September 27, 200421 yr Conan to Take Over 'Tonight' in Five Years By DAVID BAUDER, AP Television Writer NEW YORK - NBC announced Monday that Conan O'Brien will take over from Jay Leno as host of the "Tonight" show. But he'll have time to write his jokes ? the planned succession won't happen until 2009. The announcement solves a delicate problem for NBC, which realized O'Brien was getting antsy in his "Late Night" time slot (12:35 a.m. Eastern) and wanted to keep him from jumping to another network. Leno planned to make the announcement on Monday's edition of "Tonight," a special celebration of the talk show's 50th anniversary. "In 2009, I'll be 59 years old and will have had this dream job for 17 years," Leno said. "When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor and there is no one more qualified than Conan." "Plus, I promised Mavis I would take her out for dinner before I turned 60," the notoriously workaholic Leno said about his wife. Leno took over from Johnny Carson (news) on "Tonight" in 1992 and after a few years of trailing the man he beat out for the job in the ratings ? David Letterman ? he passed the CBS star and has been dominant in the time slot. An unknown at the time, O'Brien had the thankless job of taking over from Letterman on "Late Night," and he was nearly fired after several weeks of painful shows. But he recovered and has been a critical and commercial success. But O'Brien has openly talked about wanting to move on and, in the late-night world, that means an earlier time slot. This is great news for Conan fans.
September 28, 200421 yr Finally.....Conan is great and Leno isn't even very funny. Sucks that they are waiting until 2009 though.
September 28, 200421 yr well, fox did offer conan a couple months ago to be on at 11:30. and fox was willing to dump ALOT of $$$ on conan, but he refused :plain
September 28, 200421 yr great news, i wonder who will take over conans spot.... 574931[/snapback] maybe jon stewart (just making wild guess)
September 28, 200421 yr This only happened because Letterman will leave before Leno and Kilborn's slot was open for Conan to get into waiting while under contract. Pre-emptive strike by the peacock.
September 28, 200421 yr I'm not sure the Leno crowd is ready for the masturbating bear.. 575216[/snapback] lol
September 28, 200421 yr great news, i wonder who will take over conans spot.... 574931[/snapback] 575182[/snapback] Make Borat a host!
September 28, 200421 yr I really don't like Conan, I prefer Leno....but we have until 2009 to see Conan change into the Tonight Show's host like Jay did.
September 28, 200421 yr I really don't like Conan, I prefer Leno....but we have until 2009 to see Conan change into the Tonight Show's host like Jay did. 575387[/snapback] Wow your posts constantly sound like their coming from a 70 year old.
September 28, 200421 yr I really don't like Conan, I prefer Leno....but we have until 2009 to see Conan change into the Tonight Show's host like Jay did. 575387[/snapback] Wow your posts constantly sound like their coming from a 70 year old. 575563[/snapback] thanks....Leno is funny. Jaywalking is great. Conan reminds me of a 4 year old lol
September 28, 200421 yr I really don't like Conan, I prefer Leno....but we have until 2009 to see Conan change into the Tonight Show's host like Jay did. 575387[/snapback] Wow your posts constantly sound like their coming from a 70 year old. 575563[/snapback] thanks....Leno is funny. Jaywalking is great. Conan reminds me of a 4 year old lol 575572[/snapback] I was trying to insult you... Let me try again... Your posts constantly sound like their coming from a 15 year old.
September 29, 200421 yr It's good that Conan is being rewarded for being the s*** but honestly, I really hope he doesn't have to be watered down for a wider audience. I've been a fan for nearly 10 years (used to tape it) and I like it the way it is. And please don't tell me they'll give Conan's show to Carson Daly. :confused
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