Boston, it is often said, was the cradle of the American Revolution. And today it is the site of an all-out rebellion between a colony (the NBC affiliate) and its distant overlord (NBC). Boston’s WHDH says it will not air Jay Leno’s 10 p.m. talk show next fall, and will put a newscast in its place instead–the TV equivalent of a shot heard ’round the world.
The issue here: affiliates, whose late newscasts are already hurting from weak NBC ratings, are afraid a cheaper-but-lower-rated Jay at 10 p.m. will be the coup de grace for them. NBC has responded furiously, threatening to strip the station of its network affiliation. That’s right—no more Kath and Kim for you, seditious scoundrels! At that point, WHDH would become independent, and would need to call on the naval assistance of the French and Spanish crowns.
Could this be the first of more rebellions? And what an interesting choice: Local news or Jay Leno? Jay Leno or local news? Death by fire or drowning?