2010 Tonight Show conflict

American late-night talk show conflict Tonight Show October 2011 thumb|upright=1.5|alt=Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien is being interviewed by fellow host Jay Leno|Late-night talk show hosts Conan O'Brien (left) and Jay Leno talk on the set of The Tonight Show in 2004. The 2010 Tonight Show conflict was a media and public relations conflict involving the American television network NBC and two of its late-night talk show hosts, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno, over the timeslot and hosting duties of the long-running franchise The Tonight Show. Leno, the host of The Tonight Show from 1992 to 2014, and O'Brien, host of Late Night from 1993 to 2009, were strong ratings leaders for NBC for much of the decade. In 2001, when O'Brien's contract neared its end and he was courted by other networks, NBC agreed to extend his contract and eventually make him the fifth host of The Tonight Show. NBC neglected to tell Leno about this arrangement until 2004, when they informed him that O'Brien would take over as host in five years. When that time arrived, in 2009, NBC tried to keep both of its late-night stars by offering Leno a nightly primetime show before the local news and O'Brien's Tonight Show. The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien and The Jay Leno Show did not immediately receive strong ratings, and NBC affiliates complained of declining viewership. NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker, alongside NBC chairman Jeff Gaspin and executive Rick Ludwin, created a ‘remedy’: return Leno to his 11:35 p.m. ET start time and bump O'Brien a half-hour later, to 12:05 a.m. ET. O'Brien and his staff were disappointed and furious; when it became clear O'Brien would not agree to the proposed changes, the situation grew heated. Though not a breach of either host's contract, the change resulted in a public outcry and public demonstrations largely in support of O'Brien. O'Brien's public statement that he would not participate in the "destruction" of The Tonight Show led to negotiations with NBC for a settlement. O'Brien and his staff received 45 million (equivalent to about $US 45 2010 million in US) to walk away from the network, with his final Tonight Show airing January 22, 2010; Leno was reinstated as host that March, while after a contractual seven-month ban against appearing on television, O'Brien moved to TBS to host Conan. Leno returned to hosting The Tonight Show from 2010 until his retirement in 2014. The controversy surrounding the scheduling move and the reinstatement of Leno was described by media outlets as "embarrassing" and a "public relations disaster" for NBC.Schechner Sam Ovide Shira Schuker Lauren A.E. January 19, 2010 NBC to Pay $40 Million to Show Conan O'Brien the Door The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704541004575011482898148788?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20170829164803/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704541004575011482898148788?mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories August 29, 2017Serjeant Jill January 15, 2010 NBC's Talk Show Wars Seen as PR Disaster for All ABC News http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9575927 dead May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100131094748/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9575927 January 31, 2010 Background thumb|alt=Logo for television network NBC|NBC and The Tonight Show were first in late-night viewership for most of the 1990s and 2000s.Molla Rani Lightner Renee Tovar Carlos September 9, 2015 As Colbert Ascends 'The Late Show' Throne, a Look Back at Late Night TV Show Ratings The Wall Street Journal http://graphics.wsj.com/late-night-tv-show-ratings-and-hosts/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210620223317/https://graphics.wsj.com/late-night-tv-show-ratings-and-hosts/ June 20, 2021 On May 25, 1991, Johnny Carson, host of NBC's The Tonight Show for nearly thirty years, announced his retirement and exited the program a year later.Carmody John May 25, 1991 There Goes Johnny! The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/05/25/there-goes-johnny/cba16f1c-3963-444b-b6b1-7a52e1686bf1/ live May 27, 2022 https://archive.today/20210802202047/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1991/05/25/there-goes-johnny/cba16f1c-3963-444b-b6b1-7a52e1686bf1/ August 2, 2021 NBC signed Jay Leno, Carson's "exclusive guest host", to become the program's fourth host upon Carson's departure.June 6, 1991 It's official: Jay Leno is next host of 'Tonight Show' WDB The Baltimore Sun https://www.baltimoresun.com/1991/06/06/its-official-jay-leno-is-next-host-of-tonight-show-wdb/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210625060825/https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1991-06-06-1991157218-story.html June 25, 2021 Carson clearly held the view that the position should be given to David Letterman, host of his own program, Late Night, which had directly followed Carson's Tonight Show for ten years.Pierce Scott May 14, 2012 PBS doc paints Letterman as Carson's heir The Salt Lake Tribune https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=54080062&itype=cmsid live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527120744/https://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=54080062&itype=cmsid May 27, 2022 NBC tried to appease both stars, but Letterman left NBC in a very public conflict that resulted in the creation of his own competing show, the Late Show with David Letterman, which debuted on CBS in 1993.Harris Mark Mark Harris (journalist) January 29, 1993 David Letterman's contract Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/1993/01/29/david-lettermans-contract/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20200801122217/https://ew.com/article/1993/01/29/david-lettermans-contract/ August 1, 2020 Letterman's show regularly won in the Nielsen ratings against Leno for two years, proving that another late-night program could compete, both in ratings and advertising profits, with The Tonight Show.Murray Noel May 19, 2015 Late Show With David Letterman smirked at (and celebrated) TV itself The A.V. Club https://www.avclub.com/late-show-with-david-letterman-smirked-at-and-celebrat-1798279788 live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20211229025653/https://www.avclub.com/late-show-with-david-letterman-smirked-at-and-celebrat-1798279788 December 29, 2021Carter 2010 27 Leno's Tonight Show started rocky; prior to Letterman's move, NBC considered matching CBS's offer to allow Letterman to take over from Leno.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jay-lenos-tonight-show-battles-431265 Tonight Show Battles: a Timeline of Contending Hosts Brandon Kirby March 27, 2013 New York February 7, 2014 March 18, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140318045541/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/jay-lenos-tonight-show-battles-431265 live Letterman beat Leno for nearly two years until August 1995, when Leno welcomed Hugh Grant, who had recently been arrested for soliciting a sex worker, to a previously booked appearance on Tonight.Riemenschneider Chris July 11, 1995 Actor Hugh Grant 'Fesses Up to Leno on 'Tonight Show' Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-11-me-22547-story.html live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201212084740/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-11-me-22547-story.html December 12, 2020 From that point on, Leno beat Letterman in the ratings, and The Tonight Show remained number one for the next fourteen years (the remainder of Leno's entire first stint as host).Maglio Tony May 19, 2015 David Letterman by the Numbers: Ratings, Records and Social Stats Before We Say Sayonara TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/david-letterman-by-the-numbers-ratings-records-and-social-stats-q-score-cbs-late-show/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414075946/https://www.thewrap.com/david-letterman-by-the-numbers-ratings-records-and-social-stats-q-score-cbs-late-show/ April 14, 2021 NBC chose to continue the Late Night franchise, and at the suggestion of Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels, hired Conan O'Brien, a relatively unknown writer for SNL and The Simpsons, to take over the time slot beginning in late 1993.Du Brow Rick April 28, 1993 'Late Night' Banking on a Dark Horse : NBC sees comedian Conan O'Brien as the voice of a new generation, just as it did with David Letterman 11 years ago. Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-28-ca-31958-story.html August 12, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220812120354/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-28-ca-31958-story.html August 12, 2022 Late Night with Conan O'Brien was constantly at risk for cancellation in its early years; at one low point in 1994, NBC put O'Brien on a three-month contract.Grigoriadis Vannesa September 23, 2005 Conan on the Couch New York https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/14575/ August 12, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220614202010/https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/14575/ June 14, 2022 Executives were anxious to replace him with Greg Kinnear, who followed O'Brien with Later at 1:30 am, but Kinnear left to pursue a career in acting later on. Interns filled empty seats in O'Brien's audience while affiliates began to inquire about replacement hosts.https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/14575/index3.html Conan on the Couch David Bianculli September 26, 2005 New York December 21, 2012 March 4, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140304004428/http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/features/14575/index3.html liveSo I Was Wrong ... Late Night's Late Riser Tom Shales June 18, 1996 The Washington Post Aug 27, 2013 http://nbckicks.tripod.com/riser.html dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121010094505/http://nbckicks.tripod.com/riser.html October 10, 2012 Things improved for Late Night slowly (mostly revolving around O'Brien's performance) and by 1996, O'Brien's audience, largely young and male (a coveted demographic), grew steadily and the show began to beat competitors in the ratings, which it would continue to do for fifteen years.https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24Conan-t.html?pagewanted=all Heeeere's ... Conan!!! Lynn Hirschberg May 20, 2009 The New York Times December 21, 2012 May 14, 2013 https://web.archive.org/web/20130514082935/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24Conan-t.html?pagewanted=all live A notable episode of O'Brien's tenure on Late Night came in early 1994 when Letterman asked to appear as a guest and say some kind words to him.Couch Aaron May 20, 2015 Conan O'Brien Honors David Letterman: He "Completely Rescued Me" The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-honors-david-letterman-797301/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527143247/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-honors-david-letterman-797301/ May 27, 2022 O'Brien considered this the turning point of his entire career, which he mentioned while paying tribute to Letterman in an opening monologue of his own talk show on TBS, which aired the same night as Letterman's final show; O'Brien notably asked his viewers to turn him off and watch Letterman later on in the monologue.Otterson Joe May 21, 2015 David Letterman Final Show: Conan Tells Viewers 'Switch to Dave' TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/david-letterman-final-show-conan-tells-viewers-switch-to-dave-video/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20170121182634/http://www.thewrap.com/david-letterman-final-show-conan-tells-viewers-switch-to-dave-video/ January 21, 2017 Early history Contract renewals (2001–2004) Near the turn of the millennium, NBC's late-night lineup—Leno at 11:35, O'Brien at 12:35, and SNL on the weekend—remained a leader in the ratings.Carter 2010 27 By 2001, O'Brien's contract at NBC had less than a year left to run, and despite O'Brien arguably "coming into his own" in the preceding years, the network was reluctant to pay him on the same scale as other late-night hosts.Carter 2010 28 That year, competing network Fox mounted an "extended, comprehensive campaign" to lure O'Brien away from NBC, citing his appeal from a younger late night demographic.Carter 2010 28 News Corporation chairman and CEO Peter Chernin pursued O'Brien personally, taking him and executive producer Jeff Ross to dinner on several occasions. Fox's plan involved making O'Brien the network's signature star: his program would begin thirty minutes before Leno's and Letterman's (the network's local news broadcasts aired earlier than other networks, allowing the head start) and he would receive cross-promotion via its animated programming block and on Sunday NFL games.Evans Bradford January 5, 2012 The Lost Late Night Talk Show Hosts Vulture https://www.vulture.com/2012/01/the-lost-late-night-talk-show-hosts.html live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220405011613/https://www.vulture.com/2012/01/the-lost-late-night-talk-show-hosts.html April 5, 2022Carter 2010 28 Chernin also offered the host seven times his current pay (a jump from US$3 million to US$21 million).Carter 2010 29 Ross, friends with NBC president and CEO Jeff Zucker, informed him that Fox was aggressively pursuing O'Brien; NBC returned with a more realistic offer, bumping up O'Brien's salary to US$8 million and renewing him through 2005.Carter 2010 30 While many of O'Brien's professional advisors and managers pushed for the Fox deal, O'Brien's desire to possibly take over The Tonight Show after Leno made it a difficult decision (O'Brien, like many comedians, had grown up idolizing Carson's incarnation).Carter 2010 29 Numerous NBC executives, including president Bob Wright, were optimistic that O'Brien would stay despite other networks being interested in signing him.Carter Bill January 28, 2002 Wanting Late-Night Presence, Fox Looks at Conan O'Brien The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/28/business/wanting-late-night-presence-fox-looks-at-conan-o-brien.html May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080517/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/28/business/wanting-late-night-presence-fox-looks-at-conan-o-brien.html March 19, 2022 Chernin warned O'Brien that waiting around for Leno to leave would be destructive to his late-night television career.Carter 2010 29 Nevertheless, O'Brien signed a new deal with NBC in March 2002; the contract extended him through 2005 and most significantly contained a clause that solidified the official line of succession: If anything were to happen to Leno, O'Brien would step in.Belloni Matt December 21, 2010 Conan's 'Tonight Show' contract revealed The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/conans-tonight-show-contract-revealed-63652/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527203027/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/conans-tonight-show-contract-revealed-63652/ May 27, 2022 O'Brien's successful hosting job at the 2002 54th Primetime Emmy Awards "sent out the most resounding message yet about his growing strength as a performer",Carter 2010 32 and a year later, NBC broadcast O'Brien's tenth anniversary special in primetime.Carter 2010 33 By the time Leno's contract again came up for renewal, a discussion would be needed regarding the future of The Tonight Show.Fernandez Maria Elena Smith Lynn September 28, 2004 Jay Leno gives his 5-year notice Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-28-et-fernandez28-story.html live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527204729/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-28-et-fernandez28-story.html May 27, 2022 Facing the prospect of attempting to keep both Leno and O'Brien, Zucker made the final call on Leno's deal, deciding that this contract extension would be Leno's final.Carter 2010 38 The plan would extend Leno four additional years, after which he would give The Tonight Show to O'Brien.September 27, 2004 O'Brien to replace Leno on 'The Tonight Show' CNN https://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/27/leno.obrien/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220326104402/http://edition.