Statement From Conan O’Brien: I Will Not Accept Later Time Slot
by Big HollywoodJust released statement from Conan O’Brien:
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.
Read the full statement here.
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94 Comments
He's always been a down to earth kind of guy… a real "aw schucks" guy. Perfect for inheriting the Tonight Show. Whatever he does, I hope he does well.
I've enjoyed his interviewing style over the years. Self-depricating, deferential to his guests, and his band was second to none… at least after Carson left the air.
Very interesting, indeed. I have to agree with Conan here. Time slot does matter. They shouldn't move the show.
It's times like this, I recall how Johnny left his famed spot.
I hear there's a job open at NBC for an executive program director. Any volunteers? I'm applying, and I have no experience whatsoever in the field. But I figure I couldn't do any worse than the current holder of the position, and I could use the money.
Well played, Conan! Classy yet no-holds-barred. Way to throw down the gauntlet!
Need an assistant…?
I thought Jay Leno was supposed to retire not run a wrecking ball through NBC's nightime line up. Leno needs to be the bigger man here.
However it is fun to watch N(othing)B(ut)C(ommunists) flounder…
last nights show was his best in years…
Conan has killed the Tonight Show's ratings. I'm having trouble reconciling that fact with his statement (below):
"But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction".
Leno > Conan.
NBC made a mistake forcing Jay out and is now desperately trying to fix it.
Unfortunately, with NBC's "experienced inexperience", I bet cash those are the words that will go on the epitaph…
Now, if CBS would put that gap-toothed Alfred E. Neuman out to pasture and give Conan a hole to run through, we could have some serious fun here…
I'm still holding out for an earlier slot for Gutfield and "Red-Eye"…
And to think , the network also put its money behind the Obama administration…I wonder how that's gonna work out.
Perfectly played by Conan.
Mjolnir: Assistant, hell. I'm going to need an entire staff! LOL
Both Jay and Conan should walk away and let NBC rot. Both have big fan bases and will be successful elsewhere, especially on the same new network.
I volunteer to write comedy. Of course, I haven't any experience writing comedy, but I cannot be any worse that the flat schtick they pump out now.
Were you the one suggesting Fox News slip Redeye to network FOX? I thought that was a bang up idea.
NBC blew it. They should have left Jay alone and Conan alone….right where they were. It worked.
I like Jay, but not in that time slot…and I liked Conan when he was allowed to be edgier….where is Insult, the fake interviews where the lips move…but not the picture…all funnier at the later time.
And Fallin isn't grown up enough to have an intelligent show.
Either give Jay a HUGE pay off and tear up any no-compete clause and let Conan have the slot, or pay off Conan and give the slot back to jay and give Conan his old slot and let Fallon go.
I thought Jay retired. How did NBC force him out? They did mess up by announcing his retirement and replacement six years ago. That's an eternity in TV time.
Not a fan of Conan O'Brien, but here I am with him completely. Moving the Tonight Show back to 12:05 is ludicrous and I have to say I have a better opinion of O'Brien for standing up for what is right.
That said, if NBC wants to self destruct – so be it.
Moving Leno (who I like) to 10 was insane. Why isn't someone fired over that? I will watch Leno if he moves to another station and competes with The Tonight Show.
I will not even mention that other thing on CBS.
and Conan will bolt to FOX…
And Jay goes back to nights against Dave and cleans his clock- again- and all is well. Maybe.
How does Jeff Zucker keep his job?
The Tonight Show at 12:05 is The Tomorrow Show
Wanda: You're hired. We'll work out the details later, just like the schedule we're working on.
It's all Zucked up.
…and wasn't that decision 6 years ago made to keep Conan around? if Jay wasn't forced out, you wouldn't have this mess. clearly Jay wasn't ready to go, hence his 10PM show. sometimes force is heavy handed, and sometimes it's gently applied. i think Leno had been under gentle pressure for 6 years to hand over the show on the designated date. i don't think he wanted to go when the reality of that approaching date hit him.
