The Tonight Show

Well said, tho it is fitting that Garth was wearing that cap promoting his world tour. That's a pretty good microcosm right there. Interesting that Jay didn't mention the death of Helen Kushnick, his longtime manager, who guided him to the top but pissed off Hollywood with her tactics and greatly hamstrung Jay early. His obsession with the OJ trial and progressively worse skits about it bordered on vulture-like, and his Barry Bonds interview was a joke. But Headlines was awesome, and he had other good bits between the monologue and the first guest. He should have never done the prime-time show; it was awful until the Conan wars, and then just train-wreck watchable. Conan should have never been in the 11:35 slot; when he guested on Leno, he had no pop with the crowd. They should have had guest hosts the way Carson did, to see who could best build a following and possibly be a good successor instead of Conan.

 

Welcome back.

Re Kushnick: If The Late Shift is to be believed, Jay would have had little good to say about her, even in memoriam. He eventually felt like he was the one Helen hurt the most.

 

That would have required Jay Leno taking a day off ... something Jay Leno doesn't do. He even tried to get NBC to hire extra staff so the show never had to do repeats, but the network declined.

 

http://articles.latimes.com/1992-09-15/entertainment/ca-742_1_travis-tritt

This is the article where an LA Times reporter was talking with Ken Kragen about the booking practices. It was just an informal conversation and then when the LAT reporter heard it, he asked if Ken wanted to go on the record.

That was the straw that broke Helen's back.

 

Great get.

I'd forgotten Trisha Yearwood (a/k/a Garth Brooks' wife) was hit by the shrapnel in that mess.

 

Ferguson at 11:30 would be a disaster. CBS won't let that happen.

 

He might fit 12:37 better, but I certainly don't know about "disaster." He's proven himself to be pretty good at the genre.

 

Replacing Letterman is going to be really interesting... I think Ferguson has it in his contract that he's the successor, but he's said publicly, he doesn't expect it to be him. Unless CBS completely changes everything (possible) it will be someone Letterman picks.

I don't think Stewart ever leaves Comedy Central. It would be funny if they went with Conan, but I'm sure that's not going to happen.

 

I don't know if this is something Joel McHale would want to do, but he'd be perfect for a late night show.

 

I agree. I'm surprised he's not mentioned more often, or maybe he will be when Community isn't on anymore.

 

I really felt for Jay in his final minutes. I've always heard it but it clearly showed that what is said about Leno being one of the nicest, most genuine people in Hollywood is spot-friggin on.

Carson had a messed up private life but seeing him go was like watching an uncle die. Leno, sort of. I liked him every bit as much though. Now, though, I ask people in the younger age groups what they think of Fallon or Leno, it's like "white-hot" love for Fallon. I just don't get that. But then I really wasn't sure I'd embrace Leno like Uncle Johnny.

 

What about Steve Allen, Jack Lescoulie and Al Collins, and Jack Paar?