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/TV/09/27/leno.obrien/ March 26, 2022 In February 2004, NBC executive Marc Graboff informed Ross of the conversations, and he in turn ran the idea of waiting four more years to O'Brien, who was immediately receptive.Carter 2010 39 Zucker, along with top late-night executive Rick Ludwin, met with Leno in March at his Burbank studio to discuss the contract extension, and explained NBC's stance on handing over the show to O'Brien.Carter 2010 42Moore Frazier January 13, 2010 NBC boss immune to woes of Conan and Jay Today NBC News https://www.today.com/popculture/nbc-boss-immune-woes-conan-jay-wbna34848690 live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527211218/https://www.today.com/popculture/nbc-boss-immune-woes-conan-jay-wbna34848690 May 27, 2022 While Leno quietly felt both disappointed and befuddled, he noted he did not want to see himself and O'Brien go through the same dilemma he and Letterman faced twelve years earlier and agreed to the plans.Carter 2010 42 His only request was that NBC wait to announce O'Brien as host until well after the extension was signed, to which the executives agreed.Carter 2010 43 While Leno handled the news professionally to the relief of Zucker, he soon headed to Tonight Show producer Debbie Vickers' office to let her know he felt as if he had just been fired.Carter 2010 43 NBC's announcement of the renewal inevitably led to press speculation on O'Brien's fate; to that end, O'Brien and his team went with the charade, peppering interviews with unclear, vague statements on his future.Carter 2010 44 On September 27, 2004, O'Brien officially signed on to become the next host of The Tonight Show; NBC allowed the first comment aside from the press release to come from Leno on that night's show.Carter 2010 45https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/27/business/media/28CND-NBC.html April 4, 2010 The New York Times Bill Carter Conan O'Brien to Succeed Jay Leno in 2009, NBC Announces September 27, 2004 September 10, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210910025717/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/27/business/media/conan-obrien-to-succeed-jay-leno-in-2009-nbc-announces.html live Leno compared The Tonight Show to a dynasty, stating, "You hold it, and then you hand it off to the next person. And I don't want to see all the fighting and all the 'Who's better?' and nasty things back and forth in the press. So right now, here it is—Conan, it's yours! See you in five years, buddy!"Carter 2010 46September 27, 2004 Leno promises smooth transition to O'Brien Today NBC News Associated Press https://www.today.com/popculture/leno-promises-smooth-transition-obrien-wbna6115643 May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080516/https://www.today.com/popculture/leno-promises-smooth-transition-obrien-wbna6115643 March 19, 2022 Losing Leno (2005–2008) thumb|upright|alt=Medium shot of NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Zucker|Jeff Zucker, former CEO of NBC Universal, was at the forefront of the conflict.Folkenflik David David Folkenflik January 15, 2010 The Man Behind The 'Tonight' Controversy All Things Considered NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122623150 live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210118052016/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122623150 January 18, 2021 In private conversations, Leno likened his removal from The Tonight Show to the end of a relationship, noting that he was loyal and still ended up "heartbroken".Fernandez Maria Elena January 28, 2010 Jay Leno tells Oprah about his broken heart Los Angeles Times https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/01/jay-leno-tells-oprah-about-his-broken-heart.html live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201129045251/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/01/jay-leno-tells-oprah-about-his-broken-heart.html November 29, 2020 From his perspective, NBC's decision made no sense, as his show had remained number one in ratings and consistently brought in money.Carter 2010 70 He began frequently lamenting his confusion to producer Vickers, explaining that he was "sick of lying" when people inquired on his retirement.Carter 2010 85 Eventually, Leno began mulling over his options after Tonight, telling his staff that after the transition, they could move to another network like ABC (whose Disney lot was not far from their then-current Burbank studio).Finke Nikki Nikki Finke July 15, 2008 Jay Leno Hints That ABC Is In His Future Deadline Hollywood https://deadline.com/2008/07/jay-leno-hints-that-abc-is-in-his-future-6324/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527235644/https://deadline.com/2008/07/jay-leno-hints-that-abc-is-in-his-future-6324/ May 27, 2022 His frustration with the situation came across in his nightly monologues, as more jokes regarding NBC's fourth-place position in the ratings, as well as jokes regarding the future transition, began to appear.Carter 2010 86 While NBC executives tended not to worry in the immediate years following the decision, by 2007 Zucker began to ponder what losing Leno might mean for the network.Zeitchik Steven February 27, 2008 NBC not worried about late-night drama Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/television-leno-zucker-dc/nbc-not-worried-about-late-night-drama-idUSN2761404420080228 live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20180609140209/https://www.reuters.com/article/television-leno-zucker-dc/nbc-not-worried-about-late-night-drama-idUSN2761404420080228 June 9, 2018 Around this time, Fox and ABC began conveying interest and holding discreet conversations with Leno.ABC, Fox courting Leno for next late-night gig Today NBC News Reuters https://www.today.com/news/abc-fox-courting-leno-next-late-night-gig-wbna23376785 live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528000509/https://www.today.com/news/abc-fox-courting-leno-next-late-night-gig-wbna23376785 May 28, 2022 Among the offers made to Leno by NBC's competitors was from Sony Pictures Television for a syndicated program.Gough Paul Hibberd James James Hibberd (writer) June 26, 2008 What's next for Jay Leno? The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/whats-next-jay-leno-114659/ live May 27, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528005340/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/whats-next-jay-leno-114659/ May 28, 2022 In early 2008, Zucker began to make trips to the Burbank studio in an effort to keep Leno.Carter 2010 110 He gave him numerous suggestions, including a Bob Hope-type deal (high-profile specials), a Sunday night primetime show, or even a nightly cable show on USA Network (owned by NBC Universal).Carter 2010 111 Executives began to entertain an ideal solution—pay off O'Brien and retain Leno—but Zucker viewed the idea as "outrageous".Carter 2010 112 By this time, NBC had already broken ground on a new studio for O'Brien's Tonight Show, renovating Stage 1 at the Universal Studios Lot in Universal City, for a reported US$50 million.Andreeva Nellie January 7, 2012 'Chelsea Lately' To Move Into 'The Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien' Studio Deadline Hollywood https://deadline.com/2012/01/chelsea-lately-to-move-into-the-studio-of-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-211423/ live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210128085514/https://deadline.com/2012/01/chelsea-lately-to-move-into-the-studio-of-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-211423/ January 28, 2021 During a spring lunch meeting with Ross, NBC Sports chief Dick Ebersol advised that O'Brien retire silly antics and focus more on pitching his show to middle America, which would involve stretching out his monologue.Carter 2010 104 O'Brien, then a year away from inheriting The Tonight Show, was indeed lengthening his monologue, but viewed suggestions from Ludwin as largely unnecessary, desiring to put his own stamp on the show's tradition.Carter 2010 115 By this point, O'Brien's high popularity at the time of the contract signing had gone down slightly. He had opted not to change his act to suit a more mainstream audience as NBC imagined he would, and CBS's Craig Ferguson, who occupied the post-Letterman slot as host of The Late Late Show, had begun to occasionally beat O'Brien in overall ratings.Gorman Steve April 10, 2008 Craig Ferguson claims rare win on late-night TV Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/television-latenight-dc-idUSN1040090020080411 August 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20161220172638/https://www.reuters.com/article/television-latenight-dc-idUSN1040090020080411 December 20, 2016 Though internal anxiety increased among executives, most tended to still support O'Brien.Carter 2010 119 Zucker's last resort for Leno was a nightly 10:00 pm program. He imagined a nightly Leno show in that timeslot could perhaps turn around NBC's primetime ratings decline.Carr David David Carr (journalist) January 10, 2010 In Leno Fiasco, a Window to the Midlife Crisis of NBC The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/media/11carr.html live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220220005842/https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/media/11carr.html February 20, 2022 On December 8, 2008, Leno verbally agreed to stay at the network—producing a nightly 10:00 pm variety show titled The Jay Leno Show—and phoned ABC and Fox to inform them.Gorman Steve Serjeant Jill December 8, 2008 Jay Leno takes his act to prime-time TV Reuters https://www.reuters.com/article/centertainment-us-leno-idCATRE4B80HE20081209 live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528152232/https://www.reuters.com/article/centertainment-us-leno-idCATRE4B80HE20081209 May 28, 2022Carter 2010 127 Zucker and Ludwin planned to meet with O'Brien later to explain the deal, but as word leaked out to The New York Times, they decided to meet with him directly following that night's show.Carter 2010 128 Following the meeting, Ross and O'Brien met with writers and mulled over the decision. O'Brien instantly felt uneasy, but as he was still in essence receiving The Tonight Show, he remained calm.Carter 2010 130 The final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien aired on February 20, 2009, followed by The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on May 29.Tucker Ken Ken Tucker February 21, 2009 Conan O'Brien: His last 'Late Night' a triumph, no insult, highly comic, not a dog Entertainment Weekly http://watching-tv.ew.com/2009/02/conan-obrien-la.html?iid=top25-Conan+O%27Brien%3A+His+last+%27Late+Night%27+a+triumph%2C+no+insult%2C+highly+comic%2C+not+a+dog dead May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20090224073923/http://watching-tv.ew.com/2009/02/conan-obrien-la.html?iid=top25-Conan+O%27Brien%3A+His+last+%27Late+Night%27+a+triumph%2C+no+insult%2C+highly+comic%2C+not+a+dog February 24, 2009Elber Lynn May 14, 2009 Leno's last 'Tonight' guest is Conan O'Brien The Buffalo News Associated Press https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/story/671373.html dead May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20090518032217/https://buffalonews.com/entertainment/story/671373.html May 18, 2009 Much of O'Brien's entire staff moved cross-country to Los Angeles to prepare his version of The Tonight Show.Ditzian Eric January 20, 2010 Conan O'Brien NBC Talks Stalled Over Staff Severance MTV News http://www.mtv.com/news/1630030/conan-obrien-nbc-talks-stalled-over-staff-severance/ dead May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20150526004138/http://www.mtv.com/news/1630030/conan-obrien-nbc-talks-stalled-over-staff-severance/ May 26, 2015 He and his staff threw themselves into developing the program, but remained concerned regarding NBC's commitment to the new Tonight Show incarnation.Carter 2010 133 Meanwhile, senior-level executives at NBC predicted that Leno's show would be roundly beaten by hour-long dramas on competing networks and cable, dooming the network's experiment.Carter Bill Stelter Brian Brian Stelter May 21, 2009 A Revolution in Prime Time, but Will It Work? The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/business/media/01leno.html live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210323184821/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/01/business/media/01leno.html March 23, 2021 In announcing his 10 pm show on The Tonight Show, Leno said, "People are asking me, 'What are you going to do after the last show? Are you going to go on vacation?' This kind of stuff. Actually, I'm going to a secluded spot where no one can find me: NBC primetime. As most of you know, we're not really leaving. We're coming back at 10 o'clock in September. It's a gamble. It's a gamble. I'm betting everything that NBC will still be around in 3 months! That is not a given!"Late Night, February 28, 1994 Ratings The Tonight Show and The Jay Leno Show debut The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien pulled in over nine million viewers to its June 1, 2009, premiere, doing extremely well in the coveted young demographics.Stransky Tanner July 30, 2010 Conan O'Brien hits highest ratings for his 'Tonight Show' with final telecast Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2010/01/29/conan-obrien-tonight-show-ratings/#:~:text=A%20hefty%2010.3%20million%20viewers,show%20drew%209.2%20million%20viewers. live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210228042050/https://ew.com/article/2010/01/29/conan-obrien-tonight-show-ratings/ February 28, 2021Carter 2010 141 Critics were generally very favorable; Tom Shales of The Washington Post, once critical of O'Brien, wrote that, "There's every indication that O'Brien will be up to the job of his illustrious predecessors."Shales Tom Tom Shales June 3, 2009 TV Review: Tom Shales on Conan O'Brien's Tonight Show Debut The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/02/AR2009060200566.html live February 8, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141013125326/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/02/AR2009060200566.html October 13, 2014 Each night, older audiences gradually turned off the program as it aired; seven episodes later, Letterman's show had edged above O'Brien's for the first time.Collins Scott June 11, 2009 Conan loses ground Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-11-et-letterman-conan11-story.html live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528231049/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-jun-11-et-letterman-conan11-story.html May 28, 2022 While Zucker called O'Brien to reiterate that the generational change was expected, other executives were not as pleased.Carter 2010 193–194 O'Brien and his team were not happy with the lack of promotion in the show's early weeks.Carter 2010 142 Against the wishes of several PR executives, Zucker authorized a press release proclaiming O'Brien "the New King of Late Night", a move that attracted ridicule. Zucker later regretted the decision, and many at O'Brien's Tonight Show offices were displeased.Hibberd James James Hibberd (writer) September 15, 2009 'Jay Leno Show' premiere gets strong start The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jay-leno-show-premiere-strong-52224/ live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528232203/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jay-leno-show-premiere-strong-52224/ May 28, 2022Carter 2010 143 Over the following weeks, Zucker grew weary with O'Brien's performance and what he regarded as a booking of the wrong stars.Carter 2010 147 When a controversy erupted over a joke Letterman told regarding politician Sarah Palin's family, Zucker eagerly pushed the O'Brien camp to bring her on their show, eyeing an opportunity to regain viewers and perhaps make it a turning point for a show not doing particularly well.Carter 2010 151 O'Brien disliked the idea, finding it pandering to viewers that would alienate fans and the press, as well as hurt his relationship with Letterman.Carter 2010 151 "This reaction drove Zucker nuts", wrote Bill Carter in The War for Late Night.Carter 2010 151 "As a producer, he knew how to manipulate audiences—that was simply what you did as part of the job. [ ... ] As a boss, he couldn't believe Conan would stand in the way of what was obviously the smart business move—for him and his network."Carter 2010 151 Meanwhile, Letterman continued to score higher ratings than O'Brien with regularity; his fall interview with U.S. President Barack Obama topped The Tonight Show by almost 5 million viewers, and the next week, a scandal involving attempted extortion and personal affairs made Letterman the talk of the country.Carter Bill September 22, 2009 Obama Leads Letterman to Ratings Win The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/business/media/23ratings.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210421104131/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/business/media/23ratings.html April 21, 2021Luscombe Richard October 2, 2009 David Letterman foils $2m sex blackmail plot The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/02/david-letterman-sex-blackmail-plot live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220526105515/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/oct/02/david-letterman-sex-blackmail-plot May 26, 2022 By August, The Tonight Show was still losing to Letterman in total viewers, but, owing to O'Brien's appeal to a young audience, maintained its lead in the touted demographics.Carter Bill August 20, 2009 Late Night: Old Letterman Beats New Conan en The New York Times https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/late-night-old-letterman-beats-new-conan/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20171110061557/https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/late-night-old-letterman-beats-new-conan/ November 10, 2017 Meanwhile, Leno was candid regarding his plans for his new show: "Even though it's ten o'clock, we're going to pretend it's eleven thirty."Carter 2010 169 The Jay Leno Show premiered on September 14, 2009, featuring guests Jerry Seinfeld and Kanye West, shortly after West's infamous incident with Taylor Swift at the MTV Video Music Awards.Schwartz Missy August 14, 2009 Jerry Seinfeld to be the first guest on 'The Jay Leno Show' Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2009/08/14/jerry-seinfeld-to-be-the-first-guest-on-the-jay-leno-show/ live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210125044537/https://ew.com/article/2009/08/14/jerry-seinfeld-to-be-the-first-guest-on-the-jay-leno-show/ January 25, 2021Stanley Alessandra September 15, 2009 For Jay Leno's Debut, a Timely Guest: Kanye West The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/arts/television/16watch.html live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210125011327/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/16/arts/television/16watch.html January 25, 2021 The program racked up 17.7 million viewers, doing much better than O'Brien's Tonight Show debut in both overall numbers and young demographics.http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/09/tv-ratings-the-jay-leno-show-debuts-to-17-million-plus.html TV ratings: 'The Jay Leno Show' debuts to 17 million-plus Zap2It September 15, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090918183843/http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/09/tv-ratings-the-jay-leno-show-debuts-to-17-million-plus.html September 18, 2009 dead Some critics were harsh with Leno's program, with many viewing it as a rehash of the show he had just left.Hibberd James James Hibberd (writer) September 10, 2009 First 'review' of 'Jay Leno Show'? The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/review-jay-leno-show-52169/ live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220529004419/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/review-jay-leno-show-52169/ May 29, 2022Poniewozik James James Poniewozik September 15, 2009 Jay Leno: It's Not the Tonight Show. It's, Um, the Ten-ight Show Time https://entertainment.time.com/2009/09/15/jay-leno-its-not-the-tonight-show-its-um-the-10-ight-show/ live May 28, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210314184844/https://entertainment.time.com/2009/09/15/jay-leno-its-not-the-tonight-show-its-um-the-10-ight-show/ March 14, 2021 Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times said one of its sponsors' commercials was funnier than the show itself, saying, "This is the future of television? This wasn't even a good rendition of television past."McNamara Mary September 15, 2009 Dé-Jay vu Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-sep-15-et-leno15-story.html live February 8, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140304071308/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/sep/15/entertainment/et-leno15 March 4, 2014 By the show's second week, which saw it airing directly opposite season premieres, The Jay Leno Show saw its audience size fall to five million viewers.Goodale Gloria November 5, 2009 With ratings fall, Jay Leno show is 'everybody's favorite pinata' The Christian Science Monitor https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/1105/p02s13-usgn.