Conan O'Brien > Jay Leno

[Parkbandit]

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Conan O'Brien released the following statement.

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

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=xprnw.20100112.LA36584&show_article=1

Good for him. Fuck NBC imo. He's 10x funnier than Leno ever was. Hopefully, he gets a new gig.

[NocturnalRob]

I have never liked Leno. I don't know why he's so popular. I hope there's a revelation, and NBC finally realizes how badly they're screwing him. But Conan takes it in stride as always:

http://www.wwtdd.com/2010/01/conan-seems-upset-about-something/

[Kuyuk]

Shit.

I agree with PB :(

[Belnia]

Only late night hour of comedynews and happenings worth watching is on Comedy Central.

[Atlanteax]

I used to watch Jay Leno frequently several years ago (he was >>> than David Letterman) but basically stopped watching late-night TV since then.

I saw O'Brien a few times, and I never really got into his humor as I did with Leno.

I think it is as other people have stated elsewhere regarding this, where it is more of a cultural thing ... in regard to the transitioning from Johnny Carson to Leno to O'Brien.

Carson had a reputation as a class act ... Leno had more of a "sophisticated humor" than O'Brien ... so those of the older crowd (that is far more likely to watch late-night TV than the current younger crowd) just really did not get into O'Brien's more playful sort of humor.

That is my take on how Leno continues to get viewers, and why O'Brien's ratings have not been up to NBC's expectations.

[Danical]

I like Chelsea Lately.

The first 15 minutes of Chelsea Lately are chockfull of win.

[Rimalon]

Fuck yeah Conan.

[Some Rogue]

lolwut

Leno's ratings have been tanking for quite awhile now. Lots of local affiliates are pissed because Leno's ratings fuck over their news casts that follow after his show.

And Leno with sophisticated humor? I didn't realize dick jokes were sophisticated now heh.

NBC is just committed to paying both of them right now and they have no fucking clue what to do.

[Archigeek]

Conan's better, and I think he was at his best with his buddy Andy: "In the year 2000.... in the year 2000".

[Warriorbird]

Shit.

I agree with PB :(

I can never thank Conan enough for being famous. Conan > Leno.

-Conan

[Barundar]

http://i189.photobucket.com/albums/z256/Eefex/tumblr_kw5po9JmgP1qzlfumo1_500.jpg

[MotleyCrew]

Don't like either one.

[Kithus]

http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2009/09/15/GR2009091500116.gif

Looks like Conan was definately better received by younger viewers. Unfortunately that doesn't appear to be the shows viewer base.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

Late night there are some good shows...

Already mentioned Chelsea Lately, and I like Conan. Craig Fergusen Late Late Show usually rocks, sometimes is a complete miss.

I like Leno when he's talking about his cars and shit, but frankly his show blows. Gotta love a dude that buys an airplane hanger and fills it with million dollar cars, trains, jet biks/cars, etc... That dude is just having fun, but he needs to hang it up.

[Gan]

I prefer Conan to Leno.

Nothing will ever replace Johnny Carson though. I quit watching The Tonight Show when Johnny, Ed and Doc ended their final broadcast.

Carnac the Magnificant will live on forever.

And fuck NBC. Thats a shitty thing to do to Conan.

[Liberi Fatali]

Conan wins, but only because he was in the Civil War:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_XonfuLynu1M/SIZbvDRoXJI/AAAAAAAAACQ/9DWiXZev6gw/s320/n2218954982_34153.jpg

[Tea & Strumpets]

Conan's better, and I think he was at his best with his buddy Andy: "In the year 2000.... in the year 2000".

I am pretty sure he invented the Chuck Norris jokes when viacom or whatever merged with the network, and they could play Walker Texas Ranger clips.

[Tisket]

Conan all the way. Fuck Leno.

[Archigeek]

And don't forget the Sadam Hussein voice overs. Classic.

[Asile]

I liked Leno on the "Tonight" Show just fine, hated that I often couldn't stay up late enough to see Conan. I was really happy to see that he basically took his "Late Show" and brought it up an hour...and I LOVE the interactions between him and Andy Richter!

Leno's new show just blows; I could never get into it. And that's likely the problem most other folks are having. Which means NBC should fix the real problem, which is Leno's new show, and give Conan a proper chance.

And they really shouldn't be penalizing Fallon. The only thing I'd change about his show is to get him to stop wearing a tie; it doesn't look right on him for some reason.

[Miscast]

I wish this time around Conan would bring back Joel the announcer and the man with the bullet-proof legs. And I guess the masturbating bear too.

[Asile]

I wish this time around Conan would bring back Joel the announcer and the man with the bullet-proof legs. And I guess the masturbating bear too.

Yeah, I miss Joel.

And the start of Conan's monologue last night, after having released his statement, was awesome. Hulu ftw.

