Les Moonves: CSI Will Crush Leno At 10PM

NEW YORK — CBS Corp. Chief Executive Leslie Moonves challenged Jay Leno to a ratings duel when the late-night talk show host moves his NBC show into a prime-time slot at 10 p.m. next fall.

"I will bet anybody who would like to bet that 'CSI: Miami' on Monday night at 10 o'clock will beat Jay by a lot. Remember that. By a lot," Moonves said Wednesday at an investor conference hosted by UBS.

Moonves said CBS was winning the ratings war on four of the five weeknights in the 10 p.m. time slot, with its shows such as "Without a Trace" and "CSI: NY."

The network also benefits from selling those shows to syndication, to overseas markets and on DVD.

"They are sold in 12 different ways," he said. "We think taking the third competitor out of the marketplace will make us even stronger in terms of all those areas."

Leno, for his part, said Tuesday that he didn't expect his nightly show to beat any other 10 p.m. show in the beginning, but would benefit from running at least 46 weeks of the year, including when other shows are in reruns.

NBC has taken a pummeling this season with lackluster new dramas such as "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Knight Rider" and a disappointing third season for "Heroes." It is seeking to pare down the costs of producing scripted shows.

Last week, NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co., laid off about 500 employees, or about 3 percent of its work force, as part of a plan to trim $500 million next year.

"Network television is all about having hit shows. We have hit shows every night of the week," Moonves said. "It remains a good business, and when the advertising markets come back in full force, it will be extremely effective for us."

Comments

[pons1595]

Leno su cks,

[paulfree17]

I sometime like Leno's monologue but I have to turn him off everytime Jaywalking comes on.

We all know that there are stupid people and that some people are willing to pretend to be stupid for five minutes of fame and airtime. What bothers me is that these segments glorify stupidity.

Please get rid of Jay Walking. It is degrading and we don't need it to show the entire country and the world how stupid American's can be. That was Bush's job.

[Dogwithoutaleash]

I'm annoyed at Leno's psuedo-familiarty of going out into the audience and shaking people's hands before his monologue starts right after he is introduced. Ever notice how scripted this looks? I like this ploy if it seems genuine, but it never looks genuine in Leno's case. Ever notice how he never looks at the people's faces as he is shaking their hands? And the people look like the were told to go up and be part of this exercise. I don't know, but it looks very phony to me and I gues that is why it annoys me.

[Alvin4NY]

Well, I've been to tapings of David's show, and I have to tell you, he has never been known as Mr. Warmth, starting with the way he makes his audience stand in the freezing cold, and then lines them up repeatedly before bringing them inside to a freezing cold studio. I've never seen Dave make contact with an audience member, and the audience is just a prop-that get's activated whenever the "applause" sign lights up. Of course, the biggest difference between the two, is that David is happy with his image and doesn't care. Jay tries to pretend he cares.

[beckpod1]

Jay Leno will be fine at that slot. CSI is boring...and has gotten so predictable..
I just can't stand seeing these CSI investigaters dressed like stars entering a messy crime scene..sometimes munching on a sandwich and being less than human. Yes the special effects are done very well...I think Jay Leno's "Headlines", is much more entertaining...and his take on politics is always funny. As for David Letterman...I've never liked his humor..his jokes are bad..and the whole point of his joke...to make it funny..is the faces David makes. Yuk yuk!!
Of course Carson was the best!

[Dogwithoutaleash]

I agree completely, especially your point of the stars entering the crime scenes. Why do the women always have to have low-cut tops with their cleavage showing? It just seems so stupid. And CSI isn't the only offender. It seems like all of the shows are doing this. There is always at least one woman with this type of outfit on. Or they have their long flowing "Heather Locklear Preference" hair hanging in their faces, so they have to "toss" their hair back or put it behind their ear. OK, this is high school stuff, not serious crime scene investigator stuff. I, mean, really, let's get serious here. I know sex sells, but this just makes it look stupid.

[buckbuck11]

If I wanted right wing political humor, I'd watch O'Reilly.

I don't.

[Dogwithoutaleash]

I would gladly take that bet. I don't care for Leno. I think his delivery is horrible. But he does have some good writers and I can recognize his appeal. CSI-Miami or any of the CSI shows are just plain hard to watch. Especially Miami with it's David Caroso lead. I tire quickly of his uber-machismo and the graphic depictions of violence and forensics. I truly believe that people will leave CSI and go to Leno in droves. Honestly, I would rather watch even Leno than all of that graphic violence.

[Alvin4NY]

If his show was formatted like Merv was, it might be all right. These talk shows, on any given night, are as good as the guest(s) they are presenting. What's Jay's contract? Is it for just one season? If his ratings tank, are they going to keep running it? Was this just a ploy on NBC'spart to honor their commitment to Conan, and keep Jay off ABC? Seems like.....

[TurgidCaterwauling]

When will corporate America wake up and realize that there really isn't much interest in their products and programs? Note to Les: I don't care.

[Alvin4NY]

It's hard to believe people still talk like this, isn't it? Oh wait, we illegally invaded another country and hijacked their land.....hmmm, guess it makes sense. Someone has to win, or conquer. Les acts like he's doing a run on a "spy vs spy" comic strip. What I'm waiting to see, is whether or not Jay attracts more than 5 Million viewers, and if he doesn't - will they cancel him after one show like they did Rosie?

[That One]

Letterman is still the best.. and Leno sucks and is not funny at any time...Leno is going to flop...hard.

[christianmama4change]

I'm thrilled Leno will be earlier in the night. He's my favorite late night comedian followed by Craig Ferguson.

[ENK727]

Sure CBS just like you thought Katie Couric was going to crush the competition in the evening news.

[TrooAmerican]

Its Official, im purposely watching Leno every night now at 10, and skipping CBS and its crotch of critters for shows. All the various bloated, diseased CSI shows su ck.

[honeydiva]

just the thought of him making 30mil for the lame mess he does...hahaha, you betcha CSI is my choice.

[1201SLD]

DVR, Tivo, lots of possibilities if these shows are essential. CSI has become repetitive and trite, especially with the staff soap-operas; it is nearing the end of its useful life, but then so is Leno. They survive only because there are no interesting options except, maybe, infomercials. So much capacity and no content.

[Nebris]

NBC will have to push both Law & Orders to 9pm. The fans will watch and then switch to a another show at 10.

[123dee]

DVR is the best invention ever, I'll watch Leno at 10:00 and tape CSI

[cynicone1]

Leno is going to flop...hard.