Conan Is Not So Innocent

And there it is, Jay Leno is officially leaving NBC's top-rated The Tonight Show.

His final show will be Friday, 29 May 2009.

Why would NBC force Leno to walk away from a show that gets ratings as high as the Tonight Show and is a cash-making machine?

The answer is simple: Conan O'Brien.



You see, a few years ago, Conan's contract was up. Somehow, the press got word that ABC wanted to woo him away from NBC. NBC, desperate to hang on to the young male viewers that make up Late Night with Conan O'Brien, did everything they could to keep him. But Conan was firm, he wanted a 11:30 pm-spot, exactly what ABC was offering him (never mind that they already had Jimmy Kimmel Live!). So, NBC acquiesced to Conan's demands and promised to give him the Tonight Show after Jay Leno's contract expired...whether Jay wanted to quit or not.

And just like that, Jay was out and Conan was in.

Talk about ruthless.

I have to admit that I have completely gone off Conan in recent years (notwithstanding the occasional inspired bit like Triumph at Star Wars, Triumph Goes to India, or Conan Goes to Finland) and much prefer Craig Ferguson (The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson is on CBS opposite Conan). But I have to admit, this is some pretty astute (and ruthless) deal-making.

Of course, now all eyes will be on ABC to see if they can make room for Jay for a 11:30 pm show on their network, which would mean that Jimmy Kimmel would have to move, but then where would that leave Nightline?



Things are going to get very interesting!

Bottom line, no matter how "wild and crazy" he may look, you should never, never cross Conan O'Brien.


LINKS

NYT: Date Set for Leno Finale