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I think it sticks out like a sore thumb which, unfortunately, the NBC top brass has stuck up Jay's behind.
His friendship with Governator Ahnold isn't very significant in that regard. And AS' behavior has definitely been split, as Governor Ahnold and Mr. Schwarzenegger. So, effectively, he cancels himself out, like a Terminator meeting an anti-matter Terminator. And after he leaves office, he will account for a big, fat Goose Egg (i.e., nothing).
Leno gets the largest ratings, and the honchos at NBC appear to have been riding his ass for years, especially since September 12th, 2001. There are also Conservative "activists" who analyze and count every joke for libbrul or "Patriotic" content. I would not be surprised if he has a "Political Adviser" on his writing staff, in the manner of Soviet political officers who accompanied entertainers, scientists, and other loose-cannon types. You can do the math yourself with Leno's Clinton jokes. You can tell that he still pines for the Big Dog, because he still tells Clinton jokes, but count the slant: over the course of a week, it's almost exactly 50-50 for supportive and critical gags.
And there are still at least three marijuana gags per week, usually in banter with bandleader Kevin Eubanks, who can now command nearly any price he wants, second only to Conan's bandleader Max Weinberg. So Jay is the Designated Whipping Boy at NBC.
Lorne Michaels was under similar pressure under Reagan, but since he's now an eminence gris with a lot of pull at NBC, the writing staff at SNL can cut loose. Even their own "War On Christmas" goofing last week contained many, many digs at the Rectal Right. The only real poke-in-the-eye conservative "slant" they've had was when Sen. John McCain was on, slamming Barbra Streisand, which was still a funny skit. Compare that to something like Rachel Dratch's Harriet Miers impression, or Darrell Hammond's weekly slam of Fox News whores -- or Will Forte's Bush and/or Zell Miller impressions. (And note that Hammond is a nominally pro-Bush Republican.)
Dave (not at NBC) and Conan (under Lorne Michaels' wing) can tell the censors to get bent, and often do; Leno is the NBC cash cow, but he's vulnerable, replaceable. He's stepping down after next year, though Conan has been chosen as the heir apparent. Tell me, who the hell would voluntarily step down from Carson's throne? I expect a tell-all book about the politicking at NBC.
Now, of course, Leno isn't Mr. Perfect by any means, but there's more than just the possibility of his own ideological shift happening here. I think it's been blatantly obvious for over four years now. It will be interesting to see how it plays out when he is at last free to speak.
This is one of the reason why I don't give much credence to the politics of entertainers. The party label is misleading. Between Bruce Boxleitner, a Republican who would probably be chucked out of the party if the Theocrats took power, and Jackie Mason, who calls himself a Democrat, but is one of the ugliest Conservatives in America, there is not much consistency. But when it comes to the network brass -- now, there are some mighty expensive, and powerful, whores!
--p!
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