Reputation Management Online

Leno, reeling from the backlash in popularity after The Tonight Show fiasco has done the one thing PR Gurus all over the world order you to do if you are in a reputation soup – Go on the Oprah Show and tell your side of the sordid tale.

Leno has lots to be worried – his Jay Leno Show is officially ending on Feb 9th due to bad ratings and he is slated to get back into the Tonight Show at 11 pm.

On the other hand, Conan O’ Brien bid adieu in style and even thanked the NBC for the chance of hosting every funny guy’s dream – The Tonight Show!

This was nothing short of tragedy as far as the Leno and Coco are concerned a network goofing up on its scheduling after realising the ratings dropped had done the unthinkable – got two funny guys to probably go bitter. While the wisecracks continue everywhere and the numerous jokes with Leno at the receiving end being  portrayed a bully, continues unabated.

O’Brien has not just gained a colossal amount of money to walk away but has also managed to come out of this with a better image and popularity. People tend to take sides with the bullied and now everyone knows who Coco is all over the world.

Leno on the other hand had everything to lose – he was there, his show made millions, people enjoyed him, he was known all over the world and had even agreed to move aside for a successor. Now that the Oprah show appearance is done, let’s wait and watch what he’s going to do to build his reputation back.

In celebrity reputation management terms Leno is going through his worst time added to this he has to go back to the Tonight Show and rebuild all that he was. Good humour though is always handy and let’s hope Leno has enough of that remaining!

As for NBC – the business side of things ain’t everything guys, you need to protect the image of your stars!