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Leno: 'I Take 95% of Blame' for Bad Press

He talks The Jay Leno Show , NBC, David Letterman, and more

By Evann Gastaldo, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 2, 2009 10:31 AM CST

(Newser) – Amidst a firestorm of negative press surrounding The Jay Leno Show, Leno gives a candid interview to Broadcasting & Cable on the fate of his new gig—and whether he’d trade places with David Letterman. Highlights:

On the slot: “Would I have preferred to stay at 11:30? Yeah, sure. I would have preferred that. If it were offered to me, would I take it? If that's what they wanted to do, sure.”

On Dave: “I wouldn't trade places with Dave now for anything! I don't think he's getting a free pass."
And the affair: "He's not being a hypocrite. Dave has never pretended to be Mr. Moral America, he's never set himself up that way.”
On the show: “I find there's a lot of anger at NBC. But it's like I say to the people who write the dramas: If I weren't doing this, it would be Dateline five nights a week or reality shows.”
And the bad press: "My name's on the product so I take 95% of the blame. I do kind of chuckle when people compare a show you do every night to a special that's on once or twice a year on HBO. We do a 14-minute monologue five nights a week; are all the jokes going to be gems? No. But they do OK."

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (3)]

Jay Leno speaks during the panel for "The Jay Leno Show" at the NBC Universal Television Critics Association summer press tour in Pasadena, Calif. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles)

In this May 10, 2009 file photo, Jay Leno speaks during an interview with members of the media between performances of Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan show at the Roberts Centre in Wilmington, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Kohl, File)

In this Aug. 5, 2009, file photo, comedian Jay Leno attends the NBC Summer press tour party in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Dan Steinberg, File)

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There's really no big adjustment; I've been through this a number of times. I took over from Johnny, 'You stink, you suck, we hate you.' - Jay Leno

I don't blame anybody else; my name's on the product so I take 95% of the blame. - Jay Leno, on the bad press

They are standing behind it, they're fine. They are treating me well. I think they are giving us all the support they can. - Jay Leno, on NBC

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Leno: 'I Take 95% of Blame' for Bad Press