Citytv has acquired the rights to Jay Leno's new show, but it's more like the coming of tomorrow than Tonight. The comedian has been with the late night fixture since Johnny Carson retired in 1993, and is preparing to give way to successor Conan O'Brien.
But NBC feared the late night ratings leader would jump to another network, so they made him an offer he couldn't refuse - a 5-days-a-week primetime show, airing Monday through Friday at 10pm. It's a big risk for the U.S. network, which can save a bundle in production costs by replacing more expensive shows in the timeslot.
Details on the exact format of the show aren't known, but it may not stray too far afield from what's made him the number one nighttime attraction for more than a decade. Old favourites like "Headlines" and "Jaywalking" and his famous opening monologue are coming back for the ride.
His final Tonight Show appearance is slated for May 29th.
The addition means
Citytv will have two of late night's best back-to-back before and after
CityNews Tonight At 11. Jimmy Kimmel's late night show continues at 11:35pm.
"This is a fresh viewing alternative with a proven host and big name guest stars that will entertain audiences nightly," notes Malcolm Dunlop, the Executive Vice President of Programming for Rogers Media Television.
There have been countless talk shows on the tube over the years but never a network-produced regularly scheduled show every week night in primetime. It's a bold experiment in a changing TV landscape. Curious how it will look? You can find out for yourself when the show debuts next fall at 10pm on
Citytv.
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