There’s new things in store for Jay Leno’s new show on NBC this fall.
The Jay Leno Show will only feature one celebrity guest (two at most!) and musical segments will feature multiple acts performing together a la Grammys style. And his famous bits including Jay Walking and headlines will be saved for the end of the show, which will go directly into the local news san commercial!
The network has also built a race track next to the studio for the Green Car Challenge, where celebrities can race against each other in alternative fuel vehicles!
Another new aspect of the the show will feature comedian correspondents doing taped segments. For example, D.L Hughley will report on politics from Washington, news anchor Brian Williams will have a regular bit with Stories Not Good Enough For Nightly News and funnywoman Rachel Harris will be helping out as well.
And since Leno feels he had grown complacent while hosting the Tonight Show, he has lost about 10-12 pounds running four miles every morning in training for the premiere.
Nice job!
He even addressed rumors that he would take the show to ABC, stating, “When you change networks, [people think] you’re greedy, that you wanted more money. There are things I like about the network and there are things I don’t. But much like a marriage you work it out … there’s only so much pie you can eat. There was no desire to go to ABC and go against Conan [O’Brien]… because that’s bitterness … bitterness kills creativity, it kills everything. You put your head down and move forward.”
And the pressure to “save NBC” with the new show?! “Screw the network,” said the funnyman.
But, what about O’Brien vs Leno?
Leno insists “There was never any tension between Conan and I. Will we fight like cats and dogs to get the guest? Yes … but that doesn’t mean you don’t like each other. It’s a game. You tease and trash talk, that’s the fun part.”
Adding, “Do I expect to beat ‘CSI: Miami’? No. Do I expect to beat them in repeats? Yeah. I don’t expect to get them on the straights but catch them in the corners.”
When a critic commented that Leno’s responses seemed more confident that his usual and asked what had changed.
“I’m rich now,” said Leno.
Now?
[Image via WENN.]
