Leno’s fans boo his “cancellation” by NBC; Yes, Virginia, there is a Team Jay

In case you were wondering how Jay Leno would respond to Conan O'Brien's announcement that he would not be joining The Tonight Show after midnight, well, keep wondering. At least for a half-hour or so. In this sneak preview clip NBC produced, however, you'll notice that while Team Conan is on the Internet, Team Jay (or would it be Team Leno?) still has many ardent fans. Of course, if you watch his show in primetime or late-night, Leno opens by letting fans rush the stage to lay their hands upon him as if he were the Chin God. Anyhow. During tonight's monologue, they boo when Leno says NBC is "pulling the plug" on him — which, still, no, they're moving you back to your old time-slot, which means you're still on the air, dummy — and cheer when he jokes that the date (which he would not be on anyhow because of the Winter Olympics coverage pre-empting everything else on NBC) coincides with the Mayan calendar. Also Leno joked that if he gained 10 more pounds, the network would let him go on The Biggest Loser. Which jokes like these, he's already halfway there. This from a guy who knows that if NBC lets Conan walk away, he'll get his full hour and Tonight Show back (and TMZ is reporting this is in the works, too). Who is he trying to fool? Roll the clip!

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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2 thoughts on “Leno’s fans boo his “cancellation” by NBC; Yes, Virginia, there is a Team Jay

  1. It probably goes without saying, but…
    …I just got back from the UCB Theatre in New York, and there was an overwhelming force backing Conan. Jay was a whipping boy. I wish their take on this spectacle could make it to air…or this blog…

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