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210303115510/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2009/1105/p02s13-usgn.html March 3, 2021 As the weeks wore on, producer Vickers noticed that NBC's plan—to save the best segments, such as Leno's signature "Headlines", for last in order to provide a strong lead-in for local news—was possibly hurting the program.Carter 2010 179 One month in, Leno often only made third place, and executives became more uneasy.Carter 2010 184 Slipping numbers Ratings for NBC affiliates' local news broadcasts at 11:00 pm began to slip by mid-October, especially on NBC owned-and-operated stations in the largest markets, creating high anxiety for the network.Carter 2010 184Flint Joe October 19, 2009 Jay Leno's new time slot wreaks havoc for NBC affiliates Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-fi-ct-nbc-affils19-from-the-archives-story.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20180429012438/http://articles.latimes.com/2009/oct/19/business/fi-ct-nbc-affils19 April 29, 2018 The Tonight Show still retained a slightly higher share of the coveted 18–34 demographic against Letterman, but saw those numbers slip even more when The Jay Leno Show began.Carter Bill July 5, 2009 'Tonight Show' Audience a Decade Younger The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/business/media/06late.html May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220505022438/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/06/business/media/06late.html May 5, 2022Carter 2010 185 Affiliates began to complain, and in addition to a domino effect on the local news, O'Brien, and his 12:30 am successor, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, the disastrous ratings for Leno had damaged NBC's existing primetime lineups.Will Somebody Please Save NBC? https://nymag.com/news/media/61857/ Harris Mark New York November 8, 2009 December 2, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091112180010/http://nymag.com/news/media/61857/ November 12, 2009 live This cascading effect caused by the lowered 10:00 pm lead-in was so significant that local NBC affiliate news viewership fell an average of twenty-five percent nationwide, with the decline in some markets being as high as fifty percent.January 14, 2010 Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien's On-Air Battle CBS News Associated Press https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-leno-and-conan-obriens-on-air-battle/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20171109081226/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-leno-and-conan-obriens-on-air-battle/ November 9, 2017 By November, two months after the debut of The Jay Leno Show, ratings for The Tonight Show were brought down "roughly two million viewers a night year-to-year" from when Leno hosted the program.Brioux Bill November 9, 2009 Is Leno's 10 p.m. experiment nearing an end? Today NBC News https://www.today.com/id/wbna33808107 dead May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20171110114435/http://www.today.com/id/33808107 November 10, 2017 Clearing the 10:00 pm time period for Leno also damaged relations with the producers of scripted shows that previously occupied that slot, such as Dick Wolf of Law & Order.Gold Matea September 23, 2009 'Law & Order' creator Dick Wolf calls end of 10 p.m. dramas on NBC 'sad' Los Angeles Times https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/09/law-order-creator-dick-wolf-calls-end-of-10-pm-dramas-on-nbc-sad.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20150915030539/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/09/law-order-creator-dick-wolf-calls-end-of-10-pm-dramas-on-nbc-sad.html September 15, 2015 Leno offered an October 29 interview to Broadcasting & Cable where he stated he would return to his original 11:35 time slot if offered by NBC.Masters Kim Kim Masters Inskeep Steve November 4, 2009 Leno Would Welcome A Return To Late Night NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120080871 live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210614040328/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120080871 June 14, 2021 When O'Brien's sidekick and announcer Andy Richter called the move less than "classy" in a chat with TV Squad, Leno called Ludwin to complain.Carter 2010 187 As most programs went into repeats in December, Leno's staff, notably Vickers, had focused on grabbing big-name guests for that month in an effort to save The Jay Leno Show; these efforts were cut short when she was informed they had "until the end of November".Carter 2010 189 Affiliates began calling the network to inquire about the show's fate,Carter 2010 190 and research analysis revealed O'Brien's drastically reduced median age for The Tonight Show—age 56 to 46—could possibly reflect that he was too "niche" for the earlier time.Carter 2010 191 Any effort to take Leno off the air was halted by his contract, which had a highly unusual "pay-and-play" provision, in contrast to the typical "pay-or-play" agreement, which guaranteed NBC would both air his program and pay him for up to two years.Carter 2010 190 On November 6, NBC chairman Jeff Gaspin received an email from the sales division with a suggestion to cancel O'Brien and reinstate Leno as host of The Tonight Show.Carter 2010 189 Upon Gaspin's legal interpretation of Leno's contract, the option to simply move Leno back to The Tonight Show became relevant.Carter 2010 190 When very poor ratings came in for the November sweeps period, affiliates became alarmed, and NBC board members demanded something be done regarding the 10:00 pm lead-in.Zurawik David November 30, 2009 November sweeps: Leno, WBAL, and woe is WMAR The Baltimore Sun https://www.baltimoresun.com/2009/11/30/november-sweeps-leno-wbal-and-woe-is-wmar/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210703041400/https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2009-11-november_sweeps_tv_wjz_wbal_wm-story.html July 3, 2021Carter 2010 192 If something were not done by January, the affiliates reasoned, they would instate syndicated programming or move up their news broadcasts and pre-empt The Jay Leno Show.January 10, 2010 NBC says affiliates influenced decision to pull Leno The Denver Post Associated Press https://www.denverpost.com/2010/01/10/nbc-says-affiliates-influenced-decision-to-pull-leno/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220529122021/https://www.denverpost.com/2010/01/10/nbc-says-affiliates-influenced-decision-to-pull-leno/ May 29, 2022 Ludwin, Gaspin, and Zucker kicked around possible solutions for their dilemma, such as cutting Leno to a few nights per week.Carter 2010 193 In an attempt to alleviate the situation, Vickers moved the most popular comedy segments to the second act of The Jay Leno Show, moving their "10 at 10" segment later in the broadcast.Carter 2010 193 Gaspin again received the suggestion to put Leno back at 11:35, and soon began working on a plan to cut The Jay Leno Show to a half-hour, leading into Conan's Tonight Show around midnight.Patterson Troy January 8, 2010 What just happened with Leno and Conan? Slate https://slate.com/culture/2010/01/why-jay-leno-is-returning-to-11-30.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201021015944/https://slate.com/culture/2010/01/why-jay-leno-is-returning-to-11-30.html October 21, 2020 From their perspective, the biggest casualty in this scenario would be Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, which would get bumped to 1 am.Carter 2010 195Stack Tim March 5, 2010 Jimmy Fallon: Adventures in late night Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2010/03/05/jimmy-fallon-adventures-late-night/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220529125438/https://ew.com/article/2010/03/05/jimmy-fallon-adventures-late-night/ May 29, 2022 The reconfigured lineup could start in March 2010, following NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics.Carter 2010 196 Zucker preferred a plan for Leno to include an occasional guest and comedy piece, while Ebersol favored returning to the way it once was, with Leno at 11:35 and O'Brien at 12:35.Carter 2010 199 Gaspin laid out his plan to Zucker one week before Christmas, but both agreed to wait it out for the new year, as to not "ruin anybody's holiday season".Carter 2010 196 Conflict Proposed changes right 30em It struck Conan that Jay had played it well, in his passive-aggressive way, and wound up winning again. And maybe, in contrast, he himself had simply played it all wrong. —Bill Carter, The War for Late NightCarter 2010 223 The plan moved forward after confirmation that O'Brien's contract did not guarantee a strict 11:35pm start time (a loophole included primarily to accommodate sports pre-emptions and specials such as the network's New Year coverage).James Meg January 15, 2010 NBC source: Conan contract doesn't guarantee "The Tonight Show" start time Los Angeles Times https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/01/nbc-source-conan-contract-doesnt-guarantee-the-tonight-show-start-time.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20110201072746/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/01/nbc-source-conan-contract-doesnt-guarantee-the-tonight-show-start-time.html February 1, 2011 Gaspin planned to disclose the news to Leno first, and then, if all went well, inform O'Brien the following week.Carter 2010 198 When Gaspin laid out the proposal to Leno and Vickers, the response was positive, even though they questioned how such a plan would work.Carter 2010 200 Gaspin reasoned that the company was in a desperate situation, and he indicated his confidence that O'Brien would go along with the changes too.Carter 2010 200 While Leno embraced the plan, Vickers was unnerved; without a guest or music act, she might have no studio audience, which could have disastrous consequences for Leno.Carter 2010 203 In order to meet with O'Brien the following Monday, Gaspin was forced to cancel a meeting with the affiliate board, but promised them that by doing so, he would have an answer to the 10 pm problem that would be satisfactory to the board. After his January 6 show, O'Brien met with manager Gavin Polone to share his anxieties regarding the ratings: "I just think [Leno] is going to hurt me in some way."Carter 2010 205 News regarding Leno leaked to pop culture site FTV Live by the following morning,Basch Mark January 12, 2010 Leno story broken from Fleming Island spare room The Florida Times-Union https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/local/2010/01/12/stub-343/15959905007/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220529130648/https://www.jacksonville.com/story/entertainment/local/2010/01/12/stub-343/15959905007/ May 29, 2022 which was then picked up by national publications, including the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times.Flint Joe Gold Matea January 7, 2010 Jay Leno may regain 'Tonight Show' perch (Updated) Los Angeles Times https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/01/future-for-nbcs-the-jay-leno-show-is-up-in-the-air.html May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220525122808/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/entertainmentnewsbuzz/2010/01/future-for-nbcs-the-jay-leno-show-is-up-in-the-air.html May 25, 2022https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-01-10-leno-over_N.htm USA Today Gary Levin After failed Leno experiment, a redefining moment at NBC January 11, 2010 28 June 2010 August 18, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120818010647/http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-01-10-leno-over_N.htm live Carter Bill January 7, 2010 Update: NBC Plan Would Move Leno Back to Late Nights The New York Times http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/update-nbc-plans-leno-at-1130-conan-at-12/ live 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100710074608/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/update-nbc-plans-leno-at-1130-conan-at-12/ July 10, 2010 none Gaspin scheduled an immediate meeting with Ross and O'Brien as soon as they arrived and explained the proposed changes. "I know how hard I worked for this", responded O'Brien. "It was promised to me. I had a shitty lead-in."Carter 2010 210 Following the tense fifteen-minute meeting, O'Brien and Ross returned to the Tonight studio. TMZ reported on the story with a headline reading, "NBC Shakeup; Jay Leno Comes Out on Top." O'Brien called an emergency staff meeting and assured all that they had not been canceled and all would be fine.Carter 2010 211 The TMZ story deeply bothered O'Brien owing to its timing soon after a story reporting The Jay Leno Shows cancellation, and he and Ross reasoned that they indeed were the last to be told of the changes.Carter 2010 212 By the following morning, O'Brien and Ross determined that they would have to leave NBC,Carter 2010 215 and O'Brien opened that night's show with, "We've got a great show for you tonight—I have no idea what time it will air, but it's gonna be a great show."Carter 2010 216 Polone viewed the move as a reactionary one by Zucker, concluding that he was acting in self-preservation, since network owner General Electric was in the process of negotiating the acquisition of NBC Universal by Comcast.Carter 2010 252 When a story ran that night on The New York Times website that Fox had an "overt interest" in O'Brien and was not going along with the plan,https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/arts/television/09leno.html The New York Times Bill Carter Brian Stelter NBC's Shift in Schedule May Be Up to O'Brien January 9, 2010 28 June 2010 December 4, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161204103956/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/arts/television/09leno.html live Zucker reasoned that Polone was to blame. The situation became heated when Zucker placed a call to O'Brien's agent, Rick Rosen, inquiring on the story and demanding an immediate answer from the O'Brien camp.Carter 2010 217 Gaspin spoke about the situation at a previously scheduled press conference that Sunday, noting that, "I obviously couldn't satisfy either with 100 percent of what they wanted. That's why I came up with this compromise."Carter 2010 219 Zucker, upon hearing that O'Brien still did not take the proposal well, threatened Rosen, saying "I'm going to tell you right now that I can pay him or play him. I can ice you guys."Carter 2010 220 On the following Monday's show, O'Brien continued jokes on the subject; responding to thunderous applause, he joked, "You keep that up, and this monologue won't start until 12:05."Carter 2010 222 "People of Earth" Rosen suggested that O'Brien's camp hire litigation lawyer Patty Glaser to help grasp the situation.Carter 2010 218 Following discussions on Leno's contract during a post-show conference, Glaser turned her attention to O'Brien for his opinion. He expressed his desire to write a statement describing his feelings on the matter, and after hearing what he would possibly say in such a statement, Glaser agreed to the idea, although Ross was initially reluctant.Carter 2010 224 O'Brien went without sleep that night, crafting his statement obsessively.Carter 2010 224 He returned to the studio the following morning, listening as the lawyers and Glaser read over the statement, which remained largely unchanged before publication.Carter 2010 225 According to The War for Late Night, Glaser found "the statement as ideal for their purposes. It laid out Conan's point of view unequivocally, but without compromising his legal options. Nothing in there overtly said he was quitting, so he could not be accused of forsaking his contractual obligations."Carter 2010 225 O'Brien's press release went out mid-day on January 12, 2010, which he addressed to "People of Earth": 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. [ ... ] 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.http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/conan-obrien-says-he-wont-do-tonight-show-following-leno/?src=twt&twt=nytimestv