[Alfster]

Fallon's show is by far one of the worst things i've ever seen. I hate him so much.

[Allereli]

http://www.sirmikeofmitchell.com/imwithcoco/

http://sirmikeofmitchell.com/sirmitchell/conan03.jpg

[Kuyuk]

http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/19/news/Conan_OBrien_contract_buyout/index.htm?hpt=T2

40 million isnt too shabby to keep his mouth quiet...

[Back]

http://money.cnn.com/2010/01/19/news/Conan_OBrien_contract_buyout/index.htm?hpt=T2

40 million isnt too shabby to keep his mouth quiet...

Plus he gets to move to another sweet contract on another network.

Never got the popularity of Leno myself. His humor is really base. The man has talent... don’t get me wrong. But its just tired now. Conan at least really tries to stretch the envelope.

[AestheticDeath]

The humor from any of the late night TV shows was lost me on me for the most part. Most of it was just corny or downright stupid. I preferred Jay Leno though.

[Archigeek]

Never got the popularity of Leno myself. His humor is really base. The man has talent... don’t get me wrong. But its just tired now. Conan at least really tries to stretch the envelope.

That's pretty much how I see it too, at least now. When Leno started, he was good, but now it's just the same old shtick and it just isn't that funny anymore.

[AestheticDeath]

Hah, apparently some of you are touchy about your late night shows. BTW I still think Conan sucks ass...

[Parkbandit]

According to NBC, they've reached some 45 billion dollar deal with Conan.. so it looks like Friday is his last night on the Tonight Show.

[AnticorRifling]

45 billion?!

[CrystalTears]

I don't know about billion. I heard he's getting a 40 million settlement and no longer doing the Tonight Show after this week.

[Parkbandit]

:rofl:

Yea.. sorry. I was just posting in the political folder, where everything is in the billions and trillions.

It's 45 million. Sorry.

Edited to add a link: http://www.popeater.com/2010/01/21/conan-obrien-nbc-settlement/

[Keller]

I hope the Tonight Show tanks.

Fuck Jay Leno. Fuck NBC.

That is all.

[Suppa Hobbit Mage]

They need to put the Late Late Show on earlier, I still like Craig Ferguson.

[NocturnalRob]

Conan Blows $1.5 Mill on Comedy Bit
As his tenure at NBC wraps up, Conan O'Brien is discovering new and innovative ways to tell NBC “up yours" with each show. Exhibit A: Wednesday night, he spent $1.5 million on a ridiculous 60-second comedy bit.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/video/item/conan-obrien-spends-nbcs-money

[Kuyuk]

I lol'd.. he should wrecked the car by driving it into a salt water marsh though.

[Kranar]

http://www.thedailybeast.com/video/item/conan-obrien-spends-nbcs-money

Heh, the comments on that link are hilarious.

People are pretty damn stupid for thinking the comedy bit actually cost $1.5 million.

[Cephalopod]

I was expecting him to actually blow up the car. I lol'd, but was disappointed. (Much like Anticor's wife says about him?)

[AnticorRifling]

I was expecting him to actually blow up the car. I lol'd, but was disappointed. (Much like Anticor's wife says about him?)

She doesn't say it anymore, it's just implied.

[NocturnalRob]

Heh, the comments on that link are hilarious.

People are pretty damn stupid for thinking the comedy bit actually cost $1.5 million.
also, when i can get Kranar to respond, I'm doing something right.


She doesn't say it anymore, it's just implied.
eh, he's got twins. i'm assuming he's doing something right. at least once. unless they look like your neighborhood postal worker...

[Parkbandit]

eh, he's got twins. i'm assuming he's doing something right. at least once. unless they look like your neighborhood postal worker...

Well, they are black.

Also, they are ninjas.

There is a song that Anticor likes to sing... but I can't quite remember it........

[NocturnalRob]

There is a song that Anticor likes to sing... but I can't quite remember it........
Three Dog Night - One Is The Loneliest Number?

[Some Rogue]

It's Raining Men?

[AnticorRifling]

Fuck you and that made me crack the hell up here at my desk.

[NocturnalRob]

Mister Sandman?

[Tea & Strumpets]

Leno has always been a kiss ass shitface. Conan provides far more laugh out loud moments.

That Leno head shake thing he does while walking forward and backward during his monologue is annoying as fuck too.

Also, Jimmy Kimmel was funny as hell when he dressed up like Jay Leno and did the whole goofy monologue with his band leader doing the Ubanks laugh at every one of his jokes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWmgbKu3f7I

And when he busted Jay Leno's balls on his own show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FNmWFD4oWg

Letterman cracked me up with this spoof commercial, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dHkvZb34VA

[Kuyuk]

Those were pretty good T &S.. had not seen it before

[Parkbandit]

Three Dog Night - One Is The Loneliest Number?

