On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 6:41 PM, Kevin M. <[email protected]> wrote: > On Mon, Dec 7, 2009 at 6:20 PM, PGage <[email protected]> wrote: >> I guess we will always have to suffer through folks like Megan Fox and >> the Vampire boyz, since they probably boost ratings, but there is a >> level of vapid move star that probably does not add to ratings > > I'll speak to this point. While promoting the new show, Jay Leno spoke > frequently about the ratings of his previous gig. And if you look at > them, you'd have to agree with his assessment that there are very few > big names that dramatically affect the ratings of a talk show (I > believe Leno usually says "six or seven," and even that number seems > high to me). And nowhere on the list of big ratings draws will you see > any of the pop culture sensations. The host carries a talk show. When > a joke bombs, a good host can save it. When a guest tanks, a good host > can ride to the rescue. There are few things any talk show guest can > do to measurably impact a show in terms of quality or ratings.
I recall this, and if it is true it seems even more reason to keep the bimbos and mimbos off of the guest list (at least, if it can't be shown to increase the film's profit). I am not sure this rule is holding as true for the new Jay Leno Show - his ratings do seem to be more sensitive to the guest list than I had anticipated. This may reflect that late night viewers are creatures of habit who are watching television either because they can not sleep, or have incorporated it into their bedtime rituals. I don't watch Dave because Morgan Freeman or Annie Pots (or whoever) is going to be on, I watch because I am just comfortable after all these years with Dave. But viewers of the Jay Leno Show (as opposed to the Tonight Show with Jay Leno) seem to be more elective and selective in their habits. About 15 to 25% of them seem to ask themselves "who is on Leno tonight" before deciding whether to watch him. OTOH, I may just be thinking of guests who are on the list of six or seven Leno originally had in mind - Michelle Obama spiked his ratings, as did one or two really big movie stars. If he booked Sarah Palin I think his numbers would also spike. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
