LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/conan-obrien-says-he-wont-do-tonight-show-following-leno/ Conan O’Brien released a statement Tuesday saying that he no longer wants to host NBC’s “Tonight Show” and intends to seek a way to end his contract with the network. The host, who saw his brief run at host of “Tonight” cut short when NBC decided to restore his predecessor Jay Leno to the 11:35 p.m. time period occupied by “Tonight” since the dawn of television, has been growing increasingly upset in recent days about how he believes he was treated by NBC’s management. A representative of the host said Tuesday that the issue came to a head for Mr. O’Brien on Monday and that he had “sat up all night drafting the statement.” NBC declined comment. Mr. O’Brien was scheduled to do “The Tonight Show” on Tuesday night. In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Mr. O’Brien said “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.’” Mr. O’Brien’s comments came two days after NBC formally outlined a plan to move “The Jay Leno Show” to 11:35 p.m. in March, elbowing Mr. O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” back half an hour. Mr. Leno seems supportive of the plan; but in his statement, Mr. O’Brien rejects it outright. The statement reads: 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 After 16 years making a name with his distinctive brand of intellectually silly comedy on NBC’s “Late Night” show, Mr. O’Brien replaced Mr. Leno as the host of “The Tonight Show” a mere seven months ago. He is just the fifth man to lead ”Tonight,” after Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Mr. Leno. Mr. Leno, meanwhile, moved to prime time in September as the host of “The Jay Leno Show.” But the 10 p.m. experiment was a bust for many NBC affiliates, which have seen the ratings for their late local newscasts plummet. Amid mounting pressure to scrap the talk show, NBC announced on Sunday that Mr. Leno’s last show at 10 p.m. would be Feb. 11, and indicated that “The Jay Leno Show” would be shown at 11:35 p.m. instead. NBC will begin showing the Winter Olympics the next day, setting the stage for a new schedule on March 1. But the network acknowledged that day that Mr. O’Brien was not yet on board with the move. Ever since the Leno-to-11:35 move was described in the press last Thursday, people close to Mr. O’Brien have said privately that he was upset with the plan. Fox has expressed interest in starting a late-night show starring Mr. O’Brien — provided he found a way to extricate himself from his NBC contract. On Monday Kevin Reilly, the president of Fox Entertainment, strongly endorsed Mr. O’Brien in an interview. “He would be a very compatible fit for our brand,” Mr. Reilly said. “He is one of the few guys on the planet that has demonstrated he can do one of these shows every night.” ------------------------------ As if I couldn't hate Jay Leno any more than I do... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
count chocula Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 conan > everyone else Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tavaruawon Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Fuck Jay Leno. Long live the Cone Zone. I fucking love this guy. Slight homo intended. He'll probably go to Fox and it will be awesome. That is all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ski Mask Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 hah, just finished reading this on gawker. good timing. FUCK LENO. seriously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
earl broclo ESQ Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Jay Leno is such a fucking twat. Fuck that dude. You Mac Moon looking has been. Piss off fool, you don't need a show, I never understood why they gave you that earlier time slot, and your shit just ain't funny. Suck a dick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dowmagik Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 carson > * 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boxcarrapist Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 BOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Fuck a Leno. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remainunderated Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=escmIFqvcos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spitfire15 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I love how he started his formal statement with 'The people of earth' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiser miyagi Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 my solution: have jay host 'american top gear' he can talk about cars. conan keeps his show.....but gets better writers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoHuxtable.. Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Can't blame him. He got screwed. Wasn't Jay Leno supposed to be retired? He never went away. And now he's taking Conan's slot which was promised to him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheoHuxtable.. Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Breaking news, Last Call With Carson Daily has now been pushed to 6 am Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LEVEL 75 PALADIN Posted January 12, 2010 Author Share Posted January 12, 2010 Breaking news, Last Call With Carson Daily has now been pushed to 6 am :lol: For real... How is that show still on???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
B40-8 Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Jay needs to retire as he promised, he's like Brett farve, and just wont go away. Conan is hilarious on the tonight show, i watch it frequently, which i never did with leno. Leno's humor is old and tired, he needs to chin out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manute Bol Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I love how he started his formal statement with 'The people of earth' This Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeking Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 just watched the opening monologue from last nights show. oh man. conan killed it. so many jabs at NBC and leno. 'NBC says it will lose $275million dollars during the olympics. i for one find that hillarious' ha. looking forward to watching it tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reuben Kinkaid Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 If they don't appreciate Conan, let him leave. He can go to Fox where he'll pretty much get free range to do whatever he wants and have the best late night show in history... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedicineCabinet Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopit Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 He should never have to do a show following that shlub, Conan is a fucking genius. Leno is mediocre at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OL'DIRTYGeEEZER Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Conan O'Brien is one of my heroes, fuck Jay Leno Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drue_Down Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 How does anyone with a decent job watch late night TV? Being born & raised in Chicago, and now living in AZ the last few years, these shows start at 10:35pm. I still can't believe every other city gets it at 11:35pm. Who can watch shows from 11:35pm till 1am? A: Unemployed people who can't afford what is being advertised on their commercials. flawed logic. And moving Leno won't help, he just sucks. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Wallbanger Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 I stay up until 4 or 5 most nights, then get up and start working around ten. Even days when I have to get up at 6 or 7, I usually watch at least half of Conan before bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harvey Wallbanger Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 And yes, fuck Leno. I can't believe what a whiny bitch he is. I've actually been catching his show here and there since he moved to ten-- I can't stand cop and courtroom dramas-- and it's better than CSI, but he doesn't hold a candle to Conan or Letterman. I don't know why NBC seems to be scared of him. I'd hate to see Conan go to Fox, since Rupert Murdoch is slightly more detestable than Leno... but it would be better than no Conan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_gooch Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Jay Leno is such a fucking twat. Fuck that dude. You Mac Moon looking has been. Piss off fool, you don't need a show, I never understood why they gave you that earlier time slot, and your shit just ain't funny. Suck a dick. dude said: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_gooch Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 and yeah....FUCK LENO! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Realism Posted January 12, 2010 Share Posted January 12, 2010 Who can watch shows from 11:35pm till 1am? A: Unemployed people who can't afford what is being advertised on their commercials. flawed logic. I like the part where you assume that everyone who does well for themselves goes to bed at the same time you do. Come on man. And to keep step with the thread Leno can eat a dick. It seems like Channel Zero might actually be cohesively agreeing on something for once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seeking Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 i make pretty decent money and i dont get to work till noon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_gooch Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 i watch tv 'till 2AM or so and then get up and go to work fir 8AM-ish. My job is decent. granted, i am pretty cracked out all day but i don't really do any work at my job, so...haha. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drue_Down Posted January 13, 2010 Share Posted January 13, 2010 I like the part where you assume that everyone who does well for themselves goes to bed at the same time you do. Come on man. . You should assume I was speaking of the masses. Hence why the term "9 to 5" exists. I am well aware people who make good livings don't all work within "normal working hours." I myself used to be a 2pm to 6am guy in my 20's and made good $ as a self-employed web designer working whenever I felt like it. I should not need to explain that. But for 80%ish of America who works 9 to 5(or have kids), I don't see how these shows get ratings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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