NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

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01-19-10, 12:21 PM

#51

Jay G.

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by resinrats

What I don't get are all these 'lead-in' talks. Are there that many lazy people out there that won't change a channel to what they want?

Yes, yes they are.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LeadIn

Quote:

A lot of TV viewers will watch a programme, then decide to watch the thing that is on next.

Therefore, having the right show before you can make a huge difference in your ratings- often over a million viewers (Lost in the UK shed 1.3 million viewers between premiere and its next showing; Big Brother wasn't on for the second week).

Stations compete to get good lead-ins for their local news broadcasts. At 5 or 6, it's usually a syndicated show, at 11 it's usually a network show. So, the NBC affiliate would often win the 11 o'clock ratings battle back when ER was on top at 10, and whoever gets Oprah will win at 5.

This is important, since all the local news broadcasts are more or less interchangeable in the mind of the viewer, and it's also usually the only ad revenue the station doesn't have to share with the network or syndicate.

Note that the "lead in" isn't just something made up by Network execs, it's a pattern that shows up in the ratings numbers.

The low ratings of Jay's show was thus doing more damage to the network and its affiliates than Conan's low ratings were, and it could be argued that Jay's low ratings were causing some of Conan's low ratings.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Decker

As far as the Intellectual Property thing goes -- while I certainly understand why NBC feels that way, what value does that material have without Conan anyway? I think it would have been a nice gesture if they had released some of that stuff for Conan to take with him (while retaining marketing rights and such), seeing as they don't want him around any more apparently.

It's not so much about whether or not NBC will be able to make any additional money with the IP, but too keep anyone else from making money off what they currently own. To paraphrase Blagojevich, NBC has got this IP and it's fucking golden, and they're just not giving it up for fuckin' nothing.

Conan probably could've negotiate for some of a bits, in exchange for something else like less severance pay, like Letterman did with the Top Ten list. However, I think Conan was interested in making a clean break, so probably didn't bargain too hard for the old bits.

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01-19-10, 12:31 PM

#52

dhmac

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by outcastja

Jeff Zucker on Charlie Rose

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10824

During this interview, it's interesting how Jeff Zucker says that the viewers essentially "voted" for this change via the lower ratings of Leno and Conan.

So... that way of thinking would mean the viewers are also "voting" for new leadership at NBC too due to the low overall ratings of the network, which means it's time for Jeff Zucker to resign.

Thanks for explaining why you should do the honorable thing and quit, Jeffy boy!

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01-19-10, 12:35 PM

#53

chuckd21

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhmac

That's the typical Hollywood executive mindset. "I know what they want more than they do." And then they just make stuff up like that to back up their logic.

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01-19-10, 12:38 PM

#54

MrX

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Letterman's response to Ebersol and more shots at Leno from last night

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2rgEXLvS2Fc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2rgEXLvS2Fc&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

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01-19-10, 12:45 PM

#55

ChrisHicks

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

So by this lead-in theory shouldn't Letterman have been number #1 since CBS had higher 10PM ratings last season than NBC did? Or was NBC news that amazing that everyone just had to flip over to that before Leno?

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01-19-10, 12:57 PM

#56

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dhmac

One thing NBC seems to be ignoring is Leno is turning 60 y.o. this year, while Conan will be just turning 47 y.o. this year. As Leno claimed in the 2004 clip, he doesn't want to do the Tonight Show forever, so what if he decides to retire in the next 3 to 6 years? (I think Carson was 66 y.o. when he retired from the show.) If that happens in the next few years (which I think is highly probable), then who will host the Tonight Show? (Jimmy Fallon?!?? YIKES!!!)

NBC seems to be thinking way too short term on this. I think coming up with a plan to keep Conan would've been in their longer time best interest.

You may say "yikes," but Fallon is doing just fine at his time slot. If Jay sticks around a few more years and gives Fallon some time to mature his show and develop a loyal audience, I think he'd be a good heir to The Tonight Show. (I'm speaking only about ratings, not necessarily quality).

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01-19-10, 12:58 PM

#57

Darknite39

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

via Twitter:

joelmchale
I'm going to be on Conan tomorrow. I haven't been this excited since the birth of my children or the time I had nine cappuccinos.

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01-19-10, 01:07 PM

#58

MrX

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Conan said McHale, Adam Sandler, and Will Ferrell are all guests this week.

Ferrell's should be good since he was Conan's first guest when he started back in June and joked at the end of the interview about NBC execs pulling the plug

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It's at the very end

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01-19-10, 01:17 PM

#59

DieselsDen

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrX

Jeezus. I like Letterman, but his rantings against Jay are getting old. He lost THE TONIGHT SHOW years ago...get over it. It's not like he found a cure for cancer, and Leno took all the credit.