The New York Times Conan O'Brien Says He Won't Host 'Tonight Show' After Leno January 12, 2010 28 June 2010 January 15, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100115155131/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/conan-obrien-says-he-wont-do-tonight-show-following-leno/?src=twt&twt=nytimestv live January 13, 2010 Conan keeps heat on NBC during 'Tonight' Today Associated Press https://www.today.com/id/wbna34827830 dead August 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20160706194952/http://www.today.com/id/34827830 July 6, 2016January 12, 2010 Statement from Conan O'Brien PR Newswire https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-from-conan-obrien-81255322.html August 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220811104608/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-from-conan-obrien-81255322.html August 11, 2022 Public and media reaction to the press release was positive, with The New York Times stating O'Brien held Leno "personally responsible" for this conflict.Egner Jeremy January 12, 2010 People of Earth Respond to Conan The New York Times https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/people-of-earth-respond-to-obrien May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220220054715/https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/people-of-earth-respond-to-obrien/ February 20, 2022 According to The War for Late Night, "the 'People of Earth' letter—the manifesto, as NBC came to call it—changed the tone. This wasn't just Conan saying no; it was Conan saying no, and you're wrong, and, by the way, go fuck yourselves."Carter 2010 229 A turning point in the conflict came on January 13, as O'Brien joked in his monologue that "I'm trying very hard to stay positive here, and I want to tell you something. This is honest. Hosting The Tonight Show has been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me. And I just want to say to the kids out there watching: You can do anything you want in life. Yeah, yeah—unless Jay Leno wants to do it, too."King Larry Truth Be Told: Off the Record about Favorite Guests, Memorable Moments, Funniest Jokes, and a Half Century of Asking Questions Hachette Books 2011 9781602861442 New York City 182 Larry King Following the joke, Leno called Gaspin, asking, "Why the fuck am I giving up a half hour for this guy?"Carter 2010 236 Conversations changed to focus on what O'Brien would require to resolve the matter, and parties began to discuss a settlement.Carter 2010 230 Reaction and media coverage Public support for O'Brien thumb|upright|alt=Grey, white, and orange poster of Conan O'Brien with the Caption "I'm With Coco|The "I'm With Coco" poster was widely circulated online and at rallies during the conflict.Lyons Margaret 'I'm With Coco': Inside the Conan O'Brien support movement https://ew.com/article/2010/01/13/im-with-coco-inside-the-conan-obrien-support-movement/ May 29, 2022 Entertainment Weekly January 13, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20210406182402/https://ew.com/article/2010/01/13/im-with-coco-inside-the-conan-obrien-support-movement/ April 6, 2021 Public reaction was overwhelmingly in favor of O'Brien during the conflict.Stelter Brian Brian Stelter January 12, 2010 On the Web, a Wave of Support for Conan O'Brien The New York Times https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/on-the-web-a-wave-of-support-for-conan-obrien/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20191231061735/https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/12/on-the-web-a-wave-of-support-for-conan-obrien/ December 31, 2019 In the days following the switch announcement, research of Twitter posts expressed support for O'Brien.Ostrow Adam January 12, 2010 Conan Wins the Hearts and Minds of the Internet Mashable https://mashable.com/archive/conan-obrien-statement live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109043024/https://mashable.com/2010/01/12/conan-obrien-statement/?europe=true November 9, 2020 Over one million people joined the two most prominent Facebook groups supporting O'Brien: "Team Conan" and "I'm With Coco", referring to an on-air nickname applied to O'Brien by actor Tom Hanks during his Tonight Show reign.Stelter Brian Brian Stelter January 14, 2010 In Leno vs. O'Brien, Fans Show Allegiance Online C1 The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/arts/television/14fans.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100408073337/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/arts/television/14fans.html April 8, 2010Dickey Josh January 21, 2010 NBC's Parting Gift: When Conan Became 'Coco' TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/nbcs-parting-gift-when-conan-became-coco-13167/ August 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220220074902/https://www.thewrap.com/nbcs-parting-gift-when-conan-became-coco-13167/ February 20, 2022 Artist Mike Mitchell designed a poster similar to the Obama "Hope" poster, showing O'Brien superimposed with an American flag in the background and the caption "I'm With Coco". The poster was widely circulated and displayed online and at various rallies. The color orange also became the choice of color for O'Brien fans, referencing his light orange hair.Stelter Brian Brian Stelter March 11, 2010 Conan O'Brien Embraces Team Coco – Poster and All The New York Times https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/conan-obrien-embraces-team-coco-poster-and-all/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220525122808/https://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/conan-obrien-embraces-team-coco-poster-and-all/ May 25, 2022 O'Brien's overnight ratings began to shoot up (much to NBC's chagrin), and the viral support for O'Brien only increased by the week of his final shows.Carter 2010 242 Rallies in support of O'Brien were organized outside NBC studios across the U.S., notably in Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and New York City.Newman Craig January 18, 2010 I'm with Coco storms Chicago's NBC5 with Conan O'Brien protest Monday night Chicago Sun-Times http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/2010/01/im_with_coco_storms_chicagos_nbc5_with_conan_obrien_protest_monday_night.html dead May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100329114950/http://blogs.suntimes.com/shinyobjects/2010/01/im_with_coco_storms_chicagos_nbc5_with_conan_obrien_protest_monday_night.html March 29, 2010 O'Brien briefly appeared at a January 18 rally outside the Tonight Show studio,Dickey Josh January 18, 2010 'Coco' Rally Draws Hundreds — and Conan, Too TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/coco-rally-draws-hundreds-and-conan-too-13150/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220519100127/https://www.thewrap.com/coco-rally-draws-hundreds-and-conan-too-13150/ May 19, 2022 after which he gave the crowd free pizza.Behrens Zach January 17, 2010 Photos: Rally for Conan Draws Hundreds, Conan Arrives with Free Pizza LAist https://laist.com/news/entertainment/photos-rally-for-conan-draws-hundre live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210801221422/https://laist.com/news/entertainment/photos-rally-for-conan-draws-hundre August 1, 2021 Andy Richter and Tonight Show drummer Max Weinberg also made an appearance during the rally to speak to the crowd from atop the studio, and Tonight Show Band trombonist Richie "La Bamba" Rosenberg was driven around the crowd in a Popemobile-style vehicle.Schneider Michael January 18, 2010 Leno: It's 'business' Variety https://variety.com/2010/tv/features/leno-it-s-business-1118013963/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20110605130022/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118013963?refCatId=14 June 5, 2011 American Red Cross representatives were at a number of the rallies to collect money for the Haiti earthquake relief.Guzman Monica January 18, 2010 Seattle Conan fans to rally at Westlake Center The Seattle Times http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/191397.asp dead May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20110131191407/http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/191397.asp January 31, 2011 Many in Hollywood, including actors, comedians, and media personalities, expressed support for O'Brien.DiNunno Gina January 15, 2010 Conan vs. Leno: 13 Celebrity Quotes TV Guide https://www.tvguide.com/news/conan-vs-leno-1013750/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20190201192006/https://www.tvguide.com/news/conan-vs-leno-1013750/ February 1, 2019 SNLs Seth Meyers addressed the controversy on the program's Weekend Update segment, joking that the conflict showed that "you don't need Cinemax to see someone get screwed on TV", and then proceeding to defend O'Brien.Adalian Josef January 17, 2010 VIDEO: 'Weekend Update' Breaks Down Conan-Jay TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/video-weekend-update-breaks-down-conan-jay-13097/ live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210625112510/https://www.thewrap.com/video-weekend-update-breaks-down-conan-jay-13097/ June 25, 2021 Meyers went on to sarcastically point out that if they did end up moving The Tonight Show, it would mean Late Night would end and host Jimmy Fallon would likely end up coming back to Update (and presumably reclaim his job from Meyers). https://web.archive.org/web/20100120063114/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_tv_leno_o_brien_snl January 20, 2010 Criticism of Leno alt=A medium shot of late night host David Letterman|thumb|Long-time late night rival David Letterman was critical of Leno and supportive of his former mentee O'Brien.de Moraes Lisa Conan O'Brien: David Letterman, "When I Was A National Punchline ... Rescued Me" https://deadline.com/2015/05/conan-obrien-david-letterman-tribute-1201430786/ May 29, 2022 Deadline Hollywood May 20, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20210301102144/https://deadline.com/2015/05/conan-obrien-david-letterman-tribute-1201430786/ March 1, 2021 Leno faced heated criticism and increasing negative publicity for his perceived role in the timeslot conflict, with some critics predicting that his reputation—along with those of Zucker and NBC—had been permanently damaged by the incident.Collins Scott Gold Matea January 16, 2010 Taking on America's 'nice guy' Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story live 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100119160017/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story January 19, 2010Rabin Nathan Nathan Rabin January 15, 2010 Why Some Comics Aren't Laughing at Jay Leno (Essay) The Wall Street Journal https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/15/why-some-comics-arent-laughing-at-jay-leno-essay/ live June 28, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100723162841/https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/15/why-some-comics-arent-laughing-at-jay-leno-essay/ July 23, 2010January 15, 2010 Has Leno lost his nice guy appeal? CNN http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/15/leno.conan.reputation/ live 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100118221517/http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/15/leno.conan.reputation/ January 18, 2010Schneider Michael September 26, 2010 From the pages of Variety: Jeff Zucker through the years Variety https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/variety-flashback-2006s-zucker-punch-13174/ August 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210917051500/https://variety.com/2010/tv/news/variety-flashback-2006s-zucker-punch-13174/ September 17, 2021 Critics pointed to the 2004 Tonight Show clip wherein Leno claimed he would allow O'Brien to take over without incident.Barnhart Aaron January 18, 2010 Jay Leno is Mr. Nice Guy no more — but was he ever? The Kansas City Star http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/1691791.html dead May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100121012846/http://www.kansascity.com/238/story/1691791.html January 21, 2010James Young David January 17, 2010 Jay Leno in 2004: 'In 2009, Conan, it's yours' Digital Journal https://www.digitaljournal.com/article/285694 dead August 14, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100507033931/http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/285694 May 7, 2010 Actor and comedian Patton Oswalt was among the first celebrities to openly voice disappointment with Leno, saying, "Comedians who don't like Jay Leno now, and I'm one of them, we're not like, 'Jay Leno sucks'; it's that we're so hurt and disappointed that one of the best comedians of our generation... willfully has shut the switch off."March 18, 2010 Patton Oswalt: Jay Leno Is Like Nixon, I Don't Like Him The Huffington Post https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patton-oswalt-weighs-in-o_n_419015 live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528044941/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/patton-oswalt-weighs-in-o_n_419015 May 28, 2022 Rosie O'Donnell was among O'Brien's most vocal and vehement supporters,http://blog.zap2it.com/thedishrag/2010/01/rosie-odonnell-is-on-team-conan.html Rosie O'Donnell is on Team Conan Zap2it January 14, 2010 Porter, Rick January 15, 2009 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100118084613/http://blog.zap2it.com/thedishrag/2010/01/rosie-odonnell-is-on-team-conan.html January 18, 2010 calling Leno a "bully".Marcus Bennett January 20, 2010 Rosie O'Donnell Has More to Say About Leno Vulture https://www.vulture.com/2010/01/rosie_odonnell_has_more_to_say.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220526231810/https://www.vulture.com/2010/01/rosie_odonnell_has_more_to_say.html May 26, 2022 Radio personality Howard Stern was a harsh critic of Leno before and after the timeslot change announcement;Paschal Nick January 23, 2019 Jay Leno reflects on feuds with Letterman, Howard Stern, and Conan Yahoo! News https://www.yahoo.com/now/jay-leno-reflects-feuds-letterman-howard-stern-conan-101057891.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220417042318/https://www.yahoo.com/now/jay-leno-reflects-feuds-letterman-howard-stern-conan-101057891.html April 17, 2022 in a 2006 appearance on Late Night, Stern told O'Brien that he felt it was unlikely that Leno would ever willingly give up Tonight to anyone. Jan 15, 2010 Howard Stern to Conan in 2006: "I don't see this guy leaving" http://talkshownews.interbridge.com/2010/01/howard-stern-to-conan-in-2006-i-dont.html May 29, 2022 Talk Show News Interbridge 0 Sue Trowbridge dead https://web.archive.org/web/20220215064736/http://talkshownews.interbridge.com/2010/01/howard-stern-to-conan-in-2006-i-dont.html February 15, 2022 The 67th Golden Globe Awards, which NBC aired on January 17 during O'Brien's settlement negotiations, featured numerous jokes on the controversy by Tina Fey and Tom Hanks, as well as show host Ricky Gervais who quipped, "Let's get on with it before NBC replaces me with Jay Leno."Carter 2010 241 Additional criticism stemmed from the fact that the circumstances in which O'Brien found himself recalled a similar dilemma that faced Leno toward the end of 1992. Only months into his hosting job on The Tonight Show, NBC considered reversing their decision of having chosen Leno over Letterman. Leno was aghast and angry that NBC refused to exhibit clear commitment to him as the franchise's new host, and expressed this disappointment publicly. He also made explicit that he would leave the network if he was asked to move back an hour to accommodate Letterman. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/23/arts/jay-leno-criticizes-nbc-on-tonight-cliffhanger.html The New York Times Jay Leno Criticizes NBC On 'Tonight' Cliffhanger December 23, 1992 Commentators also faulted Leno for what they perceived as a disingenuous attempt on the host's part to forge an "everyman" persona in the way he carried himself throughout the controversy. During the episode of The Jay Leno Show that aired after it was made public that Leno had been offered the 11:35 time slot back, Leno portrayed himself as an ingenuous employee merely following NBC's instructions, making a point of stating, "I don't have a manager, I don't have an agent" and referring to his preference of making direct, "handshake" deals.http://www.mediaite.com/tv/dont-blame-me-leno-addresses-late-night-mess-head-on/ Mediaite Don't Blame Me! Leno Addresses Late-Night Mess Head On January 18, 2010 July 19, 2017 August 29, 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170829202816/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/dont-blame-me-leno-addresses-late-night-mess-head-on/ live Despite his claim of having no representation, Leno retained an agent (Steve Levine of International Creative Management http://gulfnews.com/business/sectors/media/nbc-s-tonight-show-cuts-staff-leno-takes-pay-cut-1.1063683 Gulf News Media NBC's Tonight Show cuts staff, Leno takes pay cut August 19, 2012), a publicist, https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2008/12/jay-leno-revenge-of-the-everyman Vanity Fair JAY LENO: REVENGE OF THE EVERYMAN December 15, 2008 and entertainment lawyers. http://abovethelaw.com/2010/01/what-does-the-conan-leno-nbc-debacle-mean-for-entertainment-law/ Above the Law What Does the Conan-Leno-NBC Debacle Mean for Entertainment Law? January 21, 2010 Comedian Bill Burr found that Leno's ambition to take back The Tonight Show was less objectionable than his "passive-aggressive" behavior and the "powerless" public image Leno put forth instead of "owning up" to his maneuverings. Burr argued that NBC "never gave [Conan] The Tonight Show" in terms of network support, saying, "When Jay got The Tonight Show, he didn't have to follow Johnny [Carson] bombing for an hour. [ ... ] Leno struggled for eighteen months before he got going, and he got to go on after a hit show." