Someone please reassure me that this rumor is untrue....

[todd]

I knew this was a SNAFU waiting to happen as soon as I realized that Conan really was going to LA.

It seems beyond idiotic that they would choose to do this.

EDIT: they should just let Leno go home to his car and chin waxing duties.

Maybe it's all for the best and maybe the networks will see that perhaps there is life after "late night" TV and they can find some way to create a new genre rather than continue with the dreck that has basically just been the millionth iteration of what Allen/Parr/Carson invented.

Perhaps there is life after the "desk/sofa/monologue/guest/band" formula, especially now that each and every second seems over-scripted and planned and there is not a moment of unpredictability during ANY of it.

Conan was great in the Late Night slot, but even that was getting stale, really stale.

Why can't TV writers get more say about changing it up a little? How about having a guest on that doesn't know each and every question on the little blue cards beforehand? How about an interview set up by (maximum) only three publicists and three producers?

Is a masturbating bear the best thing we're gonna have to look back on in our old age?

It seems kind of unfair to have let the genre stagnate this much.

...rant over.

I think you're kinda right. The format isn't perfect. I still hate the interviews with despicable celebrities, and I usually hate the monologues (that style of joke just feels so... grandfatherly to me) - but the show is worth watching for the bits between the two. I usually Hulu that 20 minutes when I'm bored.

That said, Conan as a comedian is fucking spectacular. Remember those strike shows? When he's unchained the show is so so so so so great. And he's the best we've got, so I'd like to see his show continue unfuckedwith.

[thom]

If this is true, I want so badly to assume the body of Jay Leno and pull a Tim and Eric Nite Live on NBC.

Or hey how about Zach G?

[Mark in Helsinki]

I knew this was a SNAFU waiting to happen as soon as I realized that Conan really was going to LA.

It seems beyond idiotic that they would choose to do this.

EDIT: they should just let Leno go home to his car and chin waxing duties.

Maybe it's all for the best and maybe the networks will see that perhaps there is life after "late night" TV and they can find some way to create a new genre rather than continue with the dreck that has basically just been the millionth iteration of what Allen/Parr/Carson invented.

Perhaps there is life after the "desk/sofa/monologue/guest/band" formula, especially now that each and every second seems over-scripted and planned and there is not a moment of unpredictability during ANY of it.

Conan was great in the Late Night slot, but even that was getting stale, really stale.

Why can't TV writers get more say about changing it up a little? How about having a guest on that doesn't know each and every question on the little blue cards beforehand? How about an interview set up by (maximum) only three publicists and three producers?

Is a masturbating bear the best thing we're gonna have to look back on in our old age?

It seems kind of unfair to have let the genre stagnate this much.

...rant over.

I think you're looking for Last Call with Carson Daly. Good Luck!

Really? I never even momentarily considered watching it... Not that it's on here in Conanland, I mean Finland. (Co-Co is huge here, week old episodes played twice daily...).

[Christina]

I think you're kinda right. The format isn't perfect. I still hate the interviews with despicable celebrities, and I usually hate the monologues (that style of joke just feels so... grandfatherly to me) - but the show is worth watching for the bits between the two. I usually Hulu that 20 minutes when I'm bored.

That said, Conan as a comedian is fucking spectacular. Remember those strike shows? When he's unchained the show is so so so so so great. And he's the best we've got, so I'd like to see his show continue unfuckedwith.

I agree the format isn't perfect, but some of the charm is in that -- and much comedy mileage was made from that. Letterman always mocks the show as he goes, Conan I think maybe mocks himself. but I think what's really killed late night shows is being able to youtube/hulu it ... as has been stated, since these interviews are scripted to death, so there is no reason to tune in live. You can wait till the next day to watch the bits you want.

I'm team Conan all the way, but I don't even watch the show really unless I hear about a good bit. Then I go find it online. The strike shows were great. Was that when he came up with Edith Bunker singing Sabotage? I about died from laughing at that.

[Mark in Helsinki]

That said, Conan as a comedian is fucking spectacular. Remember those strike shows? When he's unchained the show is so so so so so great. And he's the best we've got, so I'd like to see his show continue unfuckedwith.

