Ooh, now this is intriguing: Variety columnist Brian Lowry suspects that Jay Leno (pictured, with guest Jennifer Love Hewitt) may not go so quietly when the time comes for him to transfer power to his successor, Conan O’Brien, in 2009. An excerpt:
Given the shortage of personalities capable of enduring the daily grind, Leno could dock in any number of ports should he wish to continue hosting a latenight show. And while he has given no indication of a desire to do so, the smart money says that a comic who stacks 150 corporate and club dates on top of his Tonight chores won’t be content to simply go headline at Caesars Palace.
This, to me, is great news. Not because I’m particularly fond of Leno (although really, is there anything more raucously entertaining than Jay putting together a reel of clips he found on YouTube, then uploading that entire segment to… YouTube?) but because the early ’90s battle for the Tonight Show gig between Leno and Letterman led to the best comedy of the latter’s career, and I’m in favor of any skirmish that forces other people to step up their game. Late-night TV is at its best when rocked with scandal and fueled by rage. We should all be so lucky. Don’t go down without a fight, Jay!
(PS: That said, I’d rather watch Conan. You?)
In unrelated news, I went to the Hello Deli to grab some meatloaf yesterday, and in the five minutes that I stood there, a grand total of 11 different people came in to have their picture taken with proprietor/Letterman sidekick Rupert Jee. I found this situation both hilarious and incredibly frustrating, as it was preventing me from getting my damn meatloaf. Thus, PopWatchers, I must beg of you: If you’re in town and taking the minor-celebrity tour of New York, please be aware that sometimes there are actual NYC residents underfoot. And sometimes, we’re just trying to order our damn meatloaf and get off the streets before the line for The Color Purple blocks the door to our building again, okay? Thanks.
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Jay needs to stay, Conan is good but not that good, and will not fill Jays shoes at all.
I have to agree. I love Conan, but I don’t see him playing to as broad an audience as the unoffensive, always-good-for-at-least-a-chuckle Leno. Leno is also just a BETTER stand-up. Conan wastes time and uses lots of fillers. Leno gets right to the material, keeps it moving…
Anyone who thinks Conan isn’t going to do a great job is sadly mistaken. Jay is good for being on in the background while I fall asleep. I actually want to stay up and watch Conan.
It’s change people. It has to happen. I guess if it was up to you, Steve Allen would still be hosting the Tonight Show.
These comments assume that Conan can’t change his pitch up. Everyone thinks he’s going to import Late Night into The Tonight Show. Not the case. Conan is no dummy. He knows how to speak to different audiences. Look at the bang up job he did with the Emmy’s this year! Same gig as the Tonight Show. At least from the realm of what is “safe” comedy and what isn’t.
I really can’t express in words how boring Jay Leno is. Rarely does he make me laugh. It’ll be a breath of fresh air having Conan in that timeslot. Regis asked Conan last night, “Are you going to change anything when you take over the Tonight Show?” Conan’s response:
“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Can’t wait for 2009.
the same way jay didn’t fill johnny’s shoes, conan won’t fill jay’s. luckily, jay’s aren’t that nice a pair. conan has his own brand of comedy, one more versatile than people think. he won’t come on the show and send the masturbating bear out onto the audience members. give him more credit, he’s the man for the job.
I love Craig Ferguson. I think he should switch from CBS to NBC when Jay leaves and take the Tonight Show gig. I can do without Conan.
I think Conan O’Brien is a brilliant stand-up and comedian, but on the rare occasion that I watch his show with people over 50 present, they are always confused and completely baffled by this 6-foot-tall pale guy jumping around like a lunatic doing all these crazy voices and dances! This is why part of me knows that when he takes over The Tonight Show, he’ll drop all that wacky, inane humor which is tailor-made for my born-in-the-80s generation. I guess we’ll just have to enjoy these last three years of Late Night!
The Easter BUnny clip is HALARIOUS!
Too bad YouTube will be defunct when Google gets a hold of it. There’s an interesting video on Google Video shot on 9/11. The couple who shot it live about 500 ft from the Twin Towers and caught the whole thing. IT WAS EDITED TO DEATH!
omg! craig ferguson sucks! he’s the worst late night host ever! not funny in the least. really just stupid.