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9ZsYJLHfBo YouTube Bill Burr-Conan O'Brien Last Tonight Show January 26, 2010 Comedian Jeff Garlin accused NBC of being "cheap", suggesting that the network tempted O'Brien with his dream job of hosting The Tonight Show because they did not want him to go to a competitor, but neither did they want to match what the competitors were offering. Garlin accused Leno of undermining O'Brien's incipient Tonight Show by taking the 10 pm slot. Garlin stated that while Leno had been nice to him over the years, the host displayed "no character" by taking the timeslot back. Garlin vowed never to appear on Leno's Tonight Show thereafter. https://www.tmz.com/2010/03/16/jay-leno-conan-obrien-jeff-garlin-tonight-show-nbc-radio-interview/ TMZ 'Curb' Star Rips Jay Leno: He's Got No Character March 16, 2010 In an essay for The Wall Street Journal, Nathan Rabin wrote that the response to Leno's role was "quick, vitriolic and widespread". Bill Zehme, the co-author of Leno's autobiography Leading with My Chin, told the Los Angeles Times, "The thing Leno should do is walk, period. He's got everything to lose in terms of public popularity by going back. People will look at him differently. He'll be viewed as the bad guy."Collins Scott Gold Matea January 16, 2010 Taking on America's 'nice guy' Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story?page=2 live 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100119160024/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-leno-backlash16-2010jan16,0,4645138.story?page=2 January 19, 2010 Joe Queenan from The Wall Street Journal went further in his criticism of Leno, jokingly comparing the controversy to Adolf Hitler's annexation of Czechoslovakia.Queenan Joe January 25, 2010 NBC Will Regret Appeasing Leno The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704375604575023132215883398?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines live 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20180727102501/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704375604575023132215883398?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines July 27, 2018 David Letterman was one of the more adamant critics of NBC and Leno's handling of the conflict. He noted that, "We went through our own version of this seventeen, eighteen years ago",Will Jay Leno Do The Right Thing? http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/video/?pid=9jBgKjnj8VRTp7FwIvsOK8icPTJ7Dzpb&vs=Big%20Show%20Highlights&play=true dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110604042823/http://www.cbs.com/late_night/late_show/video/?pid=9jBgKjnj8VRTp7FwIvsOK8icPTJ7Dzpb&vs=Big%20Show%20Highlights&play=true June 4, 2011 August 15, 2022 Late Show with David Letterman Late Show with David Letterman David Letterman David Letterman CBS January 15, 2010 en and he ridiculed Leno's recent "state of the network address", wherein Leno pleaded for viewers not to "blame Conan", with Letterman noting, "In the thousands and thousands of words that have been printed about this mess, who has blamed Conan? No one!"Rosenthal Phil January 20, 2010 Letterman on Leno's speech: 'He said we should not blame Conan ... and I said to myself no one is blaming Conan!' Chicago Tribune http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2010/01/conan-jay-david-letterman-blame-nbc-fiasco-mess-catastrophe-debacle.html live May 29, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100123125248/http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/towerticker/2010/01/conan-jay-david-letterman-blame-nbc-fiasco-mess-catastrophe-debacle.html January 23, 2010Bierly Mandi January 20, 2010 David Letterman to Jay Leno: 'Don't hang around waitin' for somebody to drop dead' Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2010/01/20/david-letterman-jay-leno-conan-obrien/ live June 1, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201112193108/https://ew.com/article/2010/01/20/david-letterman-jay-leno-conan-obrien/ November 12, 2020 Jon Stewart of Comedy Central's The Daily Show reflected on the controversy, saying, "At least we don't have to deal with Jeff Zucker. That guy's like the Cheney of television, shooting shows in the face."Arango Tim January 16, 2010 NBC's Slide to Troubled Nightly Punch Line The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/business/media/17nbc.html live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220305191845/http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/17/business/media/17nbc.html March 5, 2022 Stewart also shouted "Team Conan" as his "Moment of Zen" at the end of the January 21 episode of The Daily Show.January 21, 2010 Moment of Zen - Team Conan https://www.cc.com/video/1lst88/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-moment-of-zen-team-conan dead https://web.archive.org/web/20210517003624/https://www.cc.com/video/1lst88/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-moment-of-zen-team-conan May 17, 2021 May 30, 2022 Comedy Central Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central's The Colbert Report asked guest Morgan Freeman to read a list of "untrustworthy things", one of which paraphrased a statement made by Leno in 2004, "Conan: The 11:30 slot? Yours."Morgan Freeman http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/261286/january-11-2010/morgan-freeman dead https://web.archive.org/web/20100115121507/http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/261286/january-11-2010/morgan-freeman January 15, 2010 August 15, 2022 The Colbert Report The Colbert Report Stephen Colbert Stephen Colbert Comedy Central January 11, 2010 en thumb|alt=Late night host Jimmy Kimmel dressed up as Jay Leno|Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel performed an entire show in character as Leno.Sepinwall Alan Alan Sepinwall Jimmy Kimmel kills Jay Leno - is he the big winner of the late night mess? https://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/jimmy_kimmel_kills_jay_leno_-.html July 1, 2022 NJ.com January 15, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20220701234142/https://www.nj.com/entertainment/tv/2010/01/jimmy_kimmel_kills_jay_leno_-.html July 1, 2022 Jimmy Kimmel, host of the ABC late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, donned a gray wig and fake chin to perform his entire January 12 show in character as Leno.Rowe Douglas January 12, 2010 Jimmy Kimmel Does Scathing Imitation of Jay Leno on ABC Show TV Guide https://www.tvguide.com/news/kimmel-leno-imitation-1013633/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201024152421/https://www.tvguide.com/news/kimmel-leno-imitation-1013633/ October 24, 2020 With his bandleader Cleto Escobedo parodying Leno's bandleader Kevin Eubanks, Kimmel began his monologue with, "It's good to be here on ABC. Hey, Cleto, you know what ABC stands for? Always Bump Conan." He also referenced the "People of Earth" letter, noting how O'Brien declined to participate in the "destruction" of The Tonight Show, commenting as Leno that, "Fortunately, though, I will! I'll burn it down if I have to!"Carter 2010 233 Leno called Kimmel the next morning to discuss the bit, and at the end of the call, Leno suggested Kimmel come over and appear on his show. When his booking department called to confirm his appearance on a "10 at 10" segment (in which Leno asked ten questions to a guest appearing remotely via satellite), Kimmel agreed immediately.Carter 2010 235 When he received the questions for his January 14 appearance—such as "What's your favorite snack junk food?"—he realized Leno intended to neutralize the scathing parody and paint the two as friends.Carter 2010 237 Kimmel, however, was upfront with wanting to discuss the fiasco at hand, and during his appearance attempted to steer the questions that way; when asked about his favorite prank, he responded, "I think the best prank I ever pulled was, I told a guy once, 'Five years from now I'm going to give you my show.' And then when the five years came, I gave it to him and I took it back, almost instantly."Carter 2010 238 Later in the segment, when Leno asked, "Ever order anything off the TV?" Kimmel replied, "Like when NBC ordered your show off the TV?"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcKpf6k3j5I Kimmel Goes At Leno On His Show January 15, 2010 February 11, 2024 www.youtube.com Following similar remarks to more questions, Kimmel closed the segment with this comment: "Listen, Jay. Conan and I have children. All you have to take care of is cars! We have lives to lead here! You've got eight hundred million dollars! For God's sakes, leave our shows alone!"Carter 2010 238 Leno never fought back and accepted the bit as comedy (he ascribed it as Kimmel attempting to score some publicity), but producer Vickers was furious.Carter 2010 239 Kimmel discussed the appearance during an interview with Marc Maron for the latter's podcast in 2012. Kimmel stated that he felt O'Brien was not given a proper chance, but that he was also motivated by his own history with Leno. According to Kimmel, Leno had some years prior been in serious discussions with ABC about the possibility of jumping ship from NBC. During this period, Leno initiated a friendship with Kimmel, wanting to ensure that they would be on good terms if the move was made, given that under that scenario, Leno would have taken Kimmel's time slot and become his lead-in. However, after Leno made the arrangement to remain at NBC, "those conversations were gone", according to Kimmel. Realizing that Leno's relationship with him had been artificial, Kimmel felt "worked over", reasoning that Leno was using the ABC discussions as a bargaining tactic to try to get his old job back."Episode 249 – Jimmy Kimmel". WTF with Marc Maron; January 30, 2012 Neutrality of Jimmy Fallon alt=Close up of late night talk show host Jimmy Fallon|thumb|upright=.75|At the time of the conflict, comedian Jimmy Fallon hosted the slot after The Tonight Show, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. The only late night host who remained neutral was Jimmy Fallon, calling O'Brien and Leno "two of my heroes and two of my friends".March 18, 2010 Jimmy Fallon Weighs In On Conan/Leno Drama HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jimmy-fallon-weighs-in-on_n_423548 live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530111055/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jimmy-fallon-weighs-in-on_n_423548 May 30, 2022 He later joked that, "There's been three hosts of Late Night: David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, and me. And if there's one thing I've learned from Dave and Conan, it's that hosting this show is a one-way ticket to not hosting The Tonight Show."June 14, 2012 Jimmy Fallon: 'Tonight Show' No Holy Grail, He Tells Piers Morgan HuffPost https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jimmy-fallon-does-not-want-tonight-show-right-now_n_1596836 August 16, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220816125845/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jimmy-fallon-does-not-want-tonight-show-right-now_n_1596836 August 16, 2022 Ironically, four years later, Fallon was selected to replace the retiring Leno as host of The Tonight Show in February 2014.Miller Ross February 17, 2014 Jimmy Fallon takes the reins of NBC's 'The Tonight Show' tonight at midnight / 11PM CT The Verge https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/17/5419782/the-tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon-tonight-at-midnight-nbc live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220205134117/https://www.theverge.com/2014/2/17/5419782/the-tonight-show-starring-jimmy-fallon-tonight-at-midnight-nbc February 5, 2022 Defense of Leno and criticism of O'Brien Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Jerry Seinfeld rebuffed the idea that NBC deserved blame and chastised O'Brien for pointing fingers: "What did the network do to him?" Seinfeld asked. "I don't think anyone's preventing people from watching Conan. Once they give you the cameras, it's on you. I can't blame NBC for having to move things around. I hope Conan stays, I think he's terrific. But there's no rules in show business, there's no [referees]."January 10, 2010 Jerry Seinfeld: Conan has nothing to complain about The Hollywood Reporter http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/jerry-seinfeld-conan-has-nothing-to-complain-about.html dead May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100304225011/http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/jerry-seinfeld-conan-has-nothing-to-complain-about.html March 4, 2010 The irony of Seinfeld's stance was noted by at least one publication, as Seinfeld had itself weathered a rocky beginning thanks to the patience of NBC executive Rick Ludwin, the benefit of a strong lead-in (Cheers), and years to develop its audience as opposed to O'Brien's six months.https://www.stereogum.com/1771932/shut_up_jerry_seinfeld/vg-loc/videogum/ Stereogum Shut Up, Jerry Seinfeld January 11, 2010 Jim Norton, who was a frequent contributor to Leno's shows, touched on the controversy repeatedly in interviews and on The Opie & Anthony Show, calling the harsh criticism of Leno "amazing" and suggesting that Leno declining to walk away after stating otherwise was no worse than O'Brien "actually trying to force Jay out by telling the agents, 'If Conan doesn't get The Tonight Show, he's leaving the network.'"Keller Joel June 29, 2012 Jim Norton talks about the art of offensive comedy The A.V. Club https://www.avclub.com/article/jim-norton-talks-about-the-art-of-offensive-comedy-81923 live April 16, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20170813104119/http://www.avclub.com/article/jim-norton-talks-about-the-art-of-offensive-comedy-81923 August 13, 2017 Chris Rock defended Leno during a 2010 interview on The Howard Stern Show, claiming, "Leno did not fuck over Conan" and that "Conan was screwed by his management and his agent" by accepting Leno's 10:00pm show as O'Brien's lead-in.Howard Stern, Chris Rock June 21, 2010 The Howard Stern Show: Chris Rock and David Spade Radio broadcast en Sirius XM Radio NBC executives served as Leno's chief defenders, with Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports, being particularly aggressive. Calling Leno's detractors "chicken-hearted and gutless", he summarized the late night situation as an "astounding failure" by O'Brien and further characterized O'Brien's and Letterman's barbed jokes about their rival as "professional jealousy". Addressing the common point about Conan's weak lead-in hurting his ability to build an audience in a different timeslot, Ebersol dismissed it as a "specious argument."https://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/business/media/15conan.html The New York Times Executive leaps to Leno's defense January 14, 2010 In an interview with Marc Maron that summer, O'Brien's longtime sidekick Andy Richter noted the contradiction between Ebersol's comments and the actions of the network. The demonstrable impact of The Jay Leno Show on the ratings of local news across the country was the direct cause of the cancellation of The Jay Leno Show, and gave lie to Ebersol's implication that lead-ins are irrelevant. Leno's Tonight Show, in contrast, had always enjoyed healthy lead-ins courtesy of a strong NBC primetime line-up.http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_89_andy_richter WTF with Marc Maron Podcast Episode 89 – Andy Richter July 20, 2010 Furthermore, the network would have reportedly faced a US$150 million penalty in order to release Leno from his contract, making O'Brien the far less expensive host to get rid of.https://nypost.com/2010/01/20/conans-32m-leap-for-joy/ The New York Post Conan's $32m leap for joy January 10, 2010 Leno himself was among O'Brien's harshest critics, calling O'Brien's numbers "destructive to the franchise" despite O'Brien's success in the advertiser-friendly demographics combined with his significantly smaller salary.http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/01/affiliates-executives-screwed-up-tonight-show-leno-tells-oprah.html Chicago Tribune Conan 'destructive' to 'Tonight Show' and media 'unfair,' Leno tells Oprah January 28, 2010 February 10, 2010 June 4, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100604022845/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/01/affiliates-executives-screwed-up-tonight-show-leno-tells-oprah.html dead Moreover, Leno's assessment of O'Brien's performance less than three months prior had been significantly different: "Personally, I think Conan is doing fine. He's beating Dave in the demo, maybe not in the popular one right now because Dave has a lot of other things going that have people watching for whatever reason, so I think that's not really a fair thing. It's a little too early to tell."http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/jay-leno-talks-back-exclusive-interview-bc/35687/ Broadcasting & Cable Jay Leno Talks Back: An Exclusive Interview With B&C November 2, 2009 December 27, 2016 December 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161228131722/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/programming/jay-leno-talks-back-exclusive-interview-bc/35687/ dead Settlement Negotiations Discussions neared completion regarding a financial settlement by January 14, and were expected to be in place following O'Brien's final week of shows—January 18–22—a concession O'Brien pushed to give his program a proper farewell.Rice Lynette January 14, 2010 Exclusive: Key source in Conan O'Brien negotiations says deal 'possible' by the weekend Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2010/01/14/exclusive-conan-obrien-deal-possible-by-weekend/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530115134/https://ew.com/article/2010/01/14/exclusive-conan-obrien-deal-possible-by-weekend/ May 30, 2022 Movement on the settlement slowed when run by GE executives, then-owners of NBC Universal. NBC had several requests, among those that he not bring Howard Stern on the show his final week (which the O'Brien camp found slightly comical) and that they see the show's final week of scripts (which O'Brien never sent). With talks for much of the rest of the week going nowhere, a Saturday New York Post story ran alleging that O'Brien's staff felt "betrayed" by his actions for putting them out of work because of his refusal to accept the 12:05 timeslot; however, nearly all of O'Brien's staff had actually agreed that he should leave the network, and the argument that O'Brien was responsible for his staff being out of work came straight from an NBC executive.Elber Lynn January 19, 2010 Source: O'Brien's staff is sticking point in talks https://www.today.com/popculture/source-obriens-staff-sticking-point-talks-1C9398316 live https://web.archive.org/web/20220530131802/https://www.today.com/popculture/source-obriens-staff-sticking-point-talks-1C9398316 May 30, 2022 May 30, 2022 Today NBC News Associated Press Therefore, O'Brien was infuriated by the story, which he figured was the result of a direct plant from NBC. He was appalled that NBC challenged his character, as stressing severance for his employees was enormously important to him. (He had paid them out of his own pocket during the writers' strike three years earlier).Carter 2010 240 NBC added more requests, which the O'Brien camp refused as unreasonable, such as the right to pull any of his final shows if the network objected to the content (e.g., a joke about the conflict/NBC).Carter 2010 241 GE chairman Jeffrey Immelt questioned why they were paying so much for a performer destined to run to another network.Carter 2010 241 Negotiations continued into O'Brien's final week; he could not confirm on-air it was indeed his final week of shows, which produced difficulty in booking the guests he desired for his final show.Rooney Ben January 20, 2010 Conan O'Brien turns up the heat on NBC CNN Business https://money.cnn.com/2010/01/19/news/Conan_OBrien_contract_buyout/ dead May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109030253/https://money.cnn.com/2010/01/19/news/Conan_OBrien_contract_buyout/ November 9, 2020Carter 2010 245 On January 19, multiple media outlets reported that O'Brien and NBC were close to signing a deal between US$30 and US$40 million for the host to walk away from the network.Thompson Derek January 19, 2010 Who's to Blame for NBC's Late Night Disaster? The Atlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/01/whos-to-blame-for-nbcs-late-night-disaster/33750/ May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034548/https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2010/01/whos-to-blame-for-nbcs-late-night-disaster/33750/ November 9, 2020Schechner Sam Ovide Shira A. E. Schuker Lauren January 19, 2010 NBC to Pay $40 Million to Show Conan O'Brien the Door The Wall Street Journal http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704541004575011482898148788.html live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20110629151805/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704541004575011482898148788.html June 29, 2011 Following his January 20 episode, O'Brien remained at the studio until the early morning hours, alongside executive producer Jeff Ross and the legal counsel, trying to finalize the settlement. O'Brien wandered off, playing his guitar alone and stepping out on the deserted Universal lot at midnight, attempting to make sense of the situation.Carter 2010 245 O'Brien signed the agreement that night, and the next day, its terms were made public.Carter 2010 246 In all, O'Brien received a US$45 million deal to leave NBC. He received pay for the remaining two years of his contract (amounting to US$33 million), with additional payments to Ross, Richter, and Weinberg.http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2010/01/conan_obrien_signs_departure_d.html Conan O'Brien signs departure deal with NBC Walker, Dave The Times-Picayune January 21, 2010 January 21, 2010 https://archive.today/20100126084903/http://www.nola.com/tv/index.ssf/2010/01/conan_obrien_signs_departure_d.html January 26, 2010 live The severance pay for his staff was around US$12 million, which O'Brien had stressed.Gomstyn Alice January 21, 2010 Conan's Payback: How Much Did O'Brien's Bugatti Stunt Cost NBC? ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/Business/nbc-confirms-deal-conan-obrien-speeds-nbc-show/story?id=9621682&page=2 live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220215113216/https://abcnews.go.com/Business/nbc-confirms-deal-conan-obrien-speeds-nbc-show/story?id=9621682&page=2 February 15, 2022 O'Brien paid around fifty stagehands and various crew members at least six weeks severance pay out of his own pocket, as NBC gave those particular staffers nothing in the settlement.February 4, 2010 Conan O'Brien pays stagehands out of his own pocket Boston Herald https://www.bostonherald.com/2010/02/04/conan-obrien-pays-stagehands-out-of-his-own-pocket/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530133255/https://www.bostonherald.com/2010/02/04/conan-obrien-pays-stagehands-out-of-his-own-pocket/ May 30, 2022 The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said that they were "very happy" with how O'Brien treated their union members during the conflict.February 2, 2010 People: Conan gives own $$ to staff cut out of severance The Denver Post https://www.denverpost.com/2010/02/02/people-conan-gives-own-to-staff-cut-out-of-severance/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530133539/https://www.denverpost.com/2010/02/02/people-conan-gives-own-to-staff-cut-out-of-severance/ May 30, 2022 The contract contained a clause prohibiting O'Brien from making negative remarks about NBC for a certain amount of time;Ovide Shira A.E. Schuker Lauren January 22, 2010 Gag Order: Conan O'Brien Promises Not to Be Mean to His Old Bosses The Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703699204575017450198490036 May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220426230442/https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703699204575017450198490036 April 26, 2022 it did not, however, contain the previously rumored "mitigation clause", in which NBC would be able to keep some of the severance pay after O'Brien found a new network. It stipulated that he could return to television on another network no earlier than September 1, 2010.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8472865.stm BBC News Talk show host gets $45m pay-off January 21, 2010 28 June 2010 January 22, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100122052449/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8472865.stm live Final week thumb|alt=A group of Conan O'Brien supporters outside of Universal Studios in California|Supporters of Conan O'Brien rally outside Universal Studios in Los Angeles The conflict only provided more comedy material for O'Brien's Tonight Show during its final episodes. Among other bits, O'Brien put the show up for sale on Craigslist, and then himself; looked back at clips from the show's seven-month tenure that were dubbed "Classic Tonight Show Moments"; and designed a bit to seem as though he were spending absurd amounts of NBC's money, such as customizing a Bugatti Veyron, playing audio and video clips with expensive rebroadcast rights, and using a purported "rare ground sloth" to spray Beluga caviar on what was presented as an original Picasso.January 19, 2010 Conan O'Brien 'sells self on Craigslist' Digital Spy https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a197599/conan-obrien-sells-self-on-craigslist/ May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530140607/https://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a197599/conan-obrien-sells-self-on-craigslist/ May 30, 2022Carter 2010 244 Because the segments aired in days immediately following the 2010 Haiti earthquake while national fundraising efforts (including some spearheaded by NBC) were ongoing, O'Brien received criticism for wasting resources. In response to the outcry over the expense of these sketches, O'Brien explained that the segments were indeed jokes, and many of the props were either counterfeits or borrowed in exchange for promotional consideration.Episode #1.146 at Hulu http://www.hulu.com/watch/122598/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-fri-jan-22-2010#s-p1-so-i0 The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Ross, Jeff (producer) NBC January 22, 2010 1 146 8 August 7, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20100206052230/http://www.hulu.com/watch/122598/the-tonight-show-with-conan-obrien-fri-jan-22-2010#s-p1-so-i0 February 6, 2010 dead The guest roster for O'Brien's final show on January 22—Tom Hanks, Steve Carell (who did an exit interview of O'Brien in-character as an NBC employee and shredded Conan's ID badge), and original first guest Will Ferrell—was regarded by O'Brien as a "dream lineup"; in addition, Neil Young performed his song "Long May You Run" and, as the show closed, was joined by O'Brien, Beck, Ferrell (dressed as Ronnie Van Zant), Billy Gibbons, Ben Harper, Viveca Paulin, and The Tonight Show Band to perform the Lynyrd Skynyrd song "Free Bird".Carter 2010 247 In his final moments on air, O'Brien stated that between SNL, Late Night and The Tonight Show, he had worked for NBC for over twenty years, and he was "enormously proud of the work [they] have done together". He then thanked NBC for the first time since announcing his intention to quit. O'Brien said his decision was "the hardest thing [he] ever had to do".Adalian Josef January 22, 2010 Conan Says Goodbye: A Thank-You to NBC ... and 'Free Bird' TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/conan-says-goodbye-thank-you-nbc-and-free-bird-13418/ May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220527110203/https://www.thewrap.com/conan-says-goodbye-thank-you-nbc-and-free-bird-13418/ May 27, 2022 He praised and gave thanks to his staff, and thanked his fans for their overwhelming support (especially those who participated in the Los Angeles rally during periods of heavy rain).Rice Lynette July 30, 2020 Conan O'Brien's final monologue: 'Nobody in life gets what they thought they were going to get' Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2010/01/22/conan-obriens-final-monologue-nobody-in-life-gets-what-they-thought-they-were-going-to-get/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210517171049/https://ew.com/article/2010/01/22/conan-obriens-final-monologue-nobody-in-life-gets-what-they-thought-they-were-going-to-get/ May 17, 2021 He ended the show by offering heartfelt advice to his viewers in his farewell address, stating: All I ask of you is one thing ... I ask this particularly of the young people who watch. Please don't be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen.Hare Breeanna February 16, 2010 Conan O'Brien's farewell has lasting impact CNN http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/16/conan.obrien.advice/index.html live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220526132426/http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/02/16/conan.obrien.advice/index.html May 26, 2022 Following the taping, the studio set was used one final time for a party thrown by staff. O'Brien's monologue spot from the floor was framed and signed by his staff as a gift, which touched O'Brien.Carter 2010 248 10.3 million people watched the final episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, a notably high number for live late-night viewing and on a Friday night.Stransky Tanner July 30, 2020 Conan O'Brien hits highest ratings for his 'Tonight Show' with final telecast Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2010/01/29/conan-obrien-tonight-show-ratings/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528233517/https://ew.com/article/2010/01/29/conan-obrien-tonight-show-ratings/ May 28, 2022 The final episode scored a 7.0 household rating and a 4.4 rating in the 18–49 demo.Gorman Bill January 28, 2010 Conan O'Brien Dominates Ratings In Final (Live) Tonight Show Week TV by the Numbers http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/28/conan-obrien-dominates-ratings-in-final-live-tonight-show-week/40447 usurped May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100202082610/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/28/conan-obrien-dominates-ratings-in-final-live-tonight-show-week/40447 February 2, 2010 Not only did O'Brien's final show beat all late night competition, it outscored all prime time shows in the 18–49 demo from that night and the night before.Seidman Robert January 23, 2010 Conan Saves His Best Ratings For Last Tonight Show TV by the Numbers http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/23/conan-saves-his-best-ratings-for-last-tonight-show/39866 usurped May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100322221745/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/23/conan-saves-his-best-ratings-for-last-tonight-show/39866 March 22, 2010 The network confirmed that Leno would officially resume as host of The Tonight Show on March 1,Marikar Sheila Braiker Brian March 1, 2010 Jay Leno's Semi-Triumphant Return to Late-Night TV ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jay-lenos-semi-triumphant-return-tv/story?id=9981945 live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100305235710/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/jay-lenos-semi-triumphant-return-tv/story?id=9981945 March 5, 2010 and reruns from O'Brien's time as host aired until NBC began airing the Winter Olympics on February 15.Owen Rob January 22, 2010 An analysis: Who won and lost in Conan debacle Pittsburgh Post-Gazette https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2010/01/22/An-analysis-Who-won-and-lost-in-Conan-debacle/stories/201001220170 live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530142623/https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/tv-radio/2010/01/22/An-analysis-Who-won-and-lost-in-Conan-debacle/stories/201001220170 May 30, 2022 Leno's first Tonight Show back pulled in 6.6 million viewers, and his margin over Letterman again held for much of the rest of his run until his second Tonight Show departure in 2014.Carter 2010 617 While his numbers were down from his original incarnation of The Tonight Show, "It's as if a collective erase button was pushed", said Robert Thompson, professor of television at Syracuse University, "with the usual suspects back in their usual locations—except Conan is gone."Carter 2010 264 Impact thumb|upright|left|alt=Conan O'Brien playing the guitar in a white suit|O'Brien performing a cover of "I Will Survive" on the first day of his tour in Eugene, Oregon According to NBC, if O'Brien continued hosting, it would have been the first year that The Tonight Show would have actually lost money, which Leno later contended was damaging to the franchise.Ryan Maureen January 28, 2010 Conan 'destructive' to 'Tonight Show' and media 'unfair,' Leno tells Oprah Chicago Tribune http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/01/affiliates-executives-screwed-up-tonight-show-leno-tells-oprah.html live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100604022845/http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/entertainment_tv/2010/01/affiliates-executives-screwed-up-tonight-show-leno-tells-oprah.html June 4, 2010 This assertion was scorned by skeptical critics, as it was calculated that Conan's Tonight Show would have made significantly more money in advertising than Leno's show did, due to his more favorable youth demographic numbers. In addition, higher production costs and higher salaries would have by all accounts made Leno's Tonight Show more costly.Adalian Josef January 22, 2010 RATINGS: At the Finish Line, Conan Pulls Ahead of Dave TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/ratings-finish-line-conan-pulls-ahead-dave-13413/ live May 30, 2022 https://archive.today/20120914153836/http://www.thewrap.com/tv/column-post/ratings-finish-line-conan-pulls-ahead-dave-13413 September 14, 2012 O'Brien and Ross also challenged this notion, concluding that to arrive at such a calculation, NBC must have included the cost of building the new studio and offices, as well as startup costs.Carter 2010 251 At NBC, most young employees tended to support O'Brien and joined the "I'm with Coco" Facebook groups; NBC later asked all employees to rescind their membership in any O'Brien-supporting pages.Carter 2010 250 Similar action came when NBC removed reruns of O'Brien's The Tonight Show from NBC.com and Hulu.Poniewozik James James Poniewozik February 9, 2010 NBC: There Was Never a Conan O'Brien Time https://entertainment.time.com/2010/02/09/nbc-there-was-never-a-conan-obrien/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20150529081937/https://entertainment.time.com/2010/02/09/nbc-there-was-never-a-conan-obrien/ May 29, 2015 Gaspin was happy with the settlement, but nevertheless agreed with one of O'Brien's points—that his show had no time to grow: "Could it have grown? Absolutely ... We just couldn't give him the time."Carter 2010 251 Zucker, in an interview with Charlie Rose, defended his strategy but noted that both moving Leno to primetime and giving O'Brien the Tonight Show was a mistake.Thompson Anne January 19, 2010 Zucker Tries to Save Face on Charlie Rose IndieWire https://www.indiewire.com/2010/01/zucker-tries-to-save-face-on-charlie-rose-239121/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201029143439/https://www.indiewire.com/2010/01/zucker-tries-to-save-face-on-charlie-rose-239121/ October 29, 2020 In addition, he stated that he received death threats due to his role in the conflict.Duray Dan January 19, 2010 Jeff Zucker: I've Received Death Threats Vulture