Conan Just Quit (The host not the barbarian)

[Wee67]

Coana just announced he will not stay with the Tonight SHow if it gets pushed back to 12:05. Whatever you think, his press release is kind of funny-

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

[thunderbolt]

Glad to see him standing his ground.

[mego73]

Good for him.

NBC has screwed up big time. In an ill fated stunt to revive their prime time, they tinkered with what was working well for them Leno at 11:30 and O'Brien at 12:30.

Now, prime time for them has not only continue to tank, they torpedoed their late night advantage and are on the verge of killing off an American TV tradition: "The Tonight Show".

[Mikey]

I don't think the Tonight Show will be able to recover from this.

Leno, had so-so ratings to begin with ... now the whole world is going to hate his guts.

I don't see a future for him there anymore.

Conan is the public darling in all this -- especially after that speach.

I think NBC better rethink everything again.

Who runs that network, chimps ?

[Sideshow Spock]

So, since NBC seems determined to go ahead with their new plan, they'd have no choice but to fire Conan. Of course, they'd still have to pay him what's left on his multi-year contract, which is in the tens of millions. I assume Conan couldn't work for another network in that interim.

Or, he could quit his contract, and go work for Fox.

So what would you do? "Work" for millions, or have a five year vacation for millions?

I hope he comes back to a show. Conan's brand of humor was an extension of the kind of humor we saw on Letterman's show in the 80s, which I grew up loving.

[EMCE Hammer]

Boy, what a cluster.

Arsenio, the world needs you now.

[Hulk]

Good for Conan. Leno's time is over. If he wanted to keep the Tonight Show, he should have thought about that before NBC signed Conan as his successor (and trust me, they consulted with him before that). Jay is tainted goods now, he tried something and it failed. If Conan accepted the move, Jay might get some of his old ratings back, but for half an hour, and hurt the other two shows which are a some of the only things making money for them nowadays besides News. I just hope Conan's contract allows him to get the full contact money if they follow through. And the way NBC handled this, announcing it before knowing what would ultimately happen? No class. If Jay thinks he's still relevant, let him go to Fox and let the battle play itself out.

[Nostalgiabuff]

Arsenio, the world needs you now.

I never got that guy.

[SUP-Ronin]

I personally really dislike Jay Leno, and always have. Conan seems to be a stand up guy, and I always liked his sense of humor.

[kryptosmaster]

Maybe they should just move the Jay Leno show to Sunday nights after the late news. There's nothing on that night on NBC anyway. Nothing says he has to be on 5 nights a week.
Rich