Leno's last `Tonight' is May 29; O'Brien in June 1

[onehandle]

Source: AP

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. - Conan O'Brien will take over the "Tonight" show next June — and what happens to deposed host Jay Leno after that is anybody's guess.

Leno's last show will be Friday, May 29, and O'Brien will start the following Monday, June 1, NBC executives told a Television Critics Association meeting Monday.

NBC is angling to keep Leno with NBC Universal but the late-night king has indicated he's ready to jump ship. Eager NBC competitors, including other networks and syndicators, are prepared to help him make the leap.

Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff, NBC Entertainment co-chairmen, were asked about the specter of Leno being hired by ABC and overpowering O'Brien and top-rated "Tonight." "We really believe in the decisions we've made with our partners, including Jay," and stand by them, Silverman replied.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080722/ap_on_en_tv/tv_nbc_late_night

[liberal N proud]

1. Rumor has it that Leno will have a show on ABC

[JI7]

2. so why leave his current show

if he still wants to continue doing a show ?

[liberal N proud]

4. Leaving NBC may not be his idea...

Back in 2002, Disney's Bob Iger was ready to jettison the late night news show in a heartbeat if he could lure David Letterman away from CBS. It almost happened -- that is, until word leaked out that Disney was axing ABC's best news program starring its best news anchor Ted Koppel. There was a shitstorm of protest.


Then, in 2004, Iger sought again to steal a late night host -- this time, Conan. That was when Zucker, in order to keep O'Brien at NBC, promised to make Conan host of The Tonight Show in 2009 -- thus explaining the origins of Leno's non-stop animosity towards the pint-sized Big Media prez/CEO. Given that Leno is still the late night ratings leader, Iger is circling, along with Fox and Sony television. After all, Koppel's gone, and Nightline is an afterthought.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/15/jay-leno-hints-at-abc-fut_n_112827.html

[JI7]

5. but wasn't it Leno's decision to leave which allowed them to offer Conan

that spot after Leno left ?

[LiberalFighter]

10. Ted Koppel their best news anchor? He sucked and the show sucked.

[Ian David]

3. Good riddance. n/t

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

6. So Leno has comic timing

He's still just another Repug.

[Joe Bacon]

11. You got that right!

I still remember how he endlessly kissed Arnold's ass. Good riddance, Jay :puke:

[DarthDem]

7. Yay.

Detest him. Love Conan.

[Flagg]

8. Fuck Leno

[Auggie]

9. No loss -- Letterman is more hip and way funnier

[Bob Dobbs]

12. Leno is unwatchable.

Panderer to lowest common denominator idiots.

Thugged Johnny Carson to get the job in the first place.

Get off and stay off, jerk off.

[gatorboy]

13. I always thought Leno did his best stuff when he was on Letterman's show.

Leno would do his "What's your beef" bit and he and David played well off one another.

[MadrasT]

14. Meh.

My heart belongs to Johnny Carson and David Letterman. I don't much care for Leno or O'Brien...

[Stinky The Clown]

15. See ya, Jay ...... you loser

Ya begged and groveled and cheated to steal the show from Letterman even though Carson wanted him to have it.

And now you're going to ABC????

Fuck you, Jay. You **still** won't have me as a viewer.

Pssst .... and Jay ....... ?

Johnny thought you were an asshole. Ask Ed.