Leno Backlash Continues; News Corp. Publication Compares Leno to Hitler
Just because Conan O'Brien retired gracefully from the Tonight Show on Friday does not mean that the war on Jay Leno is over. The Wall Street Journal published the proof yesterday in former Movieline contributor Joe Queenan's damning editorial, which alleged that Leno's reign of terror at NBC is eerily similar to Adolf Hitler's annexation of Central Europe in the 1930s. And if history has taught us anything, Queenan predicts that Leno will not stop at reclaiming the Tonight Show -- the host will try to get his grease-stained hands on NBC's entire late night line-up. All in all, an interesting essay comparing NBC's failure to one of the greatest misfortunes in world history -- even more interesting knowing that the Wall Street Journal is owned by News Corp., which also happens to own the network currently trying to woo O'Brien.
This would not be the first time that a News Corp.-owned publication skewered a late night host on a rival network. When news of David Letterman's extortion scandal and interoffice affairs was uncovered in October, Murdoch's New York Post slammed the Late Show host repeatedly, even going so far as to track down the grandmother of his mistress in an assisted living facility and printing her remarks about her granddaughter's relationship with Letterman.
In yesterday's Wall Street Journal editorial, Queenan took aim at Jay Leno and NBC, the network who weakly allowed Leno to bully them into giving him back the Tonight Show, even if it meant "[stabbing] Mr. O'Brien in the back."
Jay Leno, much like Adolf Hitler, is a master of making secret demands for foreign territory and then acting like the wronged party. First he pretended that he wanted to annex only the first half-hour of Mr. O'Brien's "Tonight Show." Here he was mimicking Hitler, who insisted that he merely wanted to annex the German-speaking Sudetenland, not all of Czechoslovakia.
Then, adopting the craven British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain as a role model, NBC stabbed Mr. O'Brien in the back by agreeing to let Mr. Leno reoccupy the first segment of his old "Tonight Show" slot. NBC's defense was that Mr. O'Brien had dismal ratings, and the show was a bit of a mess. But the same can be said about Czechoslovakia, a hodgepodge cobbled together after the First World War that never really got its act together.
Here's where the parallels become even more eerie. In acquiescing to Mr. Leno's sotto voce demands to annex one-half of "The Tonight Show," NBC thought it could put the whole ugly controversy to rest. Wrong. Interpreting generosity as weakness, Mr. Leno began to maneuver for complete control of "The Tonight Show." Here he was again taking his cue from der Fuhrer, manipulating his outgunned adversary into a position so humiliating he literally had no choice but to surrender. Just as Edward Beneš, president of Czechoslovakia, was forced to abandon ship once he had been betrayed by his erstwhile allies, Mr. O'Brien was forced to abdicate and cede his entire one-hour program to the man he had replaced. He did get a significantly bigger going-away present than Beneš, however.
Today, NBC--much like Chamberlain--is daft enough to believe that Mr. Leno's demands will now cease. If history is any guide, this is unlikely. After pocketing Czechoslovakia, Hitler immediately took dead aim at Poland. Using the same game plan, Mr. Leno will soon go after Jimmy Fallon, who follows "The Tonight Show," quite possibly demanding that NBC expand "Tonight" to its original 90-minute length.
Just as Hitler sought to return Germany to its prewar stature by acquiring Austria and the Sudetenland, Mr. Leno will seek to restore "The Tonight Show" to the mythical stature it enjoyed under his predecessor. Hitler wanted to be thought of as the second coming of Frederick Barbarossa. Mr. Leno wants to be thought of as the second coming of Johnny Carson. Joey Bishop might be more appropriate.
And just as Hitler made his annexation of Austria appear to be the Austrians' idea, Mr. Leno will need Mr. Fallon to invite him to assume command of the show. Perhaps NBC can offer him the same $32.5 million Mr. O'Brien got, and an extra $10 million not to kick up a fuss. At this point, who's counting?
