Jay Leno Nears Deal to Launch CNBC Auto Show

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10/08/2014 by Matthew Belloni, The Hollywood Reporter.

Jordan Strauss/Invision for The Alfred Mann Foundation/AP Images

.The move would bring him back into the NBCUniversal fold after his exit earlier this year from NBC’s ‘Tonight Show’

Jay Leno is lining up his first regular television hosting gig since leaving The Tonight Show in February, and he’s staying in the NBCUniversal family.

Leno is close to a deal to host a new show for cable network CNBC, sources tell The Hollywood Reporter. The show will focus on Leno’s longtime love of cars and will air in primetime, not late night.

Landing Leno is a coup for CNBC. The network, known for financial news, has been trying to broaden its viewership by airing reality shows like The Profit and Restaurant Startup in primetime. Its biggest draw is reruns of financial game show Shark Tank, which have performed very well for the network.

Leno, 64, has been looking for the right home since he passed theTonight Show baton to Jimmy Fallon before the Winter Olympics in February. Sources say he was courted by several outlets, including CNN, A&E, History and the Tribune stations. But Leno has been loyal to NBC (his car-themed web series Jay’s Garage is still hosted on NBC.com), and he has a relationship with CNBC president Mark Hoffman. CNBC aired a Jay’s Garage special over the Labor Day weekend called Jay’s Garage: The Ultimate Car Week.

Sources say a premiere date for the Leno show has not been set, nor has the frequency of the show, which will be a regular series.

READ THE REST OF THE STORY  HERE  AT THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER WEBSITE. (THR broke this story originally as an EXCLUSIVE.)

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jay-leno-nears-deal-launch-739120?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=hollywoodreporter_breakingnews&utm_campaign=THR%20Breaking%20News_now_2014-10-08%2009%3A34%3A22_Bbishop

1 COMMENT

  1. I think this is such a natural move for Jay Leno to make. Combining his knowledge of cars and hosting should make for a great viewing experience.

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