Tuning In to TV

New ‘Jay’ taking shape

Details are emerging about NBC’s upcoming “The Jay Leno Show,” including a new director for the host as he moves into prime time.

According to Variety, Liz Plonka, formerly of “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” has been tapped to serve as director of Mr. Leno’s show, which premieres Sept. 14.

Meanwhile, NBC confirmed that Mr. Leno’s “Tonight Show” band leader, Kevin Eubanks, will be continuing on “Jay Leno” as the show’s music director. But John Melendez, who had served as the late night star’s “Tonight Show” announcer since 2004, will no longer serve in that capacity. Instead, he will join a staff of 19 writers for “The Jay Leno Show.”

Miss Plonka replaces Ellen Brown, who directed Mr. Leno on “Tonight” for his entire 17-year run. Miss Plonka was brought in to help give the show a new and different feel from “Tonight,” Variety said.

“She is an accomplished director and is a perfect fit for the new show,” executive producer Debbie Vickers told the trade publication.

Miss Plonka, though, is no stranger to Mr. Leno, having filled in on occasion as the “Tonight Show” director. Her other recent credits include “Mind of Mencia,” “Talkshow With Spike Feresten” and “The Showbiz Show With David Spade.”

As for other credits on “Leno,” Larry Goitia will serve as supervising producer, while Mr. Leno, Jack Coen and Stephanie Ross are producers. Mr. Coen also will supervise the monologue writing, Variety said.

Also last week, NBC took the wraps off the Web site for “The Jay Leno Show,” which will include a weekly video starring Mr. Leno as well as blogs and clips from his “Tonight Show” tenure.

Dave tops Conan

In somewhat-related late-night fodder, based on final national ratings for the week of July 13, CBS’ “Late Show With David Letterman” topped NBC’s “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” in total viewers for the second consecutive week, says MediaWeek.com, citing ratings from Nielsen Media Research.

Mr. Letterman averaged 3.45 million viewers — up by 17 percent from the year-ago week. Mr. O’Brien — who replaced Mr. Leno as “Tonight” host on June 1 — dipped to 2.71 million, a loss of a hefty 37 percent from Mr. Leno’s stint as host one year earlier.

Comparably, this is the first time “Letterman” has delivered more viewers than “The Tonight Show” for two weeks in a row since the Nagano Olympics in February 1998. “Conan,” in contrast, delivered its smallest audience since the premiere of “The Late Show With David Letterman” in August 1993.

Demographically, dominant “Conan” continues to build among adults 18-34. But “Letterman” has narrowed the gap elsewhere as the new “Tonight Show” host continues to lose steam.

TBS wants more ‘Payne’

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