Dave Letterman Mauls Jay Leno, NBC; 'Don't Blame Conan!' He Pleads

By Mike Hess Posted Jan 20th 2010 11:37AM

Just when you think David Letterman couldn't get any more fired up about his nemesis Jay Leno and the current 'Tonight'-gate debacle over at NBC, the 'Late Show' host comes out and unloads another massive anti-Jay manifesto for the world to see. On Tuesday, Dave responded to Jay's "Don't Blame Conan" statement with a heated and harsh statement of his own, calling Leno "phony" and saying that nobody in the world is blaming Conan for the current situation. Watch the Carnage Below:

It seemed like Dave would stay mum on the issue for the most part, taking a few jabs at Leno and NBC in his monologue, but it wasn't until he sat down at his desk that the real vitriol began to flow.

"Every day I wake up and I say I'm going to keep my mouth shut about this NBC 'Tonight Show' thing because, honestly folks, I don't have a dog in this fight. But here's the deal. I've known Jay Leno for 35 years ... a long, long time. We used to buddy around in the old days, and what we're seeing now is vintage Jay, and it's enjoyable for me to see this," Letterman said.

Letterman said: "I just thought I'd keep my mouth shut because Lord knows I got my own problems, but I just can't help myself. And while it's true I don't specifically have a dog in this fight, I think in some way I and Paul are responsible for the mess ... because of the big stink we created when we left NBC years ago, they said 'Oh, that'll never happen again.'" He then went on to cite how Jay should have simply gone to a different network like Letterman did, and all of this would have been avoided.

He then went on to reference Leno's Monday night statement directly.

"So last night, Jay gave his state of the network speech, and he said that we should not blame Conan for what's going on. And I said to myself, 'No one is blaming Conan.' He further elucidated that who we should actually blame is Conan's agents and managers ... and then Jay pointed out that he himself has no agent or manager. So I'm begging you, ladies and gentlemen, please don't blame Conan. I know a lot of you people think Conan pushed himself out of a job. He's not that kind of guy. He would never do that to himself," Letterman joked to roaring applause. "In the thousands and thousands of words printed about this mess, who has blamed Conan? No one! No one has blamed Conan!"

Letterman insists further that Jay is in the wrong for not jumping to a new network when he gave up the 'Tonight' throne. "It's just part of evolution. You get fired and get another gig. Don't hang around waiting for somebody to drop dead," he joked.

"Well I feel I've gone too far yet again tonight," he said as he closed out his rant.

Prior to the Leno lashing, Letterman ran a fake commercial for the new 'Tonight Show,' in which he joked that key elements of Jay's show -- "the phony handshakes, the guy with the guitar who laughs at everything, the bit he stole from Letterman's late-night show, the bit he stole from Howard Stern, the announcer he stole from Howard Stern" -- would all be included in the new 'Tonight Show. Watch it below!

Tags: conan obrien, Dave Letterman, david letterman, jay leno, tonight show

Comments

(347)

Wednesday 20 January

By No Joke

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Can you tell me? How in the heck does this topic have to do with Obama? OMG...Are you serious?

Saturday 30 January

By Shelly

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You know David Letterman and Regis Philbrin started shows in Hollywood California, After a while they were cancelled poor ratings. The picked up shows in New York City and are doing fine. Goes to show New York wiil take anything.

By gg0808

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Relax everybody, its not life or death here !!! It's all about the ratings...and NBC desperately went with who had the highest rating at the 11:30 slot. Conan and Jay both seem like good guys with a different brand of humor...Conan appeals to a younger, funkier age group and Jay to older folks. David Letterman can only get a laugh by making fun of other people and that kind of humor appeals to certain people too. This is NBC's mess with 2 decent guys caught in the middle. Letterman should mind his own business but he knows with Jay back, his show is in jepoardy...I'll have Late Shows for 400 Alex !!! :)

By einsp922

still bitter after all these years that he didn't get the Tonight Show, Conan didn't push him self out NBC did because Conan wasn't getting it done.Leno smashed him for 12 years in the ratings and will do it again when he returns. Jay only took one shot at Letterman i hope he takes more. This man is delusional as well as a pervert and Conan has nerve to be mad at everybody but him self, hes the reason hes getting pulled because hes tanking the Tonight Show as it hasn't been the same since Leno left, How the hell did Leno stab Letterman in the back? What did he go to NBC and say hey guys the show is mine? No NBC gave it to him so its ok bitter old man you'll be dead again when Leno goes back and you can take your daughters out to more dinners and hotels while you cheat on your wife. And talk about being phony, that speech you gave when you got caught with your daughter, that was the most phony thing i ever seen. Leno wasn't being phony just giving the facts.

