NBC Execs: Leno to Conan come '09

[eJm]

tv.yahoo.com/contributor/633119/news/urn:newsml:tv.ap.org:20071030:tv_nbc_leno__ER:38526

If "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is having second thoughts about surrendering his job as planned, NBC doesn't share them -- at least not publicly.

"Conan O'Brien will take over `The Tonight Show' in 2009," NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker said Monday in New York at an event arranged by Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Zucker said he'd like Leno to remain with the company and that "we are in those conversations now."

"I'm hopeful that Jay will be with us," the executive told the question-and-answer session.

A deal for Leno's exit was finalized three years ago as part of NBC Universal's effort to keep "Late Night" host O'Brien from bolting to a competing network. Leno marked his 15th year as host of "Tonight" last May.

Leno has said he's comfortable with his planned departure but, according to a report earlier this month in the Los Angeles Times, the comedian has grown reluctant to retire as host of the fabled, top-rated late-night program.

Leno declined comment on the Times report when it was published. He had no comment Monday on Zucker's remarks, an NBC spokeswoman said.

So....it's going to happen, the deal was sealed and the Execs say so...but Leno is rumored to still reluctant?

This might get interesting come 2009

[Just Jay]

I'm pumped. Hopefully Conan takes over and no are no hard feelings between Jay, NBC and Conan. (Irony, isn't it?)

That being said, can anyone confirm if the Max Weinberg 7 will be joining Conan on the set of the Tonight Show?

[eJm]

Hopefully they get their YouTube page back up by '09 so then I can see this happen.

Seriously, that pissed me off to no end! I only used it to watch Conan and Leno clips!

[rra]

jaybruiser said:

I'm pumped. Hopefully Conan takes over and no are no hard feelings between Jay, NBC and Conan. (Irony, isn't it?)

That being said, can anyone confirm if the Max Weinberg 7 will be joining Conan on the set of the Tonight Show?

I hate telling everyone every few months.

But yeah, everyone involved with Conan will move out to Burbank at Conan's newly-constructed-as-we-speak studio...that means the Max Weinberg band, Joel the perv announcer, the Masturbating Bear, you name it.

Hell, unless I heard otherwise, Conan is getting to keep his risque/insane sense of humor at the 11:30 slot.

The only concession Conan made, was that he had to move to the west coast.

Thus, the real question is here...can Pale Force survive Southern California?

[rra]

ejm said:

tv.yahoo.com/contributor/633119/news/urn:newsml:tv.ap.org:20071030:tv_nbc_leno__ER:38526

If "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno is having second thoughts about surrendering his job as planned, NBC doesn't share them -- at least not publicly.

"Conan O'Brien will take over `The Tonight Show' in 2009," NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker said Monday in New York at an event arranged by Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications.

Zucker said he'd like Leno to remain with the company and that "we are in those conversations now."

"I'm hopeful that Jay will be with us," the executive told the question-and-answer session.

A deal for Leno's exit was finalized three years ago as part of NBC Universal's effort to keep "Late Night" host O'Brien from bolting to a competing network. Leno marked his 15th year as host of "Tonight" last May.

Leno has said he's comfortable with his planned departure but, according to a report earlier this month in the Los Angeles Times, the comedian has grown reluctant to retire as host of the fabled, top-rated late-night program.

Leno declined comment on the Times report when it was published. He had no comment Monday on Zucker's remarks, an NBC spokeswoman said.

So....it's going to happen, the deal was sealed and the Execs say so...but Leno is rumored to still reluctant?

This might get interesting come 2009

A big reason why is because if Conan is canned, he is contractually guaranteed $40 million from NBC (its a 5 year deal that goes active in 2009)...

...and the Peacock aint gonna pay someone 40 million upfront just because Leno changed his mind.

That said, I could seriously see Leno going to ABC or FOX 2009 or 2010, and with Letterman's appointed successor Jon Stewart on tap...

Imagine the 2010 late-night lineup:

NBC - Conan O'Brien
ABC - Jimmy Kimmel*
CBS - Jon Stewart
FOX - Jay Leno

I would also add Jimmy The Hack Fallon at 12:30 on NBC, but who gives a s***?

But yeah, if NBC can make it happen, keeping Leno on a leash from hurting Conan is a good thing. Hell, I could see NBC getting the idea of trying to place Leno on the TODAY SHOW.

There, I called it.

*=Yeah I know, but he's lasted longer than I expected of Adam Carrolla's meal ticket.

[willywonka666]

Jon Stewart is in line for Letterman's job?

[rra]

willywonka666 said:

Jon Stewart is in line for Letterman's job?

Letterman likes him, and Stewart wants the silver lining with the massive big bucks once his final DAILY SHOW contract dries up.

Plus, he's part of Conan's generation...a fact not lost on CBS.

Though, I'm absolutely sure that DAILY SHOW will go on with another host.

Isn't that right Craig Kilborn?

Anyway, its funny...but you all know that Stewart auditioned for the 12:30 NBC gig back in 1993, the gig that Conan got...right?

[willywonka666]

rra said:

willywonka666 said:

Jon Stewart is in line for Letterman's job?

Letterman likes him, and Stewart wants the silver lining with the massive big bucks once his final DAILY SHOW contract dries up.

Plus, he's part of Conan's generation...a fact not lost on CBS.