Agreed to the max... I just would like to see Conan do what he and his writers are obviously prepared to do; shake the whole thing up, rather than become boring and middle of the road... Which could be his destiny if NBC execs have anything to do with it.

[nec13]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5lVD8GBr8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Patton Oswalt chimes in on this clusterfuck.

[Christina]

Conan's response!

I think NBC must be hard at work on an animatronic Leno too, you know... for back up. I mean, he can't live forever, and then where will they be?

[nec13]

Unfortunately, I don't think that Conan has that many options available to him, if he wants to remain on a broadcast network. ABC isn't going to displace both Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live from their respective timeslots. FOX might want him, but he probably won't get enough clearances from local FOX affiliates.

I think Conan would be wise to shop himself to cable networks. In fact, Bill Simmons had a great idea when he proposed that Conan take the 12:00 slot on Comedy Central, following The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Plus, cable would give Conan more artistic freedom than he would get on a broadcast network.

[jbissell]

I think Conan would be wise to shop himself to cable networks. In fact, Bill Simmons had a great idea when he proposed that Conan take the 12:00 slot on Comedy Central, following The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Plus, cable would give Conan more artistic freedom than he would get on a broadcast network.

I can't imagine Colbert leading in for Conan. My head would explode but it would make it a lot easier to dvr everything.

[nec13]

I agree with you. Personally, I think it would make a lot of sense. But at this point in his career, I don't believe Conan wants to play second fiddle to anyone.

[Chris L]

Unfortunately, I don't think that Conan has that many options available to him, if he wants to remain on a broadcast network. ABC isn't going to displace both Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live from their respective timeslots. FOX might want him, but he probably won't get enough clearances from local FOX affiliates.

I think Conan would be wise to shop himself to cable networks. In fact, Bill Simmons had a great idea when he proposed that Conan take the 12:00 slot on Comedy Central, following The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Plus, cable would give Conan more artistic freedom than he would get on a broadcast network.

The only way Conan would accept going from the Tonight Show to midnight on basic cable was if he he went on a Bad Lieutenant-style sleaze binge and lost everything (actually, I hope they keep him in mind for the next BL).  Simmons should stick to... uhm... he should stick to.... geez... actually, fuck him.  

[jbissell]

Unfortunately, I don't think that Conan has that many options available to him, if he wants to remain on a broadcast network. ABC isn't going to displace both Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live from their respective timeslots. FOX might want him, but he probably won't get enough clearances from local FOX affiliates.

I think Conan would be wise to shop himself to cable networks. In fact, Bill Simmons had a great idea when he proposed that Conan take the 12:00 slot on Comedy Central, following The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Plus, cable would give Conan more artistic freedom than he would get on a broadcast network.

The only way Conan would accept going from the Tonight Show to midnight on basic cable was if he he went on a Bad Lieutenant-style sleaze binge and lost everything (actually, I hope they keep him in mind for the next BL).  Simmons should stick to... uhm... he should stick to.... geez... actually, fuck him.  

"Conan should move to ABC and replace my buddy Jimmy Kimmel. That way Cousin Sal can be on my podcast more than once a week"

[Mark in Helsinki]

cable would give Conan more artistic freedom than he would get on a broadcast network.

= toilet talk ?


I don't think its toilet talk he needs. If he hosted a less scripted show, where the interviews actually contained a person asking questions and not knowing the exact duration and plot of the answers, perhaps in the spirit of Seven Second Delay's live shows, it would be an unadulterated hit.

This fiasco is not merely a slap in the face of Conan, it is a golden opportunity for him to do exactly the kind of show he and his team would like to do - and I hope it's in NY.

Fuck the legacy of the Tonight Show, we knew it was over for good when Jay started shaking hands in the audience.

[Steeley Chris]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5lVD8GBr8&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]

Patton Oswalt chimes in on this clusterfuck.

Is there anywhere else to see/listen to this? I was going to listen to it, but The Best Show was still on, and now the video's gone.

[Martin]

Yes, here:

http://comedydeathrayradio.blip.tv/file/3062660/

It's the entire episode of CDR Radio though, not just the clip. (Although I recommend the whole show.)