TVSquad

Today is the day Conan O'Brien takes up the mantle of one of the most beloved shows in TV history - The Tonight Show. And since feelings about O'Brien on some of my previous posts have been so strong, I thought it might be a good idea to do a point/counterpoint on the question, "Will Conan O'Brien succeed on The Tonight Show?"

I will be taking the position that he will be successful, and my formidable opponent will be John Scott Lewinski, who will take the position that O'Brien will not be successful.

My argument:

1. NBC has done everything in its power to make for a smooth transition. O'Brien has had roughly four months to prepare for the new show, to get adjusted to L.A., and get comfortable in his new set. Having him on as the last guest on Jay Leno's version of The Tonight Show should have eased the concerns of some of Leno's more ardent fans (and the anti-Conan contingent among them).

2. O'Brien has a great pedigree. Leno has praised him repeatedly for his strong writing, and did it again on Friday's show. O'Brien has written for The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live and succeeded in both environments for different audiences. He has also thrived for most of his 16 years on Late Night, something his detractors seem to forget. There is nothing he has tried yet to which he has not adapted nicely.

3. He has great writers, and his staff is pretty much intact from the old show. O'Brien has always known how to find great talent, and some of the best in the business have worked on the show - Louis C.K., Robert Smigel, Jack McBrayer, and Amy Poehler, to name a few. Covering the comedy beat in Boston for more than a decade, I can say that Boston comedian Brian Kiley, who moved to L.A. with the show, is a great comedian in his own right, and appeals to a wide audience.

4. The theme song. Yes, the theme song. Max Weinberg is adapting the old Late Night theme for the new show, which brings back the sound of a swinging horn section similar to Johnny Carson's old theme. Oh, yeah, and Weinberg and the band will be back, too, and they were a great foil for O'Brien on Late Night.

5. O'Brien is a fun interviewer. Over the years, I've seen a lot of guests put at ease by O'Brien's easy, self-deprecating style. People seem to be willing to match his goofiness and open up a bit. And when he has a guest on who's already silly, like, say Will Ferrell, the friendly one-upmanship is usually pretty enjoyable to watch.

So there are just a few reasons why I think Conan O'Brien will succeed on The Tonight Show. Mr. Lewinski, your turn...