ABC and CBS are discouraging their stars from visiting NBC’s new prime-time Jay Leno show in order to bolster their own 10 p.m. shows, reports the Los Angeles Times.
Stars can still appear on NBC’s late night shows, but "In prime time, the stakes are higher and you have to protect your flank," one anonymous network executive told the paper.
The attempted boycott came up on Leno’s show Tuesday when CBS star Julia Louis-Dreyfus said she had received some pressure not to appear on the show.
–Elizabeth Jensen
I’m always surprised when a network allows a star from another competitor to come on and promote their show. Back in the old days that was considered a big no-no. These days though, it seems like networks go out of their way to talk about their competitors hit shows. And when American Idol is in full swing, CBS, ABC & NBC do all they can to keep it at the top of the ratings heap with story after story. Then at the end of the day, they wonder why it continues to beat their Tuesday & Wednesday night shows to a pulp.
As low as ratings are these days and with all the choices viewers have you would think that networks would want exposure to their shows regardless of which network it comes from. I understand primetime is their bread and butter, but exposure is exposure.
I’m with Jay. I’m always surprised to see the GMA team talking about American Idol the next morning, then ABC gets killed in the ratings race.
Awwwwwwwwww…. I guess this means we wont be seeing Julie Chen on Leno anytime soon then! lol
Doofuses!
If your fav show is on another network at 10PM and your fav star from the show is on Leno at the same time … you’re gonna DVR one of ’em!!! 😛
So I guess they don’t want double-exposure for their shows then …