OlderConan O'Brien Releases Statement On Late Night Line-Up
Late night talk show host Conan O’Brien released the following statement about the NBC late-night line-up. Check out what he had to say:
“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.
(Click inside to continue reading Conan’s statement…)
“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.”
96 Comments
Aww poor Conan! I say Jay Leno needs to retire… She steals ppl acts so why have that chin on t.v. any longer. I say Conan gets to keep his time slot!
@Janeth: sorry meant he!!!
Team Conan. What a classy statement from a class act. NBC sucks.
I LOVE YOU CONAN!!! YOu ARE THE BEST. NBC & JAY LENO – WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU GUYS DOING?!? JAY, you need to RETIRE.
What a class act. Bravo!
Leno needs to retire. He is not funny.
Stupid NBC How do you want move Tonight show at 12:05. It will be terrible mistakes.
NBC you screwed up. CONAN is absolutely correct. What a CLASS act. Don’t watch Jay Leno when they move him! Jay Leno is pulling a Brett Favre…HE should’ve moved on and written this letter.
Conan never had a chance with Leno wanting his time slot back. Wherever Conan goes, we will watch now! I hope it all works out.
Conan i love you man, I hope he stays on the time slot and continue with hosting The Tonight Show. He really is a class act.
LOL at the last sentence
“I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.”
If you google the past, everything Conan said is the truth. Zucker, NBC and Leno has screwed the pooch.
Conan and Jimmy and their crews are getting left to clean up the mess and take out the garbage. Zucker/Leno don’t give a sh!t about the crews or lives of Conan and Jimmy and their crews, they just want to feed their massive narcissism and pockets.
Stand behind Conan and Jimmy. Zucker and Leno go to h3ll!
Jay manipulations come home to roost.
http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2009/05/analyzing-jay-leno-why-doesnt-the-tonight-show-host-get-more-respect.html
btw how sexy is that picture of him
owwwww. =]
you’re right leno does need to leave the scene. what made johnny carson so wonderful is that he knew when it was time to leave and he did so graciously. like johnny, conan is a class act.
Very classy Conan. Please DO NOT leave the show.. You are great at what you do. Keep it up.
Conan is a vary classy man! He is the the funniest late night man! Jay Leno should retire, he isn’t funny and his show is painful to watch.
The idiot at NBC who made the agreement with Conan and Jay should be fired.
I think he is making a big mistake leaving the show, he should stick around as long as he can, no one can predict the future. Conan, stay and see how it all plays out.
TEAM CONAN.
Conan over Leno all day, everyday! I love Conan & Jimmy. Leno is a self-centered has-been. NBC needs to stop kissing Leno’s rear & keep the real entertainment in it’s normal time slots.
Let Leno got to Fox….I hear they are taking idiots these days.
So funny and wicked smart.
You Go Conan!!
I can’t understand why NBC is bending over backwards for Leno. His primetime show is a flop, so they reward him by ******** with an institution like the Tonight Show. WTF? No wonder they are in 4th place in network ratings. Piss poor decisions like this guarantee that they’ll continue to be in last place in the ratings for years to come.
i like leno, but conan is funnier. he’s a great host and i’d rather see jay leave. if jay wanted he could have kept the tonight show leaving conan at the late show and everything would have still been fine. leno wanted to move, he flopped, so dead his show and let him move on. i never thought jimmy fallon was funny so i dont care about him.. and poor carson daly.. who watched him? ahahaha
It was NBC’s BIG to send Jay to Primetime. He was beating Letterman in the rating, and now that Letterman is beating Conan, they want to bring him back to his old time slot. NBC sucks.
WHAT IS NBC DOING????? THEY JUST SHOT THEMSELVES IN THE FOOT!!! JAY NEEDS TO TAKE HIS MONEY, GET INTO ONE OF HIS CARDS OR ONE OF HIS BIKES AND RIDE INTO THE SUNSET. THE MAN IS NOT FUNNY — AT LEAST NOT TO ME — AND NOW NBC WANTS TO SCREW CONAN!!! BOOOOOOO NBC!!! BOOOOOOO!!!!