https://www.vulture.com/2010/01/jeff_zucker_ive_received_death.html live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210125155030/https://www.vulture.com/2010/01/jeff_zucker_ive_received_death.html January 25, 2021 Zucker, who had known O'Brien since their days at Harvard University and was very close friends with Ross, was very disappointed with how events played out, although he viewed it as necessary.Carter 2010 253 Leno, in an attempt to repair his public perception, granted an interview to Oprah Winfrey on January 25; he stripped himself of any blame for O'Brien's disappointment, noting that it was all about ratings, and also confirmed that he told a "white lie" in 2004 when he guaranteed The Tonight Show to O'Brien.Finke Nikki Nikki Finke January 29, 2010 Complete Transcript Of Jay Leno On Oprah Deadline Hollywood https://deadline.com/2010/01/complete-transcript-of-jay-leno-on-oprah-23916/ May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20180728061633/https://deadline.com/2010/01/complete-transcript-of-jay-leno-on-oprah-23916/ July 28, 2018 In a reference to a 2007 Super Bowl commercial starring Letterman and Winfrey (the two had feuded for years prior), Letterman, Leno, and Winfrey all appeared in a spot airing during Super Bowl XLIV in February 2010.Carter 2010 260 The ad—Letterman's idea—was the first time the late-night hosts had met since their own 1992 debacle. In it, Letterman and Leno sit on opposite sides of Winfrey watching the game; Letterman deems it "the worst Super Bowl party ever" due to Leno's inclusion, and Winfrey tells him to "be nice", resulting in Leno quipping, "Oh, he's just saying that 'cause I'm here."Carter 2010 261 The clip stirred a frenzy, with commentators speculating that Leno had been "green-screened" into the picture.Carter 2010 262 Letterman had initially wanted O'Brien to be in the promo as well, but O'Brien firmly rejected it, saying, "No fucking way I'm doing that. It's not a joke to me—it's real."Carter 2010 262 O'Brien was sure his agreement prohibited television appearances for several months, but gathered NBC would be only too happy to allow him a one-time reprieve for the ad, as it was to improve Leno's image.Carter 2010 263 O'Brien, by this point, was planning a live tour with his staff that would take him on the road, and had also created a Twitter account.Lyons Margaret February 25, 2010 Conan O'Brien's Twitter debut Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2010/02/25/conan-obrien-twitter/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220528175348/https://ew.com/article/2010/02/25/conan-obrien-twitter/ May 28, 2022 After about one hour online, O'Brien's number of Twitter followers had rocketed past the 30,000 followers of the official Jay Leno account,Milian Mark February 24, 2010 Conan O'Brien joins Twitter and doubles Jay Leno's follower count in two hours [Updated] Los Angeles Times http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/02/conan-obrien-twitter-jay-leno.html live 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100706222922/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2010/02/conan-obrien-twitter-jay-leno.html July 6, 2010 and he held over 300,000 followers in under 24 hours;Manker Rob February 26, 2010 Conan, Ozzie and the Dalai Lama: Together on Twitter Chicago Tribune https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-talk-celebrities-on-twitter-0226-20100225,0,5349663.story dead 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100306073029/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/ct-talk-celebrities-on-twitter-0226-20100225%2C0%2C5349663.story March 6, 2010 he surpassed the one million mark in May 2010.Oldenburg Ann May 25, 2010 Tweet this: Conan reaches 1 million; Britney overtakes Ashton USA Today http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/05/tweet-this-conan-reaches-1-million-britney-overtakes-ashton-/1 live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100528120545/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/entertainment/post/2010/05/tweet-this-conan-reaches-1-million-britney-overtakes-ashton-/1 May 28, 2010 Many speculated that O'Brien would sign a deal with Fox for a late-night program; Comedy Central and HBO had also expressed interest in O'Brien.Dahl Oscar February 16, 2010 Don't do it, Conan! Say no to Fox! Today https://www.today.com/popculture/dont-do-it-conan-say-no-fox-1C9399220 May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530145255/https://www.today.com/popculture/dont-do-it-conan-say-no-fox-1C9399220 May 30, 2022 Fox's deal moved slowly and they eventually withdrew their offer due to station resistance, the daunting financial investment, and opposition from Roger Ailes.Carter 2010 266Carter 2010 268 O'Brien eventually signed with cable network TBS in April, with his next program, Conan, set to debut in November.Schneider Michael April 12, 2010 Conan O'Brien is moving to TBS Variety https://variety.com/2010/tv/features/conan-o-brien-is-moving-to-tbs-1118017595/ May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20170429024236/http://variety.com/2010/tv/features/conan-o-brien-is-moving-to-tbs-1118017595/ April 29, 2017 The move prompted industry surprise; online blog Vulture commented that, "Conan will now be featured as a lead-in for Lopez Tonight on TBS. It's not just basic cable, it's unsexy basic cable."Carter 2010 268 His nationwide comedy tour, The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour, began on April 12 and ran through June 14.Marikar Sheila March 11, 2010 Conan O'Brien Live: Comic Announces Tour, 'Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television' ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/conan-obrien-announces-live-tour-us-canada/story?id=10073505 live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220428065415/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/conan-obrien-announces-live-tour-us-canada/story?id=10073505 April 28, 2022 A documentary shot during that time, Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, as well as a May 60 Minutes interview, prompted some observers to deem him "whiny". Vanity Fair James Wolcott said O'Brien "came off as a peevish straw of nervous energy ... a self-involved chatterbox."Stacey Wilson https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/conan-obrien-tbs-tonight-show-jay-leno-327970 Conan O'Brien: End of the Pity Party May 23, 2012 The Hollywood Reporter February 9, 2014 February 27, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140227211327/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/conan-obrien-tbs-tonight-show-jay-leno-327970 live However, many others had positive reactions to the documentary with The Hollywood Reporter stating, "The late-night host is funnier than ever in a thoroughly entertaining doc about his post-"Tonight Show" tour",Hollywood Reporter Staff 2011-03-13 Conan O'Brien Can't Stop: Film Review https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/conan-obrien-cant-stop-film-167195/ 2025-02-28 The Hollywood Reporter en-US and Roger Ebert saying, "after the movie, I rather admired him. What we are seeing is a man determined to vindicate himself after a public humiliation. People attend his shows, cheer him, like him. That proves something."Ebert Roger 2011-06-22 Just because the rug was pulled from under him https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/conan-obrien-cant-stop-2011 2025-02-28 www.rogerebert.com en-US The documentary was "certified fresh" on Rotten Tomatoes.Rotten Tomatoes Conan O'Brien Can't Stop (2011) Rotten Tomatoes https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/conan_obrien_cant_stop_2011 2025-02-28 www.rottentomatoes.com en As NBC could have potentially retained intellectual property originating from O'Brien's entire seventeen-year tenure with the network,Belloni Matthew Andreeva Nellie January 16, 2010 NBC to keep Coco's masturbating bear The Hollywood Reporter http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/nbc-to-keep-cocos-masturbating-bear.html dead May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100330165048/http://www.thrfeed.com/2010/01/nbc-to-keep-cocos-masturbating-bear.html March 30, 2010Belloni Matthew Andreeva Nellie January 16, 2010 O'Brien's NBC departure leaves bits behind The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3id3e0b71b5f1a6df4b2df779fa18f5e5e dead May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20100129154641/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3id3e0b71b5f1a6df4b2df779fa18f5e5e January 29, 2010 O'Brien simply changed names on the tour (turning his character, the Masturbating Bear, into the "Self-Pleasuring Panda").Eng Joyce April 13, 2010 Conan O'Brien Debuts on Stage with Self-Pleasuring Panda TV Guide https://www.tvguide.com/news/conan-obrien-tour-1017223/ May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220529041155/https://www.tvguide.com/news/heres-why-enzo-from-stranger-things-season-4-looks-so-familiar/ May 29, 2022 The Washington Post later reported that retaining the characters was "not a key issue for O'Brien".de Moraes Lisa January 20, 2010 In the Conan-NBC disaster, who's looking out for the staff? Apparently, everyone The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011904276.html?hpid=news-col-blog live 28 June 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20171213082532/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/19/AR2010011904276.html?hpid=news-col-blog December 13, 2017 Aftermath Conan premiered in November 2010 to 4 million viewers, leading all late-night talk shows and more than tripling the audience of its direct competition, The Daily Show and The Colbert Report on Comedy Central.Andreeva Nellie November 9, 2010 UPDATE: 4.2 Million Watch Conan's Debut Which Beats Leno, Letterman, Stewart & Colbert Deadline Hollywood https://deadline.com/2010/11/what-ratings-levels-would-make-conan-a-success-82554/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210704204211/https://deadline.com/2010/11/what-ratings-levels-would-make-conan-a-success-82554/ July 4, 2021 However, ratings quickly fell; by the following fall, the show averaged 1 million viewers in the 18–49 demographic.Hibberd James James Hibberd (writer) January 12, 2011 TBS: We'll air 'Conan' forever at these ratings (but O'Brien says he has other plans) Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2011/01/12/tbs-conan-ratings/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210414005634/https://ew.com/article/2011/01/12/tbs-conan-ratings/ April 14, 2021 In an effort to bolster ratings, TBS secured the cable syndication rights to The Big Bang Theory at a reported US$2 million per episode to serve as a lead-in to Conan three nights a week.https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tbs-multi-million-dollar-plan-224911 TBS' Multi-Million Dollar Plan to Prop Up Conan O'Brien's Ratings August 18, 2011 Georg Szalai The Hollywood Reporter 2011-12-24 January 2, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120102151926/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tbs-multi-million-dollar-plan-224911 live Steve Koonin of Turner Entertainment stated in 2012 that Conan is the "centerpiece of TBS". The Hollywood Reporter credited it with forging "a digital empire, his company's own shows and a young audience TBS hopes will follow him anywhere." TBS announced in May 2017 that they had renewed the show through 2022.Steinberg, Brian https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/conan-obrien-tbs-late-night-contract-2022-1202429947/ New TBS Deal Will Extend Conan O'Brien Beyond Late-Night TV Variety May 17, 2017 November 18, 2020 November 12, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015616/https://variety.com/2017/tv/news/conan-obrien-tbs-late-night-contract-2022-1202429947/ live However, despite the show renewal, it was announced in November 2020 that the show would end in June 2021, with O'Brien producing a weekly variety show for HBO Max.Koblin John Conan O'Brien to leave late-night TV for a weekly HBO Max show. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/media/conan-obrien-hbo-max.html November 28, 2020 The New York Times November 17, 2020 https://web.archive.org/web/20201117192842/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/17/business/media/conan-obrien-hbo-max.html November 17, 2020 His final show aired on June 24, 2021, with a montage of clips from his shows along with an extended farewell monologue.Lloyd Robert June 25, 2021 Conan was late-night's longtime underdog. He made it into surrealist art Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-06-25/conan-obrien-tbs-final-show-team-coco live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220131060729/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-06-25/conan-obrien-tbs-final-show-team-coco January 31, 2022 Conan Set Panorama Stage 15.jpg 675px A production photo of the set for the late night talk show Conan. The studios for Conan at the Warner Bros. Studios, which aired on TBS from 2010 until 2021 Many of the executives involved in the botched transition subsequently left NBC. Zucker was fired by Comcast Executive Vice President Steve Burke, but he stressed that Comcast's insistence to install their own team was the reason.Carter 2010 279 West Coast business operations executive Marc Graboff opted to leave his contract early, as did programming executive Jeff Gaspin.Guthrie Marisa November 18, 2011 Longtime Executive Marc Graboff to Exit NBC The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/marc-graboff-exits-nbc-263787/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530175046/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/marc-graboff-exits-nbc-263787/ May 30, 2022Sweney Mark November 16, 2010 Jeff Gaspin to leave NBC Universal The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/16/jeff-gaspin-nbc-universal live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201203014316/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2010/nov/16/jeff-gaspin-nbc-universal December 3, 2020 While O'Brien admitted in 2012 that he occasionally still felt resentment over the events that transpired, he noted that "I had an amazing partnership with NBC and was very disappointed at the outcome". He has had no contact with Leno, noting "the odds are we will both leave this Earth without speaking to each other, which is fine. There's really nothing to say. We both know the deal. He knows; I know. I'd rather just forget." In a 2010 issue of TV Guide, the timeslot conflict ranked No. 1 on a list of TV's biggest "blunders".Battaglio, Stephen. "The Blunder Years", TV Guide, November 1, 2010, Pages 20–21 A wax likeness of O'Brien that had been commissioned by NBC Universal from Madame Tussauds and unveiled during a December 2009 episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien was quietly returned to the Madame Tussauds museum on Hollywood Boulevard. The figure had originally been intended to permanently reside in the "NBC Universal Experience" theme park attraction.December 10, 2009 Universal unveils new Conan wax statue United Press International https://www.upi.com/Universal-unveils-new-Conan-wax-statue/67461260506842/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134534/https://www.upi.com/Universal-unveils-new-Conan-wax-statue/67461260506842/ January 25, 2018 A remote segment produced a few months into O'Brien's TBS show saw the host humorously reuniting with the wax statue.