Conan's statement about NBC late night

Saw this on LaineyGossip Good for him, this whole thing is so messed up.


People of Earth:
In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting
audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule. Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot.
That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.

Yours,
Conan

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

awwww, I love conan

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

I'm glad hes taking a stand....sad to see him go but I think its BS what they did

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

He (Conan) got bent over with no vaseline, while Jay gets it all. And if his failing timeslot and show isn't enough proof that he and his show have jumped the shark, I dont know what is.

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

Jay should step down...his show is the one that failed...if people don't want to watch him at 10 - they don't want to watch him at 11:35 (IMO)

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

I am happy Conan took a stance---Jay is theone nobody wants tow atcha nd if they do let him back on at 11:35, up against Letterman, I think he will lose any viewers he has left-just on principle for what he did to Conan

I feel bad for Conana-he uprooted his whole life and family from NY to relocate to Cali too.

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

I am really angry over this...

I learned something about Conan (and about Leno) during the writer's strike a few years back--one has raw talent, and the other clearly does not. Leno went into reruns almost immediately, and Conan went on with his show, writing his own material for the better part of two months. It was the BEST I had ever seen Conan, and it made me realize that it's not Conan's writers that make him so good at what he does...yet they're willing to keep Leno on, just to appease him.

I am extremely disappointed in this decision and think that Conan's right--if this moves forward, it'll be the end of the Tonight Show era

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

Re: Conan's statement about NBC late night

I agree with what everyone else stated.

I haven't watched 1 full episode of Leno. Not even 30 mins.

I hate what they're doing to Conan. I'm seriously considering writing NBC and letting them know how disappointed about this.