NBC ready to screw over Conan

**Bubbahotep** · 01-12-2010, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Wingback

You're dead on, dmclone. None of these guys are even worth wasting your time on.

As you said, Letterman earlier in his career was funny (as a matter of fact, somewhat Carson-esque), but as the years wore on he has digressed to the point that his show is a waste of an hour's worth of television. Aside from him having worn out his welcome as a comic, he has become a political "hack," which has turned off many.

I was never a big fan of Leno either. To me, it always seemed as though his comedy was somewhat forced. It just appeared to me that he had to force himself to be funny, unlike a guy like Carson who could be funny, even when he wasn't funny.

I had watched Conan off-and-on when he was on late night and thought he was a pathetic excuse for a comedian (not to mention that his silly looking hair absolutely drove me nuts). When he first took over the Tonight Show, I watched him for the first four or five evenings, after that tried him on a few other occasions and I still see absolutely nothing humorous about him.

They are all pretty lame, if you ask me! Makes me want to watch Nightline, if it is still on any more.

It would help to actually have a sense of humor.

**dmclone** · 01-12-2010, 07:09 AM

This has been the best news for all 3 parties involved. I doubt if Conan has ever had higher ratings than last night.

**jbhtexas** · 01-12-2010, 08:04 AM

Originally Posted by dmclone

This has been the best news for all 3 parties involved. I doubt if Conan has ever had higher ratings than last night.

Maybe this is all just a big ploy to grab ratings...

**theshadow** · 01-12-2010, 08:43 AM

Full show on Hulu...

Hulu - The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien: Mon, Jan 11, 2010 - Watch the full episode now.

**cyhiphopp** · 01-12-2010, 09:33 AM

Someone probably already mentioned this, but the lagging Tonight show ratings have nothing to do with Conan.
If Jay Leno had moved on graciously and left Conan as the only NBC talk show, the ratings would be much better.
All NBC has done is split the viewership and oversaturated their talk show market. Any Leno fans that watch his horrible 9 pm show will not stay up to watch the tonight show. They have already gotten their fill of late night talk shows so they go to bed or watch something else after the news. If Leno wasn't on, I think most of the current Leno viewers would be watching the Tonight show again as their only late night talk show.

I will find it hilarious if NBC loses Conan over this. Then, 3 years down the road, when Leno really wants to retire, or his show completely fall off the map, NBC will have to scramble to find a decent replacement. Maybe they can give the Tonight show to Jimmy Fallon or Carson (I'm a massive tool) Daly.

My two cents on Conan vs. Leno:
Leno is not funny. He basically just stands up there and reads jokes or "funny" headlines and captions. Conan actually has the comedic ability to ad-lib. He doesn't just read pre-planned questions to his guests. He also has the ability to react to what they are talking about and come up with something funny on the fly. This is when he is at his best. Leno just laughs at his own jokes. Also, what is up with Leno having his fans come up and touch him at the beginning of his show? That is weird.

**Bobber** · 01-12-2010, 09:38 AM

Originally Posted by cyhiphopp

Someone probably already mentioned this, but the lagging Tonight show ratings have nothing to do with Conan.
If Jay Leno had moved on graciously and left Conan as the only NBC talk show, the ratings would be much better.
All NBC has done is split the viewership and oversaturated their talk show market. Any Leno fans that watch his horrible 9 pm show will not stay up to watch the tonight show. They have already gotten their fill of late night talk shows so they go to bed or watch something else after the news. If Leno wasn't on, I think most of the current Leno viewers would be watching the Tonight show again as their only late night talk show.

I will find it hilarious if NBC loses Conan over this. Then, 3 years down the road, when Leno really wants to retire, or his show completely fall off the map, NBC will have to scramble to find a decent replacement. Maybe they can give the Tonight show to Jimmy Fallon or Carson (I'm a massive tool) Daly.

