It's the Tonight Show, Stupid!

Over the past few weeks, the saga of The Tonight Show played out on daytime and night time television for us all to see. Be be honest I have no real feelings about Jay Leno, or Conan O'Brien. Both have made a ton of money in entertainment and have ascended to the top job on TV according to many, the host of the American institution, The Tonight Show.

For over a half of a century NBC's The Tonight Show has been a staple of all that can be good about TV. From its New York City radio beginning, to it's move to TV with Steve Allen. Then on to Jack Paar, and of course for 30 years with the iconic Johnny Carson and his brilliant cast members, Ed McMahon, Doc Severinson, Skitch Henderson, and even the hapless Tommy Newsome. Johnny and cast retired after 30 great years, Years that will never be duplicated again by anyone anywhere. But this is not wishing for the good the old days.

Then it was Jay Leno. Of course things changed. That's just the business. For 17 years, Jay ran his show, and although different it was still The Tonight Show, and still enjoyed great success. Then it was on to Conan. Things changed again and that's OK again. He's a funny guy, and it's a new day. Who knows where his run would have gone? Then the whole thing comes apart.

Now Conan's out and Jay is back in, and it's The Tonight Show again with Jay, and it's like it never happened with Conan. The network did this and that, and threw money around to get Jay in, and Conan and his staff of 200 out. The hosts were sniping, and swiping shots at each other and the network, and sheesh! C'mon man.....it's The Tonight Show here. So sad that the show just got thrown around like a terrible sitcom pilot from the 60's. I think that many tend to look at The Tonight Show as something that's as ingrained into our society as anything in pop-culture. And its always been when you think of The Tonight Show, you think of the good in TV.

So sad those three words, The Tonight Show had to be drug through the mud and pay the price. An American institution. A franchise that so many have worked so hard to make so great for literally decades, has been tarnished badly. It once was the dream job of many, right now it just looks desperate, and that's a shame! Gone are Johnny, Ed, Jack and Steve, and Skitch. And one saving grace is that they didn't have to watch this unfortunate unraveling of their immense talent and hard work.

When I was a young broadcaster I always wanted to host that show, as did many others. It was the dream job. Even as a seasoned broadcaster, I still think it's a dream job. And although I haven't talked to her directly about it, my feeling is that my show partner Sue Wilson and I would be happy to host The Tonight Show, and for less than the 45 million the network tossed and Conan to NOT host the show.

To all involved, with the sniping, swiping, finger pointing, and the terrible decision making all the way around, on every front, all should stop and think.......

It's The Tonight Show stupid! Great American Institutions deserve a little better than that.