There is only one sit-down guest interview per show, with no desk between host and subject, but much of Jay Leno's brand of comedy is carried over in his new television show from his 17 years hosting “The Tonight Show.”
A longtime stand-up comedian and regular substitute host, Leno assumed control of “The Tonight Show” after its longtime host, Johnny Carson retired in 1992.
NBC, the home of“The Jay Leno Show,” drew wide criticism before its debut this fall. Local NBC affiliate stations and competing networks had concerns about the new show that debuted this fall season. The competition complained about being undercut in price, as the studio comedy show is much cheaper to produce, and worried about other networks dropping the expensive TV dramas typically broadcast at that time.
A typical show during Leno's reign of “The Tonight Show” consisted of four elements: a daily monologue, a sketch performance or recording, celebrity guest interviews, and a musical guest performance to end the show. Often, viewers would forgo the musical guest and watch other programs before the show ended.
Each broadcast of “The Jay Leno Show” begins in front of a live-studio audience, as did his old show, with Leno's signature handshaking with front row audience members, a monologue, and a sketch. In a departure from the past, Leno reduced the alloted time for a celebrity interview to allow more flexibility in the program.
Local affiliate stations were worried that the new show would keep the old format, resulting in an audience exodus and a drop in viewers of the local 11 PM news broadcasts.
Addressing this concern, Leno moved the musical performance to the second-to-last element of his show, with the end of the show assigned to a final comedy sketch to retain viewers throughout the broadcast.
Leno also decided to experiment with some new ideas in the program. Giving more time to contributions from outside comedians in recorded segments or performances to the studio audience. Also he is trying a new “Green Car Challenge” segment, a product placement opportunity for Ford cars, where the celebrity guests drive an electric vehicle through a timed obstacle course.
Some random people on the University of Tampa campus were interviewed to find out if the show was succeeding, although no one asked had seen any of the new fall lineup.
“There's not really any new shows I watch,” said Rebecca Ewing, “just the same [television programs] as last year...There are a lot of new shows I haven't gotten to watch yet.”
“This fall I am going through the ones I already watch, “ said Leslie Grimm of her TV watching habits, “you gotta love DVR. I haven't been able to watch TV since school started-I've been super busy.”
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