O'Brien out, Leno back in?

[knine]

The Late Show and Tonight Show both start at 10:35 PM MST in Salt Lake.

 

[Timewalker]

This is a silly argument. There are more than two timezones in the U.S. Here in the province of Alberta, Canada, The Tonight Show starts at 12:35 a.m. MST. It always has, except when pre-empted. I don't remember anybody screaming that it can't be called "The TONIGHT Show" if it doesn't start until after midnight. At least it airs when it's dark, doesn't it? And considering these shows are actually taped in the afternoon...

This is a silly argument. 11:35 covers the majority of cases in the US. 10:35 in the central time zone. I don't know about Mountain, but I doubt it would be 12:35 like in Alberta, and regardless it's the least populated time zone we have (not counting whatever the hell happens in Alaska/Hawaii). But the fact of the matter is the concept of the programming block.. eastern and pacific have 8-11 as prim time, 11 as a half hour for news ,and then late night at 11:35. In central its 7-10, 10 o'clock news, and 10:35 late night. But the important thing is that 10:35 is the top late night spot, and that's the Tonight Show. If you bump Conan back a half hour it's the back ass half of the Tonight Show, and the front half of his Late Night show. It's most certainly not what he signed up for. I can imagine that there are lots of people who tune in for the first part of the 11:35 shows, then go to bed after the monologue, or the first guest, or whatever.

If you think that giving the 11:35 show to Conan, only to be pushed back 30 minutes by the guy who used to host the 11:35 show, and now hosts a 'new' show with a different name from his original studio in the exact same time slot goes with the spirit of the agreement and isn't insulting, you're nuts.

PRIM time?! (sorry, but given the topic, I couldn't resist pointing that out... )

The Late Show and Tonight Show both start at 10:35 PM MST in Salt Lake.

Keep in mind, please, that we don't have local NBC stations; for example, my NBC viewing is via Spokane, Washington (one hour earlier than here). So in Spokane, it's 11:35 p.m. For us, it's 12:35 a.m.

 

[23skidoo]

This is a silly argument. There are more than two timezones in the U.S. Here in the province of Alberta, Canada, The Tonight Show starts at 12:35 a.m. MST. It always has, except when pre-empted. I don't remember anybody screaming that it can't be called "The TONIGHT Show" if it doesn't start until after midnight. At least it airs when it's dark, doesn't it? And considering these shows are actually taped in the afternoon...

You seem to have utterly missed the point (and I'm speaking as a fellow Albertan - no one cares what we think up here). And besides as I understand it the show is tape delayed, not aired live, so it airs at 11:30 wherever the hell it happens to be at the time.

Incidentally, go up your cable dial a bit and you'll find it airing at 9:30 PM via the digital feed from WDIV Detroit where, gee gosh, it airs at 11:30.

Back on point, read Conan's letter. The show has always aired after the evening news. It's part of the history.

Anyway, this is all moot to me as I've been watching the Tonight Show off and on since Shaw Cable was called Telecable in Saskatoon back around 1979. As far as I'm concerned it ends when Conan fades to black next Friday. NBC's destroyed the show as far as I'm concerned, not just because I don't like Leno, but because of how they screwed Conan.

Leno must be sooooo glad that when he TANKED UTTERLY back in 1993 after replacing Carson that the same bozos in charge of NBC today were still in high school or whatever. He'd have been back in the comedy clubs within weeks.

Alex

 

[Timewalker]

This is a silly argument. There are more than two timezones in the U.S. Here in the province of Alberta, Canada, The Tonight Show starts at 12:35 a.m. MST. It always has, except when pre-empted. I don't remember anybody screaming that it can't be called "The TONIGHT Show" if it doesn't start until after midnight. At least it airs when it's dark, doesn't it? And considering these shows are actually taped in the afternoon...

You seem to have utterly missed the point (and I'm speaking as a fellow Albertan - no one cares what we think up here). And besides as I understand it the show is tape delayed, not aired live, so it airs at 11:30 wherever the hell it happens to be at the time.

Incidentally, go up your cable dial a bit and you'll find it airing at 9:30 PM via the digital feed from WDIV Detroit where, gee gosh, it airs at 11:30.

Back on point, read Conan's letter. The show has always aired after the evening news. It's part of the history.

Anyway, this is all moot to me as I've been watching the Tonight Show off and on since Shaw Cable was called Telecable in Saskatoon back around 1979. As far as I'm concerned it ends when Conan fades to black next Friday. NBC's destroyed the show as far as I'm concerned, not just because I don't like Leno, but because of how they screwed Conan.

Leno must be sooooo glad that when he TANKED UTTERLY back in 1993 after replacing Carson that the same bozos in charge of NBC today were still in high school or whatever. He'd have been back in the comedy clubs within weeks.

