Conan O'Brien Rips NBC in Monologue

By Mike Hess Posted Jan 12th 2010 11:33PM

Conan O'Brien didn't hold anything back in his first 'Tonight Show' since officially stating that he would not be willing to jump to 12:05 a.m. to make room for Jay Leno thanks to the massive chaos in NBC's nighttime lineup. "Welcome to NBC, where our new slogan is 'No longer just screwing up prime-time,'" O'Brien said in his opening monologue. More scathing quotes and clips after the jump!

With a rousing ovation, O'Brien began his monologue by saying "I may not have that much time ... Hello, my name is Conan O'Brien and I may soon be available for children's parties."

He went on to say: "I've been giving the situation a lot of thought. When I was a little boy, I remember watching 'The Tonight Show' with Johnny Carson and thinking 'One day, I'm going to host that show for seven months.'"

Perhaps the biggest NBC barb was when Conan said of the current situation: "NBC said they were planning on having the late-night situation figured out before the Olympics start. And let me tell you something, when NBC says something, you can take that to the bank."

Howie Mandel dropped by during the monologue to run down Conan's future "options" in 'Deal or No Deal' style, which included the untaken options of "Move to Animal Planet, eat bugs on 'Man vs. Wild'" and "Gay neighbor on untitled Ed Asner project." Conan's choice? "2 Tickets to see Jay Leno perform stand-up at the Luxor Casino in Las Vegas." Well played, Conan.

The Conan-Jay drama began when NBC canceled Leno's 'The Jay Leno Show,' which aired at 10 p.m. But when Leno's 10 p.m. show flopped in the ratings and caused panic among local NBC affiliates who were losing lead-in viewers to their 11 p.m newscasts, NBC hoped to move Leno back to 11:30 and have Conan follow-up in the post-Midnight slot. Unfortunately for them, O'Brien wanted nothing to do with the switch and skewered the network in a statement.

"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," O'Brien said in a bold statement on Thursday. He went on to call 'The Tonight Show' "the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting," saying that him taking the new time would "seriously damage" its integrity.

"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," Conan said, taking a shot at the weak pre-'Tonight' ratings that ultimately hurt his own show.

Various media outlets are reporting that O'Brien's January 12 broadcast will be his last, and that NBC is on the prowl for guests hosts to take over 'Tonight,' likely because they fear Conan will continue to batter them in his monologue and jokes.

As for where Conan will go, nobody knows. Fox reportedly is courting him, but there's been no official confirmation of such negotiations.

► VIDEO: Letterman David Letterman Mocks NBC Debacle, 'Big Jaw' Leno
► Earlier: Conan O'Brien Says He Won't Budge for Jay Leno
► Aol Television's Gary Susman: Hey NBC, Just Let Jay Leno Go

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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

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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

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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, jay leno, nbc, tonight show

Comments

(135)

Wednesday 13 January

By Becki

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I would be soooo embarrased to be the NBC exec's or program planners that have so botched up their network, and this started months ago before the current *drama* going on. I totally support the decision Conan has made, and very proud that he has stood up for himself and his staff, and I know they will continue on, and where ever they go...I'll be there watching! :)

By ken

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Just bring back carson reruns, and the heck with these other guys millions of people out of work and these two are crying about moving to different time slots . hell its taped anyway.its not a live show.hey guys get over it.

By tahosa65

Last night was funny, on both shows. Conan is uaually lame and not very funny but his bash NBC schtick was pretty good. Jay is always entertaining and funny. Both should leave NBC (Never Been Correct) and go to other networks.

By mecarla

I am very disappointed in Jay Leno and NBC. Jay talked about how honored he was to get the Tonight show and continue the franchise that Johnny left him.Then he decides he wants to retire and then he changes his mind and wants primetime! He fails dismally despite his ego and then.. wants his old slot back. Now he says it is all NBC screwing up. His disrespect for the Tonight show franchise and the audience is monumental. He quit being funny about 12 years ago when his politics soured him. Let him and his ego go. As for NBC, unless Conan stays and they put something on worth watching at 10pm they will lose out.The problem isn't Conan. The problem is a crappy 10pm! Fix that and pull your heads out NBC execs!

