NBC Prez Jeff Zucker wines and dines Jon Stewart

[DeepModem Mom]

Broadcasting & Cable: Exclusive: NBCU’s Zucker Courts Jon Stewart
By Ben Grossman -- Broadcasting & Cable, 6/18/2007

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.”...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....

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

[babylonsister]

1. Hmmm. Late night in flux? Doesn't say much for Leno, and I for one

hope Jon doesn't get drafted to that late-late night time slot when I'm in bed usually.
I imagine whoever offers the most money wins, as long as he keeps his creative license, as I don't see Stewart as being a sell-out.
WHATEVER! I'm overthinking this! :D

[Missy Vixen]

6. Actually, Conan O'Brien has been announced as

Leno's replacement when he retires. If I recall correctly, it's supposed to happen within the next two years.

Julie

[DeepModem Mom]

8. "Leno is still printing money for NBC..."

...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....

[MadBadger]

12. Well, as the article states, he has interest in taking Letterman's job when he retires.

[rocktivity]

2. DON'T DO IT, JON! REMEMBER THE MAHER!!!

When Bill Maher went from Comedy Central to ABC, I knew it was only a matter of time before he'd say something that would get him tossed off the air!

:scared:
rocknation

[blondeatlast]

3. I had the same thought--but if he does, I could deal with a full hour of Colbert. nt

[MadBadger]

11. Except Jon Stewart isnt controversial like Maher is.

[malaise]

16. Ditto

Stay away from them Jon.

[chimpymustgo]

4. Olberman and Stewart, 10 pm M-F - If I were Queen of NBCU!

A boost for democracy - as well as the ratings.

[Toots]

5. I think Stewart is pretty savvy

I don't think he will jump into anything blindly and he has a pretty darn good gig goiung now. He works only about fifty hours a year and makes millions. I guess works is not the right word. He is on the air about fifty hour a year. Four days a week twenty minutes a day. Every week he puts in one hour and forty minutes, air time. He only does forty two weeks a year. A pretty good gig...

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. If he's doing any of the writing then he's working more than that. Then too,

comedy is work. It might be easy work for him, but he still has to work at it to some degree. :)
But that said, yah, I'd love his job too.

[peacetalksforall]

10. Stewart has to do what's necessary for his family, but I believe the

program would be so watered down that I would find myself not quite turning the channel. I despise NBC and do not trust them in any way. They fired Donahue because he asked questions about Iraq War II. He didn't fit the WH plan for NBC. If they hire Stewart NBC will be pressured into hiring a religious-soldier-comic parallel (or a religious-mercenary-or brass comic).

This is very disheartening news-gossip.

[DS1]

14. You don't think there's any preparation time involved

like writing the stories, rehearsing the bits, anything of that nature?

you think he just walks on set 30 seconds before they say "Go" and reads what's on the paper?

[Toots]

18. I did say "air time"

:shrug:

[immoderate]

15. When I was a photographer, I got $100,000 a second.

Yeah, it took 1/100 of a second to take the picture. And I got $1000 for it. So I was making $100,000/second. That was a good gig. :)

--IMM

[rocktivity]

17. But you're not including the preparation time

writing, rehearsing, production, booking guests, etc.

:headbang:
rocknation

[TahitiNut]

19. Well, that's the 'standard' for public school teachers. Why not photographers and hosts?

:evilgrin:

[rocktivity]

21. My sister is a middle school prinicipal, LOL!!!

:rofl:
rocknation

[Hamlette]

whoever negotiates the next contract with Jon just keep the vacation to a minimum!

yes, selfish beyond belief, but when Keith or Jon are on vacation my mental health suffers.

[dysfunctional press]

9. CBS should get Jon to replace Katie Couric.

nt

[DeepModem Mom]

13. Wow! Paging Les Moonves! Want to get out of the Katie mess, and really shake things up? nt

[Horse with no Name]

20. Jon will never do it

He won't be muzzled by a network.