Update: NBC Plan Would Move Leno Back to Late Nights (Conan at 12:05)

[Starbucks Anarchist]

Source: NYT

Pressed by affiliates and shrinking ratings, NBC has a plan in the works to radically alter its late-night television lineup, restoring Jay Leno to his old spot at 11:35 each weeknight, while pushing the man who replaced him, Conan O’Brien, to a starting time of 12:05 a.m.

NBC executives held extensive discussions with both Mr. Leno and Mr. O’Brien Thursday about the future of the network’s late-night lineup.

And while NBC officially said no final decision on the plan has been made, two senior NBC executives who have talked to NBC’s top management about the moves said that under the plan being discussed Mr. Leno would definitely shift back to 11:35 but in a half-hour format, while Mr. O’Brien would slide back his start time by a half hour and then produce an hour-long show.

“We remain committed to keeping Conan O’Brien on NBC,” the network said in a statement Thursday evening. “He is a valued part of our late-night line-up, as he has been for more than 16 years and is one of the most respected entertainers on television.”

Read more: http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/update-nbc-plans-leno-at-1130-conan-at-12/

[ellie]

1. Leno should retire.

[onehandle]

2. Leno sucks. Does America really prefer this dinosaur of a hack?

Idiots.

[Sebastian Doyle]

3. Leno does suck. Jimmy Fallon sucks far worse.

If they decide to give Leno back his old time slot in any capacity, they should cut that useless turd Fallon, not Conan.

[theoldman]

4. NBC needs to fire the guys who made the change in the first place.

If Letterman gets in first place, something is really wrong.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. will this kill Jimmy Fallon's show?

because THAT is a real waste of air

[gimama]

6. craig ferguson

o,man! I just recently starting watching, & LOVE this Guy.
Just posting his name made me smile. Any other fans here?

[spiderpig]

7. MeMeMe!

Love Craig!:loveya:

[kurtzapril4]

8. I love Craig Ferguson!

Count me in!

[gimama]

10. "ME,TOOO!"

with that accent & twisted grin!

Hey! Welcome to DU!!:fistbump: Have FUN!

[gimama]

9. I KNOW!!! (did Ya hear the accent?!)

That Guy is SOOOO funny! I even find m'Self singing the theme song at odd moments!
Goood to see Ya!~ I'll wave at You tonite, when he comes on :hi:

[spiderpig]

17. I love his theme - I even downloaded it.

Have you read his book - "American by Choice"?

[gimama]

23. Not YET! On my list!

"It's a GREAT day for America, Ever'body!"

HE is not just crazy 'n' quircky.. You can see he's a sweeet-Spirit!

..so do YOU go around singin' his song???
& can You do it in Spanish??? :applause:

[spiderpig]

25. Nope, sorry - though maybe I could translate into 5th grade French.

(I especially like the line "You can always sleep through work tomorrow, OK?"):rofl:
Craig was a drummer in a punk band and that really is him.
Love him totally. And he really engages with his guests. Got him on Tivo season pass.

[gimama]

29. THAT's my favorite line,too!

HEY-HEY!!!;)

[spiderpig]

30. "Tomorrow's just your future yesterday..."

Bom-bom-bom-bom, bom-bom-bom-bom, bom-bom-bom-bom, bom-bom-bom-bom...(toes tapping as I type)

[gimama]

33. Spider-pig = Super-FAN!

YOU are toooo funny, too!
Now, I'm all excited, waiting for tonight's show!

:woohoo:
Hey-HEY!

[Fearless]

48. How did the pig tracks get on the ceiling!?!?! +1

[givemebackmycountry]

14. OK

Craig says his show is mostly watched by stoners - and he delivers for his audience.
He is SO off the wall he's the only guy on TV where I really don't know what he's going to come out with next.

YOU MUST see his 1000th show delivered mostly by puppets.
The alligator-croc puppet did the guest interviews and it was hysterical.
Go to his website and watch it -

It's VERY funny.

[gimama]

19. I saw it, but missed HIM, tooo much!

Maybe I'll watch it again.. I LOVED his Christmas Tree.."extravaganza"!
I can't believe he's been on for YEARS without me seein' it!
YOU are right.. Ya NEVER know what goofiness will happen!
HE is tooooo CRAZY!LOVE it!:hi:

[aquart]

42. Try to find his speech on why we vote.

Now that was an opening monolog.

