When Jeff Gaspin said Sunday he'd given all the NBC talk show hosts the weekend to think about Jay Leno moving to 11:35, Conan O'Brien moving to 12:05 and Jimmy Fallon moving to 1:05a, we were looking for some news yesterday. When we didn't get it, it didn't seem like a good sign. It wasn't. It's clear that he doesn't want 12:05a and won't do it, but is hoping he can Work It out with NBC.
We're sure Leno is leaving primetime. And we're sure that NBC wants Leno at 11:35p. It appears that Conan has no other say than moving to 12:05a or leaving, but he still wants to work things out with NBC. If he doesn't have a choice between 12:05a and leaving, it looks like he'll be leaving.
Conan issued the following 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,
What a train wreck.
Good for Conan. Leno – retire.
Now this is interesting!
Sh*t just got real!
He’s a class act. I’m glad he stood up for himself, and he did it in a way that really makes him look like the bigger person in the whole situation.
He could care less about Fallon.
Bye Conan. Please let the door hit you on the way out. Yours was the worst version of the Tonight Show. We all know that.
NBC should pay him a lump sum and let him leave. That’s what they want anyway.
“Yours, Conan”
I respect his decision to preserve the Tonight Show’s legacy. It’s only been out for what, fifteen minutes, and I’ve already heard/read the word “classy” more times than I ever have in my life.
Fox, there’s your chance you’ve been waiting for. Another way to kick NBC’s ass.
Sounds like a bargaining statement to me….
I thought that if they offered him a show no later than 12:05 called the Tonight Show then they were honoring his contract. If he turns it down then he is walking away from his contract.
Am I right in this???
I would hate to be in his shoes right now and have to make this decision as it affects the livelihood of so many!
I would love to see him start an 11pm show on fox just to see what happens.
NBC can now gear up the PR campaign during the Olympics for Leno’s return to the “Tonight Show” and enjoy all the media buzz going forward as the spin further blames the NBC affiliates!
Sorry but NBC made the wrong decision 5 years ago in announcing that Conan would take over the show, thus forcing Leno’s initial retirement, and then putting Leno in Prime Time to avoid losing him to another network. Trying to please everyone, NBC pleased no one!
Yeah I dont watch any of them, but Leno is just a douche and I’ve always like Conan. For a network with only one or two good shows anyway to screw over two people (Conan and Jimmy) to make some jerk with crappy ratings happy is stupid. Hopefully another network will give Conan an offer.
Team Conan!
The Future:
NBC:
10:00 – 11:00: Failing 10PM dramas/news programs
11:00 – 11:35: Late local news
11:35 – 12:35: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
12:35 – 1:35: Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
1:35 – 2:05: Last Call with Carson Daly
FOX
10:00 – 11:00: Late local news
11:00 – 12:00: Conan O’Brien’s new show
12:00 + : Syndicated shows
Stay classy, Conan.
Conan is managing to have some class and humor while being sorely mistreated by NBC. Good for him. Too bad Leno is still too classless to admit his failure and move on without destroying everyone else’s careers.
Conan takes a huge risk with a new show. I don’t even think Conan’s ratings are that bad. NBC has to be mulling its options. Jay is dangerous but how much longer will he be around? That’s the real problem here; if Jay is really only going to stick around for 2 years they should keep Conan and ditch Jay. If Jay were to stay around for 10 years NBC would have an easier time.
I think the most likely scenario is Jay at 11:30 and Conan at 12 still with a huge salary bump and an absolute promise that he gets the rest of the time slot when Jay leaves.
Are last night’s late-night ratings out yet?
I find it interesting that nowhere is anyone mentioning the fact that Conan ratings were less than Leno’s. He had his chance and it did not work. He is just blaming NBC. It was his job to keep the ratings where they were and improve the 18-49 demographic.
for those of you that didnt watch the tonight show last night, he really looked upset about everything. i expected this to come down.
Conan is screwed now.
If he takes 12:05 after this letter, he will look like a weak fool.
If he goes to Fox…up against, Jay and Dave, he will get Chevy Chase ratings (he couldn’t beat Craig F at 12:30 remember)
He should have been happy with 12:05 – now he’ll get nothing in the long run…..unless he’ll come back as the 12:30 at CBS after Craig takes over for Dave in 5 years