Why We're on Team Conan O'Brien

By Mike Hess Posted Jan 11th 2010 08:30AM

PopEater Op-Ed: Conan O'Brien's 2010 is starting off like a kick to the crotch. The brilliant and good-natured comedian who last year moved everything -- his family, his staff -- to Los Angeles to take over Jay Leno's reign of the 'Tonight Show' is now sitting in late-night limbo, and it's all because of the man who it seemed was handing over the keys to a long, successful gig. But instead of passing the torch, Leno buried a grenade in the NBC infrastructure, and now everyone else except Jay is taking shrapnel for it. PopEater is fully endorsing Conan for all future ventures, and we'll gladly explain in detail why ... after the jump.

When word came that Leno was backing away from 'Tonight,' it seemed as though it would be a clean transition for Conan to finally get his starring vehicle that didn't demand people staying up past midnight. He'd be NBC's man, going head-to-head with David Letterman each night, just like Jay had done for decades. Then, randomly and ultimately irresponsibly (hey, he threw the entire network schedule into disarray), Leno decided retirement wasn't what he wanted, and barged into NBC's 10 p.m. time slot, screwing over Conan, prime-time television shows and local NBC affiliates. Many celebrities had loyalties and relationships with Leno, turning the landscape into a tense duel over potential guests. Also, by bouncing earlier to 10 p.m., Leno got the jump on the day's joke fodder in his monologue, leaving Conan to play clean-up later in the night.

O'Brien is generally the smartest guy in the room -- or on television. The Harvard-educated former 'Simpsons' writer is always able to convey his wit in countless ways on his show. Sometimes it's conceptual and ridiculous (see: In the year 2000), sometimes it's lowbrow and idiotic (see: masturbating bear) -- but it's always in good fun and never mean-spirited. Leno, on the other hand, has always had a heavy hand when it comes to making those around him seem lesser. Making people look dumber than him became Jay's schtick over the years -- be it tourists on the street or the 'Jersey Shore' kids. Jay's brand of entertainment was to make Jay look smart and others look dumb. Everyone knows that when you overcompensate, you become easily transparent. Conan doesn't need to resort to antagonizing and "Ha ha, you didn't know that answer" antics because that's low-hanging fruit -- and it's hard to find anyone smarter than him anyway.

Conan essentially altered his entire life to take over 'The Tonight Show.' He left his comfortable New York City life, digs and reputation for Los Angeles, and was repaid with Jay undermining him right off the bat. To boot, now his ultimate reward is not only being initially sabotaged but also muscled out in the long run because the man who screwed everything up has so much clout he's now rewarding himself with his old time slot. Sadly, that's how things go more and more nowadays: Failures and incompetence are overlooked and sometimes rewarded, because loyalty and smooth talking are the only things that matter.

To quote a New York Post source, "this level of sh- - -iness was not expected."

Many will say that Conan just doesn't have the everyman appeal needed to lure in viewers each and every night at 11:30. And while, yes, his show did maintain a certain edge when it was at 12:30, Conan's accessibility has never been in question. He hosted the Emmys in 2006 and won rave reviews, and also has the respect of nearly all his peers. David Letterman, who was O'Brien's direct competitor at 11:30 before Leno's coup, called him "a very funny guy" in 2008, and anyone who knows the oft-grouchy Letterman knows that compliments don't come easy.

Conan, we wish you all the best, and know you'll land on your feet. Perhaps cable TV is your best vehicle at this point. Imagine the creative freedom HBO would give you. So, take this time to regroup, plot your next non-NBC move, and rest-assured that many of us will be thinking of you when Jay slinks back into that 11:30 time slot and has to explain where the funny guy went.

http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=813224&pid=813223&uts=1263218036

http://www.popeater.com/mm_track/popeater/movies/?s_channel=us.moviespop&s_account=aolpopeater,aolsvc&omni=1&ke=1

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swf

Conan O'Brien Snapshots

Conan O'Brien is seen here in December at Disney's Imagination Movers in Los Angeles. Click for More Pics of Conan and His Show >>>

Getty Images for Disney

Getty Images North America

Amy Adams Snapshots

Actress Amy Adams (Right) and actor Darren Le Gallo attends the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Directors Guild Theatre on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - Outside Arrivals Directors Guild Theatre New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (59235392), contact WireImage.com

Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

Actress Amy Adams attends the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Directors Guild Theatre on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - Outside Arrivals Directors Guild Theatre New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (59235381), contact WireImage.com

Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actress Amy Adams attends the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Amy Adams

Getty Images

NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matthew Goode;Amy Adams

Getty Images

NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams attend the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matthew Goode;Amy Adams

Getty Images

Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams attend the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - After Party Rouge Tomate New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com To license this image (17093661), contact WireImage.com

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

Tags: conan obrien, ConanObrien, jay leno, JayLeno, nbc, The Tonight Show, TheTonightShow

Comments

(914)

Friday 22 January

By Steve

Vote down Vote up Report this

You are 100% right on this one but the only thing you left out is the fact that Letterman does not want Leno back so he has been backing Conan. If Letterman is so concerned with Conan he should step down and give him his show and then he can get with Tiger and meet some nice women.

