Late Night Talk Show Thread

[Andrew]

Well, they could always fire Jimmy Fallon/give him another show and move Conan back to Late Night. After all, this is television where the status quo is king.

[benji]

Conan is doing a very good job on the Tonight Show in my opinion.

But he was doing horribly in the ratings.

Leno took most of his older audience with him to 10PM, Conan brought almost none of his Late Night audience with him (as he was competing with The Daily Show/Colbert Report now which is where the younger viewers of the time slot always were) and lost a number of the whole audience over to Letterman. It was a cannibalization of the audience of the Tonight Show and was obvious from the start.

Jimmy Fallon has kept the bulk of the Late Night audience so that's why he's safe and Conan is out as Conan likely does not want to drop back to the later slot when FOX will likely offer him something considering their endless number of late night talk show bombs.

Leno taking a half hour show is the only way Conan keeps a slot on NBC. (And Carson Daly is probably the one who loses his job in that scenario if anyone does.)

[Andrew]

Or maybe Conan can just go back to writing for The Simpsons. There's actually a contingent of fans who believe the show would improve by leaps and bounds if Conan returned based on the episodes he wrote in the early 90s.

[benji]

Well, he couldn't make The Simpsons worse and more unfunny so I don't see why not.

[ixcuincle]

NBC denies that Jay Leno is being yanked; says 'show has performed exactly as we anticipated'
by Lynette Rice

NBC took the unusual step of responding to an internet report about the future of The Jay Leno Show and whether the network is on the verge of cancelling it. In the statement, NBC reiterated its commitment to the primetime talk show by saying “Jay Leno is one of the most compelling entertainers in the world today. As we have said all along, Jay’s show has performed exactly as we anticipated on the network. It has, however, presented some issues for our affiliates. Both Jay and the show are committed to working closely with them to find ways to improve performance.” In fact, the network’s annual affiliates meeting is reportedly set for later this month, during which Leno is sure to dominate the discussions. In the meantime, an NBC insider attempted to quash additional press reports about Leno moving back to The Tonight Show chair by insisting his show will not be cancelled at 10 p.m.

http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2010/01/ ... ot-yanked/

[koberulz]

In the meantime, an NBC insider attempted to quash additional press reports about Leno moving back to The Tonight Show chair by insisting his show will not be cancelled at 10 p.m.

I'd be a little more reassured if they phrased it 'his show at 10 p.m. will not be cancelled'; as it is they've left themselves a pretty big loophole.

[benji]

They don't have to cancel it, they can just move it to the later time slot.

And then they can rename it.

[ixcuincle]

They will probably move the Leno Show to the 11:30 slot for 30 minutes , and the Conan show to 30 minutes.

I hate Jimmy Fallon's show and refuse to watch that crap.

[buzzy]

Does anyony like Craig Ferguson? I recently discoverd the Late Late Show and I honestly haven't heard much of him before. Pretty entertaining, even without all the sketches you're used from the other shows.

[Andrew]

They don't broadcast the Late Late Show here but I've caught some of it in the hotel room when I've been in Canada/the US for Live community events. I thought it was alright, I always found Ferguson funny on The Drew Carey Show and the couple of British shows I've seen him in.

[kibaxx7]

I see Conan and Fallon on a daily basis, and NBC has been killing Conan from the beginning and he's hilarious at some parts of the show, doing this very professionally.

Just give Conan, Leno's guests, and done. Screw Leno

[benji]

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/nbc-o ... done-deal/

How did the hosts react when Gaspin went to him with his late night proposal? "Both Jay and Conan and Jimmy were incredibly gracious and professional, and they all said they understood the difficult situation I was in. Beyond that, it was a private conversation. When this settles, you are more than welcome to go and ask them what their feelings were," Gaspin challenged the critics and reporters.

But Gaspin was asked what is O'Brien’s incentive for agreeing to these changes? "I think Conan’s motivation in this will be more clear as time goes on. But what is important to me is that I gave Conan something that was very important to him, which was The Tonight Show. And so when I asked him to move to 12:05 AM, I made it very clear that The Tonight Show was moving with him."