Conan makes the valid point that the lead-in to your show is crucial to your ratings. The lead-in to his show is the Leno Disaster.
If Conan goes over to FOX, maybe he could team up with his old pal Sarah Palin. They've worked well together before.
if i'm NBC, why would i want Conan at the Tonight Show with LOWER ratings when i can have Leno back with HIGHER ratings? forgetting everything else… the bottom line is that it's all about ad revenue. Leno > Conan.
hi Conan. nice to see you posting here.
Give Conan the regular late-night time slot on Fox (11:35) and follow it up with Red Eye on both Fox and Fox News. Then they would get some market share.
Conan isn't my cup of tea but he has his fans. And he fits in better with Red Eye than on NBC.
They are so boring. They could both be using their position as late-night TV stars to get laid.
They are so boring. They could both be using their position as late-night TV stars to get laid by underlings.
yup
He only knocks down a few MILLION a year to screw things up –
…is that enough cash for you to remain er, "viable" in San Fran?
He really is the best of the bunch, and we miss him here in NY. I hope he winds up destroying Letterman from FOX!!
Best comment.
Leno killed the Tonight Show's ratings when he took over for Carson, too. It took him nearly two years to get back to winning the time slot. I'm no fan of either of them, but O'Brien's only had seven months.
JamesB: It'll pay the rent, but I'll have to moonlight for food. Maybe I could supplement the income by running for the Board of Supervisors on the "blue" ticket.
Excellent! Because I am decidedly unfunny when my 12 hours of lolling around followed by 12 hours of sleep are in any way interrupted.
And that awesome musical intro. What was the drummer's name who played that awesome intro? An Irish, right? Brrrrrrth, ba-ba-ba-ba-ba, nana-nana nana!
I sometimes dream it (and I'm not even that old!)
Not only does time slot matter, but as long as He is following Leno he will always get second string guests while Leno gets the first string.
I wonder if he CAN bolt to Fox. I'd dearly love to have a looksee at his contract.
Leno is the new Favre.
most of these guys have nice 'out' clauses. We have to admit this was kicked around by Bill O'Reilly and Bernie Goldberg last night, but it did sound good…
Truthfully, NO host in the Tonight Show slot could overcome the poor ratings and nonexistent lead in audience in the final hour of prime time. If NBC had a decent lineup of programming in prime time instead of 5 nights of Jay Leno and the other 10 hours devoted to obese people dieting, then Conan's ratings would have been higher.
Dave's ratings are high right now because CBS is consistently winning the lead in to late local news with CSI:Miami, Good Wife, Mentalist, and Criminal Minds.
BTW, Conan made a point of sticking up for Jimmy Fallon. That was classy. Jay has shown no such deference to the other people in this mess. Conan got the high ground here.
There is no lead-in audience from NBC prime time and late local news. Frankly, Jay would have a hard time getting those ratings back. Not to mention, if NBC promotes the hell out of Jay's restoration, that won't erase the hard feelings Jay has caused. For instance, the hundreds of jobs lost in the industry because NBC gave Jay 5 hours of prime time programming. Or the time Jay crossed the WGA picket line. Or how throughout this weeklong fiasco, Jay has been utterly classless and self-absorbed. Say what you will about Conan, his statement today was VERY classy and he now has the high ground here.
What did Bernie Goldberg have to say on this? Was Conan's letter out yet? I am not a consistent O'reilly watcher.
That would be Ed Shaughnessy.
Ed Shaughnessy vs. Buddy Rich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNhnioNNIPI
they were speculating on what we posted- it made so much sense we regurgitated it. However, FOX was involved early; they did try to land Jay before this debacle was hatched…
Flip a coin. One will get "Tonight", the other Zucker's job. Seriously, they couldn't do any worse.
With those qualifications, why not run fro president? Look where it got Obama.
Naf.. I think you're off on this one. (but, i can only go on my old memory here…)
When they moved Leno to the tonight show, as I recall they gave him the contract for a few years, but it included a clause stating that at the end of the contract, there would be no renewal, so Jay said he was 'contemplating' retirement. NBC had a mess on their hands when they tried to figure out who was going to take over the tonight show to start with when Johnny stepped down.
