Talk show host Jay Leno (R) holds one of U.S. Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas's gold medals as she appears with U.S. first lady Michelle Obama (L) during a taping of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" at the NBC studios in Burbank, California August 13, 2012. (Photo : REUTERS/Margaret Norton/NBCUniversal/Handout )
Reports on 'The Tonight Show' employees being laid off and Jay Leno being hit with a pay cut are quickly circling the internet.
According to CNN, an unnamed source familiar with the decision told the news network that some 20 to 25 NBC Universal employees were cut and Leno's salary reduction prevented further employees to get fired. The show normally employed 200 people.
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Fox News was also corroborating the news on Saturday night as it mentioned that NBC was trying to restructure and reduce costs under Comcast Corp., which bought the media network last year taking a 51 percent stake of the company after U.S. regulators cleared the way for the acquisition.
Jay Leno would now be making approximately $20 million annually, 20 to 30 percent less than what he normally earns.
Fox News cited Bruce Bobbins who is the spokesman for 'The Tonight Show' host with, "Jay's foremost concern is for the wonderful people who work with him at 'The Tonight Show. He did what was necessary to ensure their well-being."
Although hard to label the aforementioned cuts and lay-offs as results of bad management, NBC has been a target for criticism due to the decisions it has apparently taken for some of its talk shows.
A little more than a month ago, the ousting of Ann Curry from the "Today" (NBC News is part of NBC Universal)show caused an online frenzy among many "Today" show followers, these who wasted no time in voicing out their displeasure.
Ann Curry remained as anchor-at-large for the show, and since her absence from set as co-host, the show's ratings had dropped to levels it hadn't seen for several years.
Fox reports that the pay-cuts and firings should have no adverse effects on "The Tonight Show" and that the show would experience no changes.