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01-19-10, 01:22 PM

#60

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by SonOfAStu

I hate Jay Leno, and always have. And I've always loved Conan. From his days as a writer on SNL, he's been one of my favorite comedians.

That being said, I don't see how anyone can try to sugar coat the failure of Conan's Tonight Show. Regardless of his lead in - he's losing in ratings to Letterman. Jay was number one for years and years and years. NBC knows that they will again have the number one show by bringing Jay back. They gave Conan a shot and he couldn't beat Letterman. Should he have been given more time? Why? The sponsors aren't going to pay based on what ratings he might be able to pull in someday with a better lead in.

Sorry Conan. I'll watch you wherever you land, but you had your chance with the Tonight Show.

Jay was number one for years and years and years on the number one network. Let's see how he does with NBC in fourth place.

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01-19-10, 01:26 PM

#61

Jay G.

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisHicks

So by this lead-in theory shouldn't Letterman have been number #1 since CBS had higher 10PM ratings last season than NBC did?

A lead-in can either help or hinder a show, but isn't the only factor in a show's ratings. A show can still succeed despite a lackluster lead-in, but in all likelyhood that successful show would do even better if it had a better lead-in.

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01-19-10, 01:27 PM

#62

Double_Oh_7

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by outcastja

Jeff Zucker on Charlie Rose

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/10824

Oh, brother! Zucker mentions SNL as a current programming success. Has he seen the show lately???

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01-19-10, 01:30 PM

#63

Chew

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Double_Oh_7

Jay was number one for years and years and years on the number one network. Let's see how he does with NBC in fourth place.

We already know how he's done on a fourth place network. NBC has finished fourth since the beginning of the 2007 season (at least that--I couldn't find earlier numbers): http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment...4th_place.html
http://tvbythenumbers.com/2008/05/29...k-ratings/3937

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01-19-10, 01:30 PM

#64

Jay G.

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Double_Oh_7

Oh, brother! Zucker mentions SNL as a current programming success. Has he seen the show lately???

He's probably referring to ratings, which is all network execs care about (quality? what's that?). SNL is apparently doing pretty well in the ratings recently:

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/18...s-season/39226

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01-19-10, 01:32 PM

#65

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselsDen

Jeezus. I like Letterman, but his rantings against Jay are getting old. He lost THE TONIGHT SHOW years ago...get over it. It's not like he found a cure for cancer, and Leno took all the credit.

Well it isn't like Dave has been insulting him nightly for years. He's started up because he sees Jay pulling similar crap on Conan. I personally can't get enough of it. Dave can insult him nightly for all I care.

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01-19-10, 01:41 PM

#66

Doug Heffernan

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Obviously, Jay took some of his loyal viewers with him to 10PM. If I was a Leno fan and Leno was still on, why would I even give Conan and the Tonight Show a chance?

Having Leno on basically ensured lower ratings for Conan.

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01-19-10, 01:48 PM

#67

pjflyer

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Do we know when Conan's final show is airing?

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01-19-10, 01:52 PM

#68

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonF

That's probably the typical viewer. Myself, I watch talk shows very differently than most people (although maybe not so differently from most people in this particular forum). Generally, I watch Stewart and Colbert. Otherwise, every night (unless I'm too lazy, which is more often than not), I will fire up the Tivo guide and check to see who Leno, Letterman, Conan, Craig, Kimmel, and Fallon have as their guests, record any that look interesting (especially musical guests), and then fast-forward through the shows the next day to get to the guests that I care about. Except, of course, for the last week, when I've made it a point to watch Conan.

All this and he's a lawyer, too!

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01-19-10, 02:32 PM

#69

Darknite39

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Re: NBC: let's see how low we can go (Conan thread, part 2)

HEY!

Via Twitter:

teamconanobrien
RT Looks legit-TMZ is reporting that Conanonfox.com has been register to Fox when you type it in - brings you to a twitter page via @framer44

Yep:

Registrant:
Intellectual Property Department (TCFFC)
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, California 90213
United States

Registered through: GoDaddy.com, Inc. (http://www.godaddy.com)
Domain Name: CONANONFOX.COM
Created on: 12-Jan-10
Expires on: 12-Jan-11
Last Updated on: 12-Jan-10

Administrative Contact:
Film Co, Twentieth Century Fox [email protected]
Intellectual Property Department (TCFFC)
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, California 90213
United States
+1.3103691000 Fax -- +1.11111111

Technical Contact:
Film Co, Twentieth Century Fox [email protected]
Intellectual Property Department (TCFFC)
P.O. Box 900
Beverly Hills, California 90213
United States
+1.3103691000 Fax -- +1.11111111

Domain servers in listed order:
NS05.DOMAINCONTROL.COM
NS06.DOMAINCONTROL.COM

Last edited by Darknite39; 01-19-10 at 02:34 PM.

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