NBC probably believes that once Mr. Leno controls both late-night television and late-late night television, his dreams of global conquest will be sated. Well, everyone knows what happened in the Danzig Corridor in 1939.
So if you're anchoring the 11 p.m. news program that precedes "The Tonight Show," don't get too comfortable. The blitzkrieg is right around the corner. And you're Poland.
· NBC Will Regret Appeasing Leno [WSJ]
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Comments
This piece is more than a little harsh.
Hitler? Really?
Leno may have killed quality comedy but that comparison is stepping over a line.
comparing leno to hitler is ridiculous...leno is just like everyone of us...he wants whats best for him...
First off....i am nor a fan of conan obrien i didnt care fo9r his childish antics.and was in favour of Jimmy Fallon takinf jays tonite show.He is quite poised yet for the big seat but in time would work out.Conan is for just a limited type of fans and wasnt likely to grow a much larger base of fans.
what i couldnt understand was letterman jumping in any getting ionto the mess.he is jsut a envious country bumkin ,a trouble maker.he after all these many years is still unasured of himself it seems.
i admit i was watching him instead of conan,reluctantly.and switching to nite-line sometimes if interesting.this is a business and cqant seem to understand why if you dont do your job and bring in the revenue you are normally let go..it happens all the time everyday.conan has i am sure got paid hansomely by nbc for many years and had the gaul to spit and kick them to the curb.
he is still vey immature even though he is old enough to be "All grown up" now. Poor Baby Conan.....
ALSO, for those into Astrology, Hitler was born April 20th and Jay Leno was born April 28th both are Taurus Bulls. Notice the signs and see the resemblence.
This is typical Rupert Murdoch swill. Murdoch has a rightist agenda and a history of media control through intimidation. This latest diatribe demonstrates how low he has sunk and Hitler comparisons are today generally associated with losing arguments, i.e. ‘when all else fails, compare your adversary to hitler’ . . . Godwin’s Law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwin%27s_law
What an absurdity! Conan simply did not hold the Tonght Show audience. In a business where ratings are the end all, Jay Leno beat David letterman for 12 years. The fault is all on NBC, they bet on Conan and lost.
He is arrogant and overbearing and self centered. Didn't bother me when he was on the tonight show as I could just go to bed and know I wasn't missing anything but at 10:00,yikes...just like having shackles on and having to watch another reality show only noisier. To bad NBC didn't keep Conan.
What I don't get is why five years ago NBC felt they had to offer Conan a promotion to keep him happy. Is there another talk show host looming out there that will hit the scene once time goes by. Was Conan afraid of this guy and wanted assurance from NBC that he wouldn't be replaced by him. But, now the chest board is set for the next move to be made and the unknown guy will present.
Just a thought.
What doesn't make sense is that this is penned by Joe Queenan, which initially made me think it was poorly-done satire. He only got the poorly-done part right this time around.
Has it occurred to anybody that most people couldn't care less about these feuds. They only make could copy and nothing else. The 'TONIGHT SHOW' will go on and people will either watch it or they won't. Those who watch it won't care about any feuds and those who don't weren't watching it anyway.
For those who are too young - or were too uninterested, at the time - to recall, it might help to get some background on this story. Read all about how Leno acquired The Tonight Show gig, back in 1993.
http://bit.ly/6FjAQq (NY Times; 1994)
And to think I used to respect the Wall Street Whornal, AKA Ruperts latest Codpiece. I hope Conan shows up at Fox. His brand of Comedy is not funny. At best, it's juvenile vaudville. Rupert needs a loser to keep him grounded.
That big long thing at the bottom of your keyboard? It's a spacebar. Hit it twice after a period.
Spellcheck is also catching on in the more sophisticated circles.
Hitler?
Get a real life BONE HEAD!
Cone Head was a failure from the start.
I think it is time to get serious, get them all out and start a new quality show with real interesting people.
