Jay Leno TO Turn Over 'THE TONIGHT SHOW' to Conan in 2009

[jlaking]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=6345477

Jay Leno will retire at the end of his current five-year contract in 2009 and be replaced by Conan O'Brien, the network said on Monday.


I guess that CBS will have to find some one else to replace Dave Letterman when he steps down.

[Kury Wagner]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=6345477

Jay Leno will retire at the end of his current five-year contract in 2009 and be replaced by Conan O'Brien, the network said on Monday.:eek:

:eek:

WOOOOOOOHOOOOOO!!!!!! I love Conan, and can't stand Leno! Yay! That gives me something good to look forward to in '09!

[Patrick Bateman]

I'll miss Jay, but Conan is phenominal, and it'll be awesome to see him on the A-List show. :cool:

[Zach Williams]

YAY!! I cant stand Jay Leno, although he's good as the Crimson Chin in FairlyOddParents, but thats another story. Conan is good, but the best is Lettermen and Kilbourn, who is gone.:sad:

[Kury Wagner]

Kilbourn,Oh, I miss Craig! :( Does anyone remember when he hosted the Daily Show? That's just not the same without him.


P.S. Sorry for going a little off topic!


EDIT: [To Conekiller] Shame. . . *shakes head with grief*

[Conekiller]

I like Leno , but Conan is funnier and fresher.


and Kilborn has never been funny.

[Matt Hazuda]

Conan was always better than Leno and Kilbourn was just an arrogant jerk who wasn't funny.

[JDuncan]

Good move, and only about five or six years too late.

On Kilborn, I found him kind of funny on The Daily Show, but I think that was more the writers than Kilborn himself. Stewart is much, much, better anyway. I could only watch Kilborn's CBS show once, on account of how horribly lame it was. It was clear to me that he could not do it by himself.

[Beat]

Nice to see Conan get the timeslot he deserves.

Only...5 years to go.;)

[The Master Con]

Smart move doing it now before Conan's contract is up. If they had waited Conan would have easily been picked up by Fox or ABC, who were both willing to give him what he wants.

[Eddie G.]

Oh, I miss Craig! :( Does anyone remember when he hosted the Daily Show? That's just not the same without him. The Daily Show didn't really get good till Craig left, it wasn't all Craig's fault though. The show in general improved including the non-anchorman parts. But Stewart is a far better host and is a much more political person than Craig which made him being the host more appropriate.

I don't hate Leno but Conan is a lot betterer.

[loyalheart]

conan stinks. they could do better but i guess since he's already on NBC...and he was never better than Leno

[Artemis]

Oh, I miss Craig! :( Does anyone remember when he hosted the Daily Show? That's just not the same without him.



Damn right it ain't the same. It's BETTER. Stewart is much more funnier and political than Kilborne ever was.

Nice to see Conan get the promotion. Just gotta wait 'til '09.

[Frank Castle]

This is certainly a shock! I hope Triumph and everyone else transfers over.:)

[Eddie G.]

Conan is also a lot more like Carson than Leno ever was. Not just in the fact that Conan and Carson are just plain better, but their humor and stage presence are similar.

[Daredevil_2003]

Yes! Can't come soon enough, if you ask me, Conan is splendiferous. Leno, on the other hand, is mediocre at best, I cant stand him.

[Sugar Daddy]

I guess this isn't a common opinion, but I personally think Leno is the best. I don't find Letterman that funny, and Kilborn was ok. Conan I think is pretty funny, but I never really watched to much of him and Kilborn because I go to sleep! :)


I guess Jay had to retire at some point, but I'm happy we still have 4 more years to go! :)

[Speedy Boris]

Conan is also a lot more like Carson than Leno ever was. Not just in the fact that Conan and Carson are just plain better, but their humor and stage presence are similar. I think Letterman's old Late Night show (1982-1993) was pretty similar to Conan and Carson as well. Like they weren't afraid to try new acts or let their hair down.

Anyway, it's sad to see Leno go in 4 years. He's made me crack up fairly consistently, though I still like Conan better. Oh well, atleast he got a good replacement!

[The Landstander]

I just hope Conan can stay as funny as he was in the new timeslot (see: Letterman's really good late late night show becoming an okay late night show).

I never found Leno funny in the slightest, I really won't miss him at all.

[jlaking]

Smart move doing it now before Conan's contract is up. If they had waited Conan would have easily been picked up by Fox or ABC, who were both willing to give him what he wants.



Actually Conan's current contract expires next year but this pretty much comfirms that he will sign the next one.


I think that the next question should be 'Who will replace Conan on Late Night?'

[Xfox]

Leno will not be missed by me, that's for sure. Good for Conan! We could use a comedian who's actually funny at the 11:30 slot. Let's hope he doesn't lose his edge, but that's five years in the future, so who knows?

[SirLemming]

Awesome! ...although now I won't be able to watch Letterman and Conan sequentially... Well, I usually don't watch all of either show anyway.

Does this mean Conan will get to do ACTUAL headlines instead of... Actual Items?

[Sugar Daddy]

Will Conan still tape his show in NY or will he come out to LA?


Speaking of which, what will happen to Kevin and John and company? :)
It's way too far in advance to have answers to those questions, I assume, but I'm still curious.

[krazymed]

NBC did not want Conan jumping over to CBS to take over The Late Late Show. That's exactly what happened with David Letterman in 1993 and they got burned for it.

[Quagmire]

Another question is Letterman. With his health, its doubtful that he could be around for the next 5 years either.

Dave would be 63 in 2009, Leno will be retiring at age 59.

