Why Jay Leno is almost certainly going to be a hit

Yes, I have heard what you have heard: NBC's competition griping that no matter what Jay Leno does this week as host of his own prime-time nightly program, NBC will declare it a success. Yes, I do remember the NBC press release declaring Conan O'Brien the "King of Late Night" after one week of "The Tonight Show." I agree, that was just wrong -- and I love the new "Tonight Show." (Kudos to NBC's Rick Ludwin for saying if he had it to do over again, that press release would have never gone out.)

But that doesn't negate the following fact: "The Jay Leno Show" is almost certainly going to be a hit, because if by "a hit" you mean it makes a pile of money, then the low cost of the show and the almost predictable audience that's going to tune in for Jay will ensure it covers its nut, and then some. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to hear that NBC is making more money at 9 p.m. than any other hour of the day except, maybe, 7 a.m.

Anyway, click the podcast bar to hear my interview today with KNX Radio about "The Jay Leno Show."

(d/l)