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Conan O'Brien, NBC make it official
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After all that, the official end to NBC's relationship with Conan O'Brien comes via a three-sentence statement.The statement puts the official stamp on O'Brien's exit from "The Tonight Show" and the network, confirming that his last show will be Friday (Jan. 22). He'll be free to seek work elsewhere come fall.
Here's the statement in its entirety:
"NBC and Conan O'Brien have reached a resolution of the issues surrounding O'Brien's contract to host 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.'
"Under terms of an agreement that was signed earlier today, NBC and O'Brien will settle their contractual obligations and the network will release O'Brien from his contract, freeing him to pursue other opportunities after September 1, 2010.
"O'Brien will make his final appearance as host of "The Tonight Show" on January 22."
So that's it. Your thoughts?
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So what's going to be on at 11:35 next week?
NBC hasn't said yet, but I'm assuming "Tonight Show" reruns till the Olympics. Leno moves back to 11:30 on March 1.
Never did like Conan. Anyplace we can go to give Leno feedback on what to keep and what to kill?
NBC made a huge mistake here.
First, they paid 25 million for the new Jay Leno Show set, which will now be torn down.
Next, they have to pay Conan over 30 million for essentially letting him go.
Last, they fired the wrong guy. Jay Leno wasn't performing in his slot and was bringing down all of the NBC affiliates with him, as well as Tonight Show (w/ Conan) viewers. Leno is the one who should have been let go. Viewership is flat with Leno the past couple of weeks, yet Conan is up 80%.
Conan is younger, hipper and a better interviewer than Leno. People have rallied behind Conan because he is the better man for the job. Period.
I'm guessing that when Leno returns to the Tonight Show that he will be in 3, possibly 4th place (after Conan goes to Fox). All three guys, Kimmel, Letterman and O'Brien are much more entertaining than Leno. Time will right all wrongs here.
I think everyone posting comments has forgotten Leno left the Tonight show to Conan in first place in the ratings, If Conan were a prime time weekly show he would have been fired a long time ago for dropping that far in the ratings. Also by the ratings it,s obvious who the majority of us watched on the tonight Show.
I wish someone would pay me 45 million to walk away from my job.
I think they should show repeats of Johnny Carson hosting Tonight Show and see how that does against Letterman. I know I'd rather watch Johnny.
Yeah, Leno never should have lost The Tonight Show. Conan isn't funny. Before the switch, at least NBC was still number 1 in Late Night. Now that's not the case. Hopefully soon. Now they just need to replace Fallon. Talk about painful to watch. Conan was funnier than him, which isn't saying much.
Conan never had a fair chance as the sole big host on NBC. Leno screwed him and the network. NBC also screwed itself, as usual.
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I like sleazy jokes as much as the next person as long as it is told by someone who is not personally sleazy. Leno’s personality is an obnoxious narcissistic sleaze. His good deeds do not count. The old fart should retire!
NBC tried an experiment that failed. People always say that it's the same old stuff on the networks so they tried something different. They were trying to keep Leno from leaving. If he would have come to ABC, he would have killed both Conan and Letterman in the ratings. But NBC is righting a wrong by putting Leno back where he belongs. Conan will get his ratings for a minute when he lands wherever; Letterman will garner ratings when his blackmail trial comes, but when the smoke clears, Leno will be number 1 again.