By now everyone has probably seen the headlines about NBC’s War on Leno where NBC is reportedly trying to replace the 20 year Tonight Show host with Jimmy Fallon. A negative PR situation for NBC, right? …maybe not.
As with most bad PR situations, it is almost always best to address the issue head-on before media speculation can spread like wildfire. With a very clever promo video, NBC is attempting to do just that.
Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon — the two men at the heart of the battle over the fate of NBC’s Tonight Show — have banded together in the NBC promotional (PR) video making light of the perceived late-night power-shift.
In the video Leno is seen being accosted by reporters as he makes his way down a backstage hallway toward his office.On the other end of the country, Fallon sighs over a recent newspaper headline no doubt touting his rumored ascendancy, Fallon’s iPhone rings — bringing up the caller I.D. “Host of Tonight Show”.
What happens next? …
Well, to get that answer audiences had to tune in to BOTH NBC late-night talkers and see. Turning negative PR into positive, increasing ratings, a win-win?
Here is the full promo!