NBC President/CEO Courts Jon Stewart

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6452696.html

NBC Universal President/Chief Executive Jeff Zucker and NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios Co-Chair Marc Graboff recently wined and dined the satirical news anchor and his agent, James Dixon.

According to a network source, Zucker and Graboff didn’t focus on pitching any specific role at the dinner meeting. “They just made their interest known in finding a way to do business together if Jon was ever available,” says the source, who categorized the talks as “exploratory.”

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Stewart’s The Daily Show With Jon Stewart is a franchise at Comedy Central, and Stewart’s deal is up in 2008. Although Comedy Central has had its eye on off-net sitcoms such as The Office, as well as continuing its slew of originals, it is watching costs in part to have the resources to keep Stewart.

As for NBC, while its late night is in flux right now, the network’s interest in Stewart is not limited to that daypart, according to sources. If Stewart were to jump to a network in late night, he has been said to covet David Letterman’s chair on CBS.

they could do worse there.

Too much censorship.

somewhat hostile and focused everywhere but on "Sicko" until the last minute and a half. I smell some corporate pressure there.

If Letterman can be pressured, then Stewart would be, too. I think "courting" him is an attempt to neutralize him by removing TDS from the lineup.

I hope he doesn't fall for it.

When Politically Incorrect was on Comedy Central, it was great. When it went to ABC, it became just another show that wasn't particularly good. Then Maher got canned after 9/11. Maher now has a successful show on HBO where he is not censored and can have anyone he wants as a guest.

If Jon leaves The Daily Show, he should go to HBO rather than the networks.