Leno: I Won't Be Part Of British Car Show Remake Because NBC Will Ruin It

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Huffington Post via Times of London and New York Post   |   March 31, 2008 01:23 PM


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Jay Leno says he was offered the host's spot on the American version of the British car series "Top Gear" - but turned it down because he thought NBC would "ruin" the cult hit.

In an article published yesterday under Leno's byline in the Times of London, the talk show host called himself a "huge fan" of "Top Gear," a long-time series that takes a irreverent look at cars each week.

"My fear," Leno wrote, "is that the show will not be made by car people."

Keep reading the New York Post article.

-OR-

Read Leno's column in the Times of London here.


 
 

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- observing See Profile I'm a Fan of observing permalink

NBC execs are a**wipes to get rid of Leno from the Tonight Show. Think they can cheese up a hard core, serious car aficionado with some car show. Dream on Zucker or is it Sucker?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:36 PM on 04/01/2008
- VictorLudorum See Profile I'm a Fan of VictorLudorum permalink

Howcome i cannot email this page to a friend?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:04 PM on 04/01/2008
- lawrencelugar See Profile I'm a Fan of lawrencelugar permalink

Jay's getting prissy about the politics.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 10:58 AM on 04/01/2008
- dadw5boys See Profile I'm a Fan of dadw5boys permalink

JAY, DUDE,
I want to buy a copy of the blueprints for the Steamer you have. I know you had it restored and blueprinted so you can make repair parts. Sell me a set of the plans so we can build our own steam powered car.
I love to watch you dribing the steamer on the highway. So much power and it flys too. Just a small amount of fuel and that can be recycled cooking oils.
Screw Oil. Give me steam.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 12:14 AM on 04/01/2008
- LoRiseAntlers See Profile I'm a Fan of LoRiseAntlers permalink

Leno's right.This is going to be horrible.I understand that Adam Coralla is going to be the host.

Fusker and fail.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:29 PM on 03/31/2008
- NicoleAnonymous See Profile I'm a Fan of NicoleAnonymous permalink

But isn't NBC the network that pays him so much money he can afford to collect lots of expensive fancy cars that he doesn't even drive? Isn't this the network that pays him more than almost any American makes doing much harder work?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:24 PM on 03/31/2008
- finkid See Profile I'm a Fan of finkid permalink

Don't worry Jay. As soon as GE puts the network on the block, TATA will putchase it. After having purchased Corus Steel, Jaguar, Land Rover and 20+ more business around the world, a broadcast network would be great addition to this India based business.

http://onlybombay.blogspot.com/2008/03/tatas-buying-spree.html

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:12 PM on 03/31/2008
- ProfessorDuh See Profile I'm a Fan of ProfessorDuh permalink

Why not, Leno? You could use the exposure to make some more of your vicious jokes about gay people.
Creep.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:01 PM on 03/31/2008
- SonnyBono See Profile I'm a Fan of SonnyBono permalink

Jay Leno is too busy kissing Governor Arnold' steroid inflated behind as well as McCain's butt to do another show - besides he does all those corporate gigs on weekends so he doesn't need the money.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:39 PM on 03/31/2008
- ME08 See Profile I'm a Fan of ME08 permalink

If I were NBC, he would be out of a job today...

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 06:14 PM on 03/31/2008
- BOHICA See Profile I'm a Fan of BOHICA permalink

Jay doesn't need NBC, it's the other way 'round. It's my understanding that NBC makes gazillions o' bucks from The Tonight Show via ad sales--it's Number One in the daypart by far. The network owns the show (unlike Letterman's deal with CBS) and Leno is the hired help. Leno, OTH, doesn't live off his salary from NBC; he makes his 'walking around money' from the club dates he plays all year long.

Leno has long said that hosting Tonight is his dream job. In short, there's probably nothing that the suits and Little Jeffy can offer him that will entice him to stay at NBC and prevent him from taking his act to another network. Gonna get interesting real soon.

This (the Top Gear offer) is only the tip of the iceberg.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 07:52 PM on 04/01/2008
- Alvin4NY See Profile I'm a Fan of Alvin4NY permalink

To be fair, that's been NBC's deal with Jay from the beginning: "We don't have to show YOU respect, if we want to replace you, we will. You are not special." I'm no fan of Leno, but he was dicked royally at NBC, and they have earned the respect he's giving them by speaking the truth to The Times.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:52 PM on 03/31/2008
- jazzence See Profile I'm a Fan of jazzence permalink

No doubt. Look how they f#% The Ofiice, Coupling .....good decision Leno.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:22 PM on 03/31/2008
- JScott See Profile I'm a Fan of JScott permalink

He's probably correct, sponsors and such would get in the way and as he said it would be a job not a hobby. Sometimes they show the brit car shows and others on PBS and other cable channels and it would probably turn it into a hideous 'Pimp My Ride' type show. I'd rather watch something like Motorweek on PBS.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:09 PM on 03/31/2008
- HouseOfRoberts See Profile I'm a Fan of HouseOfRoberts permalink

I have the BBC channel on Comcast, and they run the Top Gear show several times a week. The April 7th show will have Jennifer Saunders from Absolutely Fabulous driving on a track.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:50 PM on 03/31/2008
- GiggidyGeshmoygen See Profile I'm a Fan of GiggidyGeshmoygen permalink


jay leno certainly has the means to make his own car program and do it the way he wants it done - it's a brilliant idea for jay to do something original - it's a terrible idea to try and copy a show which is already well known and successful

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:52 PM on 03/31/2008
- 3811Billis See Profile I'm a Fan of 3811Billis permalink

I love Top Gear! Why doesn't NBC just show the new episodes? Why try to Americanize it?

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:41 PM on 03/31/2008
- AbdulScarface See Profile I'm a Fan of AbdulScarface permalink

I agree. But I doubt that people will stomach Jeremy Clarkson's anti-american views.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 03:00 PM on 03/31/2008
- MajorKong See Profile I'm a Fan of MajorKong permalink

I think Clarkson and his dry British humor pretty much makes the show. If they Americanized it they would remove what makes it truly entertaining.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 09:59 PM on 03/31/2008
- drumz See Profile I'm a Fan of drumz permalink

Only a reich wing mental midget would have stomach issues when criticism is discussed.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 05:44 PM on 03/31/2008
- trickbunny See Profile I'm a Fan of trickbunny permalink

as an american, I feel that his views are pretty much on-target :) -and he makes fun of his own country as well.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 04:50 PM on 03/31/2008
- madridwontgodown See Profile I'm a Fan of madridwontgodown permalink

NO, not Top gear. some things are just sacred.

when was the last good "local" idea to hit network television? If someone says Knight Rider 2008, I will desctroy this computer. They make it seem like theres no point in creative think when you can buy it from the british.

    Favorite    Flag as abusive Posted 02:24 PM on 03/31/2008
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