But that's actually what made Leno a hit with
NBC executives in the
first place. He was a perfect choice for
Tonight back in May 1992, when audiences of network
television were beginning to wither and executives wanted someone
who could relate to crowds in
Las Vegas,
Nevada, and Branson,
Missouri, with some of the same material - someone safe. The
result: I'm afraid that, unless he acts to change it, Leno's legacy
in late-night television will be simply that he helped put the
"broad" back into broadcasting.
But therein lies an opportunity. As Leno prepares to depart
Tonight in 2009, making way for the
younger, goofier Conan O'Brien, perhaps having an end date will
free the edgy comic who might yet lurk within. It seems almost
certain, after all, that Leno will go out on top of the ratings.
While
David Letterman is merely hanging on to his 4.3 million
viewers per night, Leno solidly draws about 5.8 million. He's the
undisputed king of those numbers and has been for years. So as the
lame duck of late night, why not take some risks now?
Sure, the stars won't make it easy. They're more calculating today,
securing guest spots with Leno and Letterman and O'Brien and Jimmy
Kimmel to hawk their products and safeguard their images.
Unfortunately, that's the way the interviews now come across to
viewers, who are really hoping for glimpses of real people. But
there is little incentive for Leno to play along with that
salesmanship. He has the opportunity to return to the sort of raw,
memorable material that defined him when he roamed the countryside
like a comedic maniac. Here's hoping he does just that.
Madden and More