11.12.09 HA HA, LENO LOST TO ‘SPONGEBOB’

In what has become a weekly helping of delicious schadenfreude, “The Jay Leno Show” has yet again fallen to a glorious new low in the ratings.

Guess Who Beat Jay Leno! Last week it was SpongeBob’s 10th-anniversary special “SpongeBob SquarePants: Truth or Square” on Nickelodeon. Not only did SpongeBob log more viewers than Jay on Friday — 8 million to Jay’s 5 million — but he also copped more of the 18-to-49-year-old audience Jay targets so assiduously and SpongeBob does not. [WaPo]

I think I finally understand how torturers can enjoy what they do. The pain and agony of suffering is far more entertaining than death. If Leno got canceled, that would be a single joyous blog post. But these new and spectacular failures are seemingly endless. I mean, NBC gave this show a two-year contract. By the end of its run, Leno’s guests will be whichever corporate executives pay the most to be a guest, and the ad rates for a commercial will be so cheap you’ll be able to buy a 30-second spot to run the YouTube video of your choice. I recommend this one.