@whocares:
And let’s NOT forget that Johnny wanted Letterman and NOT Jay to be his replacement. Johnny even went so far as to appear on Letterman’s show after they picked Leno.
@Anon:
OMG!! GOOD ONE!! ROTFLMAO!!!
Conan is getting a raw deal. He didn’t fail, Leno did. His show is literally bringing down the whole network and yet NBC is giving Leno a second chance? If he’s so valuable why didn’t NBC keep Leno on The Tonight Show? Clearly they don’t give a hoot about Conan so they should have let him go if that’s what he wanted..
LENO=FAIL. NBC=FAIL.
I love Conan even more. We should all support him and show NBC how much they screwed up by NOT watching Leno and watching Conan wherever he goes.
I love Conan! :( He’s a genuine, funny, and smart guy. So lovable! And I love his hair. :(
I guess Conan’s decision makes things easier for NBC. Leno will take his show back, and the Jimmy will come on @12:35am. Leno didn’t want to move to primetime. He was FORCED to move to prime time and gave up his show. That’s why both Leno and Conan are furious.
Go to NBC’s programming contact page to complain about their moronic decision. They should’ve just let Jay go and left Conan & Jimmy alone. Bunch of greedy Corporate out of touch morons who think they can play with the little guys. No one watch Jay Leno at 11:30….screw NBC.
Click on the Tonight Show: Conan & Vent your complaints here: http://www.nbc.com/contact/general/?__status=1
@guess: It doesn’t matter what Jay wanted…he’s been wanting to come back to 11:30 since Conan was planning the move last year! Jay’s selfish. If Jay just did the right thing like Conan and left insisting to not mess with Conan and Jimmy’s slots, NBC would’ve left them alone.
Please, it was Jay’s decision to stay and want his old position back instead of leaving and letting things be.
The reason why NBC wants to bring back Jay is because Letterman is beating Conan in the rating. Before Jay left, he was beating Letterman. Now, people rather watch Letterman’s rerun than Conan. Jay probably feels entitled to take his show back as it was against his wish in the first place. But I doubt that Jay can beat Letterman now even if he takes his show back.
team conebone69
Team Conan/Jimmy.. MAKE LENO ACTUALLY RETIRE NBC!!
No!! i think Conan is the best talk sbow host ever who cares about ratings. he is such an amazing comedian if he’s not on NBC i won’t watch it any more
No!! i think Conan is the best talk sbow host ever who cares about ratings. he is such an amazing comedian if he’s not on NBC i won’t watch it any more
Conan is a class act, knows he is not as big a priority to NBC as Jay, haven’t enjoyed Jay in years, when I watch it’s Conan and Dave
CONAN!!!!!!!!
leno left late night and now he wants it back?
UNFAIR! you dont get a second chance like that!
I mean dont get me wrong i lovee Leno, but he left.
This is all so effed up! Jay said his goodbyes and retired, he should have GONE! Instead he did that stupid prime time show and effed everything up. Now, he’s taking his old job back? How ridiculous! RETIRE, Jay. You aren’t funny. Conan is a class act. He is by far more funny. Yeah, I know Letterman is “supposedly” beating him in ratings right now, but they need to give Conan more time. It’s only been 7 freakin’ months. I’m team Conan all the way. Jay can suck it.
Bravo, Conan. Finally, someone with guts. Leno is OVER.
Who runs NBC??? Seriously they make some of the worst decisions of any network….this being the worst. About the only good decision they made was to keep Chuck. Other than that…..the network needs to do some firing and re-hiring ASAP. Team Conan….he’s a class act all the way and a wonderful host with a great sense of humor. It’s only NBC’s loss to not have him in their family anymore.
@SarahB: I AGREE!
why did they give Jay a gig if he didn’t want to renew for the Tonight show in the first place? that’s messed up. Jay should’ve retired or moved on to another network. They messed it up when they decided to have Jay back. poor conan, it’s not his fault. NBC effed up
Nooooo I love Conan!! NBC fix this mess u have created! We love him and want him on the air! =(
Screw you, NBC!!!!!
Conan was much funnier when his show was in NY, if he goes to FOX, I hope he goes back.
