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This looks to be the answer to many people's dreams. Or will it just take the edge off Conan and turn him into another hack?


CONAN O'BRIEN TO TAKE OVER 'TONIGHT SHOW' IN '09
Mon Sep 27 2004 13:25:11 ET

From Jeff Zucker, issued to NBC staff via email:

Today, we are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of our late night franchise "The Tonight Show."

Today also marks another important milestone in our great late night history. In a few moments, we will be issuing a press release announcing our succession plan for this important television institution.

Jay Leno will continue to be at the helm of "The Tonight Show" for another five years, well into 2009, after which time Conan O'Brien will become the host of "The Tonight Show." Jay will officially make the announcement on his show tonight.

After that, it's back to work as usual for Jay, Conan and their teams, who will continue to provide us laughs for many more years.

I can't say enough about this late night team and these two men - especially Jay Leno - who worked tirelessly with us to help us find the appropriate time to make this announcement.

Thanks to both men we have a very bright future in late night!

Bandoman

Conan is funnier than Jay.

Hiro11

Much. All hail Pimpbot!

Geofferson

Glad to hear it.

The Antipodean

Damn, but we have to wait 'til 2009 to be rid of Leno - can't stand the guy myself.

gettinbranded

Conan does too much of that stupid frat-boy humor.

No thanks.

PeMo

I wonder if this changes anything for Conan... 2009 is still a long ways away. I don't know what Conan's current contract is, but he could get a new gig and get a much more lucrative deal somewhere else in that 5 years.

Is the "Tonight Show" really that big of a deal now that the new person (Conan or someone else) will be taking over for Leno, instead of Carson? I would think with CBS's primetime ratings that waiting for Letterman to retire would be a better thing to wait for if he wants to wait.

sven

And Jays does too much of that not humorous humor.

They should just do it tomorrow instead.

MrX

This looks like a preemptive move to keep CBS away from him.

devilshalo

Anything beats insulting stupid people.

das Monkey

Yes, and yes. Conan will lose his edge, but let's face it: by 2009, I'm not sure how fresh his shtick will be anyway. If anything, hopefully it will remain original. Like Letterman and Carson, Conan brought something unique to late-night television; unlike Leno, who just copies from other people's success. I don't know if it will work or not, but by that point, I'll be ready to embrace freeing up that 12:30 spot for the next Letterman or Conan to slip in under the radar and develop some unique comedy.

das

Chew

Say what you want about Leno, but isn't the audience of Tonight Show older? Conan doesn't strike me as the host for The Tonight Show crowd. Why is Leno retiring so early anyway?

Letterman can't be too happy today.

Doughboy

Good move by NBC to lock up Conan so they can avoid another Leno/Letterman type situation. If you've seen or read The Late Shift, you know how messy that got.

My only concern is how much Conan will tone down his act for the 11:30 crowd. I can't imagine NBC allowing characters like Pimpbot 5000, the Masturbating Bear, or the Coked Up Werewolf to be shown. At least Triumph has appeared on the Tonight Show already, so I imagine he'll be given the green light.

majorjoe23

I've always liked Conan where he is because he's under the radar enough that he can get away with things. The tonight show will probably make him reign in his stuff a bit.

But it is five years away, who knows how things may change between now and then.

Gcomeau

Can't wait!! I hope it works out for Conan. 5 years and counting!!!!!!!

mthiel

I'll miss Headlines. That's all I'll miss.

Eplicon

Assuming Letterman retires by that point, I wouldn't have much problem watching "The Tonight Show" again. Haven't watched it since Carson's retirement and Letterman's jump to CBS. Anyone but Leno and I'll watch.

Deftones

This is good for NBC. Conan draws huge numbers in the 18-30 crowds with expendible income. For advertisers, it's a wet dream.

I think we all knew this was coming eventually, just not this soon. I do believe Conan is locked into contact with his current show at least until 2009. I seem to remember him signing a 8 or 9 year contact back in 2001.

As for the show, it's definitely not going to be the same show. All of it will have to be toned down. I can't see Conan doing that show from NY anymore, either.

My only hope is that some of the talent that is with the show currently, like Smigel, will continue to contribute.

tofu

But Conan has gradually phase a lot of those characters out. I haven't seen Pimpbot in years.

But still a good move by NBC. I just hope that this doesn't mean that Carson Daly gets bumped up to Conan's spot

movieking

I much prefer Conan. I think that he is funnier, but he will have to clean it up a bit, as mentioned.

raven56706

Who is taking Conan's spot?

pezboy

This is terrific. I'm so glad NBC has done this. What's great is that this is so unexpected. Who thought we'd see another late night change this soon? Conan's career is something for every young writer/comic to aspire to. Kudos to NBC for doing the exact right thing.

shaun3000

This must piss Dave of. He'd been with NBC for 10 years in Conan's spot and was Johnny's choice to replace him, but NBC went with Leno, a relatively unknown. Now NBC has said, five years in advance, they they are going to replace Leno with Conan. Ouch.

BUT, good choice.

Shazam

I actually like both Jay and Conan. Sad to see Jay go, but Conan is a very worthy successor.

pezboy

This all makes me think the CBS people would be smart to go after Jon Stewart full-throttle now to replace Letterman. Whenever that may be, of course.