Why Jay Leno Is An Asshole And You Should Stop Watching His Show
By fred | January 7, 2008
And the proof that Leno is nothing but an asshole is that, if it is true that, at some point, the WGA might have considered not to go after Leno for the whole monologue thing, it is only because he was about to go “Fi-Core”, and because they like Leno, a longtime member of the guild and supportive of the strike so far, and because they wanted to keep as strong and united a face as possible, given how solidarity is still holding strong as the strike in entering its third month, they might have considered to “look the other way”.
But with his attitude and outrageous lies, things have changed, as WGA president Patric Verrone admitted : “It’s clear to us that [writing his monologue] is a violation of the rule. There are strike rules and we’re going to have to enforce them against him.”
Yes, for Leno to be willing to go “Fi-Core” is the undeniable proof that he’s a real asshole. But what does “going Fi-Core” means, you may ask ?
Basically, it means Leno would have revealed his truth self announcing that he didn’t care about the writers, that he did not support them or their strike, he didn’t agree with the Guild’s position (anymore) and wanted to “separate” himself.
When a member of the guild decides to go “Fi-Core”, which stands for “financial core”, it means that he reduces his membership down to its “financial core”, hence the name, meaning that while still a member of the Guild and fully benefiting from it, you have absolutely no responsibilities or restrictions except to pay the portion of dues that goes toward basic guild functions (collective bargaining), but not toward anything else like political or charitable contributions.
So when a member goes “Fi-Core”, he still benefits from it but he doesn’t have to obey by its rules. It means that he could cross picket lines and go back to work and cash his paychecks during the hard times, and yet once everything is resolved he would still benefit from what the other members fought for and gained, although he wasn’t part of the fight and did not sacrificed anything.
What’s the catch ? Well, once you go “Fi-Core” you can’t go back. Ever. If you take that decision, you will then be excluded from all of the guild’s political processes, you won’t ever be able to give your opinion, be involved in discussion, sit on boards or vote. You will still benefit from the Guild’s advancement, but you won’t be able to participate in any of it. The decision to go “Fi-Core” is permanent and irrevocable.
In the case that matters here, for Leno to be willing to go “Fi-Core” clearly means that he was ready to say that he did not support the writers, he did not support with the strike anymore, all that mattered to him was his paychecks, was to please NBC and to get good ratings. And the writers, asking fair and reasonable compensations for their work, his writers, who helped him get him and his show where he his, they could all go fuck themselves !
Leno wasn’t coming back to save for jobs from his non-writing staff, he wasn’t still supporting the writers, he was switching side. He was not entitled to claim anymore that he was supporting the writers anymore, he was clearly a bad guy then, and this is why his fat lies that him writing his monologue was part of the guild’s rules, or his lame attempt at passing Letterman as the bad guy to blame, while still supported the writers, was of the most disgusting thing ever.
Yes, I freaking hate Jay Leno, that asshole.
PS: If you’ve seen Kimmel’s return to the air and read my reaction to it, you’ll know that I wasn’t too pleased with him either. Kimmel complained that the SAG asked his members not to appear on his shows, but only Letterman & Ferguson. Which seems hard to understand, because if, as he claims, he does support the writers he should know that the picket lines have to be there, and that the fight continues, and that no WGA or SAG member should appear as long as the AMPTP haven’t signed a deal. And they still even refuse to go back to the negotiation table and talk !
I used to like the guy, for the little I knew about him, but things seem to get weird with him as well. In fact, after his recent complaints, Kimmel has been reported to befriend with Leno, so much that Kimmel should appear on Leno’s show, and Leno should appear on Kimmel’s. So what, are they both going to proudly go “Fi-Core” ? Yes, I’m that close to hating Kimmel as well.
Conclusion : If you want the strike to end as soon as possible, if you want your favorite shows back on the air, if you support the writers, you should not watch Leno. I know I won’t watch his show ever again.
And yes, I can hear you complaining how his show is better and funnier that Letterman’s, even when the later has his writers. I know. But you know what ? This whole thing makes me like Conan even more that I already did, and even without writers Conan is still much funnier and creating a much better show than Leno ever did, with writers.
Just look at this brilliant moment of television, when Conan had his wedding ring spin on his desk. Pure genius :
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On the 9/19/08 episode of the Tonight Show, Jay Leno was telling a joke about the babies dying in China due to the tainted baby formula and how it was terrible, because now that meant that China would be unable to staff a shoe making factory. The joke was not only tasteless, but offensive. Jokes about dying babies have no place on TV or on any of society’s medias. NBC does not have an adequate forum for complaints on their website. If you wish to “voice your opinion” they offer a demographic poll, but nothing more.