I think the viewers are sick of Jay, Conan, and the other guy.
If I was NBC I Would look to a new show with a more funny and interesting individual. Someone with style ,
Good looking, bringing interesting topics and making you laugh like Robert William.
This is 2010 if you don't want to look as lousy at the past 10 years you got to make the change.
Actually, it was Leno's show that caused all of this crazyness. His ratings were horrible. NBC tried to move his show to another time giving him back his niche of viewers, bumping Conan. Right now, no one can lose with Conan and college demographic...his humor and teens/college kids are a recipe for success. Conan isn't allowed to host another show for 7 months, but EVERYONE wants him, and he can pretty much pick and choose where he goes and what he ends up doing.
Fer cryin' out loud, it's a talk show! No one is getting killed or dying because of who's sitting behind the desk. It is insensitive to compare someone to Hitler and slap in the face to those who did suffer under his tyranny, by demeaning it to a late night broadcast. Shame on Queenan for his lack of intelligence and knowledge of history and understanding what Hitler really did, he would debase the horror people lived in, to a squibble squabble over something so meaningless and without impact on the world. My world will not change, nor come to a screeching halt, nor do I care less, what happens in the celebrity world. Seriously. There's this thing called a remote. Use it, instead of trying to wrap your head around, and lead these folks to believe you really care so much, you'd actually swallow this gross misspoken analogy as truth.
I agree with Simon-Nize 100%. Like many of us in life, if you can't fulfill your job duties then you are eventually fired. Conan lacked the talent to hold the coveted spot. Letterman is just thanking his lucky stars the attention is off of his cheating, abusive of power at work, getting beat for years and years (by Big Jaw) ass. Now, back to the issue at hand...Hitler!?! That is like comparing Peyton Manning to Hitler because he dominates the quarterback position. Ridiculous.
Good Bye Conan.....We are not gonna miss you! Jay WAS and IS THE TONIGHT SHOW! Conan you were great for your time period . I will be watching the TONIGHT SHOW AGAIN AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS! WALL STREET JOURNAL comments on TV who cares? (I know I answered so I guess I do, oh well)
COME ON MARCH.......................YEAH JAY!
Good Bye Conan.....We are not gonna miss you! Jay WAS and IS THE TONIGHT SHOW! Conan you were great for your time period . I will be watching the TONIGHT SHOW AGAIN AFTER ALL THESE MONTHS! WALL STREET JOURNAL comments on TV who cares? (I know I answered so I guess I do, oh well)
COME ON MARCH.......................YEAH JAY!
For those who are too young - or were too uninterested, at the time - to recall, it might help to get some background on this story. Read all about how Leno acquired The Tonight Show gig, back in 1993.
http://bit.ly/6FjAQq (NY Times; 1994)
I agree with the comparison. However, as Hitler had a war machine which took more than the land and government but the people and their money. Leno, I strongly believe, will push advertisers away. Many stars have refused to appear on his show. Enough money and people walk out the door, and NBC will be force to concede to the Allied power of celebrity and money.
"On every question of construction[of the Constitution] let us carry ourselves back to the time when the Constitution was adopted, recollect the spirit manifested in the debates, and instead of trying what meaning may be squeezed out of the text, or intended against it, conform to the probable one in which it was passed"
Thomas Jefferson June 12, 1823-letter to Judge William Johnson
"...the probable one in which it was passed" Hmmm.. Come on, now. Must I connect the dots for you? "We" had just finished kicking the Brits the hell out of here and what......no sooner having done so....we're going to turn around and invite the off-spring of foreigners, the children of NON-immigrants to the country, to be installed as Commander-in Chief of the United States Armed Forces?!
WAKE UP, AMERICA!! 3 MORE YRS IF NOT OUSTED THE USURPER SETS PRECEDENT
Come on people, the article was tongue in cheek.
Anyway Leno never had a mustache thus he cannot be like Hitler.
well,
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