By Evelyn

NBC alone is responsible for this fiasco by forcing Jay Leno out by signing a foolish contract with Conan O'Brian 6 years in advance. Jay Leno was at the peak of his ratings. Now it seems everyone wants to blAME jAY.

FOX GET WITH IT AN OFFWER cONAN A SHOW. yOUR AUDIENCE WOULD BE IDEAL FOR HIM.

By TERRI

NBC NEEDS TO WAKE UP ,JAY HAS HAD HIS DAY AND NEEDS TO GO AWAY AND CONAN NEEDS TO STAY AND HAVE THE WHOLE TONIGHT SHOW .HE IS WONDERFULLY FUNNY AND JAY -NOT SO MUCH VIEWERS WILL GO ANYWHERE CONAN GOES AND NBC WILL LOSE OUT ENTIRELY .IF JAY IS SO GREAT WHY DID HIS SHOW DIE SO BAD AND SO FAST ?NBC GETS A MUCH WIDER AGE RANGE WITH CONAN ,YOUNGER VIEWERS MEANS MANY MORE YEARS OF FANS .JAY GO TO VEGAS ,THEY WILL LOVE YOU THERE.

By Will

It all sounds a mess at NBC! I have watched Conan on occasion; when he first started and up until now. I think that he has been growing into the show and making it more his show all the time. I am positive that he could develop the show given time. All of the past Host have done it. I'm not old enough to remember when Johnny Carson started, but I am sure that he had to work at it to make it his show. I really hope that Conan makes the correct move and that it works out 100% for him.

By Jim R.

Jay Leno had the #1 rated late show before the NBC
debacle. It's up to NBC to make the best move at
this point...but don't count on it.

I prefer Jay, Coonan's a good guy but a bit too
nerdy for me.

By k9hanlr

I just looked up "leroy" in the dictionary it reads "someone with no life living in parents basement" I was amazed how accurate it was. Hey leroy, pop a pimple and have your mommy change your diapers.

By Suz

Conan leaving NBC is their loss. He's got way more talent than Jay Leno...Jay needs to get over from himself. He gave up the job....maybe now he should find a new one?

By Les

Both Conan and Leno are taking some nasty verbal shots at NBC. Watching this fiasco go down makes me wonder if all those bad things that the talking heads at Fox say about NBC just might be true. Wouldn't that be the cat's meow?!!

By Steve

Look.. Just stop and consider what a sespool NBC is to begin with.. a bunch of gay libs doing each other..

Its a doomed network.. LOL As are all you lib loving dark but light colored types.. :O)))

By Jim

O'Brien & Leno.....they're OK, I guess. It's actually NBC itself that has jumped the shark!!!!

By John Doe

This whole thing does not matter to me. I watch The Daily Show and Colbert Report because they give me humor and real news. The interviews, while hilarious, are more in-depth and relevant.

By larphy

Conan should be greatful that he had seven months! With no more talent than he has he's lucky to even be on TV. Are we sure he not an alien???

By Paul

Conan is not being treated fair at all. i find him funnier that Mr. Big Chin. To you people wanting Jay back and saying screw Conan, to heck with ya. You are they problem with everything. Rewarding failure is the stupidest thing that someone can do. And that's all that you and NBC are doing. Good luck losers!!

By Dan

Conan puts me to sleep quickly. Now I will have to go back to Tylenol PM. Damn!

By Bud Becker

CONAN = CLASS

By sharon zirn

The Leno show is a flop. If Leno was so appealing, he should have been able to attract an audience at 10:00 p.m.. I hope Conan and his staff are picked up by Fox, and run NBC in the ground.

By ME 2

Conan got screwed. I never watched him or never cared for Leno. Myself, i would make them fire me now.

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