Can't wait for Conan to take it over.

[Fone Bone]

Carson= King among men
Conan=funny and getting better
Leno=unfunny joke whore
Jon Stewart=Best thing to ever happen to The Daily Show
Craig Kilborn=insufferably smug
Letterman=Master showman

[The Dork Knight]

I really hope Max comes along with Conan. I've always liked him more than Kevin.

Since Conan is going to start hosting The Tonight Show, I wonder if he will start sucking up to the guests like Leno does.

TDK

[SirLemming]

I really hope Max comes along with Conan. I've always liked him more than Kevin.

Since Conan is going to start hosting The Tonight Show, I wonder if he will start sucking up to the guests like Leno does.

TDKI really hope he takes the band with him. Not so much for the music, although I probably like their music better, but they've got some great chemistry (or intentional lack thereof). Whereas Kevin Eubanks just seems to be on some great chemistry. Seriously, the guy seems to just randomly blabber on about whatever Jay Leno just said and make stupid comments that would be better off left in his own head.

[Enrique]

it's odd, i was watching leno last night making this announcement, but the way he said it made it seem like NBC told him "we'd rather give your show to conan than renew your contract in '09" ... but a second later leno started praising conan, so it just gives this odd impression that leno not only didn't like the news but wasn't even involved in it.

also, someone mentioned NBC got burned when letterman went to CBS (i hate letterman, btw). true, NBC did lose out, but patience was their friend, and only a couple years later, leno dominated late night, so in the end it's really CBS who got the burn.

[TimTwoFace]

This is certainly great news, even if it's a wee bit premature. I love Conan (and never watch Leno). The only problem is that with Conan and Letterman (my two favourites) potentially going head to head in the near future, I don't know who I'll watch and who I'll pass on. :sad:

Then again, maybe ol' Dave will retire by then...but I hope not.

And I also hope that this means that the Tonight Show will be pretty similar to Late Night with Conan O'Brian - that show is near perfect as it is, and I wouldn't want any drastic altercations to make it a "clone" of Leno or Carson or whatever. Conan is unique and totally off the wall, and that's why so many people love him. He's a lot more like Letterman (to the power of 10) and isn't nearly as dry as Leno is.

I can't remember the last time I've watched the Tonight Show, to be honest - except when I switch after Letterman to catch Conan and I see the final credits roll.

-Tim

[The Master Con]

Speaking of which, what will happen to Kevin and John and company?
They'll be taken in the back room and will never be seen again.

Seriously. Kevin is either stoned or just plain stupid, and I can't really stand John that much in all honesty.

[Pyro]

Hmm, I can't really picture Conan on The Tonight Show. His style is so different from Jay's. He certainly wouldn't be able to do as many self depreciating jokes if he's finally on the "better" show. I do like Late Night w/COB better, but I find it interesting that Conan is pursuing such a long career. Hasn't been on Late Night for 11 years already? 5 more years on Late night and a new run on TTS is a little much isn't it? (I'm not familiar with the average runs of late night talk show hosts)

[Chris Wood]

And I also hope that this means that the Tonight Show will be pretty similar to Late Night with Conan O'Brian - that show is near perfect as it is, and I wouldn't want any drastic altercations to make it a "clone" of Leno or Carson or whatever. Conan is unique and totally off the wall, and that's why so many people love him. He's a lot more like Letterman (to the power of 10) and isn't nearly as dry as Leno is.


-Tim

Late Night is almost perfect now, except for the monologue. This is the one area where Jay dominates. Of course that's mostly due to the writers, who presumably would work for Conan when he takes over, so everything should be cool. Conan will probaby have to tone things down just a tad though, which is a shame.

Letterman hasn't been truly funny in years and Carson is like watching paint dry.

[Boy Wonder]

It sucks that the Late Night w/ COB is not on Comedy Central anymore, but its awesome hearing Leno will be replaced by O'Brien in 2009. O'Brien will be 50 when he gets it!

[SSJPabs]

I thought Jay did this so Conan wouldn't leave. I'd heard he wanted to move on and try new things and hence, this announcement.

Isn't Leno still beating Letterman in ratings?

And isn't AS still beating them both in the 18-34 demo?

[Fone Bone]

Hmm, I can't really picture Conan on The Tonight Show. His style is so different from Jay's. He certainly wouldn't be able to do as many self depreciating jokes if he's finally on the "better" show. I do like Late Night w/COB better, but I find it interesting that Conan is pursuing such a long career. Hasn't been on Late Night for 11 years already? 5 more years on Late night and a new run on TTS is a little much isn't it? (I'm not familiar with the average runs of late night talk show hosts)
Dave's been at it for twenty years and Carson was on the Tonight Show for twenty-nine.:eek:

[Beat]

Conan should bring the Max Weinberg 7 with him. Considering that those guys are part of half of his skits (See La Bamba), it would cut his comedic arsenal if he didn't.

[Pyro]

Dave's been at it for twenty years and Carson was on the Tonight Show for twenty-nine.:eek:":eek:" indeed. Oh well, I guess Conan's got quite a ways to go.
BTW, Everyone's talking Johnny Carson not Carson Daily right? (JC's before my time so I'm just making sure)

[Mysteryinfoman]

Conan is way better than Jay imo. That'll be cool to see Conan getting that spot.

[The Penguin]

I think that the next question should be 'Who will replace Conan on Late Night?'Not Carson Daley.

[NinjaJack]

Not Carson Daley.If Jay Leno can leave half the audience in a dead monolog, Daley would be arrested for mass murder.