# Could Leno have stepped down?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 28, 2010, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738 "2010-02-28T10:10:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 3
### Author:  [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/41 "2010-03-02T07:14:02Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#):
>
> I hope Lambert comes out and asks Palin why she thinks **she** can’t get married 😃
(Emphasis mine.)
Now now, I know Adam Lambert has pretty makeup and sparkly clothes, but this really goes too far - I believe he considers himself male.
😃
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### Author:  [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/42 "2010-03-02T07:45:02Z")
> [@Piker](#):
>
> What’s so hard about this? I would have liked for Leno to not jump at the first opportunity to fuck Conan over.
Did not Conan do the same for Leno, and get Leno off so Conan could get on?
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/43 "2010-03-02T12:07:13Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#):
>
> If Conan had tried to take my job he could expect a lot worse than an imaginary metaphorical fucking over. Fact is, he not only tried to steal another man’s job, he was successful. When he failed to put fannies in the seats they fired his ass and the other guy wasn’t bitter about it and took the gig back.
>
> There is no way that Conan was ever “entitled” to another man’s job, it was beyond extra-ordinarily rude and well into super assholish to demand that Leno “retire” so he could get it. This was a man’s job. Conan turned super asshole when he demanded that Leno be taken out of his job so Conan could have it. He was fired for the dip in ratings. Leno has not “fucked Conan over”, although Leno has cause to do a hell of a lot more to Conan than fuck him over. You come after my job, you should expect a lot worse than an imaginary “fucking over.”
>
> Conan was a super asshole the moment he demanded another man’s job. And his fans are super assholes for not realizing this. Particularly when Conan moves to another network at 11:30 and gets fired again for losing to both Leno and Letterman.
none of this happened except in your fevered imagination.
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/44 "2010-03-02T18:13:35Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> I remember some people here had this nutty idea that Hollywood stars would be mad at mean old Jay and boycott the Tonight show starting today. Looking at the lineup for this week we can see that’s not true.
>
> Monday, March 1 - Guests include Jamie Foxx, Olympic Gold Medal Skier Lindsey Vonn and a musical performance by Brad Paisley
>
> Tuesday, March 2 - Guests include Sarah Palin, Olympic Gold Medal Snowboarder Shaun White and a musical performance by Adam Lambert
>
> Wednesday, March 3 - “Jaywalk All-Stars” with the Cast of “Jersey Shore,” Chelsea Handler, the most decorated American Winter Olympian of all time Speed Skater Apolo Anton Ohno and a musical performance by Avril Lavigne
>
> \*\*Thursday, March 4 - Guests include Matthew McConaughey and Brett Favre and a musical performance by Lifehouse
>
> \*\*Friday, March 5 - Guests include Morgan Freeman, Jason Reitman and a musical performance by Robin Thicke
You know, this is not a lineup of giant stars you would expect for Jay’s first week back. There just might be something to the bitterness some of these people feel towards him. There’s a lot of Olympians, sarah Palin and a bunch of dramatic actors.
Just going by this guest list, there’s a very real chance comedians have given up on Jay.
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/45 "2010-03-02T18:31:00Z")
The idea that Hollywood people are mad at Leno is just totally laughable. There might be a few that are mad but 95% are going to go on the show.
And the idea that a comedian would not want a national TV gig is even funnier.
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/46 "2010-03-02T18:37:59Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> And the idea that a comedian would not want a national TV gig is even funnier.
Excuse me, _comic actor_.
But I’m serious, Leno’s guest list for this week is weak. And if that’s what it’s going to look like going forward, Letterman will cream him. I mean, look at Letterman’s lineup:
Monday, March 1
Bill Murray
Ludacris (CD, “Battle of the Sexes”)
Tuesday, March 2
Mitt Romney (Book, “No Apology: The Case for American Greatness”)
Top Ten with Evan Lysacek (U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist)
Mia Wasikowska (Alice In Wonderland)
Wednesday, March 3
Jerry Seinfeld (The Marriage Ref)
Tom Brokaw (Boomers)
Thursday, March 4
Tom Hanks (Pacific)
Barbara Walters Top Ten
Spoon (CD, “Transference”)
Friday, March 5
Matt Damon (Green Zone)
Comedian Danny Bhoy
Corrine Bailey Rae (CD, “The Sea”)
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/47 "2010-03-02T18:43:51Z")
Letterman will cream him?
[Private Site](http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/03/02/leno-crushes-letterman-in-return/43507)
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### Author:  [@2ply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2ply)
#### Post date: [March 2, 2010, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/48 "2010-03-02T18:44:43Z")
Jay and Dave’s guest lists look to me like they have the same amount of A-listers.
[here’s a link to the late night ratings for Monday, Jay’s first night back.](http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/blog/2010/03/looks_like_the.html)
Leno - 5.4 rating 14 percent
Nightline - 3.4 rating and 8 share
Letterman - 3.0 rating and 8 share
Looks like things are going to be right back where they were before Leno was moved to 10pm.
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### Author:  [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/49 "2010-03-03T00:24:43Z")
> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> none of this happened except in your fevered imagination.
Conan did push Leno out of his job, and he did fail to get ratings at 11:30. Even if you think Leno is the king of the A-holes, you have to admit those two truths.
