Time Warp: Howard Stern Warned Conan O'Brien About Leno 3 Years Ago

By Marc Schneider Posted Jan 20th 2010 10:59AM

A long, long time ago -- three years in fact -- Howard Stern visited 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien' to warn the young host of the peril that lay ahead when he took over 'The Tonight Show' from Jay Leno. After expressing his joy at the then-fresh news of a deal to elevate O'Brien to 11:35, Stern asked: "Do you think that's really gonna happen?"

The NBC host jokingly gave himself a "40 percent" chance of it happening. Stern stuck it to him plain-like: "I don't see this guy leaving and letting you walk in. I'm concerned about you." To back up his concerns, Stern cracked that Leno "is a guy who stares at the wall ... and waits to go to work. He doesn't do anything but work."

Of course, Leno did relinquish the show last year, but crappy ratings and pissed affiliates, not to mention annoyed network execs, have sunk O'Brien. A deal to release him from the peacock's grasp is expected soon, and this could very well be his final week before Leno returns to his old job.

Stern was reportedly offered a guest spot on O'Brien's last night, but declined because he is based in NYC and 'Tonight' is shot in LA. The radio host has a long-simmering beef with Leno over stolen comedy bits and defecting announcers (Stuttering John left Stern for Leno).

The Conan-Jay drama began when NBC canceled Leno's 'The Jay Leno Show,' which aired at 10 p.m. But when Leno's new 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.

NBC's Jeff Zucker told the New York Times this week that he's to blame for the mess. "At the end of the day Jay at 10 o'clock didn't work, and I take responsibility for that," Zucker told the paper.

Tags: conan obrien, howard stern

Comments

(49)

Thursday 21 January

By l.

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Stern had a VERY good reason for telling Conan to watch out for Jay, that he was concerned Conan might get the shaft. Obviously Leno has a habit of doing that to people. I hope Conan goes to a different network, gets great ratings and blasts Leno out of the water. We won't be watching NBC after this Friday. We look forward to watching Conan on a different, more respectable network.

By James

Jackie, you're an idiot. If you want the money then bust your butt for it, most rich people are rich because they put time and energy into it and WORKED their buns off.

I can't stand people that think that the rich owe them something, that they're bad people because they are rich.

Friday 22 January

By mroneoftheguys

The Bosses at NBC are bottom line kind of guys...You make me money I keep you....You don't then then I don't...They then buy out Conan's contract for 30 million for him and 15 million for his staff and allow him back in the business in Sept...The public will watch Leno over Dave and anybody else in the long run and make money....

By Chuck Z

It's simple really, NBC should have not replaced Leno with Conan. I don't know a single viewer that thought this was a good move.

It will be interesting to see if Jay can return to the #1 spot and where/when we will see Conan back on the air.

By hhijena

Conan isn't funny at all. I could never figure out what anyone sees in this guy. Evidentally, most people share my view. Jay was very successful in entertaining adults. Conan is good for teens and imatures that don't follow world or current events. Best wish to Conan & his 45 million. More power to you.
Best wishes for Jay's success.

Saturday 23 January

By Mob

I always thought Jay was funnier, but that aside, Conan has shown himself to be a class act through this whole thing. I was disappointed in the way Leno took over from Carson, the
treatment he afforded Letterman and now he's topped it all. He
isn't so funny that I'll ever watch him again.

By ME

robert, please file an Appeal of the Determination you got from the Unemployment office, as you will probably be redetermined to get your benefits, or find an Advocate to fight for you. Call the Unemployment office for the number of an Advocate and Appeal, you deserve your benefits as much as any illegal immigrant, more so. fight, don't give up

By Buck

Jay Leno? Talk about poor ratings. Conan Rules Late Night

Sunday 24 January

By Dee

WOW, So sad to bad. actually I don't feel bad for any of them. I've being unemployed for 6 months and I can use some money just like the next Joe or Jane... So, with that said who give a cr...

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