Late night hosts making jokes about their own network is nothing new, but Jay Leno's latest NBC jab didn't sit well with one network exec. INSIDE EDITION has the story.
Is Jay Leno in trouble for mocking his bosses at NBC?
Leno joked, "For the first time in history NBC is going to finish fifth in the ratings period. We are behind the Spanish-language network Univision, or as we call it here in Los Angeles, cinco de ratings.”
Leno made the wise cracks on The Tonight Show and now we're learning that the chairman of NBC, Robert Greenblatt, reportedly, was not amused.
Leno said, "It's so bad, The Biggest Loser isn't just a TV show anymore, it's our new motto."
He then added, "It is so bad, NBC called Manti Te'o and asked him to bring in some imaginary viewers."
According to The New York Times, Greenblatt fired off an angry email to Leno, saying he went too far. Leno was reportedly taken back and responded that it's a long tradition for late night hosts to poke fun "at their masters.”
Bruce Fretts, articles editor for TV Guide magazine said, “It’s kind of shocking that Greenblatt would complain about this. It’s like he’s never seen a late-night comedy show before. Johnny Carson made fun of the NBC bosses all the time. David Letterman has made fun of NBC and CBS and bosses, and Leno’s been making these jokes all along. So for him to come along now and say that this is over-the-line or out-of-bounds just seems strange."
A representative for Leno would not comment on the email exchange.
NBC is flatly denying earlier reports that it plans to replace Leno as host of The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in 2014.