Leno seems to have buyer’s remorse. It is time for him to go! I am so angry. All Conan’s people picked up and moved west. His letter was heartfelt and correct. I feel that the consumer should let NBC know that they will not watch Jay.
i like leno and conan but i absolutly hate jimmy fallon. So if nbc wants to keep jay just give jay jimmy fallons slot and kick fallon to the curb. Fallon wasnt even funny on SNL, that is just my opinion though.
Conan is too good for LA. He is not fake enough to suck up to mediocre celebs that are considered “in” in LA and beat down the ones that are down- like Jay Leno used to do.
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Conan, go back to NYC where you belong and do your thing. We love you just as you are.
Jimmy Fallon is not even funny and so boring and fake.
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Leno was o.k., but always fawned over the ones he thought were up, while made jokes about the famous people he thought were down.
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Both Letterman and Conan were cool about giving it to the ones that deserved it- regardless of their status at Hollywood.
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I liked that about them.
Conan, you stay classy! Do your own online show! I will pay to watch you anytime! You can do it! Who needs live audience anyway!
Cheers!
@The Ginger is my hero:
LOVE the hair comment. and yes he is truly a class act. Leno needs to bow out gracefully. I thought he was retiring?!
LOVE YOU CONAN,YOUR THE BEST ANS ALL WAYS .
NBC are losing out. they need start thinking straight and beg Conan to say. he’s definately a class act
I really like Jay Leno and I don’t want to hit him in the head here but once he made the decision to move on from the Tonight Show then he should have stuck to that decision no matter what. Conan has certainly been the bigger and wiser man here. When NBC came up with their “solution” it is Jay who should have done what Conan is doing. It was Jay who took the chance and it didn’t work out so he should have allowed Conan to have his chance and should have seen it would only make him(Leno) look bad to let NBC screw over Conan. I know Jay is a workaholic but it is not like he is going to end up on the street if he wold walk away from a job. Now with the way this is playing out, Jay is going to look like a bad guy and he will have a hard time overcoming that. He only dug himself a deep hole here—or maybe we can say Conan dug a deep hole for Jay in the way Conan took the high road.
Jay Leno has a better show. I’m not surprised they are giving him the time slot back. I’ve never been a fan of Conan.
Remember the writers strike? Conan did some of his funniest show during that time! It’s a shame what NBC is doing. I live in Europe so I don’t even care about that time-slot, primetime crap.
Jimmy Fallon sucks, it’s a shame but it’s what it is. The new Jay Leno show is very very week, he should do more Jaywalking.
I’ve only seen a few shows of the new Tonight show with Conan (they are always mixing up schedules) but the ones I’ve seen were of the same funny Conan.
I hope he does a few Conando sketches and Ford Taurus stuff to release online, he’s the best.
When Conan took over the slot from Letterman way back his ratings were not that good at first but it wasn’t long until people took notice of how talented he was and that is why he was tapped to take over the Tonight Show when Jay left. I think he can also do the same with the Tonight Show if he would be given enough time. It was not hard to figure that some people would move to Letterman once Jay left because they were upset that Jay was gone. Plus, now with all the “scandal” stuff that has happened with Letterman some people are curious about what is happening with all that. Conan deserves a shot at making it on the Tonight SHow like he did the Late Show.
Many people believe that it was Jay’s decision to leave the show and go to primetime. However, he later revealed that he never wanted to “retire” and it was NBC’s decision not his. But NBC made it sound like it was a mutual decision, or Jay’s decision. NBC wanted to save some $$ by not putting on a sitcom or any other TV show. Now that the rating for both shows are tanking, they want to go back to where things were before. Fire Fallon and make Conan stay.
Conan: proud of you. Very classy and very brave. Leno is NOT funny. And if he failed at Primetime (ridiculous idea for a primetime late show) why don’t they fire Leno? Why should TWO shows suffer for Leno’s failure? Conan is funny. leno is ridiculously corny. Boo to Jay. George Lopez and Letterman were right about him: he is selfish. Don’t watch Leno at 11:35pm! Ban it! and write to nbc and give them your piece of mind.
Team Conan…I love Conan he makes me laugh!!!
