Conan O'Brien to leave The Tonight Show....

[Thire]

...sad to see NBC destroy The Tonight Show, but happy to see Mr. O'Brien (most likely) head off to a better network. Especially on a classy statement like that.

Conan O'Brien says he won't do Tonight Show following Leno

[EraOfDesann]

I've been watching Conan religiously since he took over the Tonight Show and I'm a big fan. I'm upset with these developments and how Conan has been treated. NBC deserves their continuing failure (I would not watch NBC if it weren't for Conan and the Thursday night comedy lineup) and Jay Leno is a selfish egomaniac who's past his prime.

Conan is a class act. That was a very thoughtful and eloquent letter. I wish him the best of luck and all of the success he deserves. If he jumps to another network I'll be sure to follow.

[Maveritchell]

I would not watch NBC if it weren't for Conan and the Thursday night comedy lineup

Without going too far out of topic - you should watch Chuck. If you can catch some back episodes, do it - but I think you'd enjoy this.

[EraOfDesann]

Without going too far out of topic - you should watch Chuck. If you can catch some back episodes, do it - but I think you'd enjoy this.

I've heard a lot about Chuck and I'd definitely like to give it a watch when I have the opportunity.

[Thire]

Well there is a Facebook Group now.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2 ... 873&ref=nf

[Fusion]

So NBC still can't figure out that Conan has the 18-49 demographic? I really hope he finds a better network if this doesn't work out.

Oh, and

Hidden/Spoiler:

[Teancum]

Jay Leno is a selfish egomaniac who's past his prime.

Absolutely. And on top of that he's just not funny. Ever.

[Maveritchell]

Jay Leno is a selfish egomaniac who's past his prime.

Absolutely. And on top of that he's just not funny. Ever.

I don't think much of many late-night shows, but I don't think it's fair to pin this situation on Leno. Everything I've read about this indicates that all of this is NBC's doing - Leno's not doing any schedule-jockeying, and he's not trying to strongarm his show into the Tonight Show's spot. He's held in place by a contract like anyone - he can't just up and quit either.

[Teancum]

Sure, I'll give you that it's not fair. I still don't like the guy as an entertainer. He's not funny and he's self-centered in general -- not Tyra Banks self-centered, but somewhat.

[EraOfDesann]

Here's my beef with Leno:

He said he'd retire in 2009 when his contract expired. After that, Conan was contractually locked into hosting The Tonight Show once Jay retired in '09. Jay seemed perfectly content with this. However as 2009 drew closer Jay changed his mind and decided that he wasn't ready to retire after all. Since NBC couldn't break contract and give him back The Tonight Show they threw him a bone to keep him from running to another network and thus The Jay Leno Show was born. The show tanked and the abysmal ratings spilled into the local news and The Tonight Show... which lead to this whole mess. Jay's insistence that he stay on television is the source of all this commotion and now his selfishness is creating a chain reaction that's affecting many others. NBC is mostly at fault, without question, but Jay's hands are far from clean. He should have retired graciously just as he said he would. Unless he decides to follow Conan's lead by walking away, I don't think there's anyway he can save face after this fiasco. As many have said, this "blue-collar/everyman" persona he's developed is very deceiving -- he's a company man through and through, and a manipulative one at that.

[Thire]

I agree with NBC being mostly to blame.

Either way, I'm gonna miss Conan.

[Thire]

Sorry for the dp, but I wanted to post this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=axwO6BkCtIo

Kimmel just became my second favorite talk-show host.

[EraOfDesann]

I loved Kimmel's impersonation of Leno last week. Even though I didn't watch much late night television before last summer I always liked the bits of Kimmel that I saw. He's probably my second favorite after Conan as well.

[Grev]

HAHA!
"Conan O'Brien released a statement saying he wouldn't participate in the destruction of the late show. Fortunately, I will."

[Lord Bardar]

The situation was mocked on SNL last night, in an interview between Conan and Larry King.

"Heck, even if it was a million, not only would I pack up and leave, I'd kill a guy."

[Darth_Squoobus]

I don't see what the big deal is. I hardly watch the idiot box anymore.

Beside, if you want to see a good show, watch Psychoville.

[Fusion]

Then really, why post in this thread?

And this is rhetorical.

[Grev]

Then really, why post in this thread?

And this is rhetorical.

Who needs rhetorical questions?

chuckle....

Yeah, seriously, some of us DO watch the "idiot tube".

[Thire]

Well tonight was Conan's goodbye. Quite an emotional ending.

[EraOfDesann]

The montage, Neil Young and Conan's speech all made me teary eyed. Bittersweet episode for sure. I'm really going to miss this show.

Conan, come back to television ASAP!