The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brein starting June 1!

[mcnabb]

Originally Posted by Giantrobo

If I remember right, and I could be wrong, Letterman was Carson's choice but the studio heads at the time went with Leno and Carson didn't interfere. Letterman and Carson ar both Midwest guys and I think that was one of the things Carson liked about Letterman.

Yes, Carson definitely wanted Letterman to be his successor. It was nothing personal against Leno, but Carson felt Dave deserved it more then Jay since he had his own show for 10 years and Leno was just a fill-in for Johnny when he was on vacation (which was alot the last few years!)

I think the reason Jay was pushed out early and Conan was given the job was essentially they didn't want a replay of the Letterman/Leno fiasco. They didn't want Conan leaving, if Letterman retired, and they didn't know how much longer Jay wanted to stay. By giving Conan the Tonight Show way back in '04, he wouldn't go anywhere, and they could get 5 more years of Jay in the #1 slot at 11:30. I think if they could have locked up Conan at 12:30 for a long time, they would have preferred Leno at 11:30 and Conan at 12:30.

Dont be surpised if Conan ratings are horrific, that Jay comes back to 11:30 somewhere down the road. That is my theory why NBC gave Jay a show at 10:00. Sort of a backup plan.

[Drop]

Letterman is an interesting interviewer. His attitude and approach depends on the guest he has, whether or not he's actually interested in them or in something they did. It's selfish, but he doesn't always make it about himself. If he likes the guest he caters to them, but if he doesn't he has no problem tearing into them. He is trying to entertain the audience above all else.

I prefer his style, it's his show afterall. I watch Letterman to see what he will do, or how he will interact with a certain guest. Conan is not too far off from that either, he's just a nicer guy. Leno's interviews depends on the guest, his personality doesn't really lend itself to a good back and forth, he's too nice. There needs to be some antagonism. Carson did it best, he knew where to push the buttons but how to keep it fun.

[outcastja]

Originally Posted by mcnabb

Dont be surpised if Conan ratings are horrific, that Jay comes back to 11:30 somewhere down the road. That is my theory why NBC gave Jay a show at 10:00. Sort of a backup plan.

That's not going to happen, NBC will look like shit heads, and Leno is too nice and loyal to do that to Conan.

[Ronnie Dobbs]

The next Letterman/Leno

[Rypro 525]

it seems like for the musical guests, Letterman has no idea who they are half the time. oh and one of the moderators has to change the thread title to spell it right.

[calhoun07]

There are aspects to Conan that I really like and aspects that I really don't like. There are aspects to Leno that I really like and aspects that I really don't like. Not the same aspects, but I don't think that everything that falls out of Conan's ass is gold like some people do. That's not a thread crap, that's just how I feel. His comedy style is different but enjoyable and likable, but he does do somethings that make me want to turn the channel. There were segments Leno did that I always watched and segments he did that I NEVER wanted to watch and would want to turn the channel.

I could say the same for Letterman as well.

(Though I can't say the same for Jimmy Kimmel...)

I guess my point is I don't understand this whole Leno vs. Conan camp. Naturally the two are going to be compared, but to me it's like comparing apples to oranges. I get that a lot of people here don't like Leno, but I think he did a fair job. Conan will do a good job, too. I think it's a positive move for the Tonight Show and they are lucky to have him and I hope to see him retiring in 30 years like Carson did. Not that I want to see him off the show, but I am looking forward to seeing Conan grow and age in the Tonight Show spot.

[Shannon Nutt]

Originally Posted by Boba Fett

I really think Leno is a genuinely nice guy. I heard Adam Carolla saying he plugged his movie 'The Hammer' to Leno and Leno said, he'd check it out. Carolla assumed Leno was just being nice and couldn't care less. A few months later, out of the blue, Leno called Carolla and started talking about how he liked the movie.

He's also apparently very appreciative of his guests and staff, unlike Letterman who apparently shows up at the last minute, does the show, and leaves. I've also never heard a bad 'fan' story about Leno.

