Conan O'Brien Reportedly Leaving NBC Next Week

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 14th 2010 03:45PM

Conan O'Brien's last night as host of 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien' will likely be next Friday, January 22, a source close to O'Brien tells PEOPLE. "Conan does not currently plan on doing any more new shows after next week," says the source. To add to rumbles, NBC released its post-Winter Olympics schedule -- which did not include the 'Tonight Show.' Though his departure is looking increasingly likely, NBC is insisting a departure date is not yet set.

But if Jan. 22 is indeed O'Brien's final broadcast, the show will have ended two weeks before NBC's scheduled preemption for its 2010 Winter Olympics coverage. Meanwhile, TMZ is reporting that Jay Leno has made a new deal with NBC, which gives him 'The Tonight Show' from 11:35 - 12:35.

On Tuesday, the host released a statement saying that he would not go along with NBC's plan for him to host a relocated Tonight Show at 12:05 a.m., following The Jay Leno Show at 11:35 p.m.

"I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is [The Tonight Show's] destruction," said O'Brien.

In his statement, O'Brien expresses deep respect for the 'Tonight Show' legacy, which includes such icons as Johnny Carson and Jack Paar, and flatly states he cannot participate in what he believes is the franchise's systematic dismantling.

"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."

Tags: conan obrien, ConanObrien, nbc, the tonight show with conan obrien, TheTonightShowWithConanObrien

Comments

(497)

Friday 15 January

By Julie

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AMEN!!!!!!

Thursday 14 January

By *Jenni*

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You people are nuts! Conan is awesome! He's far funnier than Leno. Conan is funny on so many different levels. Leno gets laughs by making other people look stupid. I feel bad for Conan's staff since they uprooted their families and moved across the country. I don't really feel bad for Conan himself though. He went to Harvard, and has a very impressive resume. He'll find another job. I guess I'm back to watching Dave!

Saturday 23 January

By jean

I agree with you 100% since Jay left the tonight show I don't watch the red head. I couldn't stand his show before when he followed Jay and I sure wouldn't watch it in place of Jay. I really missed Jay's show, it just wasn't convenient for me to watch at 10:00 p.m. because I already had regular shows I watched. Ya!!!! Jay is BACK!!!

By HARRY

BOTTOM LINE-I BLAME THE NETWORK FOR THIS FIASCO....ANY FOOL COULD HAVE KNOWN WHAT THE RESULTS WERE GOING TO BE..I THINK JAY AND CONHAN BOTH GOT SCREWED. A LATE SHOW AGAINST PRIME WOULD NEVER WORK...OF COURSE JAYS 1ST WEEK FILLED WITH LEFTWING LOONS DIDNT HELP EITHER.. WATCHED JAY SINCE CARSON, BUT TURNED OFF AFTER FIRST WEEK..... AS FAR AS CONHAN, I AGREE WITH OTHER POSTERS, NOT FUNNLY UNLESS YOU ARE A CHILD. IT VERY WELL HAVE BEEN CALLED THE THE PEE WEE SHERMAN SHOW......................PS IF I WANTED TO SEE LEFTWING LOONS, I WOULD HAVE BEEN WATCHING LETTERMAN....I AM ENJOYING MORE SLEEP THESE DAYS..

By Jeff

You should look up conan's legacy before trying to tell people he's not talented. For example, he wrote many of the funniest bits on the Simpsons and SNL. SO boo-hoo. Hope all of you old tonight show fans are happy now, cause it's over. Leno will go down in flames once he gets that chair back, mark my words. Screw Leno, his dumbed-downed material was never funny to me anyways; I guess he's hysterical to crossword solving people. And peple who knit their own quilts. They find the chin man very amusing. Conan is the MAN, and there are waaaaaay more of me than there are of you all hahahahaha

By pat

Conan is gonna rock at FOX. He'll have more control, and be able to push the envelope there. Leno is returning to Tonight a failure.

By barb

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A failure I think not!!!

By Robin

If Jay is returning to The Tonight Show a failure, then Conan must really suck! Jay left The Tonight Show on top in the ratings. Conan brought it down. Maybe Jay isn't a 10:00 kind of guy, but Conan can't cut it at the prime 11:35 spot. In all honesty, I think the big mistake was making any changes at all. NBC blew it, not Jay or Conan. Though, I wish Letterman would keep his big mouth shut. His problems with NBC ended years ago -- he needs to let it go. Finally, I think Jay is handling this the best since he isn't making any really big deal out of it like Conan with his "People of the Earth" message. That was not classy at all. Sure, both parties need to make jokes about the situation on their shows, its their business to make jokes about the 900 pound gorilla in the room. Beyond a few brief jokes on their respective shows, they shouldn't be saying anything else publically. And, they certainly shouldn't be bashing each other personally, either. They should all stick to bashing NBC. The whole mess belongs squarly on the shoulders of the suits' anyway!

By semadsen

Conan's ratings will be just as dismal at FOX as they are at NBC. In fact, they could even be a lot worse since he would be following the hour long Fox News from 10-11pm. I highly doubt Fox is even going to take the risk, they've already taken a few shots at late night and have failed miserably. And, they were hosted by people way more famous/talented than Conan.

By Danielle

I totally agree! Where ever Conan goes I will be watching and so will many that I know. I hate Leno... I always have and no matter how bad I wanna watch who is on his show; I will wait for them to apree on a different show to see them. I am not much of a fan of NBC anyway! Heros is the only thing I will watch.

By AntBee

"Leno is returning to Tonight a failure."

Huh?

How is he a failure when he left the show with high ratings, and JAY LENO is what the NBC Affilliates want! These folks are the ones who have the final say in the matter because these are the folks who bring in the money!

What is it about this that some of you don't seem to understand???

NBC screwed up! Now they have to "UNSCREW" it~

Conan is ok, but he is no JAY LENO!

By James

Maybe Conan can stay on as Leno's fluffer.

Oh Danielle, baby, you are a rare find. Someone who actually likes Conan AND watches Heros! Bet you're ugly too. Trifecta!

By dave

Yeah, maybe by pushing the envelope he might even cross over into being funny?

By RBJ

This guy has sucked from the day he showed up.What the hell were these people thinking?

By dsherline

Good for Conan. Hopefully he'll publicly keep the reason for his exit to his concern and respect for the Tonight Show legacy. That will present a greater air of class from him than can reasonably be expected, given the situation.

By j

hope everyone will boycott Jay - who would want to watch it anyway? not exactly a hardship.

By linda

Leno is such a fake. We don't watch him anymore. I hope no one watches the money grubbing fool. Best wishes to Conan. The NBC idiots responsible for this mess should be out.

By Becki

Oh you can bet your booties that I won't be watching Leno....AND...where ever Conan lands, that's what I'll be watching! AND......no more NBC for this lady.......they've taken off every show I've ever liked....keep on with the Biggest Loser, cuz you are!!

By Kobayashi

This is the second time Leno has back stabed some one to get his way. He did it to Letterman and now he's doing it to Conan. If Leno does go back to the Tonight Show I for one will never watch it again.

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