NBC Battles for Leno; Prohibition Pirates Left in the Lurch
Boston, MA — Apparently, you can go home again — at least, that is, if you are non-controversial late-night host Jay Leno.
After much speculation, WHDH-TV, NBC’s Boston affiliate, announced today it would acquiesce to the demands of its parent company and air Leno’s new program during the ten o’clock hour, starting in September. The announcement came after weeks of uncertainty that the lame, late-night “funny” man would not be welcome on the Boston station. The decision leaves up in the air the future of other shows in development, including “PPoP: An Hour of Amateur Sports,” a 30-minute sports news show, which had been testing well in the West Roxbury area.
Issues first arose when WHDH floated the idea of passing on Leno’s new gig in order to gain an hour of entertainment programming. NBC, WHDH’s parent company, demanded the affiliate step in line or lose their right to air any NBC programming. Further complicating the matter, Leno, a native of Andover, MA, had his mother and the gals from the bingo hall call and write NBC to express their outrage over the move.
A marketing firm hired by Channel 7 was assigned the task of producing some new ideas to revitalize the station. According to surveys they conducted in and around Boston, 71% of participants found Leno’s humor, “100% not funny.” Of those who found Leno unfunny, 93% said they would rather, “gouge their eyes and ears out with a rusty screwdriver.” On his show, Leno uses his trademarked: set up, lame, obvious punchline and awkward laugh at his own joke. This style is familiar to many of the PPoP and anyone who knows a male Bertrand.
In addition to rating Leno’s appeal, the surveys polled viewers on their preference for programming during the timeslot.
The first suggestion was to broadcast the 10 P.M. news, which currently airs on WLVI-56, on WHDH. The second idea focused on producing a 30-minute show about the Prohibition Pirates of the Parkway every night. Harold Pasternak of MKT Marketing said, “Most viewers are excited for local amateur baseball news, specifically Parkway Pirates highlights, season previews, and anything related to them.”
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, one WHDH producer said, “We are attempting to provide the greatest viewing experience for our audience, and it appears that news and adult amateur baseball rank much higher than talk shows hosted by over-the-hill comics.”
Representatives from the PPoP were unavailable for comment, but the team did issue a statement:
“As an organization, we are disappointed WHDH and NBC have decided to take this route. Not so much for ourselves, but for the fans who want to know more about our team and desperately want to watch something that is entertaining on some level. Instead, the people of Boston, as well as those in the rest of the U.S., will continue to be subjected to the comedic stylings of one of the least funny people of the 21st century. Rather than baseball highlights and riveting back and forths consisting mostly of quotes from the movie ‘Dirty Work,’ viewers will be forced to watch bits like ‘Jay Walking,’ which we all know Leno stole from Howard Stern.”
Some experts see an opportunity for one of the other local stations to swoop in and counter-program with “PPoP.” Jane Fargas, editor-in-chief for ADWeek, sees limitless potential for a show about the day-to-day happenings of an amateur baseball team.
“I see no reason why the show would not only be unbelievably entertaining, but also a license to print money,” said Fargas. “Based on the fact that it doesn’t involve Jay Leno, advertisers would be lining up to be part of the show. Plus, one would imagine there is no chance the material would be worse than Leno’s horrible monologues and cable access interviewing style. I mean really, other than getting Obama to inadvertently make fun of the Special Olympics, what has he ever done?”
Yet somehow, like NASCAR and country music, millions of dumb people tune into Leno every night. He is a force to be reckoned with, but not because of his material. He is a late-night TV squatter. After somehow wresting the “Tonight Show” from Johnny Carson and Dave Letterman, he has now found a way to raze the what remains of the once proud franchise and piss on the ashes.
In a perfect world, Leno would have bowed out of the spotlight and left the show in the hands of Conan O’Brien. Instead, he has pulled a Bret Favre, changing his mind about retirement, as if we really want him around. After throwing a temper tantrum and threatening to leave the network, NBC conceded and offered Leno the 10 o’clock time slot.
Here’s hoping the new slot and format will bring some comedy to an old, washed-up, never was.
