Get Ready for Massive Leno PR Blitz

Staffers are dour, jokes are just plain bad

(NEWSER) - The days of thejaylenoshow.com being a funny site—back when it was owned by a stubborn realtor refusing “to budge in the face of increasingly desperate corporate pressure” from NBC—are over. Sadly, the URL now belongs to The Jay Leno Show, writes Seth Abramovitch for Movieline. Though ostensibly a comedic destination, it boasts content "reminiscent of a health insurance website.” More»

O'Brien contract talks delayed; late night trashing continues

(NEWSER) - As the late night hosts’ jabs at each other and NBC go on…and on…and on, the severance deal between Conan O’Brien and NBC continues to be delayed. TMZ reports the hold-up is over how long O’Brien will be barred from slamming the network—which he did last night...in Spanish. He also wants $600,000 added to the severance pot for his staff, which currently stands at $12 million. Still, sources say a deal should be finalized today. More»

Dick Ebersol clearly Team Jay Leno in 'Tonight Show' flap

(NEWSER) - Though his fellow comedians are lashing out at Jay Leno, the comedian at least has the NBC brass on his side. Conan O’Brien is “chicken-hearted and gutless” for blaming his “astounding failure” on Leno, says Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports. The bottom line? O’Brien couldn’t beat Leno in the ratings, Ebersol tells Bill Carter of the New York Times , adding that he gave O’Brien advice the host never took. More»

Leno could also take Tonight Show back; Conan O'Brien still likely headed to Fox

(NEWSER) - Thanks in part to a loophole in Conan O’Brien’s NBC contract, he will most likely leave the network while Jay Leno takes The Tonight Show back—or Leno might also ditch NBC entirely, depending which gossip site you read. Sources tell TMZ O’Brien’s contract guarantees he will host The Tonight Show—but does not guarantee a specific time slot, meaning the unhappy host will likely move to an 11pm show on Fox. More»

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

(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.”