Good bye Conan

[ferrell]

http://www.tmz.com/2010/01/12/the-t...al-leaving-late-night-network-television-deal
Looks like Conan just got the shaft

 

[frogboy4]

Conan rocks. I hope he gets the Fox deal and that he does well with it! He no longer has to pasteurize his humor for the Jay-Walking masses, and he'll likely jet a half-hour jump on Tonight. I'd love to hear what a Conan / Letterman conversation would sound like these days. Jay should have left gracefully. He’s permanently lost me as a viewer unless Kermit shows up.

I prefer Letterman anyway, Conan has become a close second. Dave is a far superior comic talent, while Jay is just an average class clown.

 

[Drtooth]

I can't say I'm a huge Leno fan... but the dude is The Crimson Chin.

I find this more of his lame whiny, pathetic bid to stay on the network at all costs, cutting down the network because he whined and politicked his way into a bad idea from the get go, a 10 PM Late Show slot, which had certain shows scrambling to be on before 10. Chuck got shafted, Heroes had to dance around between 8 PM and 9 PM time slots (I wish they kept it at 8... I miss Big Bang. But then again, at 8 I miss How I Met Your Mother).

Conan never even had a chance, and this idiotic stunt programming to keep a contractual obligation was just pathetic, it made the network look bad and Jay look bad. And we're losing Conan... the writer of the Simpsons during one of it's funniest seasons... as a result.

But then again, NBC treated a LOT of shows with disdain... the Jim Henson Hour wasn't promoted enough, they didn't like Jay Ward's humor and politicked with the Bullwinkle time slot in the 60's... and they got rid of My Name is Earl to force Parks and Rec down everyone's throats (At least the show is coming into its own, and not playing like a cheap knockoff of The Office, like it did first season).

I say, give Jay to Fox. Remember the last time they had a weeknight comedy late show? How well that did? Conan and Letterman would have nothing to worry about.

 

[GonzoLover85]

I'm with you guys.
In my opinion Jay just needs to suck it up and realize his time on Late night television is over. He's already passed on the reigns.
It's sad how much he has NBC execs wrapped around his finger to get whatever he wants.
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Leno while he was on the Tonight Show, and some of his bits on his new show.
It just really isn't fair to Conan to give him the shaft after such a short period. I mean, at least give him a year.

 

[AndyWan Kenobi]

Wherever Conan goes, there goes AndyWan.

 

[frogboy4]

I really wonder how this is going to play out. I don't think Jay will still have the good will of audiences behind him.

 

[AndyWan Kenobi]

I really wonder how this is going to play out. I don't think Jay will still have the good will of audiences behind him.

And I don't think he's earned it, either. I wish him no personal ill-will, but Conan far outstrips him in class.

 

[MartyMuppets]

Would you believe when I first saw this thread I thought it was announcing the passing away of the actor, whose name escapes my memory, who had played the title role in the movies "Conan the Barbarian" and "Conan the Destroyer"?

 

[GonzoLover85]

Would you believe when I first saw this thread I thought it was announcing the passing away of the actor, whose name escapes my memory, who had played the title role in the movies "Conan the Barbarian" and "Conan the Destroyer"?

Arnold Schwarzeneggar? No, he is still alive and well.
But it will be a sad day indeed when he does pass.

 

[Krazedmuppet]

I have major respect of Conan and how he is handleing this whole thing- instead of just going where the money is, he wont have any part in the distruction of the Tonight Show. Here is a letter from him to his fans on the subject.


"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"