NBC's Biggest Flop

What has happened to the network of the
Peacock? The late night schedule is on the
verge of imploding after a major shuffling
that was described as dynamite. NBC's
Head of Programming czar is an idiot by the
name of Jeff Zucker. He violated a major
rule of business and tennis.. 'if you are
winning, continue to do whatever you are
doing,...if you are losing, change what you
are doing'.
Jay Leno took over the 'Tonight Show' when
Johnny Carson retired. The Tonight Show ran
in the 10:30 to midnight CST slot. Leno has been
doing this show for the past 16 years. Conan
O'Brien had been following Leno with a "Late
Night" show beginning at midnight. For months
NBC promoted Leno's move to the primetime
of 9 to 10 CST with a variety show...BUT the
new show failed to generate enough ratings
for the local affiliates, who followed the show with
their local news.
Zucker then had his latest brainstorm. He proposes
moving Leno back to the 10:30 to 11:00 slot, and
then O'Brien from eleven to midnight. Both late
night performers are protesting the move, but the
real loser might be Zucker himself. Comcast has
already agreed to buy NBC, but they are watching
this shuffle with baited breath. If Leno vacates the
9-10 CST time slot, it will require millions of dollars
to generate a five-night-a-week show to take his
place.
The winner in all of this confusion is CBS's David
Letterman. His show runs opposite all this turmoil
on NBC, and he has been using his nightly monologue
to joist all of the parties involved. Ironically, it was
Letterman who was lined up to follow Johnny Carson
years ago, but a last minute decision gave the job
to Leno. When I worked at CBS in the 1970's a daily
question would be, "did you hear what Johnny Carson
said last night". Even employees of the rival networks
watched Johnny... May he rest in peace!