Originally posted by John Orquiolano 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.
Judging from this I didn't get the impression he quit.
I take it as: They want to move him to 12:05. He is saying no and awaiting their next move. He's hoping they give in to his demands and decide not to move The Tonight Show.
Good points, fellas. He didn't quit. He communicated his intent to leave NBC under their current plan. The "company that values our work" line at the end really speaks dividends.
NBC has been telling Conan since this move was announced that they consider Leno more important. I don't think this will change despite Conan's statement. At the end of the day, NBC will do what's in their best financial interest, and they think they'll make more money with Jay Leno. Conan isn't forcing NBC to choose between them; they already by their very actions chose Leno. And The Tonight Show can't be on at 12:05 (for the very reason Seth Myers joked on Weekend Update: It's no longer "tonight".)
Conan deserves better than to be second fiddle to Leno for his entire late night career. He deserves The Tonight Show, and not just for 8 months.
I thought that this was a very well handled statement by Conan. I wouldn't mind seeing him turn up on Comedy Central or somewhere else where he can be more himself. He got a pretty raw deal from NBC.
Originally posted by wmatisticWhat I get from this is Jay could care less what happens to The Tonight Show, while Conan cares more about that than being employed.
I'm not sure I see how Jay Leno is involved in all this. Seems to me to be a product of NBC's machinations. He could be playing backstage politics, sure, but all the news accounts point the finger squarely at NBC. If I've missed something that Jay has done to make this happen someone please point it out to me.
Otherwise, IMHO it looks like all the people who are tired of Jay and think Jay isn't funny are ready to blame him for Conan getting screwed.
Originally posted by StingArmyI'm not sure I see how Jay Leno is involved in all this. Seems to me to be a product of NBC's machinations. He could be playing backstage politics, sure, but all the news accounts point the finger squarely at NBC. If I've missed something that Jay has done to make this happen someone please point it out to me.
Otherwise, IMHO it looks like all the people who are tired of Jay and think Jay isn't funny are ready to blame him for Conan getting screwed.
- StingArmy
Basically, his silence is deafening.
"As you may have read in Robert Parker's Wine Newsletter, 'Donaghy Estates tastes like the urine of Satan, after a hefty portion of asparagus.'" Jack Donaghy, 30 Rock
Agreed with everyone whose posted thus far about Conan. I truly does seem as if that Conan cares more about the TS brand rather than himself (the fact he's been waiting years for this instead of taking off is indicative of that). I'm not holding my breath, but maybe....maybe they can work out something.
NBC has dropped the ball, and I'm not sure how they'll recover from this anytime soon.
Originally posted by SchippeWreck
This +9001
You know, I really don't know what to put here. Close your eyes and thank of something funny!
I'm so glad that NBC & CBS have clips of the shows online -- I don't have enough DVRs in the house to keep up! (And record WWE besides.) I can't wait to see what the whole mess does for both Dave's & Conan's ratings during this week! Dave is in hog heaven about the whole thing, & Conan is a very, very smart man!
I love Conan's Jan 12 statement (see Orquiola's post above)! He's laying out exactly the ground work for why this puts NBC in breach of contract his looooong term contract. He's keeping himself the good guy vs. the evil NBC overloards. And completely endearing himself to the audience.
Dave is sooooo on Conan's side -- it's great! This mess is making for the most interesting late night TV in ages!
CBS seems to have a few date stamps mixed up, so I'm not clear whether it's from yesterday or today. But so far, my absolute favourite is this (cbs.com) from Dave, summarising the whole thing.
Is it all about ratings? I don't watch late night programming, but I took the time to watch last nights' show (I taped Letterman as well) and I thought that Conan was better.
If it's just about the ratings, they should heed my previous advice: put on an interview that everyone wants to see. For Jay Leno, it was Hugh Grant. For Conan? Tiger Woods? I dunno.
Jay Leno will get his one-hour show back, and it will be called "The Tonight Show".... sources tell TMZ.