And Leno? "What was important to Jay was telling jokes at 11:35 PM. I obviously couldn’t satisfy either completely, but that’s why I came up with this compromise."

But how does NBC fight the perecption that Jay and Conan are now damaged goods? "I think time, just time. I think when they tell jokes about this, it sort of winks to the audience that they are not doing this in the dark. But I think time is the best answer to your question."

But it's unclear how either host, and especially Conan, can trust NBC not to move their time slots again, or worse, fire them. Gaspin answered by noting that what happened was "such a unique set of circumstances -- the move to 10 oclock, the move back. I think we are in a safer zone having all of our late night folks actually in late night. So I don’t expect another upheaval like we had in the past year."

And what about Carson Daly? Is he odd man out? Assured Gaspin: "Carson Daly is going to be part of our schedule, regardless of what happens." (Sure, as if talent can believe anything NBC tells them these days!)

[Andrew]

A whole lot of messing around, but perhaps it'll work out for the best in terms of ratings and thus keeping NBC and the affiliates happy. Kudos to Leno, Conan and Fallon for handling the situation with a lot more dignity than their bosses.

[ixcuincle]

http://www.wwtdd.com/2010/01/conan-seem ... something/

[ixcuincle]

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

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2 ... wing-leno/

So what now...

[Andrew]

Can't blame Conan for being miffed. I'm sure all the people who said he'd flop are feeling vindicated right now but the way he's been treated is just wrong. I noticed Letterman taking a few shots at NBC in his most recent show along with a pretty accurate Leno impression, which I'm sure felt satisfying and was funny though whenever Letterman makes Leno jokes I always cringe a bit (and Paul, of course, sucked the humour out of it). Should've stuck with the status quo for a lot longer, Leno on the Tonight Show and Conan doing Late Night. I'm sure they gave Conan the Tonight Show to keep him on the network but seems like they might end up losing him anyway.

[koberulz]

Looks like they're both on the way out.

[benji]

Kimmel wins. Can't believe he did that.

[kibaxx7]

I must admit I only saw the first two weeks of Leno and got bored. Never saw it again until Megan appeared on Thanksgiving Day. Hope those Conan to Fox rumors come true. I need my daily dose of Conan.

[benji]

[Andrew]

It's eerie how realistic a Leno impersonation that is. Not so good with "Conan", too portly.

[ixcuincle]

[Andrew]

Ouch. Although, Leno may walk out as well suggesting he may not really be the bad guy here, or if nothing else doesn't want to be the bad guy or develop a rift with Conan the way he fell out with Letterman all those years ago.

Meanwhile, Conan's displeasure is resulting in some great comedy, making me wonder if a slightly more caustic Conan plus all the controversy will result in a ratings spike and force NBC to leave the Tonight Show where it is and figuring out something else for Leno.

[benji]

http://www.tmz.com/2010/01/14/jay-leno- ... ight-show/

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.

http://twitter.com/sportsguy33/status/7752880091

FYI: Next week is Conan's final week hosting the Tonight Show. His staff is trying to book big guests so he goes out with a bang. It's true.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/jeff- ... -12-years/

Zucker "is threatening to ice Conan", according to his reps. "Zucker said, 'I'll keep you off the air for 3 1/2 years.' Which doesn't have a chance in hell of happening. What I really think Zucker wants is to hold him off the market for at least six months to a year until the dust settles and Leno is secure and Conan is squelched." One rep even compared Zucker to "Darth Vader" because the NBCU chief "has been so evil" about this.

[Andrew]

Lame. Again, I'm sure everyone who dislikes Conan and was predicting that he flops feels vindicated but the way Conan has been treated isn't right and I still don't feel he gets the credit he deserves. Thumbs down to NBC and Leno, too. I also feel that Leno gets a bad rap and isn't given enough credit as a comedian/host but I don't feel inclined to watch his return to the Tonight Show with the way things have gone down.