NBC confirmed online reports today that Kevin Eubanks, Jay Leno’s affable bandleader, will step down from his post sometime after original installments of The Tonight Read the full post.
Feb 16
2010
05:48 PM ET
Kevin Eubanks out of 'The Tonight Show'; more changes coming?
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TV Finale Highlights
Five days at a glance*
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Tuesday, May 1
- The Biggest Loser NBC, 8-9PM
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Friday, May 4
- In Plain Sight USA, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 6
- The Amazing Race CBS, 8-10PM
- GCB NBC, 10-11PM
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Monday, May 7
- Two Broke Girls CBS, 8-9PM
- Castle ABC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 8
- Last Man Standing ABC, 8-8:30PM
- The Voice NBC, 8-10PM
- New Girl FOX, 9-9:31PM
- Unforgettable CBS, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 9
- CSI CBS, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 10
- The Big Bang Theory CBS, 8-8:31PM
- The Vampire Diaries The CW, 8-9PM
- The Office NBC, 9-9:30PM
- The Secret Circle The CW, 9-10PM
- Parks and Recreation NBC, 9:30-10PM
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Friday, May 11
- The Finder FOX, 8-9PM
- Undercover Boss CBS, 8-9PM
- Fringe FOX, 9-10PM
- CSI: NY CBS, 9-10PM
- Blue Bloods CBS, 10-11PM
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Sunday, May 13
- Once Upon A Time ABC, 8-9PM
- Survivor: One World CBS, 8-10PM
- Desperate Housewives ABC, 9-11PM, SERIES FINALE
- American Dad FOX, 9:30-10PM
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Monday, May 14
- Bones FOX, 8-9PM
- How I Met Your Mother CBS, 8-9PM
- Gossip Girl The CW, 8-9PM
- Two and a Half Men CBS, 9-9:30PM
- Hart of Dixie The CW, 9-10PM
- Mike & Molly CBS, 9:30-10PM
- Hawaii Five-0 CBS, 10-11PM
- Smash NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 15
- 90210 The CW, 8-9PM
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- NCIS CBS, 8-9PM
- NCIS: Los Angeles CBS, 9-11PM
- Fashion Star NBC, 10-11PM
- Private Practice ABC, 10-11PM
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Wednesday, May 16
- Suburgatory ABC, 8:30-9PM
- Criminal Minds CBS, 9-11PM
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Thursday, May 17
- Missing ABC, 8-9PM
- Community NBC, 8-8:30PM, 9-10PM
- 30 Rock NBC, 8:30-9PM
- Rules of Engagement CBS, 8:30-9PM
- Awake NBC, 9-11PM
- Grey's Anatomy ABC, 9-10PM
- Person of Interest CBS, 9-10PM
- The Mentalist CBS, 10-11PM
- Scandal ABC, 10-11PM
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Friday, May 18
- Nikita The CW, 8-9PM
- Shark Tank ABC, 8-9PM
- Who Do You Think You Are NBC, 8-9PM
- Grimm NBC, 9-10PM
- Supernatural The CW, 9-10PM
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Saturday, May 19
- Saturday Night Live NBC, 11:29PM-1AM
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Sunday, May 20
- America's Funniest Home Videos ABC, 7-8PM
- The Cleveland Show FOX, 7:30-8PM
- Harry's Law NBC, 8-9PM
- The Simpsons FOX, 8-8:30PM
- Bob's Burgers FOX, 8:30-9PM
- Celebrity Apprentice NBC, 9-11PM
- Family Guy FOX, 9-10PM
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Monday, May 21
- Dancing With the Stars (Performance) ABC, 8-9PM
- House FOX, 8-10PM, SERIES FINALE
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Tuesday, May 22
- American Idol (Performance) FOX, 8-9PM
- Dancing With the Stars (Results) ABC, 9-11PM
- Glee FOX, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 23
- The Middle ABC, 8-8:30PM
- American Idol (Results) FOX, 8-10:07PM
- Modern Family ABC, 9-9:30PM
- Don't Trust the B— ABC, 9:30-10PM
- Revenge ABC, 10-11PM
- Law & Order: SVU NBC, 10-11PM
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Thursday, May 24
- Awake NBC, 10-11PM
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Tuesday, May 29
- Cougar Town ABC, 8-9PM
- The L.A. Complex The CW, 9-10PM
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Wednesday, May 30
- America's Next Top Model: British Invasion The CW, 9-10PM
*Times are Eastern Daylight and subject to change
On top of the comedy thing? That’s the same as implying better ratings = better show. I don’t think I need to say much more to prove that’s not true. It would be more accurate to say “Leno has been on top of this ratings thing for many years”. Terrible shows get awesome ratings all the
time. Not that i’m saying Leno is bad, but he’s definitely not the top of comedy. I think he is decent as far as the comedy factor goes which helps his popularity some because a lot of people, especially older people, don’t get a lot of Conan’s or Ferguson’s jokes. Jay’s jokes are easy to understand, and sometimes after a long day you want comedy like that.
