Jay Leno Moving to Prime Time with New NBC Show

The Tonight Show Comedian Signed for Earlier Slot on Network

Dec 9, 2008

Jay Leno, the popular comedian who hosts The Tonight Show on NBC has announced plans for a new prime time program in an earlier slot in 2009.

Jay Leno is movie from late night television to prime time in 2009, after his retirement for the long running NBC program The Tonight Show.

NBC announced that they were pleased that Leno would be with the NBC family for a long time. Leno made a statement in a news conference that after 17 years on the Tonight Show it would be fun to try something new.

Leno’s new show, called The Jay Leno Show, will air five nights a week at 10:00 pm. His current show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, airs weeknights at 11:35 pm Eastern time.

The Tonight Show slot will be taken by Conan O’Brien, who currently hosts the show that follows Leno’s program, Late Night.

According to the NBC Executives, the deal fulfills two goals, keeping the popular comedian in the NBC family and stopping Leno from competing against them on another network

The Jay Leno Show is scheduled to premiere in autumn of 2009. NBC said that the earlier time slot should appeal to advertisers by attracting viewers who view it in real time instead of recording the programs in TIVO and skipping through commercials.

The Tonight Show has a long pedigree of legendary late night hosts including Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson. The variety show format includes an opening monologue, humor, celebrity interviews and a variety of entertainment.

According to the NBC website for The Tonight Show was honored with Emmy Awards in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999.

Many of the world’s most popular celebrities, musical guests and newsmakers make an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno a priority on their publicity tours.

Politicians also have historically appeared on the show, showing their more relaxed and good natured sides. Presidential candidates who have appeared with Leno include Al Gore, George W. Bush, Bill Bradley and John McCain. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced that he would be running for office in 2003.

Jay Leno Biography

Jay Leno has been the host of The Tonight Show since 1987. Leno made frequent appearances on the popular late night program while Johnny Carson was host, making his first appearance on the show in 1977. Leno also appeared on the Late Night Show with David Letterman before becoming the host of The Tonight Show.

Leno, 58, was born in New Rochelle, New York, and raised in Andover, Massachusetts. Leno and his wife, Mavis, live in Los Angeles. Leno has a passion for his collection of classic cars and motorcycles, which he works on in his spare time.

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