All Eyes on Conan: Should He Stay or Should He Go?

By Marc Schneider Posted Jan 10th 2010 05:14PM

NBC has a plan: First, move Jay Leno to that comfy spot after your local news. Then, nudge Conan O'Brien back a half-hour to midnight ET. Finally, convince Jimmy Fallon to giggle through the graveyard shift an hour after that.

While a solid strategy to get back on track, there's no deal yet, only floated proposals. It's almost certain Leno will make the time switch and that the newbie, Fallon, will feel compelled to play along. But what about the tall, lanky, flame-haired Irish guy? Conan O'Brien is no novice. He's been working towards 11:35 for years, having shot 2725 episodes of 'Late Night' before packing his stuff and moving to LA for the 'Tonight Show' last year.

If there's someone in this mess who has a reason to jump ship, it's Conan. But will he do it? FOX has already motioned that they're interested, but there are few other options: ABC has Jimmy Kimmel and CBS, Dave Letterman.

"My goal is and my hope is that he will stay with the network," NBC Universal's Jeff Gaspin told reporters Sunday, according to Aol Television's Maggie Furlong.

What was O'Brien's reaction to the news? Gaspin replied that everyone was "incredibly gracious and professional."

We'll have to wait to see what O'Brien decides, but there would certainly be legal complications if he left. His contract reportedly allows the network to move 'Tonight' to 12:05, but no later. If he bails, would Jay just take back 'Tonight'?

On Friday's 'Tonight Show,' O'Brien took a few swipes at the network over the swirling reports.

"We've got a great show for you tonight. I have no idea what time it will air -- but it's going to be a great show," O'Brien said in his monologue. He later went through a list of all the rumors swirling around, like that "NBC is going to throw me and Jay in a pit with sharpened sticks. The one who crawls out gets to leave NBC."

Give us your take on the situation below:

Tags: conan obrien, jay leno, Jimmy Fallon

Comments

(170)

Sunday 10 January

By NBC

Low Ranked Vote down Vote up Report this

Should of never had a boy do a mans job....Sorry Conan don't let the door hit you in the azz and take your side show freak Andy with you. Great creativity by the way.....not!

By Kevin

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Conan is the only thing NBC has going for them now. Without Conan and Andy two of the most talented and creative duo since Lennon & Mccartney.All you sigmoids than are dissing Conan & Andy are just jealous ..CONAN IS LATE NIGHT TELEVISON !!!

By Lupita Vallejo

Conan O'Brien is the best! he's funny, talented, and a great host so what are you talking about?!whatever to me he will always be the best.

By debbie

couldn't have said it better myself...

By TIMJOFRED

Vote down Vote up Report this

"NBC":
I agree with you but could I ask you to do something for me? Instead of writing "Should of" or "could of" for the rest of your life, write it as it is supposed to be: "should've" or "could've". The words are contractions of "Should have" and "could have". In sentence structure you need a verb. That would be "have" even in its' contracted form. Otherwise, I still agree with you. Thanks!

By connie

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

he is terrible,makes me sick.cant stand to watch him,he is simply stupid an not funny at all. get him off bring leno back. that was a big mistake to let him go an replace him with such an idiot. not a bit funny

Monday 11 January

By gg

Connan is very witty and amusing. I truly enjoy his show and would hate to see it go. He is spontaneous and very funny.

By Dave

Conan should go go go!

Leno has been great since he filled-in for Johnny and putting him opposite local news programs was a huge mistake on the part of NBC.

By deeshaw

Conan should have never been given The Tonight Show to began with. That was NBC fault. They should have told Conan they made a mistake and could not keep the promise they talk about 5 years ago. I know that would of sucked for them to do that to Conan then. But I don't think they did Conan any good doing it this way either. Nbc you remind me of Coke when thought they would fix something that wasn't broke. Put it back the way it was and learn from your mistakes.

By mikerat42

Move Conan to the 3:30 AM slot...

By Jeffrey w Oesch II

yes i agree, put conan last. cause then i can watch the 1st two and then turn the tv off and go to bed w/o feeling like i missed anything. i started watching letterman ever since they put obrien in the 11:30 spot.

By Janice

Who is Conan????????? Leno is the only Great Late Night Host I Know Of!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By June

Jay Leno is funny and entertaining. Conan O'Brian is, to put it nicely--a bit silly. Might appeal to a certain younger generation!

By cathy

conan has always been way cooler than any of the other guys save letterman and bumping him for leno would be plain wrong.

By Ken Siemers Sr.

Conan can take his freak show and take a hike as far as I'm concerned. What ever made the network braintrusts think this wierdo had any talent?

By Fred

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Great right on he is a freaking freak from a dog house.

By mayr

leno is old and stale, conan is funnier, nbc is nuts!!!!!!!!!!

By jan

Sounds like you have the nuts...

By drnorush

Personally, I find Conan to be far more entertaining
(okay, in a nutty style), than Leno (who I must admit
seems to be getting stale)

By Tom

leno wanted to retire, now he doesn't. Give this humorless guy the boot. His jokes are so stale they stink. It was funny 10 years ago Jay. And his sidekick Kevin mumbling crap while stroking the guitar?? Sorry guys its old. I have started a petition to send to NBC to keep Conan in his current time slot. he deserves the same chance Leno got when he took over from Carson. Letterman whipped his a@@ for years.

Page 1 of 9