The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

[Walkoff Balk]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

What a mess over at NBC!

Who got pooped on?

[tutusue]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

[...]
Personally I don't think Conan had enough experience to replace Leno. The change was too soon. A few more years and I think Conan would have matured to a "Leno" Crowd.[...]

IMNSHO...17 years experience as a late night host is plenty experience! The 2 have completely different hosting chops and appeal to different demographics.

To me Conan just couldn't hold the numbers and failed in his own ability to up his ratings as well as having to compete with Leno.

Two points...1. At the risk of redundancy, NBC didn't want Leno to defect to another network. 2. Conan's late night show, beginning in the early 90s, took a lot longer than 7 months to garner a good following.

What was NBC management thinking?[...]

Yep. And to think this has been almost 6 years in the making.

What a mess over at NBC!

Probably more than they bargained for!

[Ron Whitfield]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Jeff Zucker has been a travesty at NBC, yet will keep his job.

I can't understand why so many don't like Conan, but it's part of why we that do, do so much.

[zff]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

I think accepting NBC's decision to have him bump Conan makes Leno look like the villian, even if it's not his idea. If he stepped down and left Conan and Fallon's shows intact, he would come across as the selfless hero, even though he'd be sure to land a lucrative gig elsewhere. He should do it quickly before it's too late. It might already be.

[tutusue]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

[...]If he stepped down and left Conan and Fallon's shows intact, he would come across as the selfless hero, even though he'd be sure to land a lucrative gig elsewhere. He should do it quickly before it's too late.[...]

Just a thought...there might be something in Leno's contract to prevent that. Again, NBC does not want him going to another network which is why they created the primetime show to begin with. Plus his show is a lot less expensive to produce than the standard primetime fare...dramas, sitcoms, etc. My guess (yes, just a guess!) is that there's very explicit wording in his latest contract to prevent him from stepping down and landing a show elsewhere...possibly for an extended period of time. I'd love to know the details of his contract! It might explain of lot of what's going on.

It's such a sad situation for Conan esp. considering the trickle-down. Not only did he uproot his family and move to LA but so did his house band and, iirc, most of his crew. This situation isn't just about Jay and Conan.

[Random]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Why, what's wrong with girlie bear porn? I like that warm and fuzzy feeling.

I'm not into bears.

[Random]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

I think accepting NBC's decision to have him bump Conan makes Leno look like the villian, even if it's not his idea. If he stepped down and left Conan and Fallon's shows intact, he would come across as the selfless hero, even though he'd be sure to land a lucrative gig elsewhere. He should do it quickly before it's too late. It might already be.

I'd give Leno by the end of the week. If he doesn't do so, then IME he's still the villain.

NBC, let Leno go. Any more damage control to keep Leno is just going to make you even worse than the Devil.

[LikaNui]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

My guess (yes, just a guess!) is that there's very explicit wording in his [Leno's] latest contract to prevent him from stepping down and landing a show elsewhere...possibly for an extended period of time. I'd love to know the details of his contract! It might explain of lot of what's going on.

Yep, I'd be shocked too if he doesn't have a non-compete clause in there.
And apparently Conan's contract does not stipulate a specific time slot. If he refuses to move to 12:05, that might mean that NBC doesn't have to pay the remainder of his contract. Conan oughta fire his manager and attorney for missing that when they drew up the contract in the first place. Sure, everyone expected TTS to forever be in that 11:30 time slot, but agents and attorneys are supposed to be smart enough to consider all contingencies.

It's such a sad situation for Conan esp. considering the trickle-down. Not only did he uproot his family and move to LA but so did his house band and, iirc, most of his crew. This situation isn't just about Jay and Conan.

Amen to that. And let's not forget the mega-fortune that NBC paid to build that entire new studio on the Universal lot for Conan. (Leno kept his old studio in Burbank.)
I also wonder that if Leno goes to just 30 minutes, what will happen to Kevin Eubanks and the band? Hard to see them keeping a whole band on salary for just a half-hour show.

[LikaNui]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Apparently Conan's refusal has resulted in Leno getting The Tonight Show back!!!!!!!!!!!
A friend just e-mailed this to me. It was posted on TMZ.com just a few minutes ago:

Leno and NBC Strike 1 Hour 'Tonight' Deal
Posted Jan 14th 2010 4:43PM by TMZ Staff

Jay Leno has made a new deal with NBC, which gives him "The Tonight Show" from 11:35 - 12:35 ... sources tell TMZ.
As we first reported, under the contract Jay had been working under, he was guaranteed the 10 PM hour. By moving him to 11:35, NBC was in breach of his contract and needed to negotiate a new deal. That is now done, sources tell TMZ.
So Conan O'Brien is out, and Jay is restored.

No guarantee that the story is accurate, until there's an official announcement, but.



UPDATE: The trade magazine Hollywood Reporter says sources at NBC confirm that Leno will be on at 11:35 for an hour. And since TMZ tends to be correct more often than not, well...

[Leo Lakio]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Sounds like NBC simply had to decide which "franchise" was of more value to them: Conan or Jay. They chose Jay. It's always a risk, and time will tell whether or not it pays off.

[Ron Whitfield]

ooops...

...maybe not - http://www.cnbc.com/id/34866227

[tutusue]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

[...]
And apparently Conan's contract does not stipulate a specific time slot.[...]

I heard just the opposite but that was a few days ago. This fiasco changes on an hourly basis!

[Walkoff Balk]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

If these two kids can't share. The parent NBC should give it to Carson Daily.

[tutusue]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

Conan's monologue last night was pretty funny but the degree of disgust he feels for NBC is so intense I can't imagine him saying the things he did if he thought there was any chance he'd hang on to his job. That monologue sounded to me like a "what have I got to lose, here comes a month worth of swipes because I'm outta here" verbal karate chop!

[craigwatanabe]

Re: The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

If these two kids can't share. The parent NBC should give it to Carson Daily.

What about Jimmy Fallon!