Whatever side you're falling on in the recent NBC late-night "deck chairs on the Titanic" shuffle, you have to admit it's been good comedy for all parties involved. While Letterman and Craig Ferguson have been sharp (especially Letterman, who has been gleeful in his "I told you so" vitriol), the best bits have come from Leno and O'Brien. Evidence:
It's hard to follow all the angles here, but two things are clear: NBC violated Leno's contract (guaranteeing the 10pm slot), and NBC didn't violate O'Brien's contract (which made no time slot guarantees). So it's not hard to see who the loser here will be. O'Brien won't get the show he wants, Leno will step into a hollow echo of his past success, and tens of millions of dollars will be up in the air. Only Jimmy Fallon will continue to gestate his talent relatively unmolested, and his security is merely a function of the low expectations of his time slot.
Meanwhile, CBS (and even Jimmy Kimmel, who actually dressed up as Jay Leno the other night to hilarious effect) comes out smelling like a rose, and Letterman -- the true comic original, even as a lion in winter -- will ride off into the sunset vindicated and satisfied, as much as a curmudgeon of his magnitude can be satisfied. But for now, the true winners will be audiences exposed to some stinging comedic riffs from here and there. At least, I know I'm laughing.
It's hard to follow all the angles here, but two things are clear: NBC violated Leno's contract (guaranteeing the 10pm slot), and NBC didn't violate O'Brien's contract (which made no time slot guarantees). So it's not hard to see who the loser here will be. O'Brien won't get the show he wants, Leno will step into a hollow echo of his past success, and tens of millions of dollars will be up in the air. Only Jimmy Fallon will continue to gestate his talent relatively unmolested, and his security is merely a function of the low expectations of his time slot.
Meanwhile, CBS (and even Jimmy Kimmel, who actually dressed up as Jay Leno the other night to hilarious effect) comes out smelling like a rose, and Letterman -- the true comic original, even as a lion in winter -- will ride off into the sunset vindicated and satisfied, as much as a curmudgeon of his magnitude can be satisfied. But for now, the true winners will be audiences exposed to some stinging comedic riffs from here and there. At least, I know I'm laughing.
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