Commentary

ABC's Late-Night Plans: Adding Up To More Than One Late-Night Comedian

Beverly Hills, Calif. -- ABC says two late-night stars could be better than one.

Steve McPherson, president of ABC Entertainment, told television critics here that he is surely going to have discussions about Jay Leno if NBC can't come to an alternative programming deal for the current host of "The Tonight Show."  NBC has made its decision to bring on Conan O'Brien as the host of "The Tonight Show" in 2009.

The interesting wrinkle in all of this is Jimmy Kimmel, ABC's current, and lone, late-night comedy host. McPherson said Kimmel would be involved in the discussions about Leno. That's a bit unusual -- but perhaps there's a bigger equation here.  

Kimmel was a good enough sport to have fun with it all on Wednesday, posing as a TV critic, and asking McPherson about what would happen with Kimmel as well as Ted Koppel, the former host of "Nightline." Kimmel ended his bit by noting that he likes McPherson's hair.

When Kimmel departed, McPherson addressed the question more directly:  "I can't believe they are going to let this guy go," he said, referring to NBC's decision about Leno.

TV advertising revenue for late-night programming isn't the biggest around -- $300 million, which pales in comparison to prime time, for example, at $9 billion. But those are younger-skewing, mostly male -driven advertising dollars.

In that regard, ABC would want what both CBS and NBC have -- two late -night stars each. CBS has David Letterman and Craig Ferguson; NBC has Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon (who will take over O'Brien's spot).

"Nightline" would seem to be the odd program out in all of this. The positive is that "Nightline" brings in different kind of advertisers for late night  -- pharmaceuticals and the like, categories it has all to itself.  

Still, ABC would like more TV advertisers targeting younger viewers -- of the kind NBC has grabbed for a few years with its successful late-night programming.  Having two late-night comedians is better math for TV advertisers looking for hard-to-come-back, young-skewing male viewers.

Kimmel is on board with all of this because it could mean more for him. No joke

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