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### Author:  [@Oscalo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oscalo)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/50 "2010-03-03T00:40:17Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> Excuse me, _comic actor_.
>
> But I’m serious, Leno’s guest list for this week is weak. And if that’s what it’s going to look like going forward, Letterman will cream him. I mean, look at Letterman’s lineup:
Oh please, don’t give me that horseshit. Morgan Freeman, Jamie Foxx and Jason Reitman are all pretty big, as are the Olympic Gold medalists. And regardless of how you feel about her, you can’t deny that Sarah Palin is one of the biggest celebrities in American politics right now.
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/51 "2010-03-03T00:48:12Z")
> [@anson2995](#):
>
> Conan did push Leno out of his job, and he did fail to get ratings at 11:30. Even if you think Leno is the king of the A-holes, you have to admit those two truths.
Conan did no such thing. NBC came up with the transition plan all by their lonesome.
And his failure to get ratings was directly connected to Leno’s failure at 10/new Late Show host ratings loss.
Neither of those things were his fault.
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### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/52 "2010-03-03T04:11:08Z")
Conan was the one who in 2004 said Jay Leno did not deserve the Tonight Show, that he was ruining it, and Conan was the one who made it a condition of keeping him at NBC that his contract stipulate that he get the Tonight Show at the end of Leno’s contract. That was Conan’s idea, not NBC’s. NBC may have thought the idea had merit, but it was Conan that put that in place.
The timing of the transition, the change to move Leno to prime time, that may have been NBC. But do you think NBC would have been messing with Leno and the Tonight Show if they hadn’t had that contract with Conan in place? No.
What _were_ Leno’s options instead of taking the prime time gig? Riding out his contract getting paid for no work, then jumping to a competitor? NBC wouldn’t have let that happen. They’d have shorted Conan before shorting Leno. NBC tried to swing a gig where they could keep Leno and Conan, and Leno went along with it. When it wasn’t working, they tried to swing a different gig that would keep Leno and Conan, and Leno was willing to try it. How does that make Leno the asshole here?
NBC execs certainly get a round of asshole hats. But Conan gets his own asshole hat for that move in 2004. And for trying to spin this whole thing against Leno.
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### Author:  [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/53 "2010-03-03T04:12:57Z")
> [@Irishman](#):
>
> Conan was the one who in 2004 said Jay Leno did not deserve the Tonight Show, that he was ruining it
When did he say that?
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/54 "2010-03-03T14:15:29Z")
> [@Irishman](#):
>
> NBC execs certainly get a round of asshole hats. But Conan gets his own asshole hat for that move in 2004. And for trying to spin this whole thing against Leno.
Leno brought the shitstorm on himself by publicly playing the niceguy card in words and then doing a complete 180 at every turn.
2004: “I will step down in 2009 because I respect the show and I’m a nice guy.”
2009: “I’m still #1, so why don’t I take a primetime gig that’ll tank the late night shows.”
2009: “I’ll move to 11:35 for a half hour show if Conan’s okay with it.”
2009: “Conan’s not okay with it? That’s cool, I’ll move to 11:35 anyway.”
And in what way would doing a 30 minute show at 11:35 NOT completely destroy the Tonight Show as we know it? He doesn’t give a fuck about the Tonight Show brand despite his longstanding claims that he does.
Note: I’ve never liked Conan and still don’t.
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/55 "2010-03-03T14:39:30Z")
Leno had no choice in 2004, he doesn’t own the show and NBC told him they wanted him out by 2009.
In 2009 his choice was stick with NBC at 10 or go to another network.
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### Author:  [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/56 "2010-03-03T14:44:09Z")
Right, exactly. So he should have doen what he said he’d do and leave the Tonight Show and stay gone. Ideally he should have gone to Fox and crushed the Tonight Show in the ratings. That’s what a man would do. A whiny, scheming hypocritcal douchebage would do what he actually did.
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/57 "2010-03-03T14:50:10Z")
A “man” would turn down a shot at 10 PM to possibly help NBC and instead try to crush them at 11:35? That’s a really strange opinion but I guess I am used that around here.
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### Author:  [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/58 "2010-03-03T14:51:18Z")
> [@Oscalo](#):
>
> Oh please, don’t give me that horseshit. Morgan Freeman, Jamie Foxx and Jason Reitman are all pretty big,
I’ve never heard of Jason Reitman.
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/59 "2010-03-03T14:55:04Z")
Reitman has directed only a few full length films and he already has 4 Oscar nominations, he could win this year
> **[Jason Reitman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Reitman)**
>
> Jason R. Reitman ( /ˈraɪtmən/; born October 19, 1977) is a Canadian-American film director, producer and screenwriter, best known for directing the films Thank You for Smoking (2005), Juno (2007), Up in the Air (2009), Young Adult (2011) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). He has received one Grammy Award, one Golden Globe and four Academy Award nominations, two of which are for Best Director. Reitman is a dual citizen of Canada and the United States. He is the son of director Ivan Reitman, an...
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/60 "2010-03-03T15:31:25Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> Reitman has directed only a few full length films and he already has 4 Oscar nominations, he could win this year
>
> [Jason Reitman - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Reitman)
But as far as late night guests go, the director of Juno may as well be a nobody.
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