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‘Tonight Show’ announcement expected today
Update: Variety.com reports that a settlement announcement will not be made until Wednesday at the earliest as compensation deals for Conan O’Brien’s staffers are hammered out. Regardless, this will be O’Brien’s final week as host of “The Tonight Show.”
Jay Leno went into damage control mode Monday night in anticipation of a resolution to NBC’s late night television debacle. The deal, expected to be announced as early as today, will land Leno back in the “Tonight Show” seat at its regularly scheduled 10:35 p.m. CT start and free current host Conan O’Brien to seek employment at another network (Fox and holding FX are both said to be interested) either immediately or, more likely, in the Fall.
Reports say NBC is expected to pay O’Brien somewhere in the area of $40 million to go away, which is exactly the figure rival CBS late night host David Letterman predicted last week on “The Late Show.” Letterman has some insight into this matter. The former host of NBC’s “Late Night” was ousted by that network in a bitter battle with frequent “Tonight Show” guest host Leno over who would take the reigns of that program when Johnny Carson retired in 1992. Leno got the nod, Letterman fled to CBS and O’Brien took over Letterman’s “Late Night” duties.
Leno, who has been depicted as a Machiavellian network puppeteer throughout the recent crisis — trading increasingly mean-spirited and hostile barbs with O’Brien while Letterman gloated on the CBS sidelines — painted himself Monday night as a company man who is somewhat reluctantly doing as he is told. Meanwhile, he had nothing but praise for O’Brien.
“Through all of this, Conan O’Brien has been a gentleman,” Leno said. “He’s a good guy; I have no animosity toward him. This is all business. You know, folks, if you don’t get the ratings, they take you off the air.”
Leno should know. His dismal showing in the 9 p.m. CT hour — causing network affiliates to rally for his ouster due to declining ratings from his poor lead-in — precipitated the whole mess.
What do you think? Is Leno being sincere? Is he a reluctant puppet, a calculating puppet master or something in between?
Will you follow Jay back to 10:30 or will you be heading to another network with the rest of “Team Conan?”
Sound off.
Permalink | Comments (3) | Post your comment Categories: Entertainment, Random thoughts
Comments
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By Becky Hare
January 20, 2010 10:46 AM | Link to this
Leno retired his spot on the Tonight Show. It was given to the rightful predecessor Conan. I understand that Leno's 9:00 ratings have hurt NBC's 10:00 news. You've got to figure it was the ripple effect that also hurt Conan's ratings. I was a Leno loyalist when he had the Tonight Show. However, I always liked Conan in the late night slot and love him as the Tonight show host. I think it is very unfair for Leno to now decide to take it back. I have no intentions of watching the Tonight show when he returns. I have lost all respect for him, not to mention NBC. I will resort to Letterman until Conan resurfaces. I hope FOX picks him up and he kills Leno and NBC's ratings!
By eschiefel
January 19, 2010 11:49 AM | Link to this
me i have had enough of both them fools!mostly leno
he might should look in the mirror,the way he cuts down the senior people?i quit watching his big mouth
way back in 2001 he started to get to me.
as for the other corn ball you got nothing hear you know that?kimble take or leave him?nbc is got a bad rating around here.i don,t watch any more.take both of them fools off the air,please!
thank you eschiefel
By john doe
January 19, 2010 8:52 AM | Link to this
The only thing I've ever found funny about Jay Leno is his Jaywalking segment but that's not enough for me to want to watch his show in the original time slot, the current time slot or the upcoming new old time slot. The opening where he goes and slaps hands with the audience has always seemed really stupid to me.
I do like his motorcycle collection though.