# 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:** 6
**Page:** 4
### Author:  [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/61 "2010-03-03T16:30:41Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> 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.
Some of the guests are indeed impressive, but the Olympians are probably dragged to Leno on a leash by NBC, then you have the world’s biggest attention whore, and then Avril Lavigne? Robin Thicke? Meh. Might be a good lineup for a random week in the spring, but not for the first week of a new (old) show.
Also, I think people would be more sympathetic to Jay if we hadn’t watched a fairly similar situation happen in 1992. It appeared to most that Jay screwed Dave, and now it appears that Jay screwed Conan. Fool me once… Plus, Jay took a couple of real low shots at Letterman & Conan in the last week or two of Conan’s Tonight Show run. I imagine that cemented many people’s opinion of Jay.
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### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/62 "2010-03-03T17:01:23Z")
I guess Letterman is really ticked off at Leno , that’s why he asked Jay to be in his Super Bowl ad. 🙂
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### Author:  [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/63 "2010-03-03T17:17:06Z")
**friedo** said:
> [@](#):
>
> When did he say that?
I went looking for where I had read that, can’t seem to find it now. I thought it was linked in the big Conan/Leno thread, but can’t dig it out now.
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### Author:  [@anson2995](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anson2995)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/64 "2010-03-03T18:58:52Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#):
>
> 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.
I think you’re wrong on both counts. Conan told NBC he would walk in 2004 unless he was given a definite date to take over the Tonight Show. And his ratings were lousy in the three months before Leno’s 10pm show started.
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### Author:  [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)
#### Post date: [March 3, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/65 "2010-03-03T21:55:50Z")
I wouldn’t be too concerned with the quality of guests on ANY talk show right now. This is PROBABLY just a seasonal lull.
February and March are months in which there AREN"T any major new movies being released or new TV series making their debuts. That means the biggest stars in show biz currently have nothing to plug.
If Robert (_ **Iron Man 2** _) Downey Jr. is shunning Leno in May, THEN Jay should worry about being blackballed. But I’m willing to bet the A-Listers will be there in force as soon as they have something to promote.
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### Author:  [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)
#### Post date: [March 4, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-leno-have-stepped-down/530738/66 "2010-03-04T06:29:34Z")
> [@anson2995](#):
>
> I think you’re wrong on both counts. Conan told NBC he would walk in 2004 unless he was given a definite date to take over the Tonight Show.
This interview with Conan directly says otherwise.
[http://tv.gawker.com/5462309/conan-explains-why-he-didnt-leave-nbc-in-2004-on-charlie-rose](http://tv.gawker.com/5462309/conan-explains-why-he-didnt-leave-nbc-in-2004-on-charlie-rose)
> [@anson2995](#):
>
> And his ratings were lousy in the three months before Leno’s 10pm show started.
Which is a) pretty common when a new host takes over a late night show and b) indirectly Jay Leno’s fault (by NBC’s own admission as to the reason behind his cancellation).
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