REPORT: Jay Leno's new show to put stars in green cars
Unlike many, we haven't been losing sleep over Leno leaving The Tonight Show. Partly because we're in bed by that time. Mostly though, despite Jay's well-known obsession with automobiles, the Tonight Show was essentially car-free, instead choosing to focus on Miley Cirus, American Idol and politics. Yawn. Leno's new show – called the Jay Leno Show – looks to address that serious oversight.
According to new reports, Leno's show will feature celebrities racing against each other in "advertiser friendly" challenges involving green cars. In fact, NBC has already built a racetrack next to Leno's studio. Says Jay, "You can see who is faster, Shaquille O'Neal or Cameron Diaz." We've always wondered.
As to what cars will be used in the segment, or what the races will look like, your wild speculation is as good as ours. And yes, Leno's green car challenge does seem kinda close to Top Gear's Star in a Reasonably Priced Car. But in the grand scheme of things, who cares, as car racing on network TV ought to be a good thing over the long term. That said, we'll admit that the very term "advertiser friendly" makes our skin crawl a bit. Thanks to Dali for the tip!
[Source: Car Design Fetish via The Live Feed]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
usingthelou 1:37PM (8/06/2009)
My favorite gear head! (or petrol if your brithish)
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200mph+ 4:17PM (8/06/2009)
shaq. obviously!
Steven 4:42PM (8/06/2009)
That Leno picture makes him look like the Andy Milonakaus' father.
Tom Winch 2:05AM (8/07/2009)
@200mph+ - Cameron Diaz will smoke Shaq in an underpowered "green" car. He probably outweighs her by 200lbs+.
Jared 1:09PM (8/07/2009)
Jay is what is needed to make the American Top Gear. He's what everyone in America thinks about when you hear car nut, just like people in the isle's think about the three stooges on BBC. I hope jay's show takes off, I enjoy watching him talk about cars.
Alexander 1:38PM (8/06/2009)
what does that even mean - advertiser friendly?
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mutantchimp 1:43PM (8/06/2009)
IF ford is buying advertising it will be a focus (or fiesta if we are lucky). If toyota is buying advertising it will be a prius.
If Jay can't get advertising it will be a stanley steamer vs a locomobile.
Alex 1:45PM (8/06/2009)
While I'll wait to see what is produced, i'm not confident.
"car racing on network TV ought to be a good thing over the long term." Not so. Part of what makes Top Gear such a success is that it is highly entertaining. Just racing would be terribly boring for a large audience. If its boring, no one is watching and if no one is watching the execs at the networks pull the plug and say "American's don't like racing or car shows". When the reality is that Americans (like any nationality) don't like boring racing or car shows.
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Redline 2:34PM (8/06/2009)
And I thought Nascar was pretty boring racing. The crashy bits are entertaining though.
EB 7:58PM (8/06/2009)
"When the reality is that Americans (like any nationality) don't like boring racing or car shows."
Then why is NASCAR so popular? That's probably the most boring kind of racing ever. I rather watch children ride bicycles around the block.
BoxerFanatic 1:46PM (8/06/2009)
This "green" crap is getting far too thick.
As if stars don't already pander to political correctness enough... somehow they need to have Jay Leno's help?
I thought Jay was a gear-head, and was more about the fascination with the machine, not the political game-playing...
If this is "green", I am going to avoid it for that reason. I can't make myself choke that stuff down.
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Lucas 1:53PM (8/06/2009)
I think GREEN is just a substitute for REASONABLY-PRICED. Obviously, there's a PC undertone, but it's not really that bad. Would you want Paul Abdul driving a Vette... bad example...
BoxerFanatic 2:11PM (8/06/2009)
No.
Green has been successfully hijacked to instantly mean eco-PC-friendly.
I don't even think of the color when I hear that word anymore... I just think of PC eco-propaganda.
If they meant reasonably priced, they would have used the word affordable, or... reasonably priced.
Green has a specific connotation.
And if Jay Leno is still on NBC, NBC is owned by Universal, which is owned by GE. GE is in bed with the government on all this green crap. They turn their own logos green periodically to remind everyone.
This isn't un-calculated, or a mistake.
hoosker_doo 3:07PM (8/06/2009)
When I think of the "green" movement I think of skinny vegans who use Macs and drive Priuses (Prii?)
Adam Bruce 4:51PM (8/06/2009)
@BoxerFanatic
"I thought Jay was a gear-head, and was more about the fascination with the machine, not the political game-playing..."
Jay is a gear head and he's very green and carbon conscience. The two are not in opposition. I've spent time with him at his garage, and he points out that the best thing to happen to the horse was the car. It was able to free Horse Lovers to raise horses in a humane environment and enjoy them separate from the duties of commuting. He feels the same thing is true for sports cars. By separating "commuting" from car enthusiast driving, he hopes that specialty cars can be freed of the encumbrances that come trying to be dual role.
Jay also understands that as a role model amongst enthusiast he needs to make enthusiast aware of the green issues and show that it is not a threat to our hobby as is often perceived.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:49PM (8/06/2009)
If Jay Leno can live with green cars, so can you. You don't even have a Tank Car!
He has several green cars already, and he doesn't seem to think that means he can't own a Lamborghini Countach also. You would do well to learn from him.
BoxerFanatic 5:14PM (8/06/2009)
He can have his opinion...
but being "green", the way it is put forward is not about cars, or anything else, it is about political correctness.
And I prefer my automotive enthusiasm to be politically free, not politically correct.
And if all the show is going to be is talking about vapid stars, and politically favored cars... I have better things to do, or I can rot my brain just as easily watching a movie, or something else.
I like efficient cars... by the fact that they are efficient, functionally. If it is just a "smug" thing, or propaganda, that tends to ruin things, not make them better.
ufgrat 11:13PM (8/06/2009)
have you perchance seen Jay's EcoJet?
adam1drift 1:53PM (8/06/2009)
thats great news!
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Paxx 1:54PM (8/06/2009)
I wonder who will be the first to seriously crash! Or somehow overheat the battery and start a fire. Sounds like a plan Jay, try to kill the tree hugging protest friendly ones first with their own poison.
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