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUTFaHkWlk Conan Checks In On His Wax Figure Youtube January 27, 2011 January 24, 2018 December 31, 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20181231025803/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wUTFaHkWlk&app=desktop live On October 5, 2011, O'Brien returned to 30 Rockefeller Plaza for a surprise, scripted appearance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon to ceremonially retrieve the Triumph the Insult Comic Dog puppet from the studio after NBC had finally granted him the rights to use the character on TBS's Conan. During the two-and-a-half minute bit, O'Brien and Fallon joked about the controversy when Fallon said, "You were [host of Late Night] for sixteen years. Then what happened?" to which O'Brien laughed and said, "Don't you worry about that. You're a young guy."Ng Philiana October 6, 2011 Conan O'Brien Returns to His Old 'Late Night' Studio in New York The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-jimmy-fallon-nbc-245143/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220525214000/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-jimmy-fallon-nbc-245143/ May 25, 2022 During his 2012 appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman, O'Brien made it clear that he held no animosity toward NBC, pointing out that the individual executives he clashed with had departed the network shortly after he did due to a regime change.Late Show with David Letterman: Conan O'Brien Late Show with David Letterman Late Show with David Letterman Letterman David David Letterman CBS May 17, 2012 en Indeed, O'Brien would occasionally show clips from his NBC shows on his TBS program with NBC's permission, and the network also allowed the character of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog to appear on the TBS show as well, with Triumph's performer Robert Smigel explaining that NBC only stands to gain by allowing him to give their property exposure."Robert Smigel AMA" https://web.archive.org/web/20210910025717/https://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2y9m04/hey_its_robert_smigel_creator_and_handupass_of/cp7kax0/ September 10, 2021 . Reddit. March 7, 2015 In an interview on CNN's Piers Morgan Live, also in 2012, O'Brien acknowledged that in retrospect the plan to engineer a transition for The Tonight Show five years in advance was "absurd", though he noted that he never anticipated Leno's ratings would fall in that interim, as the press had sometimes intimated, and he pointed out that all previous Tonight Show hosts had departed when they were on top in the ratings. He further remarked that he was happier in his current situation at TBS where he feels "liberated" and can do the material he wants without the baggage of upholding a legacy.Piers Morgan Live: Conan O'Brien Piers Morgan Live Piers Morgan Live Piers Morgan Piers Morgan CNN July 5, 2012 Piers Morgan Live: Interview with Conan O'Brien https://transcripts.cnn.com/show/pmt/date/2012-07-05/segment/01 en In 2013, O'Brien was the headline performer invited to give remarks at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, and the Tonight Show controversy was humorously alluded to throughout the evening. During his own speech, President Barack Obama quipped, "I understand that when the Correspondents' Association was considering Conan for this gig, they were faced with that age-old dilemma: Do you offer it to him now, or wait for five years and then give it to Jimmy Fallon?"Franich Darren April 28, 2013 Correspondents' Dinner: Obama jabs NBC, O'Brien's best jokes Entertainment Weekly https://ew.com/article/2013/04/28/white-house-correspondents-dinner-president-obama-nbc-conan/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20160519232737/http://www.ew.com/article/2013/04/28/white-house-correspondents-dinner-president-obama-nbc-conan May 19, 2016 O'Brien himself referenced the affair with a joke that complimented President Obama on job creation: "Since [Obama] was first elected, the number of popes has doubled, and the number of Tonight Show hosts has tripled.""Conan O'Brien remarks at 2013 White House Correspondents' Dinner (C-SPAN)". YouTube; April 27, 2013 Later that year, O'Brien was chosen to host Carson on TCM, a series that re-aired classic interviews from The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.O'Connell Mikey June 5, 2013 Conan O'Brien Hosting Johnny Carson Retrospective on TCM The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-hosting-johnny-carson-563565/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530181050/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-hosting-johnny-carson-563565/ May 30, 2022 In 2014, Leno was interviewed for a 60 Minutes episode that focused on the host's second and permanent departure from The Tonight Show desk. Leno expressed to Steve Kroft that he had been "blindsided" in 2004 when NBC executives asked him to relinquish The Tonight Show in five years' time, though he admitted that he had accepted the decision with no argument or inquiry. In spite of this and the public remarks Leno had made at the time blessing O'Brien's succession, both Leno and his wife Mavis characterized The Tonight Show as having been taken from the incumbent host, rather than being something that he had voluntarily surrendered. When Leno explained that he was more willing to step aside the second time due to the considerable talent of Fallon and because "talented people will only wait so long before they get other opportunities", Kroft pointed out that Leno had said very similar things about O'Brien years before. "Well, maybe I did, yeah," admitted Leno before joking, "Well, we'll see what happens."Kroft Steve Steve Kroft January 26, 2014 Jay Leno on leaving "The Tonight Show" 60 Minutes CBS News https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-leno-on-leaving-the-tonight-show/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220215162324/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/jay-leno-on-leaving-the-tonight-show/ February 15, 2022 During a 2015 interview with Howard Stern, O'Brien explained that he prefers to avoid talking about the "craziness", stating that people in show business shouldn't complain. He also claimed that even in hindsight he does not regret doing five more years of Late Night instead of moving to Fox, nor does he regret his incarnation of The Tonight Show."Conan O'Brien: Like You've Never Heard Him Before" https://web.archive.org/web/20161227130731/https://www.howardstern.com/news/2015/2/26/conan-obrien-like-youve-never-heard-him-before/ December 27, 2016 . Howard Stern; February 26, 2015 thumb|right|upright=1.25|alt=Host Jay Leno interviewing the President of the United States Barack Obama|Leno interviewing Barack Obama during his second stint of hosting The Tonight Show in August 2013. Leno hosted his second incarnation of The Tonight Show until February 2014, when Jimmy Fallon took over the hosting duties.Stuever Hank February 7, 2014 Jay Leno's last 'Tonight Show' episode: One last nostalgia trip, then goodnight The Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/jay-lenos-last-tonight-show-episode-one-last-nostalgia-trip-then-goodnight/2014/02/07/a9674412-8fb0-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20181216080056/https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/jay-lenos-last-tonight-show-episode-one-last-nostalgia-trip-then-goodnight/2014/02/07/a9674412-8fb0-11e3-b46a-5a3d0d2130da_story.html December 16, 2018 Fallon's credibility with younger viewers and presence online was why NBC instituted the change, which was announced only three years following O'Brien's departure.Steinberg Brian August 20, 2013 Can Jimmy Fallon Convince America He's a Worthy Successor to 'Tonight Show' Throne? Variety http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/can-jimmy-fallon-convince-america-hes-a-worthy-successor-to-tonight-show-throne-1200581941/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20140207224707/http://variety.com/2013/tv/news/can-jimmy-fallon-convince-america-hes-a-worthy-successor-to-tonight-show-throne-1200581941/ February 7, 2014 During the show that aired the day of the announcement, O'Brien congratulated Fallon, stating, "Jimmy is the perfect guy to do it, and he's gonna do a fantastic job."https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJWxrCpRlgk Conan Wishes Jimmy Fallon Good Luck YouTube August 20, 2013 October 22, 2016 October 14, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20161014164117/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJWxrCpRlgk live Though NBC had made a considerable effort to scrub any references to O'Brien's brief tenure as The Tonight Show host both on-air and online, with one former blogger for NBC Sports noting a corporate policy banning any mention of O'Brien,http://www.sportsgrid.com/video/conans-chris-christie-hostage-face-sketch-is-gold-as-christie-himself-denies-any-regrets/ CONAN'S CHRIS CHRISTIE 'HOSTAGE-FACE' SKETCH IS GOLD, BUT CHRISTIE HIMSELF DENIES ANY TRUMP REGRETS Rick Chandler March 3, 2016 March 3, 2016 Sportsgrid March 5, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160305235344/http://www.sportsgrid.com/video/conans-chris-christie-hostage-face-sketch-is-gold-as-christie-himself-denies-any-regrets live it was acknowledged by the network during the buildup to the 2014 transition from Leno to Fallon. A brief shot of O'Brien walking onto his Tonight set was displayed in an on-air promo chronicling the franchise's history,https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-unveils-promo-jimmy-fallons-668492 NBC Unveils Promo for Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show' Erik Hayden January 4, 2014 August 7, 2014 The Hollywood Reporter July 13, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140713105722/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-unveils-promo-jimmy-fallons-668492 live and Fallon referenced the conflict on his first Tonight Show episode, when he opened the show by joking: I'm Jimmy Fallon, and I'll be your host—for now. Of course, I wouldn't be here tonight if it weren't for the previous Tonight Show hosts, so I want to say thank you to Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno.Episode #1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VFgiPXisu8 https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211215/-VFgiPXisu8 2021-12-15 live The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Michaels, Lorne (Executive Producer) NBC February 17, 2014 1 1 2 Leno appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show on February 26, 2014, as a surprise guest to deliver the news that the revived program had been renewed by CBS Television Distribution for a second season.Wright Megh February 27, 2014 Jay Leno Sneaks on 'The Arsenio Hall Show' to Announce Its Season 2 Renewal Vulture https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/jay-leno-sneaks-on-the-arsenio-hall-show-to-announce-its-season-2-renewal.html live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220530210653/https://www.vulture.com/2014/02/jay-leno-sneaks-on-the-arsenio-hall-show-to-announce-its-season-2-renewal.html May 30, 2022 This proved to be premature, however, as Hall's program was indeed canceled on May 30, 2014.Andreeva Nellie May 30, 2014 'The Arsenio Hall Show' Cancelled After One Season Deadline Hollywood https://deadline.com/2014/05/the-arsenio-hall-show-cancelled-after-one-season-738326/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220213071610/https://deadline.com/2014/05/the-arsenio-hall-show-cancelled-after-one-season-738326/ February 13, 2022 Comedian Bill Maher paid tribute to Leno when the latter was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, an honor bestowed upon the host in 2014 when he stepped down from The Tonight Show a second time. A longtime friend of Leno, Maher complained that Leno was "victimized" by the press during the NBC fiasco.de Moraes Lisa 2014-03-12 Jay Leno Reminds Bill Maher Of Israel As He's Inducted Into TV Academy Hall Of Fame With Rupert Murdoch, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, David E Kelley, Ray Dolby & Brandon Stoddard: Video en-US Deadline Hollywood https://deadline.com/2014/03/jay-leno-julia-louis-dreyfus-bill-maher-amy-poehler-david-e-kelly-rupert-murdoch-brandon-stoddard-tv-academy-hall-of-fame-697582/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20201201071446/https://deadline.com/2014/03/jay-leno-julia-louis-dreyfus-bill-maher-amy-poehler-david-e-kelly-rupert-murdoch-brandon-stoddard-tv-academy-hall-of-fame-697582/ December 1, 2020 In a 2015 interview, Leno reiterated his stance that O'Brien's own performance led to his ouster from 11:35 and that he remained mystified by the suggestion that he should have refused the time slot when it was offered back to him, saying "Why? Because Conan and I were good friends? No. At that point ... it's a business decision. I'm sure it could have been handled differently. But I think it was a matter of letting things take its course. If Conan's ratings would have been fine, it wouldn't have been an issue. It wouldn't have come up.""Q&A: Jay Leno’s real talk on comedy, Conan and One Direction". The Globe and Mail; April 24, 2015 In 2017, Leno again absolved himself, instead emphasizing that he kept The Tonight Show number one after his return; he also addressed with equivocation the longstanding claim that his contract was the more expensive one to break: "I mean, if I'm that smart, how did I lose the show in the first place?"https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/awards-chatter-podcast-jay-leno-jay-lenos-garage-1016536 'Awards Chatter' Podcast — Jay Leno ('Jay Leno's Garage') The Hollywood Reporter 2017-11-09 en When he took over Tonight, Fallon insisted that Leno is welcome to appear on the show anytime he wishes, saying, "Whenever he wants, he's got a stage."https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jimmy-fallon-invites-jay-leno-677326 Jimmy Fallon Invites Jay Leno to Be Guest on New 'Tonight Show' Hilary Lewis The Hollywood Reporter February 5, 2014 September 10, 2014 November 27, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20141127122614/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jimmy-fallon-invites-jay-leno-677326 live Leno made his first appearance as a guest on November 7, 2014,Couch Aaron November 7, 2014 Jay Leno Mocks Jimmy Fallon During 'Tonight Show' Return The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jay-leno-mocks-jimmy-fallon-747617/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220220061823/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jay-leno-mocks-jimmy-fallon-747617/ February 20, 2022 and has appeared several more times since. Additionally, Leno has since appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers and The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.Stone Natalie May 19, 2015 Taraji P. Henson, Jay Leno, Will Forte Angrily Swipe Desks The Hollywood Reporter https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/taraji-p-henson-jay-leno-796978/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220220014658/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/taraji-p-henson-jay-leno-796978/ February 20, 2022Littleton Cynthia December 19, 2014 Craig Ferguson Signs Off 'Late Late Show' with Jay Leno, Homage to Classic TV Finales Variety https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/craig-ferguson-signs-off-late-late-show-with-jay-leno-homage-to-classic-tv-finales-1201384206/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20211121115217/https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/craig-ferguson-signs-off-late-late-show-with-jay-leno-homage-to-classic-tv-finales-1201384206/ November 21, 2021 On February 13, 2015, Robert Smigel appeared in character as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon to promote The Jack and Triumph Show. During the interview, he joked about the conflict to a visibly nervous Fallon: "Listen, we love NBC. NBC... we kid, you know? NBC will always be the place where Jack and I got our start. And where they fucked Conan."Schwartz Ryan February 13, 2015 Video: Triumph Taunts Fallon About Nicole Kidman, Conan's Tonight Run Yahoo News https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather/video-triumph-taunts-jimmy-fallon-154153382.html August 17, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220817133528/https://www.yahoo.com/news/weather/video-triumph-taunts-jimmy-fallon-154153382.html August 17, 2022 As the controversy grew distant with time, formal acknowledgement of O'Brien's lengthy career at NBC became more common by the network. In 2017, mention was made of the host in NBC's 90th Anniversary Special,Paley Center Salutes NBC's 90th Anniversary, The (TV) https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=&p=1&item=129281 live https://web.archive.org/web/20220817133919/https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=&p=1&item=129281 August 17, 2022 August 17, 2022 Paley Center for Media and a display for him among all Tonight Show hosts appears in the ride queue of the Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon theme park attraction at Universal Studios Florida.Crampton Vincent July 10, 2017 Universal Orlando simulator ride review: Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon Orlando Sentinel https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/universal-orlando/os-universal-orlando-simulator-ride-review-race-through-new-york-starring-jimmy-fallon-20170710-story.html May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20210715124844/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/travel/attractions/universal-orlando/os-universal-orlando-simulator-ride-review-race-through-new-york-starring-jimmy-fallon-20170710-story.html July 15, 2021 In conjunction with his 25th anniversary as a late-night host, it was announced that O'Brien, TBS and NBC had come to an arrangement that would allow the entirety of O'Brien's late night archive (with the exception of musical performances, which posed music licensing issues), totaling over four thousand episodes, to become available in January 2019 via a state-of-the-art website dubbed "Conan 25". The launch would have marked the first time O'Brien's NBC programs were made legally available since The Tonight Show conflict.Burch Sean September 13, 2018 Conan O'Brien Celebrates 25th Anniversary on Late Night, Prepares Launch of 4,000-Episode Digital Archive TheWrap https://www.thewrap.com/conan-25-anniversary-late-night-archive/ live May 30, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20181002012323/https://www.thewrap.com/conan-25-anniversary-late-night-archive/ October 2, 2018 On June 15, 2021, in one of the final episodes of Conan, guest Martin Short alluded to the controversy by asking O'Brien if his to-be-announced guest for the final week was going to be Leno. After a surprised prolonged reaction from the audience and laughter from O'Brien and Richter, O'Brien joked, "I keep calling; I keep calling him and he doesn't answer. Someone's like, [using Jay Leno impersonation voice] "eh he's not here right now."Conan O'Brien, Martin Short June 15, 2021 Martin Short Full Interview Television production en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9hgdLLGH1s August 17, 2022 TBS O'Brien made his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on April 9, 2024, 14 years after the end of his tenure.4 April 2024 Conan O'Brien to Guest on 'The Tonight Show' in First Return to NBC Late Night Since Exiting the Network Variety https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/conan-obrien-tonight-show-return-after-firing-1235959922 4 April 2024D'Addario Daniel Conan O'Brien's Return to 'The Tonight Show' Was Melancholy, Powerful TV https://variety.com/2024/tv/columns/conan-o-brien-return-tonight-show-exit-1235966088/ 11 April 2024 Variety 10 April 2024 See also The War for Late Night, a book by Bill Carter about the conflict Series finale of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert References Sources Carter Bill The War for Late Night November 4, 2010 Viking Press 978-0-670-02208-3 Category:2010 in American television Category:Conan O'Brien Category:David Letterman Category:Jay Leno Category:Jimmy Fallon Category:NBC Category:Television controversies in the United States Tonight Show