As NBC prepares its new comedy experiment “The Jay Leno Show,” details on the “Tonight Show” veteran’s new talk show are finally being released.
Set to air in primetime (10PM) five nights a week, “Leno” features a new director in Liz Plonka (she replaces Ellen Brown). Formally of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” Plonka has also worked on “Mind of Mencia,” “Talkshow with Spike Feresten” and “The Showbiz Show with David Spade.” She also served as a fill-in director for several “Tonight Show with Jay Leno” episodes.
While Kevin Eubanks returns as the band leader and musical director, John Melendez will not resume his “Tonight Show” gig as Leno’s announcer. Instead, Melendez will join the nineteen-person writing staff.
Larry Goitia is the supervising producer, while Leno, Jack Coen and Stephanie Ross are producing. Coen will also supervise writing for the nightly monologue.
The show launches on September 14.