I have to be honest. I don’t watch either show and I find that I like Jimmy Kimmel’s humor the best. I do have an opinion though about what’s going on at NBC though.
I think what Conan wrote it correct. It would not be the “Tonight Show” if it didn’t start right after the news. I think he is also correct that Jay Leno had his “run” and it’s time for someone new. Jay shouldn’t be offered any show of the same sorts and move on. This was the contract they had/have and it needs to be kept. It’s just not fair to let Leno come back under these terms. There should never have been a prime time show as well. It’s just too much.
Maybe Leno could do a show on the weekend?? Of course it would never take the place of SNL since the same rule applies. They would never consider replacing SNL with Leno so why is it fair to start it now with Conan??? Maybe Leno could have a Sunday night show just once a week, but then there would be no local late night sports shows that come on in my area???
Hopefully NBC does the right thing and keeps Conan. ( I’ll still be watching Kimmel though)
This is so unfair, punish everyone else with good shows to accommodate someone with a crap show. GO AWAY JAY!
Poor Conan. That is not fair to him.
whah, whah, whah.
Jimmy Fallon is AWFUL and Conan is same old, same old.
Sorry, Conan.
People are watching Bravo, Lopez tonight and E! instead of this stuff.
Don’t blame the networks, Conan and Jay, your stuff is just not that hip anymore. Other shows are better and funnier.
Conan je t’aime beaucoup! I have watched for a long time and I am so sad to see that NBC would pursue such unreasonable and risky moves. Although I hope you are wrong in that the Late Night will lose its audience because I love it and I would hate to see it fall. Jay Leno…I’m sorry this has happened to you. I know this puts you in an extremely awkward situation. And Jimmy, well Jimmy isn’t that funny so I don’t really care but NBC needs to keep Conan and Leno…I don’t know…What does anyone else think?
I’m glad he’s not taking crap from NBC – Good on you, Conan. Love you and your big hair!
Conan is in a class his own when it comes to late night. Definitely wouldn’t be the same without his quirkiness.
Well said, Conan. I hate that this is happening…I love Conan hosting the tonight show. And I ABSOLUTELY ADORE Jimmy Fallon and what he has done with Late Night…he is truly hysterical. I hope Leno retires, and Conan and Jimmy can keep their well deserved time slots.
go conan! he’s the best!
Conan is the one that demanded “The Tonight Show” time slot. Where have you people been for the last 5 years.
Jay Leno didn’t plan to leave “The Tonight Show”, Conan forced him out by telling NBC he was not going to renew his contract unless he got the 11:30pm time slot. NBC then went to Leno an asked him if he would give up “The Tonight Show” in 5 years time so Conan wouldn’t leave NBC. Jay Leno agreed to the deal.
Leno was approached by other Networks for another show before his show ended. NBC are the ones that decided to create the 10:00pm show for Leno to get him to stay at NBC. Leno had nothing to lose on this deal.
Conan is the one that gambled.
He couldn’t pull the ratings he said he could. NBC should have told Conan that Leno was #1 in the late night ratings. (There was no reason fire Leno). NBC should have let Conan go. Conan would have been free to move on to another Network at the time slot he desired. His fans would have been happy. Now Conan will get his 80 million from NBC and move to another Network. NBC is the loser in this.
Letterman is the winner.
I have watched “The Tonight Show” for years ( started watching back when Carson was host). I’m not a Conan fan. I switched to Letterman.
NBC should not have made promise to Jay to get him to leave i.e. his own lead in show then Fk Conon in the process to make up for the fact that it didn’t work. Jay it’s time to bow out dude, have some self respect!!!
I guess he is going to Fox then
TEAM CONAN!!!!!!!!
gracious and eloquent, with a generous dose of integrity and sense of decency. i have tremendous respect for him; i am grateful that we, the audience, have in him more than just yet another funny comedian.
he’s setting a beautiful example of what it looks like to do the right thing, bypassing the convenient thing to do.
it takes a man of great self-assurance and confidence to be stepping into the great unknown with this much dignity.
rock on, conan.
ps: i love your hair the way it is.
WTF is Jay Leno still on late night? CONAN…you rock! He’s way classier than Leno and NBC. TEAM CONAN!