By nevadamoxie

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Who would take advice from a bitter old man who can't keep his fly zipped at the studio? I won't be surprised if he soon is sued for sexual harrassment. Most networks with any class would have fired the fornicater the minute they knew what he had done.

By Linda

How sad for Letterman that he has to stoop to such levels in order to make himself feel better. Name calling. Passing judgment. How old is he anyway? Twelve?? He's at the bottom when Leno is on at 11:30. He's been on top now that O'Brian is on. No wonder he doesn't want Jay back. Well, you had your ride, Mr. Letterman. Hope you enjoyed your seven months of fame. Back into the sewer for you. We won't miss you - not even for a second. You should take your own advise and keep your big mouth shut.

By mark

Letterman holds a grudge because he wanted The Tonight Show years ago when NBC gave it to Leno. Leno subsequently consistently beat Letterman in the ratings. Letterman does indeed have his own problems. Sexual harassment in the workplace? DAVE? Let go of the grudge.GOOD RIDDANCE TO O'BRIEN, ALL HE DOES IS MAKE WEIRD FACES AND IMITATES THE PERSON THAT HE IS TRYING TO MAKE A JOKE ABOUT. HE IS LAME, AND THE VIEWERS SENT A MESSAGE TO NBC. PUT LENO BACK WHERE HE WAS NUMBER 1 FOR YEARS, AND SHOW THE DOOR TO TALENTLESS O'BRIEN!!!

By kjc163

Letterman sucks!! He is a rude old nasty hillbilly that has never been funny a day in his life.

By shari

Cassie, what Jay Leno is doing to Conan, speaks of a very poor work ethic - not a strong one. It's important to work hard, work well and to not undermine anyone in any position n one's personal or professional life. Someone who chooses to stand by a poorly, unethically and unjustly run studio/network just to have a job, is someone without ethics, strong moral fiber or backbone. And liking someone's public persona is no excuse for condoning this. Making mistakes is human, yes, and we've all made them in work situations and in life, but this behavior on the part of Jay Leno & NBC is inhumane. I'd rather be in Conan's shoes on this one.

By luluu

shari, have you ever known a performer to willingly give up a role or show just so someone else could have a job? I have never heard of one saying, "Give it to him--he deserves it more or needs it more."

By d

dave pick on a woman,join in with a group, but one on one no not 4 david y don't u go over & kiss the new mirror u had installed to check you'r ugly face on stage megalomaniac david

By Ron

Letterman stinks and can't afford to talk With the mess he created. He is not the one to talk about anyone.He should just fade out

By n r

Letterman is an ASS and always will be.... cannot stand the arrogant no morals creep!!

By terri

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Jay is a backstabbing liar. He did it to Dave and he's doing it to Conana. And you fools fall for it. Low rank me dummies! : )

By Breezy

And YOU are the sorriest dummy EVER because you actually
believe in all of this nonsense...HOW PATHETIC!!!

By GeordieBC

None of them are any good. I'd rather watch Wanda Sykes, frankly. Or the funny woman from E! that Leno had on last night. She was a riot.

By mvigi

Letterman is a creep & he's not funny - his mouth is full of sour grapes because he knows when Leno takes over his old time slot, Letterman will be 2nd in the ratings, as he has been for the last 12 years. How entitled can you be? What a jerk - who can trust someone like lecherous Letterman? I don't watch him anymore anyway - I never thought he was funny, just a smart mouth, dirty old man.

By Kerr's

We really like Jay! are are soooooooooooooo glad he is going to stay on, he's just really funny! Conan's sorry never liked you, Dave you need to just well.... never cared for you either

By monty

Yes NBC blew the deal. the fact is: conan aint that good either style wise. he's a big boy he knows the ratings deal and he knows how sponsors react. NBC sees the bottom line and is taking corrective measures. Leno, i'm sure was as much bemused at the fumbling and goings on as letterman. but honestly Dave you dont have to be mean spirited. stay away from the jocular vein, its too close to the juggler.

By Kevin

Is Dave still pissed he didn't get the Tonight Show?
Time to get over it.

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