Conan O’Brien released a statement announcing he will not participate in NBC’s decision to push The Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m. in order to accommodate a half-hour Jay Leno show at 11:35:
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.
Somewhere Jimmy Fallon just came.
NOTE: For those of you following this debacle religiously, Deus Ex Malcontent has an awesome audio clip of Patton Oswalt summing up why Jay Leno is a cash-hungry prick. And Sons of Anarchy creator Kurt Sutter lays out a detailed plan for NBC to pull its head of its peacock ass.
Conan O’Brien’s Statement:
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
Soooo classy. I knew they’d lose him. I’m glad he didn’t take their shit. And it’s nice to know that at least one person cares what happens to Jimmy Fallon.
Get used to 4th place, NBC.
Conan in the early years did a spoof of the Baseball documentary that was on PBS. I contained old footage of him interviewing his sister when he was young.
Force Factor Reviews
Conan in the early years did a spoof of the Baseball documentary that was on PBS. I contained old footage of him interviewing his sister when he was young.
Force Factor Reviews
IF O’Brainless goes to Fox, it would likely NOT be Fox NEWS, but the Fox “entertainment” network. Glenn (and please… it’s with 2 “N’s”!!! … you can always tell a libbie when they misspell Beck’s name!) is a POLITICAL commentator, while O’Dumb-dumb is supposedly a comedian
He is really very funny I must say. I think he should do something for his hair . How odd his hair is looking ! Really funny he is.
Oh and extra points for proving that absolutely NO ONE gives a fuck about Carson Daley.
If you would like to see an honest person speak, check out Kurt Sutter’s blog. He is amazing and will not bow down to anyone! He tells it like it is and is hilarious in the process! Amazing Writer!!
Conan is clearly the class act here. NBC and Leno suck. The whole management team at NBC needs to be fired. Leno needs to be the bigger person and do what is right by stepping aside. Something he said he would do when he decided to retire from the Tonight Show. I think Conan is awesome for standing his ground here. The poor guy gave up his show, moved his family across the country, gave up other offers all because he had this contract – this guarantee of the Tonight Show. If NBC actually goes through with firing Conan and taking back Leno I think the show and all of NBC’s prime time lineup should be boycotted. The only thing watchable on that network now is Law and Order SVU anyway. Fox should grab him while they can. Or heck maybe Letterman can retire now and he can get Letterman’s job again.
hooray 4 conan!
BOOOOOOOO! Conan rules, Leno is for the elderly and feeble-minded.
Could we just send this Ass Clown back to his home planet? What an un-funny, un-talented douche.
Could we just send this Ass Clown back to his home planet? What an un-funny, un-talented douche.
LOVE CONAN!
I love CONAN!
…but I don’t assign any blame to Leno in any of this. It’s not his fault. NBC is just a flaming bag of shit, and everyone just learned that this week.
So Jay Leno’s all “Just kidding, I don’t want to play anymore”? Nope. Damage is done, you son of a bitch. Conan is all class.
They really fudged this one up.
conan and lego i mean leno must go……they are both terrible……no funny at all………i am glad all this has happen……maybe they will find someone good now…..
Conan should stay. Leno should go. Zucker definitely should go before he totally destroys NBC. I am sad to see how Jay is handling this mess. The only one with class is Conan O’Brien. Jeff Zucker is about as bad as it gets. Where did the professionalism go . . . down the drain, that is sure.
Conan should stay. Leno should go. Zucker definitely should go before he totally destroys NBC. I am sad to see how Jay is handling this mess. The only one with class is Conan O’Brien. Jeff Zucker is about as bad as it gets. Where did the professionalism go . . . down the drain, that is sure.
Conan should stay. Leno should go. Zucker definitely should go before he totally destroys NBC. I am sad to see how Jay is handling this mess. The only one with class is Conan O’Brien. Jeff Zucker is about as bad as it gets. Where did the professionalism go . . . down the drain, that is sure.
two words: CRAIG FERGUSON
Go Conan the Barbarian
LOL THERE SHOULD BE A CONAN AND LENO RULE 34
You know I never really cared for either of them. Perhaps Jay’s little funnier but that’s about it. I think Jay Leno should retire and let somebody else have an opportunity to make some money. They all shouldn’t be so greedy
ya, I think Jay shoul move on… he needs to get in shape too,
Bad on the part of NBC. The show timings of such a popular show ought not to be changed and if they shall be,it is obvious that its host since 17 years has to get hurt!!!