Conan, Colin, Dave, Carson, Jimmy K., Jimmy F.), it is rather questionable as to why there is not, nor has been (For number of years) a female perspective in Late Night.

During the last Rosie O'Donnell vs. The Universe debacle, I was one of the biggest supporters to the prospect of bringing Rosie back to host a show.

For the record friends at NBC, the idea was to REPLACE Jay Leno (When it was announced that he would be 'Retiring' from the Late Show, prior to the last minute deal to keep him on the network with an earlier show).

My point was that someone such as Rosie (Or, another Strong female personality type) would be offered the position as the new host of the show as a breath of FRESH AIR to late night all male talkers.

Of course, the network had plans of its' own and actually offered Rosie O. an opportunity to host not Late Night with Jay Leno show, but instead a variety show - WHAT THE?!

While the rush in motive was unclear - The move was not only expensive (Rumoured at $10 Million), it was also completely unexpected, an untested concept and a total disaster (Descriptive often used by Donald Trump).

We need a FEMALE personality in Late Night!

The Talk Show Particulars...
First, I have not yet produced a Talk show for television, but there is a relative formula of elements that are fairly common.

For example, a bland and uninspiring static set, complete with skyline backdrop, desk and faux living room furnishings - who ever thought that by having the host sit behind a DESK would make for great, comfortable, natural conversation (Completely illogical)?

Take the more successful Talkers (ie. Oprah) - the set is minimal in stage like presence.

Oprah has never warmed up the audience with a monologue of bad pre-written jokes about news headlines, the President or other political fodder, had a marginal anonymous band play unidentified music while the leader of the band chimes in to a weird awkward manner.

Further, Oprah never required loud laughing, applause and silly antics, never needed a backdrop of city lights and has never SAT BEHIND A DESK while her guests flail about on an adjacent sofa!

As well, have a look at her protege, Dr. Phil - the same design aesthetic. I think Oprah knows something the rest may not! Simple and elegant.

The Talk Show Bands
Have you noticed that most talkers have a band (Excluding Ellen who went the route of DJ)?

Perhaps maybe all of the bands from these talkers should get together, release an album and even go on tour...They should profit from the venture, as well.

Which brings me back to the topic of Jimmy Fallon's late nighter (Finally). Jimmy does not have just another anonymous orchestra - Jimmy has actual REAL talent - The Roots (Already a successful and well known). Aside from DJ Tony, having real, professional talent certainly makes a difference and breathes life into a flavorless late night orchestra and sea of mediocrity.

Return to the Old
Jimmy's show is somewhat reminiscent of the Arsenio Hall Show back in the early 90's (Except for the desk). Hip, current and fresh - a show that says, "If you are not watching this, you just don't know what's going on in the world or anywhere for that matter".

The episodes of the Arsenio Hall show that really stand out still continue to be the night then Presidential candidate Bill Clinton blared saxophone for the masses (It made him instantly cool) and numerous live performances by MC Hammer. The Arsenio Hall show was THE BEST late night show with record ratings during it's time on the air.

On side note, I did see Arsenio hosting another show that is currently in syndication.

Alright, so Jimmy's show has all of the potential to be a fun show. Stay Tuned!

All This And More Can Be Yours...

If The Price Is Right

In case you have been living under a rock (I like to call it being busy) you have probably heard reports that Rosie O'Donnell has expressed interest in the top spot, left by a retiring after 35 years Bob Barker, on the popular game show The Price Is Right (Produced by FremantleMedia for CBS).

After 35 years on the air and close to 7,000 episodes in the can, The Price is Right is the longest consecutive running game show in U.S. television history and could easily be considered the first 'Reality Game Show' in which the audience (Comprised of everyday people - NOT ACTORS) could actually participate.

Product Placement Overload

Where else could you win a new Sonic toothbrush, a Sunbeam blender, a Black & Decker drill set, and a new Chevy Impala? You know with all of the arguments that I receive about product placement in reality shows, TPIR was the original product slinging phenom - and no one complains about TPIR giving away too many brand name products in a single episode.

Come On Down!

Where other game shows have come, gone or slipped into obscurity (The Gong Show, Match Game, The Dating Game, Press Your Luck, Hollywood Squares and Family Feud), in 35 years, not much of the show has changed and the current format is still based on the original version which aired in the 1950's on a competing network.

When you watch the show, it does have that era of yesterday's early television; maybe it's the announcer's big booming voice (In Broadcasting we call it "Puking" - which means using an over the top voice that's not your natural voice) many of the early radio broadcasters would use these larger than life bass laden voices to announce the advertiser's products they were hawking.

Maybe it was the bevy of 'Barker's Beauties' - which may have been appealing 35 years ago, but by today's standards smacks misogyny and is out of date in the television landscape of programs. Really, I often wonder the same for another popular long running game show in which there is a 'letter turning' female personality.

Perhaps the longevity of the show was the host himself that kept that 1970's sparkle to the show reminding us at the end of each episode to help control the pet population by having our pets spayed or neutered.

Which brings us back to Rosie...

Having said all of the above, just where exactly would Rosie fit in on a show such as TPIR? What would happen to 'Barker's Beauties', what would happen to the guy with the big announcer voice, and what would happen if someone disagreed with Rosie's political views? Uh-oh.

Rosie is a very courageous person who believes in asking the questions that we are all thinking...and then some. Would it be possible for her to exist on a show and not turn the property into the Rosie Show? It's uncertain that TPIR would be Rosie's best career choice.

Right now CBS is speaking with George "Hammy Tan" Hamilton, Todd Newton (E!), Mark Steines (Entertainment Tonight), John O'Hurley, and Drew Carey - all formidable talent for the position and any could be easily integrated into the production without disruption of the format or risk to the crew (Ah, that's the Producer in me talking).

The Perfect Gig For Rosie

The bottom line is that ROSIE NEEDS HER OWN SHOW- Personally, I have been quoted on many sites stating this very fact and any studio exec could easily reach this blaring obvious conclusion.

Time for change...If I were head of the studio (This will happen eventually) I would be more interested in more creative ways to utilize the best talent for maximum viewership.

Having said, I would like to see Rosie replace Jay Leno as the new host of The Tonight Show (NBC) - Has there ever been a female host of a late night talk program on network television? We need to see more females on late night television, not on daytime television. Rosie's personality could really shine, viewers would stay up late to tune in, and advertisers would be happy from exposure in the extended schedule.