No.. this one:

http://www.buzzhumor.com/videos/11125/Family_Guy_My_Black_Son

[NocturnalRob]

And when the kids grow up, it can be the first 10 seconds of this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuni-ZOcO-4

[Celephais]

I wonder how his ratings have fared ever since this started... I know I've been paying a lot more attention to it.

[NocturnalRob]

It's a fucking conspiracy!!

[AestheticDeath]

http://forum.gsplayers.com/images/reputation/reputation_neg.gif Conan O'Brien > Jay... 01-21-2010 07:11 AM that's because you lack of sense of humor... and the ability to play bought characters in WoW

Oh that hurts, really, too bad you have no clue what your talking about.

[Asile]

I wonder how his ratings have fared ever since this started... I know I've been paying a lot more attention to it.

I heard it mentioned (maybe on last night's Tonight Show) that Tonight Show ratings are up 50% or something.

If NBC goes through with canning Conan, I'm kinda waiting for NBC's ratings to tank.

[Warriorbird]

They already have.

[Asile]

They already have.

Yeah, I found that out after my post. Bad, bad move on NBC's part.

Massive kudos to Conan for getting the settlement for his staff. It's a good reminder that he wasn't the only one who uprooted and moved totally across the country and needs to find work now.

[Keller]

Massive kudos to Conan's lawyers for getting the settlement for his staff. It's a good reminder that he wasn't the only one who uprooted and moved totally across the country and needs to find work now.

Fixed.

[Methais]

Letterman cracked me up with this spoof commercial, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dHkvZb34VA

Letterman just replaced Atlanteax for the BAD TIE title.

[TheEschaton]

I haven't been keeping up with this, what's the story now? Conan's actually walking away?

I wish someone would do a video clip compilation of this drama as it manifested on each of the shows....hmmm.

[Parkbandit]

I haven't been keeping up with this, what's the story now? Conan's actually walking away?

I wish someone would do a video clip compilation of this drama as it manifested on each of the shows....hmmm.

Walking away... carrying a shitload of money with him though.

[Some Rogue]

I wish someone would pay me millions of dollars to quit my job. :(

[CrystalTears]

I wish someone would pay me millions of dollars to quit my job. :(
Ditto!

[Tea & Strumpets]

Letterman just replaced Atlanteax for the BAD TIE title.

Don't say those kind of things about Letterman. You know he doesn't pick out his ties, his mom dresses him. Also, you are probably gay for noticing some guy's tie.

Also, I am standing by my assertion that Conan invented the Chuck Norris jokes when there was some kind of merger that allowed him to play Walker Texas Ranger clips on his show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nCiDJLjz9I

[Tea & Strumpets]

Further evidence, another clip they played on Conan that is hilarious (Chuck Norris, Walker Texas Ranger).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDQQANYwlMc&feature=related

Plane crashed here!? What the!

[LMingrone]

+ to Conan for bringing back masturbating bear. Hopefully he brings back camel toe Aniee tonight. http://www.videovat.com/videos/964/camel-toe-annie.aspx

And the two best WTR episodes are: 1. The one where he goes back in time to save the Native Americans and magically heals people. 2. One where he falls out of a helicopter that's at least a hundred feet up, onto cement, with no injuries. I fucking love that show.

[Tea & Strumpets]

+ to Conan for bringing back masturbating bear. Hopefully he brings back camel toe Aniee tonight. http://www.videovat.com/videos/964/camel-toe-annie.aspx

And the two best WTR episodes are: 1. The one where he goes back in time to save the Native Americans and magically heals people. 2. One where he falls out of a helicopter that's at least a hundred feet up, onto cement, with no injuries. I fucking love that show.

I can't find the clip, but there was one where "bad guy" escaped in a hot air balloon, and Walker jumped in another hot air balloon to chase him. Then Walker jumped out of his balloon, onto the bad guy's balloon, and slid down the side and karate kicked him in the face.

[AestheticLife]

Conan shredded the piss out of Freebird, though Will Ferrell's vocals still blow. At least Dust in the Wind was funny...

[Makkah]

Conan, Billy Gibbons, Beck, Ben Harper, are you serious? That was nuts. Good shit. (Will Ferrell's vocals did kind of suck)

[LMingrone]

I thought it was funny they did Freebird after Neil Young. History and all that. I really thought Young would come out and join them.

[Cephalopod]

I was disappointed that Neil Young didn't perform 'Pants on the Ground' to counter Fallon's impression.

Good final show.

[Archigeek]

I was hoping for one final episode of "In the Year 2000".

[Allereli]

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-will-do-a-late-night-show-on-tbs/?hp

Conan coming to TBS, pushing George Lopez to midnight

[AestheticLife]

Oh, gross. I hope this really happening.

[ElvenFury]

Oh, gross. I hope this really happening.
Yeah, I hope he doesn't accidentally the time slot.