Taking it on the chin: Leno faces skepticism as he moves to prime time

PASADENA, Calif. — Putting Jay Leno in prime time is a bold move. Whether it's boldly brilliant or boldly stupid remains to be seen … although, certainly, plenty of people in the TV business have an opinion about this move.

The one thing that's absolutely certain is that it will change television's competitive landscape.

"We're really interested to see what 'Leno' does there, because, obviously, it's an experiment that none of us have lived through before," said ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson.

"It's a sea change in our business," said CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler.

It's also seen as what might be NBC's last-gasp attempt to save a prime-time schedule that has been nothing short of a disaster for years. But don't tell Leno.

"I'm not counted on to save the network," he insisted. "The network is on its own. … I'm not here to save the network."

He might just be the only one who can, however.

Not 'Tonight'

Leno's challenge is to create a show that's a lot like "The Tonight Show" but, at the same time, different.

"Jay Leno has to reinvent the show because he can't do 'The Tonight Show' at (9) o'clock. So, it's a little bit tougher for him," said George Lopez, who'll start hosting his own weeknight talk show on TBS in November.

"You will have the monologue," Leno said. "You will have the opening comedy."

But it also will be "real different."

 He won't sit behind a desk, except, maybe, to do segments like "Headlines."

 He won't have three guests per show, he'll have one or two.

 He'll have "a lot of correspondents," including comedians D.L. Hughley, Mikey Day and Rachael Harris — and "NBC Nightly News" anchorman Brian Williams.

 He'll have a bigger set.

"I think there will be something for everyone," Leno said. "We'll have politics. And we can get a little edgy at times and such."

He remains a bit vague about exactly what the show will be, but, "It won't be a talk show, and it won't be a variety show with wigs and hats on and things of that nature."

Something different