NBC Cancels Jay Leno’s Prime-Time Show

After weeks of rumors, NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin confirmed Sunday that Jay Leno’s nightly prime-time show will end on Feb. 12. – Popeater reports. Although NBC wants Leno to do an 11:35 p.m. show each night, it is not a done deal yet, Gaspin said.

The news comes just days after Leno used his talk-show pulpit to skewer NBC on the day that various media reports emerged that his days in the 10 p.m. time slot may be done. Going straight for the throat, Leno taunted his network by saying “I hear Fox is beautiful this time of year” and joking that the trust between him and the Peacock network is gone.

Gaspin said despite lower ratings for NBC at 10 p.m. compared with last year, the network was making money off the show.

But affiliates were upset that the show was leading fewer viewers into their late news programs, costing them significant advertising revenue. Some affiliates told NBC in December they would go public soon about their complaints if a change wasn’t made, or even take Leno’s show off the air.

“The drumbeat started getting louder,” Gaspin said.

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