BREAKING: Conan O'Brien Rejects NBC's Offer -- The Full Statement
Conan O'Brien just released the following statement concerning NBC's offer of pushing The Tonight Show ahead to 12:05 a.m., following Jay Leno. In summary: He's pissed, and the answer is a firm no.
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
· Conan O'Brien Says He Won't Do 'Tonight Show' Following Leno [NY Times]
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Comments
Right on, Coco. I was hoping he'd tell NBC to go eff themselves, but he did it in a far classier way. Right now, I'd just be embarrassed to be Jay Leno, especially if he plans on hopping back into the Tonight Show like nothing happened.
Wow. That man is amazing.
oooooH - TWO SNAPS STRAIGHT UP! and in Conan's case they would be Ginger snaps!!!
Something tells me tonight's ratings are gonna be HUGE.
now say it like Donald Trump"
"HUGE"
🙁
Fox, please put Conan on. NO CONAN ON TV? I thought I hated Leno before but he truly is the Chin Monster that Refuses to Die. Yuckyuckyuck. No Conan? And yet Carson Daly will continue to terrorize?
Also, how is it that Jeff Zucker seems to never be held accountable for his horrible leadership?
That's just classier than NBC deserves.
I love Conan, and despise Leno. I wish Conan the best of luck and I know he will succeed in whatever he decides to do next. NBC is going down the drain- all their ratings suck. Except for The Office.
Like him or not, Conan is a class act. I hope Fox or someone grabs on to him quickly; late night TV will not be the same without him.
You know, I give Conan mad props for risking his career in order to maintain his integrity and devotion to The Tonight Show. That being said, I really hope this pays off and that he can keep The Tonight Show and not let that pathetic, disgusting, backstabbing prick get the show back. I really hope this whole situation doesn't end up being a demonstration that integrity and love for one's job means losing it and instead allowing the very person causing this whole problem to be rewarded for such awful behavior. I don't know what NBC could be thinking, or who at NBC Leno is f#$!ing in order for the network to side with him. Even though FOX would be a downgrade for Conan as far as I'm concerned, I hope Conan can get an offer for a show there, and I do hope that it is Leno and not Conan that has to disappear into oblivion. I can't even begin say how disappointing and shocking this is; there are literally tears in my eyes.
As a network, NBC has become as unfunny a joke as anything in a Jay Leno monologue. But to string Conan along for years, while making plenty of money off of him, then stab him in the back like this only gives Conan more in common with Letterman than he probably ever feared in his worst nightmare. Any other network would fire a load like Leno for failing to deliver, instead of restoring Leno to his old post at any cost. The boobs at NBC don't even know how they've humiliated themselves in the eyes of the People of Earth.
YOU DA MAN COCO! I truly hope you find some way of remaining on TV and where ever you do end up I will watch it!
Conan = Class
And it's hard to say that about most gingers.
Good for you Conan! I admire you for sticking to your guns, and admire you being so honest... about the show, and your hair.
Wow. Conan found the only classy way to give someone the finger.
You are a class act CoCo - I have watched late night television since I can remember and you are absolutely right - 11:35pm IS LATE NITE - 12:05 IS the NEXT DAY!
I will follow Conan wherever he goes! He is my Main Funnyman, and the might just be the only reason I even own a TV. He is classy, hilarious, hilarious while being classy, and everything I want in a comedian as well as a talk show host. I don't care if Conan is broadcasting from the basement onto the internet via a poor-quality Webcam, with no guests and just Andy Richter in the corner playing the bongos as the house band, I WILL WATCH HIM.
Right now, The Masturbating Bear is honoring Conan with a 21 cum salute!
What an incredibly classy human being.
In the words of the Tonight Show - you are correct, sir.
Right on! I will follow Cone-zee wherever he ends up. I think he should have his own show altogether...like the old Tom Green show on MTV where all he does is go around town being his hilarious self. 🙂 The Finland special was my all-time fave! More stuff like that...an entire show of stuff like that. That's what I want for Cone-zee and selfishly for me...muah-ha-ha-ha. More funny man watching from the couch, eating caramel popcorn. Ya! (Oh and I wouldn't mind being his idiotic side-kick)
I think Rosie said it best.
steve allen
jack parr
johnny carson
jay leno
conan obrein
5 years ago
they told - promised
twenty ten
u r in
tonya hardings beau used a bat
i respect him more
Poignant!
http://www.rosie.com/blog/2010/01/12/letting-go-/
Letterman had some ideas of Conan and Jay sharing the Tonight Show that make good sense and could save NBC $80M. It could be an experiment in TV that might succeed and would not cost the $80M NBC will owe if it bumps Conan. Actually due to my DVR I watch all three shows which I bet screws the ratings royally. Good luck Coco.
This one is tough for me.
On one hand, I agree whole-heartedly that Leno is a brown noser to the Nth degree. But at the same time, I never, EVER pictured O'Brien in The Tonight Show chair. His style, and form of comedy just didn't seem like a good fit for the history of the show.
NBC could not have possibly handled this any worse. They lose now no matter what they do. Can you put "yes man" Leno back in the TS seat and expect anyone to take him seriously?
Can O'Brien be expected to stay in that seat if this all blows over? He'll never trust the network again.
Of course, this was all set in motion the moment the idiots at NBC promised Conan the TS chair at a certain date. No way they should have ever done that. It sowed the seeds of the current destruction.
He's right. They would have to rename it "The Tomorrow Show"...
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