We're told NBC honchos still have to sit down with Jay's rep and put the finishing touches on a new deal, but NBC has signed off on the plan if Conan O'Brien leaves ... and Conan has made it clear that he's leaving the network, and not on good terms.
I am not happy about this and am wary about Conan going to FOX. I don't doubt that FOX would be happy to have Conan aboard, but they have a notorious reputation for giving up quickly on late nite shows.
But here's what no one's brought up yet and I'm shocked that no one's even mentioned it as the most possible scenario. How long can Leno REALLY go on? He's got five years left in him at the most. And with Conan leaving on bad terms, who gets The Tonight Show then?
Ladies and Gentlemen, it's The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Ye gods!
(edited by It's False on 12.1.10 2030)
MacGruber! Making life-saving inventions out of household materials! MacGruber! Getting in and out of ultra-sticky situations! MacGruber! The guy's a freakin' genius! MACGRUBER!
Good luck getting that theme song out of your head
Originally posted by OliverIs it all about ratings? I don't watch late night programming, but I took the time to watch last nights' show (I taped Letterman as well) and I thought that Conan was better.
No, they're way past that point. I just think it's entertaining that their attempt to shovel Conan out of the way is going to accompany a huge ratings spike for him. And for Dave. And then, we'll get to see how bad the "anti-NBC / anti-Leno" backlash is. While TMZ keeps the lawyer situation between Conan & NBC in the public eye.
Originally posted by OliverIf it's just about the ratings, they should heed my previous advice: put on an interview that everyone wants to see. For Jay Leno, it was Hugh Grant. For Conan? Tiger Woods? I dunno.
And for Letterman ... it's Conan O'Brien! :-)
One of the articles mentioned a "no compete" clause in the contract that NBC is breaching. I'm curious just how that clause is framed. I think it'd be hilarious if CBS or Fox has a "Night of a Thousand Conans". (You heard it here first.)
Originally posted by OliverIf it's just about the ratings, they should heed my previous advice: put on an interview that everyone wants to see. For Jay Leno, it was Hugh Grant. For Conan? Tiger Woods? I dunno.
And for Letterman ... it's Conan O'Brien! :-)
You are right, this would be the best thing ever. How long could that no compete clause cover? And I wonder if it would cover appearing on a show as a guest, not an employee? I don't watch any of these three shows, but I do generally check out Conan's show online every few days and have checked out Letterman's and Leno's mentions of the incident in recent episodes, and all three of them have been the funniest they've been in quite a while in my opinion. I would like to see Letterman and Conan together to discuss this.
All this talk about Conan on Letterman made me get a idea. It's insane, but hear me out.
Conan should stay off for a couple of years collecting NBC's money and having a nice vacation on their dumbass part. Then, when he is ready to return to late night TV, he will be fresh and have renewed energy. And he'll be ready to take over the real dream job: Letterman's own late night show.
Why not? If you think about it, it would be perfect for everyone involved. Letterman, with his age, his health, and his scandal possibly intruding into his very private life, is probably not going to stay on air for that much longer. Yes, he'll definitely be on for at least another 2-3 years, but do you see him going say another 5-10? I don't. Letterman can have a big sendoff, have the perfect sucessor for his show (Conan is an admirer of Dave), and look as the much classier guy for properly transiting the host change. Plus, the publicity surrounding the change could put 'Late Night' over the 'Tonight Show' in the ratings and give Letterman the FU he always wanted to give to Leno & NBC. He may not host, but he would own and produce the show still, so he would still benefit from the show.
Meanwhile, Conan would get to 'comeback' on an established show instead of trying his luck at FOX or other networks. I don't trust his chances on FOX; they have never had good luck with talk shows (Joan Rivers, Chevy Chase, Magic Johnson- yuck!). Conan would get a audience that's already there and it would be back in NYC, his biggest plus. I think that's the real reason his version of 'Tonight' hasn't work. Being in LA just doesn't provide the comedic opprotunities that he seemed to have in the big apple. The people, the places, and the situations just seem to be funnier for him and company than in California. Most importantly, he would get to come back directly against Leno (who it looks like NBC will have to stay stucked to for a while) and prove he would be the better man.