All that aside, I just don't find the guy terribly funny. Lettermen has an old school humor to him, Conan is generally solid, but for my money Craig Ferguson is the funniest man on late night.

I think all three (Leno, Conan and Letterman) are quality guys. Dave sometimes gets a bad rap because he's more anti-social and private than the other two...but I don't think that makes him a bad guy (I'm guessing he does a lot of things for his staff we just never hear about). I've read somewhere he obsesses over the quality of his shows, so I think the statement that he shows up at the last minute suggests he never preps, which I think is the opposite of the truth. I do think he's probably less interactive with his guests than Leno or Conan before hand, but that may just be because Dave wants his interviews to be less scripted (and a lot of celebs hate that, which is why he's had problems getting some people to do his show).

[leacha]

Originally Posted by calhoun07

(Though I can't say the same for Jimmy Kimmel...)

Anytime I catch the beginning and he's doing some commercial... I turn away. Anytime he's harping about American Idol like its attached to his balls or something... I turn away.

Most of the time he's alright. I just hope Conan isn't screwed by Leno.

[calhoun07]

Originally Posted by leacha

Anytime I catch the beginning and he's doing some commercial... I turn away. Anytime he's harping about American Idol like its attached to his balls or something... I turn away.

Most of the time he's alright. I just hope Conan isn't screwed by Leno.

I will give you the commercials to hate, but that crap is beyond his control. It's not like he's at the top of the ratings game so they can refuse it.

From time to time, it's particularly amusing when they make fun of the commercials they are forced to do. It reminds me of the old Larry Sanders episode with the Garden Weasel.

It's crap like that which made me wish they gave Late Night to Kimmel instead of Fallon, just so we could see Kimmel and his writers break free from a bad budget and forced commercials.

[pinata242]

Just over 12 hours to go!

[Kicker_of_Elves]

Can't wait to see Pearl Jam And i'm looking forward to seeing how Conan like's L.A.

[DGibFen]

Did anyone catch the little preview segment they showed on Leno's last show? It features Conan

Spoiler:

in old man makeup, acting as a moderator for a senior citizen's testing group - watching Conan O'Brien. Looks like a hoot.

[Sanjuro37]

Originally Posted by DGibFen

Did anyone catch the little preview segment they showed on Leno's last show? It features Conan

Spoiler:

in old man makeup, acting as a moderator for a senior citizen's testing group - watching Conan O'Brien. Looks like a hoot.

That was the best part of Leno's finale.

[stingermck]

Go Conan, go!

[RichC2]

He seems hugely re-energized.

The lot tour was awesome.

I don't think this frat boy crowd will sustain but funny no less.

[kstublen]

Off to a great start with the running montage.

Glad to see Andy and Conan together again. Got a kick out of "either that's a flash flood, or the octo-mom's water just broke."

[stingermck]

Pregnant chic

[Rypro 525]

at his Laker seats

[SonOfAStu]

The running gag is a Letterman joke. Taken to an extreme.

The lot tour was pretty good, but the paniced screaming was done one too many times during the "storm". Come up with something else, Conan.

[RichC2]

Well, if they ever do a Pearl Jam movie, they can always cast Russel Crowe as older Eddie Vedder.

[kstublen]

Originally Posted by RichC2

Well, if they ever do a Pearl Jam movie, they can always cast Russel Crowe as older Eddie Vedder.

I swear, I was just about to post the same thing.

[astrochimp]

I love PJ but wasnt thrilled with that song.Not sure if the acoustics in that studio helped much.

[William Fuld]

Quick! Jump up on the drum set riser so you don't look like a dwarf, Eddie!

[Mike86]

Great first show for Conan and crew!!

[RichC2]

Originally Posted by William Fuld

Quick! Jump up on the drum set riser so you don't look like a dwarf, Eddie!

I thought that was hilarious too. The change from Conan to Fallon is a lot more jarring than Leno to Fallon was.