Breaking News: Conan O'Brien Blasts NBC, Refuses to Host The Tonight Show
Credit: Theo Wargo/WireImage.com
No joke: Conan O'Brien says he will not host The Tonight Show if it is moved to 12:05 a.m.
NBC has announced it is moving The Jay Leno Show to 11:35 p.m. in March, moving O'Brien's Tonight Show back 30 minutes.
See today's top celeb news photos!
Leno seems to agree with the move, but in a harsh statement (read below), O'Brien slams it.
He writes:
People of Earth:
In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.
But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.
Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late localnews. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.
So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.
There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.
Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.
Yours, Conan
Tell Us What You Think
152Conan has a spoiled brat attitude, and he is also the very last one I would call funny. I imagine his humor would be more suited to college age and younger, but not to those that appreciate the finer things of life. Bring Jay back pronto! Let that whining Conan go play with the kiddies, where he belongs.
I am so proud of Conan for taking a stand! It seems like all NBC wants to do is bend over backwards to kiss Jay leno's a**!!
you know, Leno promised his wife he would quit and spend time with her. He promised Conan the tonight show spot. He promised the public he would always be doing clean comedy. Maybe Letterman was right, certainly NBC is wrong and has been for many years, probably why they are doing so well (ha ha ha).
Conan sucked before, and now even more people know it. Leno was #1 when he was pushed out. NBC's at fault for not extending Leno on the Tonight Show and letting Conan continue at his old slot. Oh well, now everyone's unhappy.
i love conan! i agree the tonight show wouldnt be the same if it were moved to a new time slot! TEAM CONAN all the way!!!
team conan all the way this is B.S its his new show let him have it jays already had the show for 18 years so yeah let conan have his time on the show and by "time" i dont mean 7 months!
Some of you people are ridiculous. Keep in mind that it was Jay's show. He didn't quit, he was pushed out by NBC for some reason that only they understand. He should still be the host of the Tonight Show now. It's ridiculous to act like he's at fault and attack him for the screw up of the network. Personally I feel that the show shouldn't have been given to Conan at this point in the first place. This shouldn't be an issue now at all.
TEAM CONAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Leno, it's time to go! You've had your chance! Now give Conan his!
NBC really sucks!! leave Conan where he is! Leno made his bed let him sleep in it!
Jay Leno should just quit. He couldn't make it in prime time, that's not Conan's fault. Leave Conan to the task of finding his feet on the Tonight Show. Give him time! Jay, go sit on a beach or buy another car to play with.
Shame on Jay Leno for not just bowing out and calling it quits. He agreed to the primetime move and if it didn't work out then he shouldn't be allowed to go back to where he was and kicking out Conan and Jimmy from jobs they've barely begun! It's not like we can all quit a job for another, and then expect our old job back when things don't work out! Jay/NBC is essentially putting Conan right back to the time slot that he was originally in and pushing back Jimmy even more.At least Conan had the grace to say HE wouldn't do anything like that to Jimmy becuz it would be unfair to him. Take a page from Conan's book Jay!!! It might be assumed that this is all NBC doing this but you can't tell me Jay isn't allowed to bow out on his own and allow Conan and Jimmy to be as they are. Shame on you Jay! Greed.
Good for him for standing up for what he believes in! If it's all real, anyway (or just hype to get NBC's ratings up).
I was never a fan of Leno and was glad he was retiring until he upset the whole 10:00 line up and I had to switch networks for entertainment. Give Conan a chance to succeed and let Jay fade into the background where he belongs to play with his car collection and bring back some decent programming at 10:00 p.m.
Conan is a class act and by far funnier than any other comedian on tv today!! His humor is a very intelligent humor, not manufactured but truly off the cuff.
I only started watching The Tonight Show BECAUSE of Conan being on at 11:35pm EST. Jay should just retire and depart quietly. (Nothing against Jay, but he's had his glory years.)
You cannot truly believe that Conan is a comedian....I mean, really? He is the WORST!!
Wow. This is awesome! This is a man who takes great pride in his work and the legacy of his show. Go Conan! Fight the corporate machi ne! LoL
Conan deserves better than The Tonight Show, which was never a good fit for his type of quirky humor anyway. He needs a better vehicle for his talent, which is huge. Something on another network. NBC sucks lately anyway. Their news sucks, their shows stink (mostly, not all) and they now owe Conan about a zillion dollars for breach-ing his contract.
With the eventual departure of Simon Cowell from "American Idol" next season and parent company FOX wanting Conan. Can a match be made?