New Jay Leno Ad Takes a Dig at Conan

By Mike Hess Posted Feb 19th 2010 08:06AM

With all of the damage done by the late-night wars that eventually led to Conan O'Brien's ouster and Jay Leno reclaiming the 'Tonight Show' gig once again, you'd think that subtlety and good-guy cheer would be the way to go for NBC and Jay as they try to wash their hands of the mess. Not so much. In a new commercial for the return of Leno to 'Tonight,' they clearly use the ad not just as a reminder that Jay's back at a new time after the Olympics, but to claim that Conan never belonged there in the first place.

In the commercial, Leno is seen driving down California's glorious Pacific Coast Highway in a Shelby Cobra. Leno, a classic car enthusiast, is seen tearing down the highway with a "10" decal on the side of the car, alluding to his old and failed time slot. After a quick smile, Leno shifts gears in the car, and the "10" decal flies off to reveal one that says "11:35."

That's not so bad, right? Well, the real stinger is in the soundtrack.

During the ad, Leno is coasting to the Beatles tune 'Get Back,' which just as the time changes on the car's decals declares "Get back to where you once belonged."

So, is NBC saying that Conan never deserved the seat they gave him and then took away? Keep in mind, Conan can't say anything -- disparaging or not -- about NBC and his fallout with the network until September thanks to his $45 million settlement.

So, as Leno readies for his March re-debut, we just hope he and NBC can keep things classy and not resort to beating a dead, red-headed horse.

Tags: jay leno

Comments

(166)

Friday 19 February

By pat

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Really?!?!?!?!

Get back to where you ONCE belonged. How is this in any way a dig on Conan.

Jay once graced us at the 11:35 timeslot and is going back.

The song isn't get back to where you should've stayed or get back to your slot.

Give me a break. How does AOL let this crap get on here seriously?

By anita

there is nothing wrong with that ad The writer is seriously trying to find something anything to pick on Back to where he once belonged Isn't that the truth? whether you think he belonged there later is another point Can't we all agree that he at least belonged there at one time

By seanfltpa

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I am so sick of Conan crybabies. The guys ratings SUCKED. He had lost 50% share and was getting worse. Plain truth is the guy aint funny, period.

Monday 22 February

By Jared

You're so smart. I wish I could be as smart as you. You've really opened my eyes....moron.

By Barbara Michalski

JAY LENO IS BETTER THAN CONAN AND THAT IS WHY HE WAS BROUGHT BACK. THE MAJORITY OF VIEWERS JUST DID NOT WANT CONAN.

By gerard

45 mill, looks like the 'money' is back where it belongs.. in Conan's bank acct. Jay keep working for your money it's not like it's for you children.. after all Jay supposedly donates all the money he makes from the Tonight Show to some charity.

It's good to donate money of course to a charity but let's face it Jay Leno is just an oddball.. sort of reminds of Weird Al Yankovich. Conan is much more of a regular guy like the rest of the guys in the world. Imagine a world full of guys wearing jean tops and jean bottoms every single day? Weirdoooooo....

By Fort Apache

STOP BLOWING THIS OUT OF PROPORTION ! The media feeds on nonsense and people eat it up.

The spot does NOT imply that Conan never belonged there. It shows that Jay Leno is back in the time slot that was profitable. Clearly it's a ratings issue.

Stop being so sensitive about this late night programming. Conan came out alright. He still has a career and will go onto other endeavors.

If you're a Jay Leno fan, watch him when he returns. If you're a Conan fan, support him in his next endeavor and let's move beyond this pettiness.

For GOD's sake, there are people losing their lives in Haiti and around the world - yet we're worried about which multi-millionaire has the 11:35pm time slot on NBC.

STOP IT ALREADY !

By fathead5f

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thank god for david letterman.

By Fox Pt WI Dave

Talk about creating an issue Mr. POPEATER writer. This is the same ad they used last year to promote The Jay Leno Show!. Whatup wif talking smack now? Or did you just turn your TV on this month. The only thing thats changed was the time that "peels" of the car from his car collection. Silly reporting, if you ask me. Making an issue out of NOTHING!

By Lisa

Conan should be laughing all the way to the bank. And that's the only thing relating to him any humor at all.
He's nothing but wierd and annoying with a grating voice and I can't imagine where NBC got the idea that he belonged on TV. Infomercials are more cerebral!

By Sammie

NBC messed up - not O'Brien or Leno. I tried to accept O'Brien, but he bored me. Leno is better because he keeps things moving. But sometimes Leno makes me mad, because he makes fun of things that should be sacred. Then I turn the channel.

By Sinnycal

NBC won't be around much longer, anyway.

By abx

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FANTASTIC AD!!! Anyone who considers this ad a dig at Conan is just blowing smoke where the sun don't shine.

By Chloe

Leno sucks.

By xopher

I can only wonder how Conan's Tonight Show would have done if he had Emmy award winning dramas leading into the late local news like Jay had. It wasn't Conan's fault that Jay's 10pm show had low ratings. NBC didn't give Conan a decent primetime lead-in. NBC now stands for No Body Cares.

By ricky6489

Mike Hess is overreaching.

By tom p

The writer is ovrreaching? Try he's an idiot and probaly a COCO fan...get a life pal.

By dsherline

It's nothing. It seems like this writer is trying to make something out of nothing.

By Kevin

Mike Hess states that Conan was "ousted" from the Tonight Show.
No so. It was his decision to leave. His ego could not deal with being sent to a 12:05 start time. He did not have to leave the Tonight Show. It was his decision. Pay me 15 or so million a year - I'll do the Tonight show at 4am. Stop feeling sorry for Conan - he did this to himself.

By revivalman

What little respect I had for Jay Leno is already long gone. Now, I'm just hoping that someone starts pouring concrete and Leno stumbles.

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