In spite of the fact Jay Leno’s talk show is No. 1 in the late night slot, the big-chinned comic was forced to take a pay cut recently so the producers at NBC could make ends meet.
According to insiders over at Jay’s camp, the popular gab fest at the witching hour barely breaks even financially!
Part of the problem appears to be with the show’s budget.
Apparently, when the dust settled on the whole Conan O’Brien fiasco - and Leno returned to his original time slot to carry on without blinking-an-eye (after the red-haired dude got the old heave-ho) the budget was never reconciled.
Now, to save jobs – and the Tonight Show? – Jay has quietly agreed to a pay cut.
Although the King of "late night" was raking in $25 million under his new contract, it is being whispered that the silver-haired (silver-tongued?) talk-show trooper will be taking home a paltry $20 mil from now on.
Poor, Jay!
I guess he'll be auctioning off a few of those vintage autos to make ends meet, eh?
The current budget - rumored to be 2.3 million smackeroos - is expected to be whittled back to 1.7 million as well.
NBC declined to comment about the issues at press time.
But, I expect that Leno won’t be turning down those one-night gigs at Casinos around the country - now or anywhere - in the near future.
Letterman and O’Brien must be busting a gut – and toasting each – over this one.
Cheers!
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