What the frig make Leno leave like he originally did you can’t change now just because things aren’t going your way who do you think you are Sarah Palin. Leno quit whinning take it like a man and leave
People of Earth. . . I love Conan. I’d like to hear Triumph interview the brass at NBC and Jay about this situation.
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Of all the late night hosts Conan proved over time to be the wittiest and edgiest. (Is that a word?) Leno has NEVER been funny and his fawning over guests has always been annoying. Letterman has pretty much lost his edge but I am sure with his recent scandal that he has piqued peoples’ interest. How long that will last is anyone’s guess.
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As for the Tonight Show there is no way that Conan’s short 7 month run is sufficient time to build his audience. Given time I am sure Conan would make this as successful as Late Night was. That wasn’t an overnight success either.
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TEAM CONAN!
I have mad respect and admiration for someone who stands strongly next to their beliefs. That would be such a difficult situation to be – he could have easily just said “okay” just to keep his show and still garner the income he has. The fact that he’s leaving b/c of his morals and his belief that “The Tonight Show” franchise is traditionally 11:30pm only goes to show you how much he does loves and respects the show. You don’t see Jay Leno give a crap about the franchise.
Also another thing, I’m all for careers as you get older but Jay needs to step down. He’s had his time and Conan has worked his way and earned what he has today and rightfully deserves “The Tonight Show” and all the sucess he has today. He was validictorian of his HS class, a Harvard graduate who wrote jokes for the college paper, wrote for “The Simpsons” and SNL, hosted “late night” for yeaaaars and had the oppurtunity to have “The Tonight Show”…even for a bit. I have soo much more respect for him and I hope and pray that God will continue to bless him and his heart.
PS: This situation reminds me of when they fired Hank Baskett for Michael Vick but remember…Hank Baskett went to a better team and it all worked out for him, Kendra, and little Hank so I hope this will happen to Conan as well.
PS:
COCO, Johnny would’ve been soo proud :)
I love conan!!!!!!! I will not watch Jay Leno. He is not funny, he’s stale.
Conan sure is a classy guy. Hope they cut him a break, he’s hilarious and so sweet to not only think of himself but his viewers, the shows legacy, and also importantly his crew. Wish you luck pal. Take care!
<3
Gingie rocks ,Leno sucks !
How long does Leno need to realize he need to go?
I think the critics and audiences make it very clear with the reviews and rating. You are not funny. You need to leave.
And I hate to see Conan leave NBC.
such a classy guy he is. Really just a good person, I respect him.
team Conan all the way !!
I was already furious with NBC for cancelling Southland, this just takes the cake !
Classy said, Connan.
Leno is not funny, is arrogant, loves his cars and makes people feel like poor bums when he goes on about his car collection. I can’t stand the way Leno drools over his female guests chests, it is so obvious where he is focusing his attention. I quit watching Leno many, many years ago, but I find Conan very refreshing and amusing. Ask the people who they want and Leno is GONE!
Seems there’s lots of Conan fans here! I remember Johnny and there’s no way that either Jay or Conan could ever match him. With all due respect, I think I like letterman and Jimmy Kimmel better than Conan. And to tell you the truth… I think it’s time for change… Let ME take both time slots! hehe.
I liked Johnny way more than either Jay or Conan. Let them both retire and I’ll be fine with Jimmy Kimmel and Dave.
Ever since I could remember, I never found Jay Leno funny… never. Conan always made me laugh and I always stayed up to watch his show and found something to do while Jay was trying to be funny.
i think he said in a very nice way that shows that he’s pissed off at nbc =]
i think he’s pretty funny and that he’s gotten taken advantage of, he deserves better, why stay at a place that doesnt appreciate him?
best of luck conan!
Jay Leno needs to retire; his primetime show didn’t work, so now he wants his night time spot back. He and NBC knew what they were doing. They knew Conan wouldn’t take having his show moved to a later time, and was counting on him to leave, but they didn’t think he would be so outspoken about it. Hey Leno, retire and give your chin a rest. I’ll be watching Letterman!
I’m a David Letterman fan, but Leno and NBC has screwed Conan, and I don’t blame the guy for being pissed.
I hope he sincerely believes his own statement!
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