Letterman Goes To War Against Leno, NBC Over Late Night Woes

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by Steve Krakauer | 8:55 am, January 12th, 2010

» 5 comments

NBC’s late night shake-up (that, at this present time still sits mid-shake-up) has provided tremendous fodder for all late night comedians, including those at the peacock network.

But last night David Letterman seemed to relish pounding his former network more than others who had taken on the subject before – complete with a Jay Leno impression and a Top 10 list.

When Letterman made his very public announcement about having sexual relations with former staffers, other comedians made a few jokes. But Leno went with a full court press – and now it was payback for Letterman.

He started with a breakdown of what happened at NBC. He told his audience that “Jay ‘Big Jaw’ Leno” told NBC “I’m having trouble staying up this late,” so was moved to 10pm. To drive the point home further, he described “our friend” Conan O’Brien and “likable young person” Jimmy Fallon. This was an attack on Jay Leno and NBC, only. O’Brien and Fallon were spared. (Not so for Carson Daly, who people haven’t been talking about much. Letterman: “He’s like the Pluto of talk shows. It’s like, is it really a show?”)

Letterman suggested, jokingly of course, that O’Brien and Leno co-host the Tonight Show. Leno, said Letterman, “likes to tell jokes at 11:30 and he’s got an old truck he likes to work on.”

And then came a rarely used Leno impression by his rival: “Can you get me some air filters, Mavis, I’ll be under the car all day.” (That would be a reference to Mavis Leno, Jay’s longtime wife. Just in case it didn’t seem personal enough.)

There was also a top 10 list. Some examples: “Winner on Deal Or No Deal gets to run the network for a week.” “Just gave 10pm show to Snooki.” “It’s so bad, they’ve even considered me.”

No matter what late night show audiences turn on now, they get to hear about NBC. What does Comcast think about ‘all press is good press?’

Dave’s “advice” for NBC:

Here’s the Top 10 list:

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cbs, Conan O'Brien, Dave Letterman, Dave vs. Jay, David Letterman, David Letterman's Jay Leno impression, Jay Leno, Late-Night Wars, NBC, The Late Show

The Real Royal King

Yes, the Palin children are role models par excellence. If my daughter had not already graduated from high school and college, married well, had a child AFTER marriage, I would urge her to follow Bristol’s path: attach myself to a piece of local trash, get knocked up, drop out and go through a charade of an engagement. If my son were not finishing law school, I would hope he would follow Track. Vandalize public property whilst avoiding felony conviction by forced enlistment. If all American children followed these paths, we would be a much, much better nation, I am sure. Of course, I can’t give the children all the credit. Some of that goes to Saint Sarah for some of the worst parenting skills since the last dingo dropped in the Outback. I do have to take some exception to your post, however. I saw few defending Clinton. In fact, it seemed to me that most Democrats, moderates, progressives and liberals condemned his actions, whilst admiring his leadership and parenting skills. Chelsea is, after all, a lovely and accomplished young women. True, the response lacked the grand hypocrisy of a Gingrich or Livingstone, but …. Letterman and Polanski are entertainers, so you really are mixing masked potatoes with saxophones.
m

Interesting. Dave’s suggestion though – not that bad. Why not?
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

Maybe I’m just old, but I didn’t see “payback” or anything too personal in Dave’s comments and unlike some people, I didn’t think Leno “eviscerated” NBC — to me, it was like they were discussing Doc’s suit.
http://lnsmitheeblog.blogspot.com LNSmithee

I’m mystified at RRK’s attack on Palin. Neither she nor her children were mentioned in the story whatsoever. Dude, are you so drunk/stoned that you didn’t know this story wasn’t about her? Or is your seething hatred for her so overwhelming, you saw just took the opportunity of an empty comment space to relieve yourself of the pressure caused by her existence?

Oh, BTW — congrats on your son finishing law school. If he takes after you, he will prove to be the type of person that has given the legal profession the sterling reputation that it enjoys among the public.
CatherinZu

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