[spiderpig]

21. Wavy the Alligator -

:rofl: ("What-a-do, everybody?")

[gimama]

24. aaaaaahhhhhh!

:rofl: can't type while rollin' around on the floorrrr!

[Corgigal]

44. I got Wavy for Christmas

My husband called some store to find out if he was in stock but called him What-ado. Clerk at the store said Oh Wavy. He arrived Christmas Eve and its very hard to do that little wavy. Silly but a fun gift.

[dhill926]

20. Big time fan of CF.....

rarely get to see it due to the hour, but when I do, I love the show. He's smart and quick and cool, everything Leno ain't.

[gimama]

26. "if Ya have cable, Ya ain't watchin' THIS show!"

best kept secret on the teeveee!
I record it, & watch some shows several times.. He IS incredibly quick & quick-witted.. seems to me,it takes several viewings, to fully appreciate many of his shows!
:woohoo:

[Dappleganger]

22. He puts me to sleep 5 nights a week...

better than Tylenol PM, LOL!

[gimama]

28. Laughter & Smiles are goood medicine!

only side effects are spontaneous giggles,
the next day, "for no apparent reason"!:crazy:

[onehandle]

31. I like Ferguson, O'Brien, and Letterman. Leno needs to be put out to pasture with Rich Little.

I still think they're the same person.

[aquart]

41. Why, yes.

[UTUSN]

11. Note to NBC: Desperate; clueless; floundering---that's YOU!1 n/t

[JerseygirlCT]

12. Why would they do anything to keep Leno?

Hasn't he pretty definitively proven that he's boring?

[Fearless]

18. He caters to older people as compared to Conan apparently.

[xxqqqzme]

39. people who think Clinton penis jokes are still funny.

Booooorrrrrrrriiiiinnnnggggg.

[aquart]

43. EXCUSE ME?

No television executive caters to "old people." There is one demo they want and one demo only: 18-34, in a pinch 18-49, especially men. That's what the idiot advertisers think will help them.

[Fearless]

47. First, I said "older", second I said "apparently"

It's code that tv execs use in many ways to mean more conservative people OR people who like more traditional humor. Conan's humor is more risque than Leno's is. He is also much more liberal than Leno. He is liked by a much younger audience as polling has dictated. "Older" is a general term the same that 18 is older than 17. It is not an insult or a slur or a degenerative statement. So, with all due respect, excuse me.

[Renew Deal]

13. What a nightmare... particularly for Conan

NBC screwed Conan as soon as they put Leno on at 11, because Conan was fighting for guests with Leno. It was all a huge mistake.

[MessiahRp]

27. Not to mention Leno was such a weak lead in...

Leno's ratings have been pretty horrific as well. Gone are the ratings The Tonight Show used to get in part from strong lead-in shows.

Rp

[Teaser]

15. fail

he needs someone to cockpunch him daily, just so he doesn't forget what a fail move this was.

[Fearless]

16. The reason Leno isn't getting ratings is because HE SUCKS.

There's no big mystery about it.

[rcrush]

50. NBC's response? Shove him down your throat.

YOU WILL WATCH JAY LENO AND LIKE IT

[Libertas1776]

32. Well,

at least he lasted longer than Chevy.

[qanda]

34. It was a terrible idea from the start!

Why can't they just let him retire like he was supposed to be doing? I do wonder what will happen to Jimmy Fallon's show if this takes place.

[tinrobot]

35. Letterman/Ferguson

Nothing beats it. Nothing will.

As much as I love Conan's sense of humor, Letterman has more substance.

[aquart]

40. Letterman has Rachel.

[Blasphemer]

36. God, I hate Jay Leno but NBC screwed the pooch big time here

Either move on from Leno or don't but don't half ass it.

[MilesColtrane]

37. The Late, Great Bill Hicks on Jay Leno:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWB-kd09GXY

[Skink]

38. I think Andy Richter should get one night a week.

[IRemember]

45. Just get rid of Jimmy Fallon. He is the worst of all. nt

[pstokely]

46. If they fire Leno or Conan, another network will probably hire them

nt

[rcrush]

49. Way to stay 4th place NBC!

And why are repeating 1993 all over again?