'We've consistently been number one in the ratings and, if you know anything about our network, that kind of thing is frowned upon,' the 'Tonight Show with Jay Leno' host says in his monologue.
- August 22, 2012
AceShowbiz -
Jay Leno made jokes about NBC and its parent company Comcast's decision to reduce his late-night show's budget on a Monday, August 20 episode of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno". "Welcome to 'The Tonight Show', or as Comcast calls us 'The Expendables'," he opened his monologue.
He continued addressing the situation, "As you may have heard, our parent company has downsized 'The Tonight Show'. And we've consistently been No. 1 in the ratings. And if you know anything about our network, that kind of thing is frowned upon around here."
Joking that his program is taken over by Bain Capital, he added about the day he learned the bad news, "I knew something was going on. Friday morning I woke up and there was a peacock head in my bed."
It was reported last week that the show's budget was reduced from $2.3 million to $1.7 million weekly, affecting around ten percent of the 200 staffers. Leno agreed to take pay cut in order to save the employees' jobs.
