Hey, did you hear the one about Jay Leno moving to prime time?
It’s probably a good move. That way, Leno’s audience can actually watch half the show before nodding off. Ba-dum-dum.
Of course, to make room, NBC will have to find someplace to put a lot of its prime time programs. Shouldn’t be a problem, though. Forest Lawn is nearby.
But seriously, folks … NBC’s announcement last week to move Leno to prime time does have implications for L.A.’s economy. That’s because the army of actors and wannabe actors who live in and around Los Angeles will have fewer opportunities for work.
Leno’s new five-night-a-week format will take away one hour of each weeknight’s prime time programming on NBC. That’s one third of the weeknight prime time space. For actors, that means NBC – an important employer in Los Angeles – will have less need for them.
It’s not as if actors are enjoying the best of times, either. There was the writers’ strike last year, and there is a prospect of more labor problems ahead. Actors have been sitting on the sidelines as actor-light reality programs took command of the playing field. And thanks to the proliferation of film incentives elsewhere, much of the acting work is now in other states and countries.
It’s been reported that 90 percent of Screen Actors Guild members earn less than $28,000 a year from acting. Leno’s move to prime time won’t help move that number up.