1. Would you characterize television programming decisions as structured or unstructured? Explain. What type of decision-making condition would you consider this to be? Explain.
2. What criteria did NBC use in evaluating its initial decision to move Leno and O’Brien? Was that criteria appropriate? Why or why not?
3. Evaluate Jeff Gaspin’s statement, “I don’t think it’s wrong to take chances. . . . Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don’t.” What does it say about his decision-making style?
4. Describe how NBC executives could have used each of the following to make better decisions:
(a) Rationality,
(b) Bounded rationality,
(c) Intuition, and
(d) Evidence-based management.

It’s been called one of “the entertainment industry’s biggest programming debacles.”35 Jay Leno moved from host of the “Tonight Show” to his own talk show, “The Jay Leno Show,” which aired at the 10 p.m. weeknight time slot. Conan O’Brien was brought on as Leno’s replacement on the “Tonight Show,” which has always aired after the local news.
The Jay Leno–Conan O’Brien fiasco started with a decision by NBC executives to save some money by giving Leno one of the oldest formats in TV programming: a comedy-variety show with a comedian, a stage, guests, and in-show ads. But that decision was also a radical experiment based on a single show airing every single weeknight during prime time on a major broadcast network. This format was cheaper to produce for an entire week than 60 minutes of the pricey scripted dramas that are usually broadcast during that time period. Jeff Gaspin, chairman of television entertainment at NBC Universal, said, “I don’t think it’s wrong to take chances. . . . Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don’t.” And this decision wasn’t working.