If you talk to people connected with The Jay Leno Show, they’ll tell you the new show will have more comedy and fewer guests, because viewers tune out the interviews in the second half of The Tonight Show. Leno often says that, in this celeb-saturated era, only a handful of guests really draw viewers anyway.
People connected with Conan O’Brien’s Tonight say much the same thing, by way of explaining why they’re not worried that Leno’s 10 p.m. show will suck up every A-lister in Hollywood, leaving them with those former NSync members not surnamed Timberlake.
Stars don’t matter! But just in case stars do matter, Leno just announced a whole pile of them to fill out his first week on the air.
Today, NBC announced Leno’s schedule for his first week on air, which includes a list of in-studio and taped celebs, including some among the handful of stars who probably do draw viewers nowadays. And some who probably do not. I’ll let you decide which is which.
Monday: As previously announced, Jerry Seinfeld, Jay-Z, Rihanna and Kanye West
Tuesday: Tom Cruise
Wednesday: Robin Williams and Miley Cyrus
Thursday: Halle Berry; Bruce Hornsby and Eric Clapton
Friday: Drew Berrymore
I’ve not yet seen Conan’s listings for that week (I’m assuming he’s in originals). But it could be a good week for Corey Feldman to get on.