Though, I'm absolutely sure that DAILY SHOW will go on with another host.

Isn't that right Craig Kilborn?

Anyway, its funny...but you all know that Stewart auditioned for the 12:30 NBC gig back in 1993, the gig that Conan got...right?

Didn't realize that, I remember his show on MTV though

[rra]

willywonka666 said:

rra said:

Letterman likes him, and Stewart wants the silver lining with the massive big bucks once his final DAILY SHOW contract dries up.

Plus, he's part of Conan's generation...a fact not lost on CBS.

Though, I'm absolutely sure that DAILY SHOW will go on with another host.

Isn't that right Craig Kilborn?

Anyway, its funny...but you all know that Stewart auditioned for the 12:30 NBC gig back in 1993, the gig that Conan got...right?

Didn't realize that, I remember his show on MTV though

I still remember when people thought Kilborn was such hot s***, that nobody could replace him on DAILY SHOW.

Well, Kilborn's pricey 12:30 CBS contract bombed, and Stewart's DAILY SHOW was even more popular (and relevant) than Kilborn's regime was.

Slightly off-topic, but who saw that NBC poll where Colbert got 2.5% polling in the Democratic presidential field?

[Just Jay]

rra said:

jaybruiser said:

I'm pumped. Hopefully Conan takes over and no are no hard feelings between Jay, NBC and Conan. (Irony, isn't it?)

That being said, can anyone confirm if the Max Weinberg 7 will be joining Conan on the set of the Tonight Show?

I hate telling everyone every few months.

But yeah, everyone involved with Conan will move out to Burbank at Conan's newly-constructed-as-we-speak studio...that means the Max Weinberg band, Joel the perv announcer, the Masturbating Bear, you name it.

Hell, unless I heard otherwise, Conan is getting to keep his risque/insane sense of humor at the 11:30 slot.

The only concession Conan made, was that he had to move to the west coast.

Thus, the real question is here...can Pale Force survive Southern California?

My apologies...I must have missed the memo that was sent out. And yes, pale force will survive, it just needs to stay out of the sun.

[AriadosMan]

BY CROM!!!



...oops, wrong Conan

[tna]

Conan's set is being built at Universal Studios-his show will be taped there instead of at NBC Studios.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Leno will end Up on Fox with a new Night time Show. Then every one of the big 4 networks will have a talk show at the same time, or staggerd.

11:30-12:30
Conan Vs Letterman

12:00-1:00
Leno vs Kimmel

[rra]

hotrod05 said:

Leno will end Up on Fox with a new Night time Show. Then every one of the big 4 networks will have a talk show at the same time, or staggerd.

11:30-12:30
Conan Vs Letterman

12:00-1:00
Leno vs Kimmel

Damn, Kimmel finally gets cancelled then.

[wildojinx]

Fox hasnt had a good history with late night shows though. I mean, outside of Mad tv, has there EVER been a late night show on fox thats been succesful or even lasted over 1 year?

[OGBoardPoster2005]

I wish Conan would stay in New York because I'd like to be at the first Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien taping

[The Line]

Hasn't this been confirmed for like two years now? It seems like NBC keeps on confirming this like every 6 months. I heard about this like back in 04.

[kunswwfmark]

From inside "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," I can tell you that no one on staff or within those studios (probably including Conan) knows for sure what's going to happen in 2009. Everything is kind of up in the air, especially with the writer's strike looking more likely by the day. And having also talked to a few of the writers about the situation, I can also say that NONE of them have been approached about moving to California yet. And who knows which staff members actually want to move across the country. They have families and roots, so everything is uncertain right now, and that's the God's honest truth.

For the moment, anyway, don't believe the hype when it comes to supposed details regarding this situation.

[Brickstone Kid]

kunswwfmark said:

From inside "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," I can tell you that no one on staff or within those studios (probably including Conan) knows for sure what's going to happen in 2009. Everything is kind of up in the air, especially with the writer's strike looking more likely by the day. And having also talked to a few of the writers about the situation, I can also say that NONE of them have been approached about moving to California yet. And who knows which staff members actually want to move across the country. They have families and roots, so everything is uncertain right now, and that's the God's honest truth.

For the moment, anyway, don't believe the hype when it comes to supposed details regarding this situation.

I seriously doubt that NBC would allow Conan to keep the same writers when he moves to the Tonight Show. I don't mean the more offensive content...I just mean the quality of the writing as a whole. A lot of Conan's skits are pretty good, but his monologues are horrible. I'm sure he would get a writer upgrade when moving to the premiere night time slot.

[rra]

kunswwfmark said:

From inside "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," I can tell you that no one on staff or within those studios (probably including Conan) knows for sure what's going to happen in 2009. Everything is kind of up in the air, especially with the writer's strike looking more likely by the day. And having also talked to a few of the writers about the situation, I can also say that NONE of them have been approached about moving to California yet. And who knows which staff members actually want to move across the country. They have families and roots, so everything is uncertain right now, and that's the God's honest truth.

For the moment, anyway, don't believe the hype when it comes to supposed details regarding this situation.

And I absolutely appreciate you for telling us this.

I only report what I hear, I'm a bloody middle-man.

I rather know what the hell is going on, even at the expense of looking wrong and ignorant.

BTW, are the Conan crew prepping for the move in anyway or form?