Letter to NBC

Dear NBC Late Night audiences:

I know you aren’t a homogeneous mass. There are 2 camps that need to be addressed here. There’s the camp that has always thought Leno was a joke, that he’s never been funny, and that at this point it really has gotten embarrassing for NBC executives to release statements like “Jay Leno is one of the most compelling entertainers in the world today.” These people are incredulous that the loyal, ever-the-bridesmaid Conan has been treated like a doormat while Leno, who’s dull routine is killing 10pm, and perhaps all the shows after it, is treated like royalty. This group is overrepresented on the internet because of how the sampling skews.

Then there’s the camp that favors Leno to Conan. I don’t know how to describe this camp without risking the charge of xenophobia. However, they clearly have clout, at least in the minds of dollar-conscious NBC execs. NBC nearly got Conan to walk, and he may yet, in search of the ratings Leno generated in the (recent) past at 11:35. These people do exist, clearly, and they haven’t made the switch to Conan.

My message to both camps is a simple one: None of this really matters, because all of these people are forever chasing the long shadow of a pioneer host of the Tonight Show. Not Johnny. Jack. Paar. If you’re in NYC, do yourself a favor and walk on over to the Paley Center for Media and watch some of the classic episodes of the Tonight Show he hosted from 1957 to 1962 that forever influenced late night television. Or, you can rent Jack Paar: Smart Television. (You won’t find much on the interwebuals) He was truly urbane, spontaneously funny, respectful and intelligent. Neither Leno nor Conan hold a candle to him.

Sincerely,

Maxie Jean

PS -- I also loved and miss Craig Kilborn.


-- Via Shelly