NBC In Transition With Flashy New Studios, Stubborn Old Talk Show Hosts

Curbed LA directs us to the official web presence introducing NBC Universal’s planned Metro Studio@Lankershim in Universal City, the facility to which the company hopes to relocate its local network news operations, its West Coast news headquarters, and, perhaps most excitingly, Access Hollywood – as you can see from the handsome rendering of the space, the studio’s windows will provide an exhilarating, Today Show-style view of NBC employees waving “WE LOVE YOU BILLY BUSH!” signs as the wildly popular host recaps Eva Longoria’s latest trip to Robertson Blvd. But balancing the Peacock’s excitement about its big move is its growing apprehension about the inevitably problematic transfer of The Tonight Show from Burbank to the Universal lot’s soon-to-be refurbished Studio One, as a smooth handoff from Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien seems increasingly unlikely; at this point, they’ll probably consider the transition a success if their snipers can take out Leno before he has has a chance to detonate the farewell explosives he’s rigged beneath his desk to take his final live audience with him into his early retirement.

• MetroStudio&Lankershim [metrostudiolankershim.com via Curbed LA]
• Leno keeping NBC up at night [LAT]