I am absolutely disgusted with what has been going on over at NBC in the past few days. If you haven't heard the news, reportedly, NBC has given Conan O'brien an ultimatum. Either he gives up his 11:30 to Jay Leno, or he has to leave the network.
Here's the story:
http://www.tmz.com/2010/01/08/conan-obrien-jay-leno-nbc-tonight-show/As TMZ first reported, after the Olympics, Jay Leno will get his 11:30 PM time period back. We're told network execs have told Conan they will let him decide if he wants the midnight to 1:00 AM time slot. If he does, Leno's show will only be a half hour. If Conan walks, Leno will get a full hour, informed sources tell TMZ.
Our sources say Conan has not decided what he wants. We do know he's ****ed, because he was given no advanced warning this was coming. Conan's people told NBC they are considering the offer. Translation: Mr. O'Brien -- I have Rupert Murdoch on line one, Stephen McPherson on line two, John Landgraf on line three, Jeff Wachtel on line four ...
We're told if Conan gets another offer, even though NBC could block the move, they will let him go and give Leno the full hour.
Both Conan and Leno are suffering from lower than usual ratings. With Leno's being extremely low. Personally, I've alway loved Conan and I think NBC is doing Conan very wrong. He's been the Tonight Show host in waiting for 5 or so years leading up to this. And he hung around with the Late Night show for longer then most would because of it.
This move is all about money, and at the end of the day it is a business. But I'm not even sure it's good business. Leno's star has long since faded from his hay day, and it's time for him to pass the torch.
I really hope Conan finds a way to stick it to NBC, but I just don't see the venue for him to do it. (This isn't the first time NBC has done a long time late night host wrong, see: Letterman,David.) And I want to see Conan be successful. FOX say they don't rule out bringing in Conan, but really, its fox, so I don't see interest from Conan.
To put Conan in a position like this, where its so public, and taking over the reins of the Tonight Show was so significant its just shameful. If I were Conan, I don't know if I could take the demotion. But he's always been a humble guy.
Whether you prefer Conan or Leno, I hope you see the shadiness of these moves.
Thoughts?
Update: The most recent word from Conan
People of Earth:
In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.
But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.
Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.
So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.
There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.
Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.
Yours,
Conan
Topic: Shame on NBC (It appears Conan is leaving the Tonight Show.) (Read 23519 times)