TV Guide Oct 12, 08 2:59 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Three weeks after turning himself into a punch line by blowing off David Letterman, only to surface within hours elsewhere on CBS, John McCain has scheduled a return engagement with the late-night icon. After lengthy negotiations—during which Letterman continued his on-air taunting by saying McCain was being "squirrely"—they've made a date for Thursday, TV Guide reports.
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Current events boost ratings into Leno's neighborhood
Media Life Magazine Oct 9, 08 7:30 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Financial and political uncertainty means big ratings for Nightline, which is enjoying its highest numbers since being reformatted in 2005, Media Life magazine reports. Despite being under virtually constant threat of cancellation, Nightline regularly outdraws Late Night With David Letterman and is closer to Jay Leno's Tonight Show than at any other time since 2000. Nightline averages 4.06 million viewers, up 9% from last year but behind Leno's 4.72 million.
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OPINION
Late-night hosts can shape opinion for networks and their viewers
Gawker Sep 26, 08 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser)
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John McCain is playing with fire if he thinks he can stand up David Letterman and get away with it. "The middle-of-the-road personalities who've dominated network television since its inception do retain one singular power," Gawker Media head honcho Nick Denton, writing for his flagship blog, warns the wayward candidate. "When they finally get off the fence, the mass of similar-minded voters take notice."
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Stood-up Late Night host proving to be a formidable foe
Los Angeles Times Sep 26, 08 4:31 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The David Letterman-John McCain feud continued last night on the Late Show as the host kept hammering the candidate for standing him up, reports the Los Angeles Times . Letterman, whose guests included Paris Hilton—"McCain's first choice as running mate"—said he felt like an "ugly date" after McCain cancelled on him Wednesday, pleading that he had to rush to Washington—then did an interview with Katie Couric and spent the night in New York.
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'Metamucil Mac' snubs host to prep for Couric, claims he's off to DC
New York Daily News Sep 25, 08 3:06 AM CDT
(Newser)
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John McCain was scorched by the full fury of a Letterman scorned after blowing off last night's Late Show an hour before taping, the New York Daily News reports. "This just doesn't smell right. This is not the way a tested hero behaves," Letterman raged. "Somebody's putting something in his Metamucil." McCain told Letterman he was rushing back to Washington, but in fact was still in town, preparing for an interview with Katie Couric.
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But Dave would love to continue beyond 2010
New York Times Sep 3, 08 8:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
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David Letterman isn't planning to head off into the sunset when his Late Night contract expires in 2010, the New York Times reports, telling a Rolling Stone interviewer that he would love to keep going at CBS—and that he was confused by NBC's decision to put longtime rival Jay Leno out to pasture next year. "I don’t know why, after the job Jay has done for them, why they would relinquish that,” said the 26-year veteran.
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Host's retirement may set off cascade of late-night dominoes
Los Angeles Times Aug 11, 08 2:05 PM CDT
(Newser)
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These should be banner days for ABC’s Nightline , John Edwards’ confessional outlet of choice. Instead, staffers fear Jay Leno's departure from NBC will wind up costing them their jobs, the LA Times reports. ABC appears to be Leno's most likely destination after he retires next year, which would likely spell the doom of the 29-year-old news magazine.
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ANALYSIS
From racism to favoritism, comedians explain lack of jokes
New York Times Jul 15, 08 7:16 AM CDT
(Newser)
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John McCain has been skewered by late-night comics throughout the presidential campaign, but Barack Obama has escaped relatively unscathed. As this week's New Yorker cover flare-up made clear, satirists are struggling to find an angle on the Democratic nominee. The New York Times speaks to half a dozen late-night hosts and writers, who cite everything from fear of racism to their own favoritism to explain the silence.
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ANALYSIS
Comedian may be getting the boot, but tomorrow's looking pretty bright
Hollywood Reporter Jun 28, 08 6:37 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Jay Leno might be losing his beloved "Tonight Show," writes the Hollywood Reporter , but the host still has a ratings punch and an enviable set of options (in decreasing order of probability): Take ABC’s 11:30pm-12:30am slot, displacing Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live and competing with Letterman and O’Brien. Launch a show on Fox at 11 or 11:30pm—Fox doesn’t currently run late-night shows, but could use Leno’s brand to push into the new territory. Sony Pictures TV puts Leno’s Tonight Show into syndication, which could eventually lead to another late-night gig.
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Comedian unlikely
to stay after O'Brien takes over show
New York Times May 13, 08 6:28 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Jay Leno is probably leaving NBC when Conan O’Brien takes over the “Tonight Show,” an NBC executive said yesterday. After a news conference unveiling Jimmy Fallon as O’Brien’s 12:35 replacement, NBC Entertainment co-chair Ben Silverman said the network would try to keep Leno on board, but “I think it’s a reach.”
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For the first time, CBS late-night show carries higher overall ratings than NBC's
New York Times Apr 10, 08 4:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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It appears the tides are changing for Conan O’Brien—well, sort of. Last week, and for the first time, the NBC late-night host was beaten in overall ratings by CBS rival Craig Ferguson, the New York Times reports.
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Leno, Letterman, and others contemplate January return
Variety Dec 14, 07 2:57 PM CST
(Newser)
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Late-night talk-show hosts are considering getting back on the air even as the writers' strike continues, Variety reports. Although Jay Leno, David Letterman, and others initially supported the strike, network sources say a breakdown in negotiations between writers and producers and late-night shows’ plunging ratings have the hosts planning a return to the airwaves Jan. 7 or earlier.
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Execs brainstorm projects for 2009,
when Conan takes chair
Variety Jul 23, 07 6:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
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As Jay Leno nears his final Tonight Show in 2009, NBC is scrambling to keep the late night king at the network and away from rivals ABC and Fox. Peacock execs have pitched a prime time variety show, miscellaneous work on NBC's cable channels, and a showcase of Jay-on-demand through cable or online, Variety reports.
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