TV executives are eager to see if Jay Leno is able to recreate the magic on Monday with his comeback on “The Tonight Show”. But it seems less likely since the programming and financial problems of the network and its prime-time rivals have not been resolved as yet.

Earlier, Leno had been able to make the show a big success. Analysts are hoping for him to renew the tale, which had made the show No. 1 during most of his 17-year period.

Jeffrey McCall, Professor of Media Studies at DePauw University, said, "NBC needs Jay to stay put for three or four years to re-establish the franchise and give them a chance to studiously figure out where to go".

The good news working for the network is that Leno remains a popular personality.

With O'Brien left "Tonight" forcing to move the show to 12:05 a.m., Leno was portrayed by rival host Jimmy Kimmel and others as domineering who pushed a younger competitor out of the way.

Bill Carroll, Vice President at Katz Media in New York, who advises local stations on programming and other issues said, "There are definite Jay loyalists, probably in middle America, who see Jay as a victim in this debacle and will stand by him".

Leno averaged 5.2 million viewers nightly in his final season of "Tonight" before O'Brien took over last May.