Jay Leno to stay with NBC; New 10 PM show

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by sterlingice

That clip was just awkward to watch. Kimmel just comes off as an ass.

This whole thing is just showing how petty all of them are.

SI

Leno brought Kimmel on, that is his own fault. He knows what Kimmel is about. Kimmel did what people were hoping someone would do.

[DeToxRox]

Dola, plus I believe Kimmel and Conan are friends. Kimmel is very much a guy who looks out for those other comedians.

[Galaxy]

Did Kimmel attack Leno, or just sort of "mock" him last night on his own show?

[DeToxRox]

And obviously Kimmel did what he did for ratings. He's smart to do it. I don't see how smart it was for Leno to put himself out there like that though.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

Dola, plus I believe Kimmel and Conan are friends. Kimmel is very much a guy who looks out for those other comedians.

I actually think Kimmel and Leno are/or were friends. They appeared on each other show's over the years.

In fact, isn't Leno going on Jimmy's show tonight?

[stevew]

Leno is the Hulk Hogan of late night. Gets great ratings. But nobody can figure out why. Unlike Carson, he never had guest hosts. It's very much like Starcade '96 I think. Goldberg(conan) was establishing himself. Of course Hulk(Leno) can't have that.

All we need is Leno to poke Conan in the chest, and take the Tonight Show belt back.

[sterlingice]

Is a folding chair far behind?

SI

[stevew]

Hmm. I screwed up my reference. Conan needs to get tasered by Jimmy Fallon. Who will then do the Job to Leno the next night.

[stevew]

Alright. I butchered that one also.

Zucker announces that Carson Daly will get the Tonight Show if he can Beat Conan. Fallon interferes, tasers Conan. Daly wins the show but gives it to Leno the next day.

[larrymcg421]

Loved Conan's reaction to the 3 1/2 year threat from Zucker - "If NBC doesn't want people to see me, keep me on NBC."

[Swaggs]

I thought Kimmel was awesome on the Leno Show.

Also enjoying Conan. He definitely has the look of a guy that has given his 2-week notice and is skating through his final few days of work.

[Crapshoot]

Late Night Wars: Jay Leno Goes After Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel Decimates Leno to His Face, O'Brien Still Going Rogue - TV - Gawker.TV

Conan's turn is even better. Porn names.

[Crapshoot]

Seriously - I'm watching COnan religiously now.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Schedule released for NBC after Leno moves
NBC’s 10pm Schedule In the Post-Leno World Revealed - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings | TVbytheNumbers.com

Summary is as follows
Law & Order on Mondays, Parenthood on Tuesdays (out of a lead-in from The Biggest Loser which is staying put), Law & Order: SVU on Wednesdays, The Marriage Ref on Thursdays and Dateline (which will run from 9p-11p) on Fridays.

[Galaxy]

Conan really seems to be putting it all the on the line. Which begs the question, has NBC sort of set limits on what he could do when he took over? Is he now just saying "fuck it"? Is he trying too hard at times? I always found him funny and entertaining, but he can come across trying too hard or over-thinking things (in concern for the audience and time slot)?

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Schedule released for NBC after Leno moves
NBC’s 10pm Schedule In the Post-Leno World Revealed - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings | TVbytheNumbers.com

Summary is as follows
Law & Order on Mondays, Parenthood on Tuesdays (out of a lead-in from The Biggest Loser which is staying put), Law & Order: SVU on Wednesdays, The Marriage Ref on Thursdays and Dateline (which will run from 9p-11p) on Fridays.

So the NBC stations were mad in the first place for taking away those 10 o'clock news stations that brought in big money, correct? How many stations carried the news pre-Leno Show?

[larrymcg421]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

So the NBC stations were mad in the first place for taking away those 10 o'clock news stations that brought in big money, correct? How many stations carried the news pre-Leno Show?

No, the newscasts weren't until 11pm. The stations were upset because Leno's ratings were much lower than the shows that used to lead in to their newscasts.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Schedule released for NBC after Leno moves
NBC’s 10pm Schedule In the Post-Leno World Revealed - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings | TVbytheNumbers.com

Summary is as follows
Law & Order on Mondays, Parenthood on Tuesdays (out of a lead-in from The Biggest Loser which is staying put), Law & Order: SVU on Wednesdays, The Marriage Ref on Thursdays and Dateline (which will run from 9p-11p) on Fridays.

Why did NBC keep Friday Night Lights if they are just going to bury it in the Summer? It can't even get on the air with 5 hours a week to fill in the schedule.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by RainMaker

Why did NBC keep Friday Night Lights if they are just going to bury it in the Summer? It can't even get on the air with 5 hours a week to fill in the schedule.

Well, when your ratings are lower than Leno's ...

[DeToxRox]

And Dick Ebersol takes it up a notch:

Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports, said the reason for Mr. Leno’s return to NBC’s late-night roster after a short stint in prime time this season was a simple one: disappointing ratings for Conan O’Brien’s “Tonight Show.”

Referring to the pointed jokes made this week by Mr. O’Brien and David Letterman of CBS, Mr. Ebersol said it was “chicken-hearted and gutless to blame a guy you couldn’t beat in the ratings.”

He added that “what this is really all about is an astounding failure by Conan.”

[molson]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

And Dick Ebersol takes it up a notch:

He sure did.

I'm not sure what the attacks on Conan accomplish. He certainly seems to be winning the PR battle.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by molson

He sure did.

I'm not sure what the attacks on Conan accomplish. He certainly seems to be winning the PR battle.

To remind the public that Conan is not a victim in this, like he's playing. He's essentially being fired because he is underperforming his salary - something that could happen to any of us.