They (the brass suits) weren't sold on Jay as being the guy, but they didn't get Letterman (for whatever reason, and honestly, they should be grateful, IMO). The Ratings at first proved them out, but they went with a contract extension, because they weren't sure O'Brien was ready for the slot "YET", but he was their future guy, no ifs ands or buts… so when the new contract was written, it was written in that O'Brien was to be the new host as soon as the contract extension expired.
This mess is _all_ on NBC, IMO… unfortunately, Conan and Fallon are the two guys that are going to be caught in the fallout of all of this.
What is this "NBC" you are all talking about? I don't have enough time to watch many of the fringe stations.
Ah, whatever….good drama.
Conan – not a fan, not an enemy. He seems to be getting a raw deal.
Leno show – He is ok, but his jokes are so puerile and his guests are just children selling things like their books or movies. How embarrassing for a middle aged man like Leno to have to pretend to even care about these toddlers they book for the show. At least Letterman got to bag some staffers. Leno can't go after the staffers or even some of the hottie chick guests.
Show biz aint what it used to be.
Hell – I get more laughs out of watching the banter on TMZ!
US: Ain't that the truth ? !
Leno took the risk of a new show and it flopped. Conan should not pay the price for a failure that is not his.
Jay announced his retirement, he wasn't "forced out". He quit, said he was done, then he started getting cold feet, he was worried about people not remembering him. If he was forced to leave, why give him a primetime show?
The great Ed Shaughnesy
Nafarius is right- Jay was not forced out by ANYONE. It was HIS decision to "retire".
Unfortunately for all concerned, Jay decided AFTER Conan was lined up to inherit the Tonight Show that he really didn't want to quit working after all. At that point, NBC, who was so afraid that Jay would go to another network, decided to trash their own prime time lineup just to cowtow to Jay.
When I heard last summer that NBC was going to put Jay on at 10pm five nights per week, I knew it was a HUGE mistake, and that Jay wouldn't last more than six months. People have a higher entertainment standard at 10pm than they do at 11:30pm, and Jay just doesn't cut the mustard in prime time. He's usually good for a decent monologue, and that's about it.
Another factor in Jay's demise is that, like everyone at NBC, Jay seems to be an Obama butt-kisser, which has not only hurt his credibility as a comedian, but also his ability to deliver a top-notch monologue. In the old days, Jay used to go after Democrats and Republicans with equal gusto, but no longer.
Conan could do a better job with the Tonight Show if Jay Leno wasn't hanging around with his own show. Conan needs to lose some of the goofy crap and run the show more like Johnny Carson. NBC should honor their contract with Conan and keep him at 11:30, and send Jay Leno off to Vegas where he belongs.
Not that I want to see him leave Red Eye, but any network could do worse than hire Greg Gutfeld for some late night vehicle. I'm surprised FOX hasn't moved in this direction yet.
Ah – thank you dcase. I saw on Fox a few minutes ago that Fox (not news) was talking to Conan. I also saw a piece where Conan said he is going to continue to just do his show (but steal office supplies). Made me chuckle.
NBC – What a cluster.
Nothing But Clueless- NBC…
The sandwich I had for dinner has more qualifications than NBC's current executives.
Exactly. I thought he'd quit late night. But it doesn't matter. Western civilization ended when Carson retired.
I blame Harry Reid! He should resign.
Yep.
A Gutfield entertainment spot, with politics thrown in…can't go wrong…go wrong…go wrong…go wrong…!
I can't wait to see the guest booking wars that are going to errupt when Conan gets his own 11:30 show.
Letterman, Leno AND Conan all vying for the same stars?
It's going to be brutal.
Do you think I could get Breitbart, et. al. on air…?