To be honest, I enjoy all the late nite talk show hosts, but Conan is my favorite. I hope they do not water down his humor when he takes over the Tonight Show
Leno is so NOT funny. His show is so generic. Whereas Letterman really has his own thing going on, what with the random things like “Will It Float?”, dropping things off the top of the theater, or having his assistant stand on the corner in a Little Bo Peep outfit with a sheep in tow. Leno only took over Carson’s spot; Letterman created his own niche.
I think Conan’s a lot like Letterman, in terms of being an original host with innovative bits. Unfortunately, that means he probably won’t do as well as Leno, because Conan’s brand of humor won’t appeal to everyone.
That said, Conan deserves the Tonight Show spot, and Leno desperately needs to get kicked to the curb. But when Conan starts going up against Letterman, I’m going to have alternate between the two and make heavy use of my DVR!
what???? i love jay leno he cracks me up but i must confess i only watch the monologue i hope he stays till i get out of school and get a job then i won’t be staying up to watch tv
People said Dave couldn’t play to a broad audience. In a way, he hasn’t. Leno has beaten him since the beginning. The broad audience is the problem. I’ve seen the Tonight show a few times in the last 15 years. I am always amazed at how lame Jay is.
I have been at odds with Jay Leno since he took over the Tonight show. I saw him perform stand up comedy in 1988 and he was by far the best stand up I have ever seen. So much so he inspire me to become one today (no you have never heard of me).
But on the Tonight show he is just so lame and boring, none of the jokes work andhis interviewing never got past a marginal stage (wheneve there is a British person on, he does a british accent..really Jay?)
So that leads me to believe that it is the netowrk, not the host that makes the show so boring.
Is there anyone more boring than Jay Leno? I don’t think so. Wake me when his show ends.
I loved Leno back in the 80s, he had a real edge to his humor. But he’s terrible on The Tonight Show, just completely unwatchable, I don’t even think his monologue is funny. Sure he gets good ratings, but so did Full House, and Jerry Springer, high ratings doesn’t equal quality. I’ll be glad when anyone takes over, I don’t care who.
I actually like Jay better than Letterman, by a lot, but I’d definitely rather watch Conan. He just does something for me.
I like Jay Leno, but don’t like the Tonight Show. I love Conan, but fear that by putting him on the Tonight Show, they’ll force him to tone down his cutting edge humor.
Dave is the best.
Even though Jay will be leaving the Tonight Show I don’t think he’ll be leaving television. I don’t really see him hosting a rival talk show to compete against Conan. That’s just not Jay. I can see him hosting a series about cars and auto repair on the Discovery Channel. They could base a tv series around his regular column in Popular Mechanics magazine.
Yes, please get Jay Leno on some basic cable show about cars that I will never watch in a million years, just get that moon faced creature off of a once proud show. The Tonight Show had a proud history, Jack Parr, Johnny Carson…Jay Leno?!?!? The once great show is being held hostage by the king of the hacks, dancing Ito’s, Ross the intern, good God, there are some people out there that will laugh at literally anything.
Conan O’Brien is an ‘in love with himself blowhard’ that will never replace Jay Leno.
Watch the ratings go into the dumps when Leno leaves.
Leno’s constant jibes at NBC are an indication of the animosity between him and NBC and I don’t think Jay is a fan of O’Brien’s either. He’d rather be replaced by a real comedian instead of a ‘wannabe’.
CRAIG FERGUSON’s ratings are Dropping like a Lead Baloon, as he becomes the Mouthpiece for the Extreme Liberal left.
His entire Monologue is Liberal Politics and he Mocks Our War Hero John McCain.
Is that what New Citizenship means to Craig Ferguson?
I guess he wants Socialism as Obama does.
Will he enjoy it when Obama takes a Bigger Chunk of Taxes out of Fergusons $8 Million dollars a year Salary?
Obama is also in lock-step with Khaldi who called The Victims of 9/11 “Little Eichmans, Nazis”
Good work Ferguson. Maybe you should do some Homework.