As expected, Jay Leno will return to “The Tonight Show
”,
TMZ exclusively reported today. That leaves a gloomy, unacknowledged Conan O’Brien free to see what Fox is offering (if Zucker doesn’t stand in his way – as he likely will).
‘’Jay Leno has made a new deal with NBC, which gives him "The Tonight Show
" from 11:35 - 12:35’’, the site reports. “As we first reported, under the contract Jay had been working under, he was guaranteed the 10 PM hour. By moving him to 11:35, NBC was in breach of his contract and needed to negotiate a new deal. That is now done, sources tell TMZ.”
Meanwhile,
Nikkie Fenke is reporting that negotiations are underway to see that Conan walks away with a sumly sequestration package.
‘’The deal as sketched puts Jay Leno back hosting The Tonight Show, and Conan O'Brien
exiting with a lot of money’’.
Amusingly – and strangely – enough, NBC issued a press release earlier stating : “NBC’s The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien has topped all broadcast and cable competition in the key late-night demographic of adults 18-49 for the week of January 4-8. At 12:35 a.m. ET. Last week also saw Conan deliver bigger audiences than CBS's Late Show with David Letterman
and the ABC lineup of Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live in adults, men and women 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54. Conan has finished #1 or tied for #1 among broadcast networks in adult 18-49 rating for nine of the last 11 weeks. The median age of Conan’s audience last week was 45.6, nine years younger than Nightline's" 55.0 and 11 years younger than Letterman’s 57.3”.
.... and yet, they want Leno back? Is that right?