I mean, c'mon, we can get Giles and O'Keefe to re-launch "Candid Camera"…
Schizoid Man to do our crazy Japanese game show starring statist libs practically killing themselves for a chance for the Obama to stare down on them disdainfully from a half-apple…
"America's Funniest Liars", playing then/now statements from lib politicians, (and that one would be cheap, too. All of that is out, we just have to do the cuts and splices…)
Get Achmed the Dead Terrorist to interview the "Fruit of Kaboom" bomber…
Top Ten list of the White House self-aggrandizement pronouncements…
I mean, this stuff just writes itself, practically…
We'll have 'em all on payroll by Friday! I'll let Andrew P know we're taking a very lucrative break from actual work.
Ha! You should apply for the new position :'-)
I like Conan. I don't care where he goes or what he does as long as it is *earlier*. I think Conan would have cleaned Leno's clock if Conan had had the earlier time slot.
To me, Leno has always been painful to watch. Something about his interaction with people, it seems forced. Conan seems more relaxed and is *funnier*.
ROTFLMAO!
Every day but Sunday SUNDAY SUNNNNDAAAAY!
Since it is Gutfeld I trust there will be some sort of tag teaming, hip heists and lotion lubed blowoffs.
Lord. I don't know what comes over me… I mean gets into my head… I mean oh never mind! GUTFELD!
Very few stars to fight over these days. Another reason ratings are down.
OT: Every site that has comments, on the entire internet, needs to donate to a mass-media blitz PSA campaign, especially in television and radio, to inform prospective newbie commenters that sometimes comments don't get posted right away, and that if you decide to click the post-again button three more times, your post will likely appear in the thread three more times than you intended it to.
Sometimes I think there needs to be mandatory classes and licensing for commentors. Letting folks post without telling them anything about etiquette, normal procedures, spelling, punctuation, paragraph usage, or even the tiniest smidgen of understanding as to how the internet even works is like giving the keys to your car to a three-year-old.
Sometimes. Other times I realize I'm a conservative and acknowledge that free speech is not something allowed only those Ordained by the Journalism Seminaries, and just shake my head.
Conservatively thinking: someone could make serious money selling plugins to website maintainers that delete all those multiple posts (all except one, of course). That nobody would be the wiser is a double-edged sword. Sure, it'd get rid of all the double-posts, but then, how would anyone ever learn that they appear to others to be a newbie and an impatient boob?
"Conan has killed the Tonight Show's ratings. I'm having trouble reconciling that fact with his statement"
One cannot extrapolate much from Conan's ratings over the past 6 months or so. Especially since Leno barely went away. Didn't Leno get trounced by Letterman, by the way, before the Hugh Grant interview? I'm sure plenty of people were saying he was destroying the franchise up until he wasn't.
The audience hasn't warmed to Conan yet, which is not to say they wouldn't love him in time.
No – the timeline was not "NBC forced Jay out." Jay Leno SAID HE WAS RETIRING! He had it all lined up and was ready to leave. NBC/Conan did not 'push Jay out'. They just took him at his word that he was retiring and starting to make the arrangements and deals so a smooth transition would be in place. Then Leno changed his mind and wasn't going to leave the show. NBC offered him a 'prime time late show' as an alternative, but that clearly isn't working out (because it was a stupid idea). Leno is the one causing problems here by not keeping his work, not honoring his agreements, and refusing to pack it in. He quit. He should be the one to sail into the sunset here. If he wants to do another show then he should get out and negotiate it from scratch rather than trying to hang on like a choad on the Tonight Show's toilet paper.
"Leno is the new Favre."
Three big differences:
1. Farve actually was "forced" out.
2. Farve unretiring didn't hurt anybody. The Jets had a solid 8-3 start (before he injured himself), and, obviously, the Vikings have done well. As for the QBs he replaced, Pennington had a great year in sunny Miami and who cares about Tavaris Jackson, really?
I know I said three, but I meant two.
No – the timeline was not "NBC forced Jay out." Jay Leno SAID HE WAS RETIRING! He had it all lined up and was ready to leave. NBC/Conan did not 'push Jay out'. They just took him at his word that he was retiring and starting to make the arrangements and deals so a smooth transition would be in place. Then Leno changed his mind and wasn't going to leave the show. NBC offered him a 'prime time late show' as an alternative, but that clearly isn't working out (because it was a stupid idea). Leno is the one causing problems here by not keeping his work, not honoring his agreements, and refusing to pack it in. He quit. He should be the one to sail into the sunset here. If he wants to do another show then he should get out and negotiate it from scratch rather than trying to hang on like a choad on the Tonight Show's toilet paper.
