War of the Hosts

They are carefully crafted for gain but can often times rebound; decisions attempt to change an outcome, they also underpin big business. Early this month NBC made a corporate decision to adjust the timeslots of two of its zany late night television shows which has roused public outcry among viewers nationwide. In Tampa, Florida students at the University of Tampa express their concern, or lack thereof, about this issue which began in May of 2009 when Jay Leno resigned from The Tonight Show to host another: The Jay Leno Show. The, afore mentioned, Tonight Show would be hosted by comedian and television personality Conan O’Brien.


Although the first week of both programs’ airings, perhaps due to novelty, saw lofty ratings, subsequent episode ratings slumped and eventually tumbled below NBC’s projections. The idea to adjust each show’s timeslot was primarily due to complaints about Leno’s ratings. NBC felt that he was better suited for late night television, not the primetime in which he was then, so The Jay Leno Show was wrenched out of the 10pm timeslot and pressed back to 11:30pm, shoving O’Brien’s Tonight Show into the 12:05am slot, “which doesn’t make any sense at all,” says Ryan McCallister, a senior art major. The network gave O’Brien the option of either resigning with a monetary settlement or hosting the show at 12:05. “I would have taken the money,” chuckles undergraduate Mandy Jo with an elated, shoulder-hoisted smile; and that is exactly what O’Brien did! “The Tonight Show at twelve oh five simply isn’t The Tonight Show,” he says, also mentioning how the arrangement would interfere with other programs’ timeslots.

At long last O’Brien signed a $45 million deal on Jan 19th and he and his crew, to whom he paid $12 million, skedaddled. “It’s wrong that a network would step over someone like that,” says a thin, but towering William Stryffeler, “it’s good that Conan is sticking up for himself, though.” Other students seem to side with O’Brien as well; “It shows he has respect for other [later showing] hosts,” says Jo; and McCallister: “I thought he [O’Brien] was awesome, Leno will probably make The Tonight Show bad.” McCallister shares his viewpoint not only with other students but with majority of the nation; in fact, since this storm began Leno has been the subject of scorching criticism. Some liken him to a greasy, fat-faced bully while others fear for his reputation. Stryffeler says, “[Leno’s] ratings will probably go down regardless.” During this time, however, O’Brien’s ratings were utterly skywards. The conflict between the two hosts, and to a lesser extent, NBC, became a benefactor to the success of O’Brien’s final episodes in which comedic jabs were delivered. Says O’Brien defiantly, hands resting in the pockets of his dark slacks, “…and I just wanna say to the kids out there watching, you can do anything you want in life… yeah… yeah--unless Jay Leno wants to do it too.”

O’Brien’s episodes are scheduled to run until Leno’s return on March 1st. Although it is uncertain as to where O’Brien and his crew will retreat, other networks have, of course, shown interest in him.

-Tillman