I'm with CoCo *Update - Conan coming back!*

Not sure how many people are aware of the shakeup in the late night NBC schedule, but Conan O'Brien is getting screwed, just like Letterman was before him.

Leno's ratings at his 10pm show are poor. They are still making money at NBC headquarters since the show doesn't cost much to make, but the local affiliates are losing money and wanted a real show at that time.

So they decided to give Leno his old time slot back at 11:35 for a 30 minute show, and push the Tonight Show to 12:05 (and push Fallon to 1:05). This will destroy Conan's ratings and screw up the whole environment of late night.

Conan has said he doesn't want to come on at 12:05, but NBC apparently doesn't have a time slot specified in the contract (most talk show hosts do).

Letter from Conan

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

I didn't think he'd last to be honest. He's just not funny to older people. He's popular with the 30 and younger crowd though. I watched his late night show for ten years. So, I'm a fan.

I always liked Conan. I never get to watch him anymore because of my work schedule...but I still think they are screwing The Tonight Show and the Late Show. Jay Leno was never a good host and is a god damn hack.

I didn't think he'd last to be honest. He's just not funny to older people. He's popular with the 30 and younger crowd though. I watched his late night show for ten years. So, I'm a fan.

He's doing well enough to warrant not being canceled. He's not losing his slot because his ratings are poor (even though they are), he's losing his slot because Leno's ratings are poor.

Conan taking plenty of shots at NBC, From now until Leno takes over and he leaves it's going to be interesting to see what happens.

Originally Posted by the_mango55

Conan taking plenty of shots at NBC, From now until Leno takes over and he leaves it's going to be interesting to see what happens.

Hes ripping NBC a new one. I love it

There was that twitter//b/ thing going around for "Oh Captain, My Captain" which was to have the audience stand up and and say it during a taping of the Show. I don't know if its going to happen but if /b/ can make youtube porn day work I think they can do this. Anyways, it would be much more poignant now that Conan is leaving the show... next week? Its soon. Anyways, someone should try and organize that for his last show.

Originally Posted by DisgruntledGoat

There was that twitter//b/ thing going around for "Oh Captain, My Captain" which was to have the audience stand up and and say it during a taping of the Show.

Oh man, that would be the greatest thing ever.

His brother Acco will be here shortly.

Oh man, this is disappointing. I really like Conan, been watching him for probably eight or nine years. I like Leno too, but I think he should recognize the position he's putting Conan in and just walk away. It's not like he needs a show anymore, and he's actually a hilarious stand up comedian (I saw him live once and he's way better than written jokes from the show). So really this is kind of a shame on NBC and Leno, as he should cleary see he's screwing others just to hold onto something that he should probably walk away from.

http://tv.msn.com/the-wrap/ebersol-s...ory/?gt1=28103

I agree with you the_mango55. I can't believe I am saying that. Avatar still sucks though.

It seems like Conan really gets great when he's put into a 'stressful' circumstance. I'm reminded of when he had the writer's strike and Conan O'Brien's late night TV show and the quality jumped up substantially.

I think it was just his beastly beard that he grew

Looks like he might be getting 30 million bucks just to walk away

http://blogs.laweekly.com/ladaily/ci...mil-severence/

Man, sweet deal for him, but the contract probably requires him to not host any competing shows, which is for his fans.

Nothing seems fixed yet but according to the articles I've read he won't be prevented from appearing on another network. At the most he'll be limited for a while but if e.g. he's going to Fox it would take months to set up another show anyway.

My favorite bit out of all of this so far is Jimmy Kimmel ripping Leno on his own show. It's just beautiful.
http://tv.gawker.com/5449049/kimmel-...-talking-about

Originally Posted by Rapax

Nothing seems fixed yet but according to the articles I've read he won't be prevented from appearing on another network. At the most he'll be limited for a while but if e.g. he's going to Fox it would take months to set up another show anyway.

My favorite bit out of all of this so far is Jimmy Kimmel ripping Leno on his own show. It's just beautiful.
http://tv.gawker.com/5449049/kimmel-...-talking-about

holy how did I not see that yet...

Wow, that has to be one of the most ballzy interviews on TV I have ever seen.

Rapax, did you see the Kimmel episode where he did the Leno parody (referenced in the first question). IT WAS HILARIOUS

Originally Posted by Rapax

My favorite bit out of all of this so far is Jimmy Kimmel ripping Leno on his own show. It's just beautiful.
http://tv.gawker.com/5449049/kimmel-...-talking-about

Watched some other clips on that site.
Where there were the The Late Night War jewel and Jay Leno Files.

Originally Posted by therussian

Rapax, did you see the Kimmel episode where he did the Leno parody (referenced in the first question). IT WAS HILARIOUS

I've seen it. I particularly liked Kimmel's sidekick as Eubank, was spot on.

Necisitas Conando!

Conando? Si! Conando!


Cyrus: yeah, that was definitely the best part