TVSquad

Hey, Letterman was able to do it, so why not Conan?

Ya gotta remember, by then Conan's going to be 46, and his sense of humor may moderate a bit by then. Letterman was about the same age when he took over at 11:30, remember...

Reply

Conan at 11:30, Jon Stewart at 12:30? I'd never doubt NBC again.

Reply

Leno is such milquetoast. NBC needs to stick with the decision and make The Tonight Show fun again. It hasn't been since Johnny quit. Sorry.

Reply

What's really interesting is that Leno, as a guest on Late Night with David Letterman, was always an excellent performer -- my friends and I who were into comedy always eagerly looked forward to a Leno appearance. But that was in moderate doses. Somehow, having to be funny in a monologue every night is crippling to Leno, with not much of an improv background. And he's no interviewer. In unscripted appearances as "Jay Leno" on various programs where he's not expected to be funny Jay seems smart and engaging. It's really unfortunate that he got placed into the Tonight Show, especially after Johnny Carson.

Reply

Don't believe anything NBC says -- it could all change and probably will.

Ever read "The Late Shift?"

Reply

I wish NBC would put Conan on now at 11:30!!

Reply

Seems that the Variety article was nothing more than a rehash of Carter's material from "Desperate Networks."

Reply

Might be out of left field but I think Ellen would be perfect for the Tonight Show. She might be tired of daytime by then.

Reply

Jay Leno has ruined the Tonight Show franchise. And it has only gotten worse. He seems to appeal to the lowest common denominator. The humor seems aimed at a frathouse level of humor--which has its place, but not on the iconic Tonight Show.

NBC should move up Conan for 2007.

Reply

The deal is for Leno to work until the end of 2008, that's it. He's not staying around for 2009and he isn't leaving in 2007. Just watch Letterman for the next few years.

Reply

I'd like to see Tim Allen in that seat. I haven't watched The Tonight Show very much since Johnny Carson left. I tried to like Leno in his place, but he just doesn't do it for me. I've always liked Tim Allen in everything I've seen him in, and although I'm not a rabid fan of his I think he would do a good job.

Reply

I wonder why no one's talking about the fact that Dave is almost 60; how much time does he have left? Will HE retire by '09? And if Conan doesn't get Leno's spot by then, will he get Dave's?

Dave doesn't have that many years left; he's getting older and he has a young kid. It's not inconceivable.

Reply

Letterman recently signed a contract extension that would see him host the Late Show until sometime in 2010. Yes Conan vs. Letterman. It was posted on here a few weeks ago. If they keep Jay on, Conan will bolt to CBS or ABC.

Reply

Like it or not, more of the same is what America wants.

Just give it to Dane Cook. His humor is like Jay Leno Tonight Show ALL the time.

Reply

I think if NBC sticks with Jay through 2009 and dosen't give Conan "The Tonight Show" I can see Conan staying at "Late Night" for another year (or being showless for a while) until Letterman's contract with CBS is up and he like Dave bolts over to CBS and instead of taking Jay's chair he takes Dave's chair.

Dave and Conan have alway had a good relationship and have only said glowing things about each other. When Conan first started out Dave appeared on Conan's "Late Night" as a guest. Plus if NBC were to give Conan the shaft in 2009 for Jay Leno who would understand better then David Letterman?

I can see Dave deciding to retire in 2010, He'll be 63 (Carson was 66 when he retired in May, 1992), his son Harry will be 7 and still young enough to spend a lot of time with, and he will have been on TV for 28 years. And Conan could keep more of his staff if he took over "The Late Show" because the show would stay in New York and he wouldn't have to relocate his show (and family) to California.

I can hear it now.

"From the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City it's The Late Show with Conan O'Brien."

Reply

I worship Jon Stewart as a god, but I would hate to see him on "The Tonight Show." He's brilliant on "The Daily Show" in part because he doesn't have to bow to network ratings pressures. He can be goofy, he can be edgy, he can use bleeped-out obscenities--we've now seen him host the Oscars, which is practically the same as hosting "The Tonight Show" in terms of sucking-up to stars, toning down material, and being mindful of ratings, and no one thought he was as good as he is on Comedy Central. So why mess with success?

Reply

Bonnie Hunt. The fact she doesn't yet have a talk show is, quite simply, a crime.

Reply

I don't think Conan can handle it. He is very funny, but it has a very narrow demographic.

Leno, might not be very funny, but he's get viewers in every demographic - better than Letterman.

Conan probably couldn't keep his existing audience, which he would alienate with the middle-of-the-road Leno humour.

I don't want to see Conan crash and burn and would rather they stay as is.

Colbert would be great as a replacement for Conan.

Reply

Conan is OK at best. The only time I really glad to see him on is waiting at the airport! He's too wierd and only funny when you are totally desperate for a laugh.

As for Jay, I agree he was really good when he was a guest. Now it seems as though he is really trying (or not trying at all). Monologue topics are recycled 3-4 days a week. It seems like there are 5 writers on the show, each comes up with a joke on a certain topic, and each joke is delivered in turn each night. Watch it for a few nights in a row and you'll see what I mean.

Not really sure who can take Johnny's place!

Reply

If Conan were actually going to take over The Tonight Show, shouldn't he quit his own show soon and start guest hosting? Isn't that how NBC has done it before?

I believe Conan will be moving to CBS in 2009. No way he gets The Tonight Show. His comedy isn't broad enough. And he doesn't patronize guests, which is what NBC apparently looks for in a host!

Reply