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Conan O'Brien and FOX: 'We'll get there'
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Talks between Conan O'Brien and FOX about launching a late-night show are getting more serious.The network and O'Brien have been talking ever since O'Brien lost his "Tonight Show" job in January, and now several reports say the negotiations are getting a little more serious. Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of FOX parent News Corp., has given his blessing to network executives to work on a deal, and, as the L.A. Times notes, the goal is to have something to announce at FOX's upfront presentation in May.
The biggest sticking point remains getting affiliates to sign off on a late-night show, but as someone close to O'Brien tells the Times, "We'll get there."
Meanwhile, The Wrap is reporting that a couple of syndication companies -- including Debmar Mercury, which distributes Tyler Perry's sitcoms and "South Park," among other shows -- have approached Team Coco about a syndicated talk show that would air in the early evening. That's considered something of a long shot at the moment, though.
A FOX deal will hinge on O'Brien and his team being able to produce a show cheaply enough to be profitable for the network and on getting affiliates to agree to air it, the Times and Wrap reports note. Local stations make good money on the syndicated shows that run after their late local newscasts and in some cases are locked into contracts to air certain shows in that time period. That could result in an O'Brien show that, at least at first, airs in different time periods depending on the market.
That's hardly an ideal situation, but the reports say FOX understands the obstacles and would be willing to weather that possibility for a while.
O'Brien, meanwhile, hits the road for a live tour -- The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour -- on April 12.
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Fox wants to air his show at different time periods in different markets? Makes a lot of sense, considering he'll be facing Leno and Letterman at 11:30, he has no chance, Fox send him to FX and be done with it.
I don't think Fox "wants" to. But currently affiliates have control of the post 10pm slot on Fox so it would ultimately be up to them when to air the broadcast. Personally, I was hoping I'd see Conan on HBO or a similar pay network, but I guess that isn't happening. Fox doesn't have the best track record for late night shows. They should do away with all of this and bring back Andy Barker P.I. with Andy and Conan as the leads.
Conan O'Brien is not funny - end of story. Fox wants to make sure they will make a profit before they commit to a show with him - not gonna happen.
If they are going to air him in different timeslots, that's going to be a killer right there...they need consistency at that network and placing him at different time periods is going to cause confusion, let alone a ratings juggernaut.
Fox affiliates may not be able to air Conan at 11PM, due to agreements with syndicators. That is why Conan might be airing at other time periods until those deals are done, like 2 years. It's tricky situation since local stations make more money with syndicated programming like "Two and a Half Men." Will Conan and Co. agree to this?
@ that dude and @ bry:
Buddy has it right. It's not that FOX "wants" to air Conan in different time slots; some affiliates are obligated to fulfill existing contracts to air other shows in the time period they would put Conan in so he would have to air later in those markets until the contracts are up... then they would move him into that time slot. The alternative would be to just not air him at all in those markets which would be a ridiculous solution.
@ryjus Conan may not be funny TO YOU but there are millions of people who think he is very funny. He made his Late Night show cheaply and he could very easily do it again at FOX to make the show profitable.
Love Jay but Fox needs to get rid of wanda sykes stat.
Leno is a idiot too think that he can beat Conan, His demo is old people like him self and soon they will all be dead! end of story. Fox and Conan are a great match, and Fox will let Conan do his hummer his way not the NBC retarded way.