Access Atlanta > Entertainment > Radio Talk > Archives > 2007 > July > 30
Monday, July 30, 2007
7/30: Fallon replacing Conan? Bye Bye “Simple Life”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sorry, Carson Daly. NBC late-night chief Rick Ludwin confirmed to Broadcasting and Cable magazine that former “SNL” cast member Jimmy Fallon is the lead candidate to replace Conan O’Brien in 2009 when O’Brien is slated to take over for Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.”
Fallon certainly isn’t as bland as Daly. Any other viable ideas for an O’Brien replacement?
And I’m sure this will generate howls of pain and sorrow: E! has finally canceled “The Simple Life.” The show starring overexposed “stars” Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, has seen pitiful ratings this season, with just about 800,000 viewers per fresh episode on average and a low of 493,000 July 10. The finale is August 5.
In the meantime, Comic-Con in San Diego is becoming increasingly important for TV, with the Heroes panel packed with fans.
TV shows have an almost bigger stake to be at Comic-Con than the film side, since fan support, or lack of it, is easily quantified and needed over a long-term period.
“If you don’t like the finale, you won’t watch the season premiere. If you don’t like episode five, you won’t watch episode six,” “Lost” co-creator Damon Lindelof said to those gathered at Thursday’s “Lost” panel, according to Hollywood Reporter. “We need to make ourselves accessible to you guys, and it might get brutal, but it’s worked out pretty well so far.”