Jeez, did a double-post kill your father? Lighten up. This is not the paper of record. No one will read these threads in a week, much less years. Who cares if people don't know what they're doing? Is it really that bothersome?
Welllll ~laughs~
1) Favre retired (round1?) and then after grueling preseason he tells the Packers to put ol' Aaron on ice for yet another year because he has reconsidered. What to do? They are just like NBC in that they had a good thing with Favre and Aaron Rodgers was a relatively unproven quantity, but they had a freaking backbone and stood by their decision to play for the future. Aaron Rodgers. Right or wrong. I actually think that was his second bit of retiring wishy washiness. Can you BLAME them for not going again with him?
2) This is not a talent issue.
And – Tarvaris Jackson's mama cares about Tarvaris.
BTW – OHHH how I adore my Brett Favre.
Now that would be sweet!
Come back to New York Conan! We want you here!
[...] Read the Full Article @Big Hollywood [...]
He's right. Jay was the one that picked Conan to take over for him.
I see they beat me to it. Ain't no sharper crowd than right here at BH.
Yup Ed Shaughnessy, the one and only. Also Don Sweeny banged the drums not so slowly, using a very special kit as a replacement to his own:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxR48zw7PJ0
Yes, Leno was forced out. Also, many don't know why Carson left when he did, it was along similar lines. Let's just say network executives are not the smartest when it comes to realizing they have a good thing going.
Jimmy Fallon is an embarrassment to both himself and the show. I like the guy, and I realize he's trying very hard to not let anyone down, but he doesn't have what it takes. Not by a long shot.
His delivery reminds me of an out-of-breath kid talking to grownups about what he just learned in school. The SNL phrase, not-ready-for-prime time aptly applies to Jimmy like no one else.
Yeah, I prefer Jay to Conan, too, not because of his jokes, because they're not funny, but just because I just like him and hope he stays on TV.
That's correct. It was a contract renewal insult. Carson left (retired) under similar circumstances, believe it or not.
I'd like to sit back and relax and mix myself a colortini just one more time.
Tom Snyder – come back!!!
—————————-
Random thoughts – get some real big bands back on these shows, not these ratty rock combos.
I am tired of looking at the scruffy 20-somethings clamoring to shake Leno's hand at the beginning of the show. I'd rather be given a can of cashews to munch during the show.
All of these shoes blow.
I like Jimmy Kimmel, but he needs to dump the Mexican dude and his Uncle Frank. They are comedy lead as opposed to comedy gold.
Let's see…..Conan is upset with NBC…I love it when libtards eat libtards. Yum!
Leno and O'Brien both have a right to be angry. Leno, because he worked haqrd to bring the Tonight Show back to #1 (How'd YOU like to follow in Johnny Carson's footsteps), and then to be removed while still #1, and O'Brien – for being promised this and not being given a resonable amount of time to develop it.
I don't see how the programming gurus at NBC could have been dumber.
How are they going to repair all of this?
Thanks guys! That was driving me nuts and I didn't have time to do a Google search yesterday. I played the drums a bit and was in awe of the guy. I went into a music store in Murray, Ky. one time a day after Shaughnessy had been there. I think he was buddies with the owner. Guys like that you want a chance to tell them how much you appreciate their talent.
Have these guys done anything but support liberal douchery since they've been on tv? Why are you people shedding a tear for them?
If it wasn't for Leno's car program, there would be nothing good to say about either of them. They still won't make jokes about Obama and how many ways he's bankrupted and collapsed this Country. Did I miss something?
Oh man!!!!! Too sweet. Thanks for that!
My son plays in a band where the drummer has like a 15-piece set. All you need is a four-piece (if'n ya know how to use it).
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