Last week, we reported that NBC was considering royally screwing up changing their late night programming schedule by returning Jay Leno to his old spot at 11:35pm and moving Conan O’Brien to midnight. In his coverage of the story, Screen Rant writer Anthony Ocasio mused that if he were Conan, he’d be pretty upset (a sentiment echoed by the majority of our readers as well).
Still, we hadn’t heard any official statement from Conan regarding the rumors, other than a pretty hilarious bit during his opening monologue on last night’s show. That all changed today, when Conan released a long and thoughtful statement that addresses the issue head on.
In the statement, which is humorously addressed to the “People of Earth,” Conan says that he “cannot participate in what I honestly believe is [The Tonight Show's] destruction” and that he will not remain with NBC if they decide to push the show back to the 12:05am time slot. Check below to read the statement in its entirety.
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
Given how badly NBC is treating him, I’m impressed at how classy this letter is. Then again, Conan has always been a classy guy (not to mention funny as hell). That’s why I have officially joined the ‘Conan Should Leave NBC’ bandwagon.Flip to the next page to learn more about the groundswell of fan support for Conan along with some of his possible alternatives.
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I will always be grateful for the years that Leno was on the Tonight Show. He did a great job being there, but i think that Jay should just step away from it all, and let Conan do his thing. I also loved Conan ever since he first started. Jay can do some kinda car show or whatever. Anyways, I'm for Team Conan
Conan is the new face of “the tonight show”, and he should stay as such in the correct time slot. LENO IS DONE! It's been a long time since I had a decent laugh on Leno's show, and when I did laugh, it was because of a funny news paper clippings he had nothing to do with. I think sony execs may be masquerading as NBC execs, because it sounds a lot like Raimi getting slapped
I think this whole thing is total bulls**t!!! Between NBCs stupid call with this Conan/Leno thing and Sony/Raimi/Maguire/Spider-Man deal I have for sure lost faith in studios. It's all about money with these people. And it's frustrating!
Team Conan all the way. Love that show.
Conan, I will follow you wherever you go.
Team CoCo fo' sho-sho. I agree with the earlier post, Leno did his thing and wasn't bad, but I've lost almost all respect for him with the way he's almost forcing NBC to his will and going out the last few night talking about he was cancelled from the Tonight Show back in June. He agreed to the same contract resolution that Conan did back in '04. He wasn't cancelled. I honestly think NBC could get some of their respectability back if they just grew a pair, stood up to Leno and said there's no room for him at 11:35. They could work on some other project with him if he wanted or just let him walk off to another network and let him phone it in somewhere else. I will follow Conan to where ever he ends up, he's the best thing going on in late night.
NBC doesn't want to concede to Letterman after they spurned him. Frankly, I hope Conan jumps to FOX or goes back to writing for the Simpsons.
I am appalled by how terribly NBC is trying to screw Conan. Conan has been excellent on the Tonight Show and I will always prefer him to Leno. NBC has no shame. I hope Conan gets a show on another network.
I think he could do a Fox Late Night show in LA. That seems likely at this point. More likely than things working out with NBC right now.
This is terrible. Conan is the only talk show host that can make me laugh and its sad to see him being treated this way.
I just watched tonight's show. They were making so many jokes about it! It was hilarious. Gotta love that even when he is going through a scandal, he can still laugh about it. He opened his monologue with “Hello, I'm Conan O'Brien, and soon I will be available for children's birthday parties.”
Freaking hilarious! Check out woot.com's deal of the day! The O'brienvo!
I was watching Conan's show the other night with my sweetie, lol, and it was pretty funny because he spent the entire show ranking on NBC. I think he's going to jump ship and go to Fox…
How soon the world forgets. It was not all that long ago that Leno screwed Letterman out of what was rightfully his. Carson promised Late Night to Dave, and then Leno with the assistance of his agent, forced the NBC executives to give him the show instead.
And now he is doing the same thing with our beloved CoCo. Seriously, Leno hasn't been relevant for years now. And if rumors are to be believed, quite a lot of the Hollywood elite are tired of him and have refused to participate in his new show.
I vote get rid of this tired, unfunny, big chinned loser!
I'm supporting Coco here, but lets be clear Leno didn't force the execs to do anything back in the day with the letterman scandal. Leno didn't screw Letterman it was NBC Leno just took the job. Who wouldn't? Leno is better than Letterman anyway, but CoCo conquers all.
Any of you happen to catch Jimmy Kimmel? I caught a couple minutes and he was dressed as Leno. I guess he was pretty much making a mockery of Leno and how he's screwing Conan over. I'll have to see if there's some video of it online somewhere, but it's nice to see Conan getting the support he deserves.