Friday 29 January

By Vince Dee

You lost me the moment you misused the word "loose".

Monday 11 January

By bc

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

It's not Leno's fault...it's NBC's. NBC orchestrated this shake up 5yrs ago when they didn't want to lose Conan (when his contract was up), so they promised Conan the Tonight Show...5yrs in advance. Stupid!! Now NBC is afraid to lose Jay. Blame NBC!

By Reconfigure

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

I don't get the Jay Leno infatuation. His primetime show just isn't funny in my opinion, and I generally think he only appeals to older people... and I'm 30. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see "The Jay Leno Show" as anything more than a temporary placeholder, and now that Jay's stopped hosting "Tonight," I think the 'classy' thing to do would be to find another network and leave Conan alone.

By ev

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Leno stunk up the new show and nobody wanted it - he will still stink no matter where they put him. NBC should let Leno find the new gig and leave Conan and Jimmy Fallon alone because they are the funniest and most refreshing change that has ever happened to late night television. As a 50 year old woman I have seen the old tonight shows, and when Dave Letterman started people thought he was "way out there" but that's why it's funny. Please NBC, we are sick of Jay and glad to see him go.

By JP

I think Conan should take the reigns of SNL from Lorne Michaels. He could be head writer, do a monologue or Weekend Update at the beginning, be in a few sketches here and there.

By webbigail1

What a great idea...Conan is fantastic! He is MUCH funnier than Jay Leno and doesn't deserve this crap he's being forced to deal with. I would support him 1000% in taking SNL over. Even with the semi-talented cast, that show is dying fast, and Michaels should get out while he still has some dignity left. Conan would totally reinvigorate the show.

By GreatIdeas!

That IS a GREAT IDEA! How long can Lorne hang in there anyway? This is the ONLY good idea I have heard so far!

By Cliff

Conan The Librarian was, at one time, a writer for SNL, and got CANNED!

By vcrozas

NBC producers are a bunch of dumbazzzzes out of touch with the public. Not much to watch on NBC because of their dumbazzzz views on what is watched. Not much to watch on TV anyway.

By Dreamy

I too would like to see Jay go. Its like Brett Favre wanting his old job back. Move on, Conan is much funnier. I only started watching the Tonight show again when O'Brian started because Jay didn't have it anymore. Maybe Jay should go to CBS now because Letterman hasn't been funny for a long time.

By Kaydee

Is this article for real?!? I love Jay Leno!- just not at 10PM. I want Jay back in his old spot and for an hour. I don't know anyone who likes Conan - he is sooo annoying! I feel bad for saying so, but Conan's ratings in the past came from everyone falling asleep after Leno and not turning the TV off.

By pas

That is too funny and I totally agree.

By Fred

There's no denying that Conan's ratings are worse than Leno's were at 11:30, but Leno had a stronger lead-in. NBC is yanking Leno out of prime time because his ratings are so bad they're killing the local news, right? So, it stands to reason that Leno's low viewership is hurting Conan, too. The problem isn't Conan. The problem is Leno.

P.S. Conan is, too, funny, so there. :-P

By Diane

What is killing the local news is politics not Jay Leno. I can't wait for them to realize it when they move Jay back and still no one watches NBC News again but do watch Jay lol

Friday 15 January

By j428

wow fred your one of the smart viewers who watch conan? that logic is ridiculous! if people actually wanted to watch conan they would actually turn it on. conan o'brien isnt as funny as he thinks he is!

By Antru Zel

I DO NOT FIND HIM FUNNY NOR BRILLIANT BUT RATHER THE LOWEST POINT REACHED AFTER REGAL STAR HOSTS SUCH AS ALLEN, PAAR AND CARSON. LENO IS BLAH, "CO-NAD" IS BLEECH.

By Ted

Jay did not want to leave the show he made in the unstoppable show in the timeslot. NBC decide what it wanted when and now like a few other good shows decide it can not wait for the off season because they said in the beginning it would be low rate going against new shows. now it wants everything and cake too. it did not work with Letterman and will problay not work now.

By RC

It's time for Jay Leno and his giant ego to retire. He had his time in the sun. He was never as good as David Letterman, yet managed to stay on the air for many years. He claims he likes to do stand-up. Well, Jay have at it, and get off of TV you ego-maniac.

By Shelly

Letterman is the worst. Have no idea why he is still on TV. Guess CBS hasn't opened their eyes yet but all that Letterman attracts is grumpy old men. He is rude, boring and really ugly. The only reason he attracts guests is because they get to promote their current projects. He is a pig!

Page 5 of 46