Alex

I can't "go up my cable dial a bit" - Red Deer doesn't get WDIV on regular cable, and I can't afford the premium channels.

And you missed my point - I DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT TIME THE DAMN SHOW IS ON. I have enjoyed Jay Leno's show much more than I have enjoyed Conan O'Brien's show. I have never enjoyed Letterman's show. I really don't care how this all comes out, because it will have absolutely ZERO effect on my life - which certainly doesn't revolve around Hollywood scandals and backstage shenanigans (of whatever variety).

 

[cardinal biggles]

Here is a NY Times article about when Leno was going to be moved to 12:30, but threatened to quit. In 1992.

All this has happened before, and it will happen again.

Back on point, read Conan's letter. The show has always aired after the evening news. It's part of the history.

Anyway, this is all moot to me as I've been watching the Tonight Show off and on since Shaw Cable was called Telecable in Saskatoon back around 1979. As far as I'm concerned it ends when Conan fades to black next Friday. NBC's destroyed the show as far as I'm concerned, not just because I don't like Leno, but because of how they screwed Conan.

Leno must be sooooo glad that when he TANKED UTTERLY back in 1993 after replacing Carson that the same bozos in charge of NBC today were still in high school or whatever. He'd have been back in the comedy clubs within weeks

Read the New York Times article in Timby's post that I quoted above. Leno has been here before... 18 years ago. The only difference is that now Conan is the struggling Tonight Show host, and Leno is the other guy NBC is trying to keep happy. And just like in 1992, they can't have their cake and eat it too. One of them has to go; if Jay had any class at all, it would have been him.

 

[pookha]

I didn't see this posted, http://[URL="http://www.nytimes.com...ia/15conan.html?scp=2&sq=Dick Ebersol&st=cse"Dick Ebersol weighs in...against Conan and Letterman. Kind of makes you glad NBC is tanking right now with people like this leaping to its defense. The article can be found here.

Dick Fucking Ebersol. The comedy expert who wouldn't let Larry David or Harry Shearer get their sketches on Saturday Night Live thinks Leno's the greatest thing ever. Big surprise.

It has been widely known for months that Leno basically went on the offensive against Conan as far as booking guests, trying to leave Tonight with sloppy seconds as much as possible. And still he couldn't make it. So why isn't Ebersol talking about Leno's "astounding failure" at 10 pm?

--Justin

wasnt ebersol one of the clowns defending oj..
not the best characrer witness..

and the lack of long term memory among the wutzes at nbc is amazing..
didnt it finally take the hugh grant thing to finally get leno above letterman..

i guess nbc dosnt give two sticks for their demographics..

 

[IndyJones]

I love this article from The New York Times in 1992, where Leno talks about how mad he is that NBC would consider giving someone else (read: Letterman) the Tonight Show so early into his run:

"I am disappointed," Mr. Leno said. "I feel like a guy who has bought a car from somebody, painted it, fixed it up and made it look nice and then the guy comes back and says he promised to sell the car to his brother-in-law." Go Elsewhere? 'Of Course'
Mr. Leno said he would "obviously leave NBC immediately" if the network decided to give the "Tonight" show to Mr. Letterman. He said he would absolutely refuse to do a show in the 12:30 A.M. spot now occupied by Mr. Letterman's show, "Late Night," and would indeed consider creating the same problem for NBC that Mr. Letterman's proposed deal with CBS caused.
"Would I go to CBS if they asked me?" Mr. Leno said. "Of course. I'm not going to do some little happy hour from Omaha at 12:30."

What a prick. He's doing the exact same thing to Conan, and hasn't shown any indication that he cares.

 

[ALF]

There's something about Leno's face that makes me want to smash it. I'm just saying. I'm sure he's a great guy and everything... I'd just love to pummel him to a pulp.

It's not like he can shit rainbows or anything.

 

[Kirby]

The Late Show and Tonight Show both start at 10:35 PM MST in Salt Lake.

Same here in Denver, but don't forget "the mountain time zone doesn't count!"

 

[Nerys Myk]

The Late Show and Tonight Show both start at 10:35 PM MST in Salt Lake.

Same here in Denver, but don't forget "the mountain time zone doesn't count!"

I used to get so confused when I visted my grandmother. All the shows were on at a different time!!!!!!!

 

[Amaris]

I'm just gearing up for tonight, because I think it will be good.

 

[Jetfire]

The going into work bit was great...Andy got shot!!!

 

[Amaris]

^ Brilliant!

 

[Jetfire]

He kept saying "if" I thought it was a done deal...I thought next Friday was the last show???

 

[sidious618]

Tonight's was taped in advance so it's nothing big. He still got in plenty of jabs, though.

 

[Amaris]

He kept saying "if" I thought it was a done deal...I thought next Friday was the last show???

He probably has to play things close to his vest until he's certain.

