Late Night Wars | Late Night Stars Collide | 6

Business Wars

Wondery

History, Business, David Brown, Management

4.6 • 13.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2021

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Jay Leno takes it on the chin from NBC when the network informs him his future as Tonight Show host has a looming shelf life. He needs to hand the keys to Conan O’Brien, who doesn’t want to be stuck in the 12:30 slot forever.

As Letterman’s ratings at CBS decline, NBC makes a bizarre decision to keep its hosts happy and in the family. It’s a decision that backfires in every possible way.

The fallout will spark the last, devastating shake up in the late night wars, as the battlefield goes through radical changes. Technology and taste never sleep, and the networks—and the hosts—are forced to redefine themselves as the industry moves toward the future.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to Business Wars Add Free on Amazon Music.
0:04.8	Download the app today.
0:07.0	Our new book The Art of Business Wars features stories and lessons from history's greatest
0:11.0	business rivalries, with powerful insights uncovered through hundreds of episodes of
0:15.4	Business Wars.
0:16.4	Go to Wondery.com forward slash The Art of Business Wars to order your copy now.
0:22.5	Join Wondery Plus to listen to Business Wars one week early and Add Free in the Wondery
0:27.0	app. Just download the Wondery app in your Apple or Google Play mobile app store today.
0:38.7	A listener note this episode contains adult language and may not be suitable for all listeners.
0:45.3	It's March 2004 at the NBC Studios in Burbank, California. NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker
0:55.0	is sitting in the dungeon across from Jay Leno. The dungeon is Leno's filthy man cave
1:01.0	next to his tonight show dressing room. It smells like stale pizza.
1:06.5	So Jay, I've got some good news for you. We're extending your contract through 2009.
1:11.5	Hey, that is good news, Jeff. Leno leans back on his beat up couch and pops open a
1:17.3	coke. The room is littered with crushed soda cans and grease stained take out boxes.
1:23.6	Zucker finds it disgusting, but he manages a week's smile before he gets on with business.
1:29.6	Oh, one more thing, Jay, at the end of your contract will be transitioning the show to
1:34.7	Conan. Leno sips his coke. His expression is blank, but his mind is reeling. He feels
1:42.3	like he's been sucker punched. End of your contract transitioning. Did this guy just
1:48.7	say NBC is forcing him out for the second time? And they've obviously already talked to
1:54.5	Conan about this. Zucker plucks a stray cheeto off his suit coat and continues. I want to
2:01.4	emphasize, Jay, we're very happy with your work on tonight. We are at number one, Jeff.
	...

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