Conan O’Brien Says He Won’t Host ‘Tonight Show’ Following Leno

[brandotron]

From NY Times:

Conan O’Brien released a statement Tuesday saying that he no longer wants to host NBC’s “Tonight Show” and intends to seek a way to end his contract with the network.

The host, who saw his brief run at host of “Tonight” cut short when NBC decided to restore his predecessor Jay Leno to the 11:35 p.m. time period occupied by “Tonight” for decades, has been growing increasingly upset in recent days about how he believes he was treated by NBC’s management.

A representative of the host said Tuesday that the issue came to a head for Mr. O’Brien on Monday and that he had “sat up all night drafting the statement.” NBC declined comment. Mr. O’Brien was scheduled to do “The Tonight Show” on Tuesday night.

In a statement Tuesday afternoon, Mr. O’Brien said “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.’”

Mr. O’Brien’s comments came two days after NBC formally outlined a plan to move “The Jay Leno Show” to 11:35 p.m. in March, elbowing Mr. O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” back half an hour. Mr. Leno seems supportive of the plan; but in his statement, Mr. O’Brien rejects it outright. The statement reads:

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

After 16 years making a name with his distinctive brand of intellectually silly comedy on NBC’s “Late Night” show, Mr. O’Brien replaced Mr. Leno as the host of “The Tonight Show” a mere seven months ago. He is just the fifth man to lead ”Tonight,” after Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Mr. Leno.

Mr. Leno, meanwhile, moved to prime time in September as the host of “The Jay Leno Show.” But the 10 p.m. experiment was a bust for many NBC affiliates, which have seen the ratings for their late local newscasts plummet.

Amid mounting pressure to scrap the talk show, NBC announced on Sunday that Mr. Leno’s last show at 10 p.m. would be Feb. 11, and indicated that “The Jay Leno Show” would be shown at 11:35 p.m. instead. NBC will begin showing the Winter Olympics the next day, setting the stage for a new schedule on March 1. But the network acknowledged that day that Mr. O’Brien was not yet on board with the move.

Ever since the Leno-to-11:35 move was described in the press last Thursday, people close to Mr. O’Brien have said privately that he was upset with the plan.

Fox has expressed interest in starting a late-night show starring Mr. O’Brien — provided he found a way to extricate himself from his NBC contract.

On Monday Kevin Reilly, the president of Fox Entertainment, strongly endorsed Mr. O’Brien in an interview. “He would be a very compatible fit for our brand,” Mr. Reilly said. “He is one of the few guys on the planet that has demonstrated he can do one of these shows every night.”

Good for him, I love Conan. NBC was really giving him the short end of the stick. I'm sure Fox will be all over him.

[ddunerider]

O well Im in bed by 10pm anyways...Dont really watch any of them

[bobbybottleservice]

I'm with him. Admittedly, haven't seen much of the Tonight Show but loved Late Night. My only worry was that by moving ahead an hour he would have to cater to mass middle-America and tone down his absurdist humor. But that hasn't really happened from what I've seen.

I would say go to Fox but these are the people who canceled Arrested Development and a plethora of other great shows, so you have to be wary.

[franknbeans]

Have to agree with Conan on this one...

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by franknbeans

Have to agree with Conan on this one...

that is kinda messed up for NBC to shift stuff around like that.

[MrIcky]

I have to agree with Conan too.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by bobbybottleservice

I'm with him. Admittedly, haven't seen much of the Tonight Show but loved Late Night. My only worry was that by moving ahead an hour he would have to cater to mass middle-America and tone down his absurdist humor. But that hasn't really happened from what I've seen.

I would say go to Fox but these are the people who canceled Arrested Development and a plethora of other great shows, so you have to be wary.

11:35 to 12:05 is only a half hour ...

[brandotron]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

11:35 to 12:05 is only a half hour ...

No no no, you're going off of metric time--we use standard here in the states.

[tjd24]

Right-on Conan - take your buy-out, go to Fox and kick both Leno and Letterman's butts...

[Banshee]

Although I agree with Conan, I have not watched him much since July, nor a fan of his show after Leno left.

I used to be a huge Letterman fan up until 2004, then switched to Leno. My contention is that Craig Ferguson is better than anyone else out there now. Ferguson much funnier and faster on the draw. The skits can use more polishing but it will evolve.

[2010 SSRS]

I hope Leno gets the whole show back, bye bye Conan.

[shank0668]

Originally Posted by 2010 SSRS

I hope Leno gets the whole show back, bye bye Conan.

x2

[2ndgenz28]

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=60183