My two cents on Conan vs. Leno:
Leno is not funny. He basically just stands up there and reads jokes or "funny" headlines and captions. Conan actually has the comedic ability to ad-lib. He doesn't just read pre-planned questions to his guests. He also has the ability to react to what they are talking about and come up with something funny on the fly. This is when he is at his best. Leno just laughs at his own jokes. Also, what is up with Leno having his fans come up and touch him at the beginning of his show? That is weird.

+1 I do think Leno is funny however...

**cyhiphopp** · 01-12-2010, 09:56 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

+1 I do think Leno is funny however...

Yeah, everyone has a difference of opinion on what they think is funny.

My main point, which I think you got, was that having two lat night talk shows is killing both shows. It wont help to push Conan back a half hour and give Leno 10:30-11 either. Most people wont want to sit through two monologues.

**jbhtexas** · 01-12-2010, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by cyhiphopp

My main point, which I think you got, was that having two lat night talk shows is killing both shows. It wont help to push Conan back a half hour and give Leno 10:30-11 either. Most people wont want to sit through two monologues.

Agreed. So here ya go...Let's fragment things some more...

Put Conan on at 10:35 on x.1 (primary OTA channel)

Put Leno on at 10:35 on x.2 (first OTA subchannel). I think NBC could stand to furlough their weather channel for an hour a day.

Use the combined ratings of both shows to sell the ad time. When an advertiser buys an ad slot, they get that slot on both shows. From the money standpoint, it probably doesn't matter which one viewers watch, as long as they are watching one of the two. When Leno decides to really retire, they can do some clever things to transition his viewers back to Conan.

**06Panther** · 01-12-2010, 10:17 AM

Originally Posted by cyhiphopp

Someone probably already mentioned this, but the lagging Tonight show ratings have nothing to do with Conan.
If Jay Leno had moved on graciously and left Conan as the only NBC talk show, the ratings would be much better.
All NBC has done is split the viewership and oversaturated their talk show market. Any Leno fans that watch his horrible 9 pm show will not stay up to watch the tonight show. They have already gotten their fill of late night talk shows so they go to bed or watch something else after the news. If Leno wasn't on, I think most of the current Leno viewers would be watching the Tonight show again as their only late night talk show.

I will find it hilarious if NBC loses Conan over this. Then, 3 years down the road, when Leno really wants to retire, or his show completely fall off the map, NBC will have to scramble to find a decent replacement. Maybe they can give the Tonight show to Jimmy Fallon or Carson (I'm a massive tool) Daly.

My two cents on Conan vs. Leno:
Leno is not funny. He basically just stands up there and reads jokes or "funny" headlines and captions. Conan actually has the comedic ability to ad-lib. He doesn't just read pre-planned questions to his guests. He also has the ability to react to what they are talking about and come up with something funny on the fly. This is when he is at his best. Leno just laughs at his own jokes. Also, what is up with Leno having his fans come up and touch him at the beginning of his show? That is weird.

Spot on.

**alarson** · 01-12-2010, 10:59 AM

this video was funny too:
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien - Conan's Na'vi Assistant (01/11/10) - Video - NBC.com

**mwitt** · 01-12-2010, 02:35 PM

Conan has now officially said that he will not do The Tonight Show at the 12:05 time slot.

Conan O’Brien Says He Won’t Host ‘Tonight Show’ Following Leno - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

**MNCyGuy** · 01-12-2010, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by mwitt

Conan has now officially said that he will not do The Tonight Show at the 12:05 time slot.

Conan O’Brien Says He Won’t Host ‘Tonight Show’ Following Leno - Media Decoder Blog - NYTimes.com

You tell 'em Conan!

**cyhiphopp** · 01-13-2010, 09:24 AM

F--k NBC! I am NEVER going to watch Leno, ever. I have been waiting since Leno announced his "retirement" for Conan to get his shot.

I hope Leno tanks back in the 10:30 slot and retires for good in a year or two. Then NBC will really be screwed.

If only Letterman all of a sudden decided to retire. Then Conan could jump over to CBS and take it to NBC on a nightly basis.

I hope Conan gets a new show and soon. Until then, I will be watching The Colbert Report exclusively.