[timmynausea]

That's not really true. Leno was such a failure at 10 pm that the affiliates were ready to revolt. NBC then had to choose between letting Leno walk or risking offending Conan by moving his show back. They chose and now O'Brien is out. They can't blame Leno because that's their guy at this point.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Samdari

To remind the public that Conan is not a victim in this, like he's playing. He's essentially being fired because he is underperforming his salary - something that could happen to any of us.

I see where you're coming from, but NBC said he would get at least a year. NBC knew what would happen when Conan took over with their audiences and if they didn't think it would take time to cultivate a new audience then they're even more retarded then people are making them out to be.

[molson]

Originally Posted by Samdari

To remind the public that Conan is not a victim in this, like he's playing. He's essentially being fired because he is underperforming his salary - something that could happen to any of us.

But do you think anybody reads those quotes, (and the "I'll keep him off TV for 3 years") stuff, and then suddenly think, "ya, NBC is right!". I would think it would have the opposite effect.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

They should have never made the deal in 2004 if they weren't going to support Conan. It should have been obvious that his comedy style would take some time to adapt to the more standard 11:30 time slot.

[bronconick]

That, and they seem to forget that Leno's ratings tanked following taking over for Carson and it took a couple years for him to get settled in.

And Leno didn't have Carson doing the Early Tonight show at 10pm to screw him over at the time.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by larrymcg421

No, the newscasts weren't until 11pm. The stations were upset because Leno's ratings were much lower than the shows that used to lead in to their newscasts.

Thanks for the info.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by bronconick

That, and they seem to forget that Leno's ratings tanked following taking over for Carson and it took a couple years for him to get settled in.

And Leno didn't have Carson doing the Early Tonight show at 10pm to screw him over at the time.

Or keeping Carson around and then Leno saying he would take over the show and all that crap.

Not to mention it took Leno a few years to take over the ratings battle.

[Neon_Chaos]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Or keeping Carson around and then Leno saying he would take over the show and all that crap.

Not to mention it took Leno a few years to take over the ratings battle.

And it took a Hugh Grant interview after he got arrested while being blown by a tranny to swing the ratings to Jay's favor.

[cartman]

Wow, Jimmy Fallon made it through a whole skit without a smirk or laugh!

[ISiddiqui]

Originally Posted by Samdari

To remind the public that Conan is not a victim in this, like he's playing. He's essentially being fired because he is underperforming his salary - something that could happen to any of us.

But in this economy, an attack like that may not be the best PR. That's the reason for the move, but it should just be said and then over with.

[RedKingGold]

I've never been more interested in late-night comedy than I am right now. So, this drama worked to get my interest.

[Kodos]

Me too.

[Crapshoot]

Ditto. Except I was always a Conan fan; I'm just asleep by 1130.

A

[Dr. Sak]

Originally Posted by Crapshoot

Ditto. Except I was always a Conan fan; I'm just asleep by 1130.

+1

[Neon_Chaos]

I wonder how Conan would have done at 10?

[Kodos]

As far as late night shows go, if I started to watch them again, it would be:

1. Letterman
2. Conan

No interest in the other shows. Once in a while I'll watch a bit of the one with the guy from The Drew Carey Show.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by molson

But do you think anybody reads those quotes, (and the "I'll keep him off TV for 3 years") stuff, and then suddenly think, "ya, NBC is right!". I would think it would have the opposite effect.

"Suddenly think"? Eh, not likely.

But there are definitely those of us who have pretty much thought that way all along.

[Bearcat729]

Here's the craigslist ad Conan put up last night for anyone who wants to buy the Tonight Show...

Craigslist kept pulling the ad for a while.

4 SALE: BARELY-USED LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW - MAKE ME AN OFFER!!!

4 SALE: BARELY-USED LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW - MAKE ME AN OFFER!!! (UNIVERSAL STUDIOS)
Date: 2010-01-15, 12:55AM PST
Reply to: see below

This is the chance of a lifetime to own your very own late night talk show -- guaranteed to last for up to seven months! Really must see to appreciate.

Information for potential buyers:

- Measures 100' x 100' x 32' -- plenty of room for a futon!

- Designed for 11:35 but can be easily moved

- Band can be sold separately

- Buyer must honor Barry Manilow booking next Thursday


MAKE ME YOUR BEST OFFER! (Also willing to trade for Coldplay tickets.)

* Location: UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

[Crapshoot]

Why Some Comics Aren't Laughing at Jay Leno (Essay) - Speakeasy - WSJ

[DeToxRox]

Heh, Kurt Sutter, creator of Sons of Anarchy, offers Conan a spot on SOA next season.

SutterInk: MY OPEN INVITATION TO CONAN O'BRIEN

[Logan]

Rather see him there than in porn.

[Galaxy]

Originally Posted by Logan

Rather see him there than in porn.

Putting that Harvard degree to good use.

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Well, when your ratings are lower than Leno's ...

Then why keep it? Just seems like they don't want to run the show but are embarrased about cancelling such a great show.

[larrymcg421]

Now being reported that NBC has agreed to pay Conan $30 million to leave...

Conan O'Brien deal: NBC reportedly paying out $30 million - From Inside the Box - Zap2it

[M GO BLUE!!!]

How could NBC think this would work in the first place? If you meet a hot new chick that you want to dump your current wife for, then decide you wanna keep both... it's probably not gonna end well.

[Galaxy]

Wow...Leno just went after Letterman below the belt.

[DeToxRox]

Originally Posted by Galaxy

Wow...Leno just went after Letterman below the belt.

What'd he say?

[cartman]

Originally Posted by DeToxRox

What'd he say?

Have you seen this? Have you heard about this? Some guy got pissed off because his girlfriend used to sleep with Dave.