I know that was long winded, but I really do feel that would be dream scenario for Letterman and Conan. And a nightmare one for Leno & NBC.
I recall reading that Craig Ferguson is pretty much a lock for The Late Show when Letterman finally hangs it up - and I can't imagine Letterman, even for all Conan O'Brien's pluses, allowing CBS to screw over Ferguson after all Letterman went through at NBC. And O'Brien would lose a lot of credibility screwing over someone else.
That said, if Ferguson decided to not take the show, I'd bet my liver that CBS would throw a LOT of money O'Brien's way. And I agree that the biggest FU would be a Letterman interview with O'Brien immediately after he leaves NBC - maybe even competing against Leno's re-debut.
Originally posted by LeroyI recall reading that Craig Ferguson is pretty much a lock for The Late Show when Letterman finally hangs it up - and I can't imagine Letterman, even for all Conan O'Brien's pluses, allowing CBS to screw over Ferguson after all Letterman went through at NBC. And O'Brien would lose a lot of credibility screwing over someone else.
I do wonder how this will play out later on. On one hand, Ferguson's the best thing going right now in late nite and getting the Late Show would cement his rise from down-and-out drug addict to new King of Late Night.
But on the other hand, most of the reason Ferguson's show is so great is mostly the same reason Conan was so great at 12:35. The setting and atmosphere are small and intimate, something that would get lost in the move. And more than that, Ferguson has a lot more freedom to push the envelope a bit, which also gets lost if he takes the pre-midnight slot.
I would understand completely if Ferguson opts to remain in his time slot for as long CBS will let him have it. His show, like Conan's, wouldn't be the same if he switched time slots. And if he does, it would obviously open the door for Coco to swoop in and directly compete with Leno.
(edited by It's False on 12.1.10 2331)
MacGruber! Making life-saving inventions out of household materials! MacGruber! Getting in and out of ultra-sticky situations! MacGruber! The guy's a freakin' genius! MACGRUBER!
Good luck getting that theme song out of your head
Originally posted by supersalvadoranConan should stay off for a couple of years collecting NBC's money and having a nice vacation on their dumbass part. Then, when he is ready to return to late night TV, he will be fresh and have renewed energy. And he'll be ready to take over the real dream job: Letterman's own late night show.
Being selfish, I would *LOVE* to see this happen, but of course, only when Dave is fully ready to leave.
However, being unselfish, I would *HATE* this for all of CoCo's staff who made the move with him from New York to California and might end up out of work or having to look for new jobs in the interim (which also means they might not be available when he makes his return). That's one of the things I really haven't heard any of the media talking about out of this: Conan will be fine. I'm not a legal expert, but I would imagine that he will get some sort of settlement from NBC so he should be fine regardless. That's why I prefer the option where he ends up on FOX or Comedy Central or somewhere so all of the people that work with and for him don't get screwed in all of this too.
Of course, it will also be interesting to see if NBC can pull any of the "intellectual property" stuff with Conan they did with Letterman when he went to CBS. What happens to Triumph the Insult Comic Dog or the Masturbating Bear? Are those "owned" by NBC? (I would imagine Smigel owns Triumph but who knows what legal bullshit NBC might pull). NBC made a huh-yooge stink about the Top 10 list and even Larry "Bud" Melman (went by his real name with Dave on CBS as a result) when Dave went to CBS.
This story is gonna go on for a while.
"You are going to get a certain amount of snarkiness on the Internet no matter what, and my rule is that you don't post anything that you wouldn't say to someone's face." Marc Andreyko (Writer of DC Comic's "Manhunter")
This particular bit from Conan last night was inspired. For anyone wondering why NBC even sparked all these problems to begin with, this is spot-on summary of the entire NBC/Conan/Leno debacle in language Butters would approve of.
I had SO much free time that I went ahead and did THIS week early as well. As of right now, 132 DVDs and just ten Blu-ray are currently slated for the week of 12/29. We'll see if that holds up later, but for now HERE is THIS big list...