Exclusive: NBCU’s Zucker Courts Jon Stewart

After NBC Universal’s high-profile signing of Ben Silverman for the top programming job, Comedy Central’s Jon Stewart might be next on the Peacock’s wish list.

NBC Universal President/Chief Executive Jeff Zucker and NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios Co-Chair Marc Graboff recently wined and dined the satirical news anchor and his agent, James Dixon.
According to a network source, Zucker and Graboff didn’t focus on pitching any specific role at the dinner meeting. “They just made their interest known in finding a way to do business together if Jon was ever available,” says the source, who categorized the talks as “exploratory.”

That slow and easy approach mirrors another of Zucker’s high-profile courtships, his successful play to snare Meredith Vieira from The View to replace Katie Couric on the Today show. While Zucker’s play for Silverman was more abrupt after Silverman walked into his office and said he was a free agent, Zucker is known to be a master of the soft sell, knowing with certain talent he can’t push too hard.

Stewart’s The Daily Show With Jon Stewart is a franchise at Comedy Central, and Stewart’s deal is up in 2008. Although Comedy Central has had its eye on off-net sitcoms such as The Office, as well as continuing its slew of originals, it is watching costs in part to have the resources to keep Stewart.

As for NBC, while its late night is in flux right now, the network’s interest in Stewart is not limited to that daypart, according to sources. If Stewart were to jump to a network in late night, he has been said to covet David Letterman’s chair on CBS.

But NBC is turning its attention to its own late-night future. The network has some major decisions to make in the wake of its announcement that Conan O’Brien is scheduled to replace Jay Leno on The Tonight Show in 2009. Leno is still printing money for NBC, and the show’s profitability is even more important now, given the network’s primetime struggles.

While NBC may decide to keep Leno and give O’Brien a reported $40 million payout, either way it has a hole at 12:30 a.m. ET, because O’Brien would undoubtedly leave the network if it pulled The Tonight Show from him.

Whoever ends up hosting at 11:30, NBC has begun actively working on a solution for the post-Tonight Show hole in 2009.

Representatives of Stewart, NBCU and Comedy Central declined comment.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6452696.html

Update: Jimmy Fallon signs to take over Conan?

Howard asked Jimmy if the rumor about him taking over for Conan is true. Jimmy said that he has signed a contract with NBC where he will take over Conan's spot if he leaves. He said that it's a little trickier than that because they actually won't let him do late night shows anywhere else. In the mean time, they're paying him to wait for that. He said that they need the next person to replace Conan. He said he actually substituted for Letterman one time and it was really tough. He said that he interviewed Kristanna Loken and thought that she had taken some marital arts stuff but she said no to that and talked about taking mime classes. He said that the pre-interviewer must have just slacked off that day and figured since Dave was on vacation that he'd be on vacation.

http://www.marksfriggin.com/news.htm

They still have two years before anything happens. Its a lot of talk.

BTW, why is everyone always STILL hot on Jon Stewart? He has been called "The Next Guy" of late night for about 15+ years now, yet, all he has is a minor-hit cable TV show, that already had an established format before he took the lead. He's good, but not that good.

Didn't see the J.Falon part though. That would be a big mistake. He is SOOOOOO Unfunny.

Fever Pitch could have been a lot better had he NOT been cast in the movie.

It is two years away, but if Stewart's contract with Comedy Central is over in less than a year, we might be finding out about decisions alot sooner.

That is, if this story is true.

Can you imagine a Leno-Fallon-Daly lineup? Zzzzz...

To me, Stewart has found his niche and would be a fool to leave.

I hope Leno stays. He's way better than Conan. And I agree on Jimmy Fallon.

I find Conan MUCH better than Leno (I only like "Headlines" on his show), although I do think Leno might be better for this specific job at this time.

I can totally see Conan going somewhere like Fox and thriving there.

To me, when the 12:30 slot is open, NBC would be wise to choose Demetri Martin to bring in a younger audience.

I like Leno's monologue much better...but Headlines is his best segment of the week. I'm not a fan of Conan's quirky humor (and he appeals to a more limited audience).

quote:

Originally posted by TAYLORJNG:
I find Conan MUCH better than Leno (I only like "Headlines" on his show), although I do think Leno might be better for this specific job at this time.

I can totally see Conan going somewhere like Fox and thriving there.

Conan is the next David Letterman- limited audience. I bet NBC dumps him and he moves ship to another network. That would allow for NBC to bring in Jon Stewart and use him at 12:30 until Jay is ready to retire. To let go of Jay who would undoubtedly go somewhere else and probably beat NBC is a bad move. I see Stewart as a bit more accessible to the entire public than Conan.

See, I think Stewart is similar to Conan in that they're very niche comedians.

Well that's possible too, but when you look at each of them together, I'm voting that Stewart is more accessible.

quote:

Originally posted by TAYLORJNG:
See, I think Stewart is similar to Conan in that they're very niche comedians.

Disagree about Stewart. The Daily Show with Craig Kilborn was very different than its current iteration. While I agree that the format may be similar (headlines, correspondent piece, 5-minute interview), the topics have changed dramatically. And while his cable ratings will never be network-sized, his show has much more water-cooler buzz than anything on late night...and sometimes primetime.

I completely agree that Fallon is not the answer to 12:30. His humor and audience is too narrow.

quote:

Originally posted by TV-aholic:

BTW, why is everyone always STILL hot on Jon Stewart? He has been called "The Next Guy" of late night for about 15+ years now, yet, all he has is a minor-hit cable TV show, that already had an established format before he took the lead. He's good, but not that good.

Didn't see the J.Falon part though. That would be a big mistake. He is SOOOOOO Unfunny.

Fever Pitch could have been a lot better had he NOT been cast in the movie.

Far be it from me to knock my brethern, but Conan uses the same exact inflection for every single punchline -- most of which you can see coming a mile away. If you've ever watched the show, you know what I'm talking about. His show is also horribly-written, although I guess he'd inherit the Leno writers (who are reasonably good whenever they're not trying to write skits) if he were to take over. It's unfortunate because he is probably the best interviewer out of the 6 late-night bigwigs (well, 5 plus Carson Dully), but monologues are decidedly not for him.

The whole deal just seemed ill-conceived to me -- like it was done behind Leno's back and against his will -- so I'm not surprised they're trying to get out of it. Conan hosting "The Tonight Show" would be a disaster. Never mind that Letterman makes, what, a hundred times more than Leno makes... all the while delivering lower ratings.

Conan followed by Stewart would be genious. I find both to be far superior to the other stuff out there.

Following those two would be Craig Ferguson on CBS. He is in the same position Conan was in early on, he can't get guests. But he is dead funny.

If you would put Conan, Stewart, Ferguson on the same net, you get young quickly. You pick up much more of the college and alternative crowd. Plus I would watch it, what else do you need?

Following them would be Leno and Letterman. Never watched Kimmel all that much. And bringing up the rear is Daly due to his ability, not so much his guests.

quote:

Originally posted by Texas Bound:
Conan followed by Stewart would be genious. I find both to be far superior to the other stuff out there.

I don't know what "genious" is, but I for one don't think it would be "genius".