HOSTS OF PROBLEMS DEPT.
It’s not a great time to be the longtime host of an NBC show! In the last week, it’s come to light that in addition to swapping out Jay Leno for Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show, NBC is also possibly looking to replace Matt Lauer with Anderson Cooper on The Today Show. We know that unemployment is a big problem in this country — but in this case, we’re cool with it.
MAKING THE HOST OF A BAD SITUATION DEPT.
It’s been heavily hinted at that in 2014, Jay Leno will step down from hosting The Tonight Show and hand it over to Jimmy Fallon. Certainly, nothing could POSSIBLY go wrong with a plan that involves a Late Night host taking over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno! Ha ha ha ha — no precedent for disaster there! But we digress — Leno being a despicable crap-monster is beside the point. What we’re really wondering is…
Remember last week when we told you Jenna Wolfe and “Weekend TODAY" had stopped by to do a segment about MAD’s 60th Anniversary? Well, we weren’t just whistling Dixie, friends! That segment is airing this very Sunday! Is there any better way to celebrate New Year’s Eve-Eve than watching this amazing program? No...no, there is not! Check local listing for airtimes!
"Weekend Today"'s Jenna Wolfe poses with
MAD Editor John Ficarra and Art Director Sam Viviano
It was announced this week that The Tonight Show is making budget cuts — which means not only a pay cut for Jay Leno, but also the loss of 25 jobs on the show. As much as we could argue that the real victims of The Tonight Show are anyone who’s been forced to watch an episode, this is still sad news. And since Jay is a razor-sharp satirist, unafraid to address any topic (including how Trump has a comb-over!), we’ll probably be seeing these jokes on his very show!
From MAD #445, September 2004
Writer: Andrew J. Schwartzberg
Artist: Paul Coker
Now that the 4th of July has passed and the stray fires from illegal fireworks have been extinguished, and the pungent smell of vomit from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest at Coney Island is but a fading memory, we have time to reflect on something that took place in New York City this holiday week: the marriage of Alec Baldwin to Hilaria Thomas — a woman not quite half his age. (Way to go, Alec!) The wedding reception wasn't open to the press, but that didn't stop juicy tidbits of the event leaking out via tweets sent by some of the A-list celebs attending.
Ann Curry has left her co-anchor position on NBC's The Today Show, saying a tearful goodbye to viewers just as NBC execs were saying a tearful goodbye to the show's 852-week streak as morning ratings champ. Officially, Ann was ousted from the position after Good Morning America took the top ratings spot, but who can say what really happened in the fast-and-furious-and-forgettable world of morning TV? We can.
When ABC announced that Katie Couric would be filling in as co-anchor on Good Morning America, the producers of The Today Show knew they had to do something big to counter-program. And they did! Unfortunately, they did something big and stupid, bringing in unqualified V.P. candidate, half-term Alaska governor and intellectual feather-weight Sarah Palin to co-host. Is this bad, desperate TV? You betcha!
