JAY Leno is trying to explain why a major TV network would give him a show at 10 o’clock at night, five nights a week.
And even he has to admit — it’s because people have stopped watching TV the way they used to.
“I don’t know what TV is anymore,” Leno said yesterday on a conference call to promote “The Jay Leno Show,” which kicks off Monday at 10 p.m. on NBC.
“TV has changed. It’s all about what’s happening now,” he said. “Immediacy is the key. With everyone Twittering now, information is only good for about a day.
“The idea here is to tape a fresh new show every day and talk about events that happened that day, that night.”
The gamble NBC is taking with “The Jay Leno Show” — a prime-time talk and variety at an hour that’s been the domain of scripted dramas since the 1950s — is without precedent on broadcast TV.
“In the old days, [TV] was easily defined in terms of daytime, prime-time . . . but young people don’t see network TV as any different from cable TV,” Leno said. “It’s just another thing that’s on for them.”
NBC obviously hopes that Leno’s built-in audience from his “Tonight Show” days will spill over into local-market newscasts struggling for viewers.
It’s a crazy move, heavily criticized in some quarters, but Leno makes no apologies.
“It’s a different model, which all comes down to people wanting to feel like they’re seeing something live and fresh and happening now [at 10 p.m.],” he said.
“NBC is in fourth place, so I can’t do any worse. And TV has to change. It’s not the same it was. Ad dollars aren’t there anymore and the numbers that make you number one now are numbers that would’ve gotten you cancelled years ago.”
Leno says that rival network execs who’ve vowed their stars won’t go on “The Jay Leno Show” are only hurting themselves.
“TV is dying and not doing well and we can all benefit each other,” he said. “I think ‘Lost‘ is the best show on TV and I like the ‘CSI‘ shows.
“I have no problem promoting those shows on my show,” he said.
“It’s sort of disingenuous. ‘None of our people will be on his show.’ Really? Why don’t we all help each other and see if we can stay in business.”