I find the age bias on this site incredible. Conan is in his late forties, as is Craig. I am older than both of them, but I love Ferguson. Neither of them are very much younger than Leno and Letterman is about the same age. This is a question of taste, not age. We “get” the jokes, we just don’t all like the same things.
Well said, Johnathan.
Sam, I don’t think the age of the hosts is a factor in anyone’s mind. Leno’s “humour” is aimed at a middle-of-the-road audience and does skew toward older folks – something shown time and time again in the ratings and analyses. Nor does one’s choice of shows reflect one’s age. It’s just a fact that Leno’s audience has a tendency to have more seniors than Conan’s or Craig’s.
Interesting. I wonder if originally wanted to retire when Jay was supposed to retire…
Leno is coming back? Does anyone care?
Took one hell of a long time for the perennial Late-Night black slave to finally break free from his White Oppresor. Eubanks was Slave #2. Branford Marsalis was Slave #1. I wonder what new black “Band Leader” Leno decides to hire this time in a further failed attempt to make his white, geriatric, clueless white self appear to be “hip”.
We all work for someone. Does that make us all slaves? You need some therapy.
It’s Smitty’s time to shine!
I wish Kevin well. And I hope Leno can get back to what he was before the past 2 years.
Old Peoples News from
Old Peoples shows…
…good luck, Kevin E.
Eubanks wisely does not want to be tainted from Leno’s backstabing ways any longer. Since Kevin doesn’t really sem to have anything lined up, it’s clear he just does not want to be tainted by the stench coming from Leno and his lying, evil ways.
Good luck, Kevin.
It is time to reboot the Tonight Show. NBC should take a hint from Hollywood and try it in 3D…and with a darker theme.
jay leno is terrible; we all know jason kaplan instigated it all against ronnie!!!! HEY NOW!!!
hmph….what other person of cvolor will the whitest guy in america get to be his sidekick???
Carlos Mencia needs a job.
NBC is producing FIVE multi-camera sitcoms?!? They’re just going to keep doing the same thing over and over until it comes back into style, huh?
Pretty much. That, or they’re flinging **** at the wall and seeing what sticks.
I know a lot about TV and Jay’s day is over.
The ratings will speak, just wait.
What do you mean by “I know a lot about TV.” Is that due to your age? Do you have a job watching TV? That would be fun. Or do you just not have a life? Just wondering.
Why can’t Jay’s show be on for the older audience? The younger generation is not the only generation, and doesn’t need every single show to be aimed at them. For many peoople it is nice to see something which is not full of bathroom humor and obscenities. Many shows now don’t bother with clever jokes; they just rely on the fact that they are full of words that have to be bleeped.
Jay Leno is a classy man. When he isn’t working on his show, he does stand-up comedy all over the country. He loves his wife, who is very involved in working at clearing out land with bombs in countries where there have been wars.
Can’t you people have a little respect for the man, the show ahd the audience that watches his show?
Watch what you want – leave the rest of us alone.
Pardon, but what does his doing stand-up or his wife’s charitable activities have to to with making Jay “classy”. The man relies on jokes about gays and overweight people. Sorry, to my mind, that’s hardly “classy”.
Conan O’Brien has talent but he is not in the same league as Jay leno. Letterman just doesn’t have the class as Leno does and is not half as funny. Kevin Eubanks and The Tonight Show Band were very good, way better than Letterman’s group. Don’t blame for any of this mess, blame Conan. Jay will quickly reclaim top spot on the late night circuit as he is simply the best.
Well, you’re right that Conan and Leno aren’t in the same class nor is he half as funny. Conan IS class – something proven time and time again to his audience and in his dealings with his staff and, on his worse day, he’s 10X funnier than Leno could hope to be. But I guess you have to have a triple-digit IQ to appreciate that.
I like Kevin, but people didn’t watch the show to see him. I see that every time Leno is mentioned, Conan fans must march out and say the same things about him that they have said a hundred times. But Leno will still be number one–even though I prefer Dave and Craig, I have no doubt about that. So give it a rest, I am sure that Conan is counting his money and planning his own return.