This is similar to the Leno/Letterman issue that came up when Carson retired. NBC has this weird preoccupation with Leno that I cannot fathom.

This is similar to the Leno/Letterman issue that came up when Carson retired. NBC has this weird preoccupation with Leno that I cannot fathom.

It's his high ratings. For some reason they like that.

He didn't have high ratings BEFORE he was given the Tonight Show. I think that's what he means...

 

I barely remember the early 90's and if Leno was ever actually funny.... I'm gonna guess no, though...

"It's the tomorrow morning show... with Conan O'Brien!"

And Jaywalking he stole from Howard Stern

 

And Sean Hannity.

NBC's new late-night schedule: Brilliant by accident?

NBC is the media’s piñata, slammed for everything from screwing up the 10 p.m. original-drama slot to ruining Conan O’Brien’s sleep. But in its own accidental, cynical, necessity-as-mother-of-invention way, NBC’s new late-night schedule could really work for the network. Here’s why:

 

Presuming Conan agrees to all this (and I think he’d be making a big mistake going over to Fox), we’ll soon have an NBC late-night schedule with Jay on from 11:35 to around to 12:05, and The Tonight Show from 12:05 to 1:05. Jimmy Fallon will rub his eyes and broadcast from 1:05 to 2:05. This is a minor revolution in late-night: No network has ever timed its shows to air in this formation.

 

What does this mean for the competition? David Letterman goes up against Jay in the opening monologue duel, but Dave also faces Conan’s sharp monologues during The Late Show’s second half-hour, which is when Dave is working his hardest to make sure that his second, B-list guest keeps your interest and that the music acts are lively. This could be a problem for The Late Show.

He didn't have high ratings BEFORE he was given the Tonight Show. I think that's what he means...

 

I barely remember the early 90's and if Leno was ever actually funny.... I'm gonna guess no, though...

Actually yes he did. He'd guest-host or at least appear for Carson during his latter years, and the Tonight Show ratings would go up, not down.

Actually yes he did. He'd guest-host or at least appear for Carson during his latter years, and the Tonight Show ratings would go up, not down.

 

 

I don't get why. He's just not funny. Oh wait, we already talked about this. Baad dump.

I honestly believe people just cannot look away from that unnaturally huge chin of his, it's a marvel to behold.

Patton Oswalt is spot on.

Conan O’Brien Says He Won’t Do ‘Tonight Show’ Following Leno

Conan O’Brien says he will not do “The Tonight Show” if it airs at 12:05 a.m. He released the following statement Tuesday afternoon:

 

People of Earth:

 

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

 

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

 

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

 

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

 

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

 

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

 

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.

 

Yours,

 

Conan

At a boy, Conan!

 

Come on FOX! Step up!

Conan is handling this in a very classy manner. Good for him. I'm sure he'll end up on another network soon enough.

I say Conan jumps to Fox and moves his studio to the soon to be empty Oprah studio or the old Jerry Springer Stuido in the NBC tower.

I say Conan jumps to Fox and moves his studio to the soon to be empty Oprah studio or the old Jerry Springer Stuido in the NBC tower.

 

So we would have to wait another year for Conan to be back on TV? That would rule if he was out of Chicago though.

So we would have to wait another year for Conan to be back on TV? That would rule if he was out of Chicago though.

Unless another station throws him in an old studio, it'll take some time to get new studios build. I dont think they'd want to launch a new show in a old, beat up studio. So, they'd want some time to renovate.

 

Anyone know how big the old Springer Studio is? I think it's currently vacant.

Great to hear Conan isn't rolling over for NBC and Leno. Leno is such a joke. If he didn't want to give up the Tonight Show he should have never agreed to the situation a few years ago and let Conan go to another network or stay where he was on NBC. Leno wants to pretend he's a good guy but he did zero to help Conan establish himself.

 

I have watched Conan since the early days and he is very entertaining to me. Hopefully he's back on TV soon.

weet last week from Bill Simmons: @sportsguy33: If I were Conan O'Brien, I would have the Masturbating Bear as my only guest for an hour every night until NBC fired me.

People of Earth:

 

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

 

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

 

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

 

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

 

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

 

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

 

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.

 

Yours,

 

Conan

ummm, steve. *cough* post #62 *cough*

ummm, steve. *cough* post #62 *cough*

Yeah. Whoopsies!

My buddy told me that Letterman used his first 30 minutes to mock NBC and the drama going on.

 

I never liked Letterman and have never thought he was funny. I thought Norm McDonald's SNL stuff was right on about him.

 

It comes off, to me, like the little brother off to the side jumping around and screaming, "Don't forget about me! I'm over here!"

My buddy told me that Letterman used his first 30 minutes to mock NBC and the drama going on.

You think Dave isn't still bitter about getting screwed out of the Tonight Show in the first place? I would be.

ummm, steve. *cough* post #62 *cough*

 

 

you are one to talk about reposts!