Comedian Jim Florentine Talks Late Night Television With Chris Stigall
By Chris Stigall
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Chris Stigall talked with comedian Jim Florentine this morning on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT about the new landscape of late night television now that Jimmy Fallon has taken over as host of the Tonight Show from Jay Leno.
"It's just weird that they forced Leno out twice when he had the top ratings. He could've easily stayed there two or three more years. NBC always panics," Florentine stated about the Tonight Show's mismanaged transition from Leno to Conan O'Brien, before brining Leno back, and now to Jimmy Fallon.
Florentine believes there will be an audience shakeup with a new list of names coming to late night.
"Jimmy is great. He's extremely likeable which is going to help for the older generation that has to adjust to the new Tonight Show. I don't think the Leno people will go over to Letterman…Letterman is a lot more crankier and edgier. I don't think the old Leno people will start liking Dave now. They're going to try Jimmy and [he's] likeable but he might be a little too young for them," Florentine said.
Florentine also pointed out the rise of Jimmy Kimmel, who has leveled the playing field with the other networks for viewers.
"I think Jimmy Kimmel does the best monologue. They show clips from the internet or whatever happened during the day. He's not too jokey. It's not setup, punch, setup punch," he said.
Florentine will be performing at the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville this Saturday, March 1, at 8 p.m.
