NBC News anchor Brian Williams will be contributing regular comedy segments to Jay Leno’s new 10 p.m. variety show.
The segments should air about twice a month, Leno says.
“I said to him would you be willing to do something on a regular basis, perhaps contributing things like ‘stories that weren’t good enough for the ‘Nightly News,” and he said ‘Yes, I’d love to do it.’ So he is going to hopefully hone his comedy chops on the show.’
Leno also said he will be reviving popular segments including “Jaywalking” and “Headlines”.
The 59-year-old host admits he was in “a bit of a rut” after hosting “The Tonight Show” for 17 years.
Some major changes when he debuts at 10 p.m: there will be just one guest (“maybe two”) each night. Music will be limited to two nights a week. And each night will end with a comedy segment.
Leno will also be moving from Studio 3 to Studio 11 because “it is much larger and has better access to the (outdoors),” NBC spokesperson Rick Ludwig says.
“The set is a lot bigger than our old set. There is no desk. It won’t be a talk show and it won’t be a variety show with people in wigs and hats,” Leno says.
— By Sean Daly