Conan to FOX? Rupert Murdoch Predicts 'Difficult' Talks With Affiliates

By PopEater Staff Posted Feb 3rd 2010 08:45AM

Will Conan O'Brien be a FOX man come this fall? Since leaving NBC's 'The Tonight Show' last month, the logical home for the exiled talk host is the feisty network where he worked years ago as a writer on 'The Simpsons.'

There have been murmurs of a Coco/FOX reunion since the late-night debacle began in early 2010, but News Corp. boss Rupert Murdoch is ushering in some doubts. In a conference call with reporters Tuesday, Murdoch admitted there are "differing opinions within the network" as to whether a nightly comedy talker would make financial sense, the Wall Street Journal reports.

No "real negotiations" with O'Brien have been held about a possible move, Murdoch said, but "some conversations" have occurred.

What worries the network is the arrangement they have with their affiliates, which have the power to air whatever they want and often rely on profitable reruns or local news telecasts. In order to bring an O'Brien-helmed show to the masses, they'd have to convince affiliates to drop tried-and-true programming.

Murdoch expects "some difficult negotiations" with affiliates if they move forward with a new show. Still, he's up for it if all the pieces can be put in place.

"If the programming people can show us we can do it ... and make a profit, we would do it in a flash,"

FOX hasn't had a late-night program since 'The Chevy Chase Show,' which aired for three embarrassing weeks in 1993. The network is trying out a Saturday talk show starring comedian Wanda Sykes.

Tags: conan obrien, rupert murdoch

Comments

(19)

Wednesday 03 February

By papam11

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Careful, Murdock. If Conan couldn't handle the Tonight Show, he's sure as hell not going to be able to handle an hour on FOX.
And do you really think he's going to toe the FOX conservative line too? Think again.

By victor cook

Vote down Vote up Report this

are you crazy...wanda sykes..omg if fox does that i'm out...il never watch fox again !!!!

Thursday 04 February

By mark

Be careful those who read papam 11 it dosnt take much to see that they have no interest at all in the conan show.Yet it did afford this person a place to spout their anti republican line.i cant imagine after all the lies and filth has been sifted thru your party your still lovin the man.............thank god for mass. and thier recent vote.Hopefully the trend will continue.i like conan and feel he would be great for any show he makes me laugh.just my opinion.

By Rob

I would rather watch a new show with Conan then see reruns of The Simpsons and Family Guy.

By mcb

.....not me buddy ...I love the Simpsons......watch them everyday...

By Smith008

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Conan will do just fine as long as his agent does a better job of negotiating his contract and he can't be fired for being a Democrat.

By David

papam11

Careful, Murdock. If Conan couldn't handle the Tonight Show, he's sure as hell not going to be able to handle an hour on FOX.
And do you really think he's going to toe the FOX conservative line too? Think again...........................You do know there is a difference between FOX News and FOX Entertainment don't you...

By Jeannine

To papam11 who said, "You do know there is a difference between FOX News and FOX Entertainment don't you..."

Actually there's no difference at all. Your FOX "news" people get their paychecks from the FOX Entertainment Group. That explains why idiots like Hannity, Beck, O'Reilly, et al. are such imbeciles. They're entertainers...certainly not balanced news journalists.

By Jenny

the guy is just not funny. don't do it fox....

By tacapa

Conan is simply not funny....that hair-do has to go!!!!
Don't do it Fox!!!!

By lorrie

your just jelous cause he's got gorgaus pretty sexy hair and you don't your likely barld haaha Conan, baby you keep the hair it's your trade mark and it's betuitful you should ever so be thank full to have such wonderful gorgous hair i should know i'm a redhead myself
so keep the hair Baby:)

By JD

You would think that with all the great hair stylists that do hair for all the people in show biz, could do something with Conehead's hair...

By JPBEE

NO, MR. Murdock, please DO NOT SIGN CONAN. He does not fit the FNC profile, and lacks the respect needed for FOX

By Seymourhiney

Conan has nore brains in the pimple on his rear end, then the entire fox network news-advertisement group.

Plus he is funny.

By Dean

Conan O`Brien and Wanda Sykes, two very unfunny people.

I don't know if Murdoch is a Republican or Democrat, A Conservitive or a Liberal but I do know he is one hell of a business man.......... Murdoch, if it is Fox Entertainment or Fox News or Fox Business News, is extremly successful and everyone who is part of any of the Fox Networks does well...... Unlike the State Run Media Networks...........

If you can't laugh at Wanda Sykes, you are either a old white Republican racist from a southern state, or you need to go to the doctor and remove that pole up your rear end.

By Josephine

I'm cuckoo for Coco Fox, cuckoo for Coco Fox.

Murdoch: Please give me options. I hate Leno and Letterman, I don't have (or want) cable, and I can't stand those juvenile animated shows you run. Give me Conan or give me back-to-back-to-back shows of The Office.

Page 1 of 1