 

[cardinal biggles]

I love this article from The New York Times in 1992, where Leno talks about how mad he is that NBC would consider giving someone else (read: Letterman) the Tonight Show so early into his run:

"I am disappointed," Mr. Leno said. "I feel like a guy who has bought a car from somebody, painted it, fixed it up and made it look nice and then the guy comes back and says he promised to sell the car to his brother-in-law." Go Elsewhere? 'Of Course'
Mr. Leno said he would "obviously leave NBC immediately" if the network decided to give the "Tonight" show to Mr. Letterman. He said he would absolutely refuse to do a show in the 12:30 A.M. spot now occupied by Mr. Letterman's show, "Late Night," and would indeed consider creating the same problem for NBC that Mr. Letterman's proposed deal with CBS caused.
"Would I go to CBS if they asked me?" Mr. Leno said. "Of course. I'm not going to do some little happy hour from Omaha at 12:30."

What a prick. He's doing the exact same thing to Conan, and hasn't shown any indication that he cares.

Which is why all the sympathy for Leno getting "caught in the middle" is misplaced. The man is a self-serving douchebag and I will never watch his show again.

 

[Amaris]

I love this article from The New York Times in 1992, where Leno talks about how mad he is that NBC would consider giving someone else (read: Letterman) the Tonight Show so early into his run:

"I am disappointed," Mr. Leno said. "I feel like a guy who has bought a car from somebody, painted it, fixed it up and made it look nice and then the guy comes back and says he promised to sell the car to his brother-in-law." Go Elsewhere? 'Of Course'
Mr. Leno said he would "obviously leave NBC immediately" if the network decided to give the "Tonight" show to Mr. Letterman. He said he would absolutely refuse to do a show in the 12:30 A.M. spot now occupied by Mr. Letterman's show, "Late Night," and would indeed consider creating the same problem for NBC that Mr. Letterman's proposed deal with CBS caused.
"Would I go to CBS if they asked me?" Mr. Leno said. "Of course. I'm not going to do some little happy hour from Omaha at 12:30."

What a prick. He's doing the exact same thing to Conan, and hasn't shown any indication that he cares.

Which is why all the sympathy for Leno getting "caught in the middle" is misplaced. The man is a self-serving douchebag and I will never watch his show again.

Yep. I'm done with Leno. I didn't mind him before, but the more he plays this "in the middle" thing up, the more I strongly dislike him.

 

[Jetfire]

Yeah...I think towards the end it will get real nasty...



Hoping.



[EDIT] I don't know why Jay just didn't retire? NBC wanting him around to make money really worked out well for them didn't it!?

 

[Data Holmes]

^ "History says Conan O'Brien was a great man. Went on to host The Tonight Show. But that was another life."

Because he's the host The Tonight Show deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So they'll fire him because he can take it. Because he's not our host. He's a silent comedian, a watchful entertainer. A late knight.

Leno- It was your executives, your plan!

Zucker- Do I really look like a guy with a plan? You know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it. You know, I just... do things. Letterman has plans, Fallon has plans, Conan's got plans. You know, they're schemers. Schemers trying to control their little worlds. I'm not a schemer. I try to show the schemers how pathetic their attempts to control things really are.

Zucker-Introduce a little anarchy. Upset the established order, and everything becomes chaos. I'm an agent of chaos. Oh, and you know the thing about chaos? It's fair!



back by popular demand


Leno- You either die a hero, or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

You guys have too much time on your hands. but they are fitting quotes.

Now that I think about it, maybe the real loser here is The Tonight Show. It's gone from a television icon to a Leno vanity project.

Has The Tonight Show ever really been an icon beyond the Johnny Carson years? I mean, I don't hear too many people wax nostalgic about Steve Allen or Jack Parr.

Because it was such a long time ago. In their days, Allen and Paar were both enormously successful, unique TV personalities and The Tonight Show was closely identified with them. Allen basically invented the late-night format. Think about that for a moment. These guys all have their disparate personalities and comedic postures, and all follow the same format fifty-five years later...

There's quite a famous incident involving Paar as the host which is summarized thusly at wikipedia:

On February 11, 1960, Jack Paar walked off his show for a month after NBC censors edited out a segment, taped the night before, about a joke involving a "W.C." (water closet, a polite term for a flush toilet) being confused for a "wayside chapel." As he left his desk, he said, "I am leaving The Tonight Show. There must be a better way of making a living than this." Paar's abrupt departure left his startled announcer, Hugh Downs, to finish the broadcast himself.

Paar returned to the show on March 7, 1960, strolled on stage, struck a pose, and said, "As I was saying before I was interrupted..." After the audience erupted in applause, Paar continued, "When I walked off, I said there must be a better way of making a living. Well, I've looked... and there isn't."

That was a ballsy move by Paar... but a really cool one.