Fox is a wrong move. They don't respect any of their late night shows no matter how good the quality is. MadTV was of better quality comedy in it's end than SNL has been for years.
Fox at least gave MadTV 14 years to make it. A very good show when it wanted to be, but it had some “misses” as well. Conan would be on weeknights instead of the weekend too. That's what FOX needs.
I like Jay but honestly, when it was announced he was going to step down and Conan would step in, there wasn't this stupid business about the Leno show or whatever crap they are calling it. There was no mention that it was a 'trial run'.
Team Conan all the way.
Conan has every right in the world to be upset. He moved his family and staff down to LA to host the show that drew him into showbiz to begin with… and the network wants to kick him around and screw up decades of television tradition just so they can keep Leno's unnecessary and unsuccessful show?
COME ON!!
you cant be serious. MadTV was crap so pure in form that its 14 season run is more of a testament to low cultured masses then having someone like Conan host a tv show.
I'm also annoyed that there is no gracious “exit” on the part of Jay Leno. I've seen this man on many a show as a guest. He repeatedly has commented as to how he's a standup comedian first. One one “Inside the Actors Studio” he spoke of his love of standup, and how he's never spent any of his Tonight Show money because he's a comedian “first and formost” (paraphrased)
It's a bit despicable (yes, I think this word applies here) that he's allowing this upset to the legacy and veritable institution that is “The Tonight Show”…which, if beginning at 12:05am, then should (despite the contract wording) be rightfully renamed “The This Morning Show”. But I guess NBC can't tell time either. LOL Conan has uprooted his self, his crew, etc. Jimmy Fallon has passed on whatever future he had to take another time slot.
Oy vey…I'm just so lost at how Leno could be this selfish. Yes, he's amazingly hilarious (at times). But his comedy is worn, his bits are regurgitated from TTS, and he failed to generate his own audience. I know if I had this guy on my IT team, and he failed to get results, I would not spend much time debating a more prime shift, with premium benefits.
**sigh**
What irks me here is that Leno could easily put a stop to all of this by simply retiring. I enjoy his style of humor, but even if he gets his old time slot back, as is planned, it won't be the same. Don't think I can look at the man the same way. I'd just be thinking of how Conan should be sitting in that chair.
Leno had a good run, but apparently, like Conan said in tonight's monologue, you can do whatever you want (in life)… unless Leno wants it too.
Didn't catch last night's escapades, but Conan really dug the spurs in tonight as well, and deservedly so.
I used to watch Leno for “Headlines” and that was it. Watched Conan because he was funnier and more likable. He even did a week of his show in Canada, being from Canada I am happy that he did it and I enjoyed it very much.
I am behind Conan on this one, NBC hasn't much to offer, “30 Rock” and “Conan” that's that's what they have, if they dump Conan, they dump a lot of viewers. And by the way, SNL hasn't been funny for years, Tina Fey is much better on 30 Rock and Mad TV was always funnier.
lol
conan saved lincoln.. conan's desk has wheels.. conans hair has its own area code..
i watched his show nightly for years. his arnold interviews.. his hilarious drop dead michael jackson interviews.
also his guest interviews are great,, and the guest often bust out laughing too..
i love conan.. long live the king of latenight..
oh and when the writers strike happened.. i gained so much more respect for him..
remember when he did his show from the back or the audience
haha
What irks me here is that Leno could easily put a stop to all of this by simply retiring. I enjoy his style of humor, but even if he gets his old time slot back, as is planned, it won't be the same. Don't think I can look at the man the same way. I'd just be thinking of how Conan should be sitting in that chair.
Leno had a good run, but apparently, like Conan said in tonight's monologue, you can do whatever you want (in life)… unless Leno wants it too.
Didn't catch last night's escapades, but Conan really dug the spurs in tonight as well, and deservedly so.
I used to watch Leno for “Headlines” and that was it. Watched Conan because he was funnier and more likable. He even did a week of his show in Canada, being from Canada I am happy that he did it and I enjoyed it very much.
I am behind Conan on this one, NBC hasn't much to offer, “30 Rock” and “Conan” that's that's what they have, if they dump Conan, they dump a lot of viewers. And by the way, SNL hasn't been funny for years, Tina Fey is much better on 30 Rock and Mad TV was always funnier.
lol
conan saved lincoln.. conan's desk has wheels.. conans hair has its own area code..
i watched his show nightly for years. his arnold interviews.. his hilarious drop dead michael jackson interviews.
also his guest interviews are great,, and the guest often bust out laughing too..
i love conan.. long live the king of latenight..