Bon Jovi Is NBC's First 'Artist in Residence'

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»

CEO Jeff Zucker to blame for slump

(NEWSER) - Cable giant Comcast wants to buy a controlling interest in NBC Universal. Sure, the company's movie business and cable channels are appealing, but what about the broadcast network? NBC is floundering, and CEO Jeff Zucker is to blame, Mark Harris writes in New York. One big problem is The Jay Leno Show: "Remaking an entire prime-time lineup in his familiarly peevish image was a Hail Mary pass, not a long-term business strategy." More»

(NEWSER) - As if its record 22 Emmy nominations weren’t enough, 30 Rock also recently landed a syndication deal. Tina Fey talks success—and Sarah Palin—with Broadcasting & Cable:

• On possibly hosting the Emmys: "No, I think it's a hard job and a thankless one. I think maybe it's also a job for a standup [comic], and I was never a standup. I guess, never say never. But the thought of it makes me feel sweaty."

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»

But you can't argue with the mag's numbers

(NEWSER) - Today in the Whiny Celebrities Department: Jon Bon Jovi, who is none too pleased he was left off of two Forbes celebrity lists. “Jon kicked up a huge fuss and got his people to complain” when he didn’t make it on the Power 100 or the Musicians’ Rich List, a source tells the New York Post . “He couldn't understand why he didn't make the musicians list since Bon Jovi has been touring nonstop since February. Even Britney Spears was No. 5, and she hasn't done anything this year.” More»