The Jay Leno Situation...

Late Night (everything after the Late News) isn't the problem here (and that's what Conan is saying too); the problem is NBC's Prime Time and it's lead into the local Late News.

NBC has enough broken things to fix than to try fixing something that isn't.

- Mikko
 
Not trying to be cool, I just don't watch them and nobody in my immediate circle of family or friends do either. Same stale format since Jack Paar, i just don't get it. And I have plenty of old friends in their demos, even my in-laws. I used to like Late Night with Dave back in the late 80s/early 90s but these days?

IMHO, the death of the corporate monoliths that the remaining big 3 or 4 networks have become can't come soon enough. They have failed to evolve with the times so they deserve it.

Dan
 
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
​
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go conan!
 
The best (and easiest) solution here is for Leno to just admit his prime time show didn't work and walk away. He's the one holding all the cards (his contract) so it's his decision. If he stays then he becomes an uninvited guest into the late night arena. If he walks away then he'll be respected for passing up millions of dollars so that Conan can keep what he inherited. Seems like an easy decision. That is, if you're not greedy.

P.S. Conan is a class act.
 
Well, Leno didn't give this whole mess so much as a mention on tonight's show ... at least not during the first 30 minutes; after which I put in a CSI BluRay to watch until Conan comes on and makes us all laugh with even this critical of an issue; because he's awesome like that.

- Mikko
 
There is nothing more than I'd like to see than both of them walk.

Conan to FOX (would be a year, maybe a little less) and Jay take a break for two years then take Lettermans spot when he retires in 2012.

If Conan walks and Jay goes back on at 11:35 then the audience will revolt agaist it although it is the network execs fault he'll still take the heat.
 
So Conan tonight is, well, hilarious.

He's totally going "all in" at this point; I'm sure there's an element of "hail Mary" desperation going on, but it's coming across as Conan completely unrestrained as he has nothing to loose at this point. He's just going all out with everything he can do to to be funny - that's what he loves and what he's here to do.

Conan is off the wall; Andy is bringing it; and his guests Tom Brokaw and Zachary Levi are awesomely funny too. He even had Howie Mandel as a special guest to play Deal Or No Deal with his options.

Heck, even a promo for SNL that just aired (In a break in Conan) was joking that SNL won't start until 2am this week. :grin:

Publicity stunt or not, Conan is making this great entertainment. If he goes down because of this, he's definitely going down in a blaze of glory.

- Mikko
 
PK Gillock said:
The best (and easiest) solution here is for Leno to just admit his prime time show didn't work and walk away. He's the one holding all the cards (his contract) so it's his decision. If he stays then he becomes an uninvited guest into the late night arena. If he walks away then he'll be respected for passing up millions of dollars so that Conan can keep what he inherited. Seems like an easy decision. That is, if you're not greedy.

P.S. Conan is a class act.
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Ditto... across the board.
 
puredrifting said:
Does anybody still watch late night talk shows?

Boring...

Dan
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You know, honest to God, I was thinking the same thing this morning. Not trying to be "cool" either. I was going to post this, but you beat me to it, puredrifting.

I'm up around 7 and in bed way before the late night shows start. I'm notoriously loyal to the Howard Stern show, but as for late night TV, not into it. (My vote for most promising new late night show is reruns of Seinfeld)

When I was in college, I'd stay up for Letterman. Hell, we'd even watch the Joe Franklin show after that, just to have something to laugh at.

I gotta ask to the people who do watch: what's more interesting, the late night shows themselves, or the controversy that surrounds this current situation?
 
I think Jay is more valuable than Conan, that's the impression we're all getting. Doesn't mean it's fair, it is what it is.
 
conan03.jpg


The internet has spoken overwhelmingly in favor for Conan. Even 4chan (the scum of the internet, but also the people responsible for 99% of internet memes and viral videos today) has sided by spamming boards across the net with this image. If the deal is done, then its done. But I know I won't be watching Leno's show ever again, and I definitely won't be watching The Tonight Show at midnight. That's not The Tonight Show, it's the tomorrow show.
 
Deepfocus88 said:
I gotta ask to the people who do watch: what's more interesting, the late night shows themselves, or the controversy that surrounds this current situation?
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Controversy is usually more interesting in just about every format. At the very least it gives them more ammunition for their jokes. :)

I'll continue to watch Letterman and Ferguson for a few good laughs about current events and some good interviews with celebrities that I'm interested in.

Why not? I'm usually up. :)
For Letterman anyway, only occasionally for Ferg.

MAH
 
Jeff Zucker told Conan today that he will keep him off the air for 3 1/2 years if he keeps his whinning up. No one is really sure how Zucker can have a job, he must have some really good bribery material on someone.
 
puredrifting said:
IMHO, the death of the corporate monoliths that the remaining big 3 or 4 networks have become can't come soon enough. They have failed to evolve with the times so they deserve it.

Dan
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The sooner the better


Late night talk shows are lame, as is most of TV programming, IMO.
 
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