Leno and O'Brien

[tlyle]

With Jay Leno leaving in 2009 and Conan O'Brien taking over, who do you think would be a great replacement for Conan in New York? Will Conan do his same show when he takes over the "Tonight Show"? Who would be a likely replacement for David Letterman when he retires.

I have also read that NBC may let Jay Leno stay on like Bob Hope did for many years doing specials. Could he be successful in this format?

 

[Corky Marlowe]

I always thought that if things had gone down like they should have when Johnny retired, Letterman would have gotten the Tonight show (he was Johnny's choice, don't forget), and Leno would have become the new Bob Hope. By that, I mean he would have been more or less our national comedian. He probably would have done, maybe not a whole season's worth of specials, but at least Christmas specials where he entertained the troops, and could have wandered onto the Tonight show anytime he wanted. It's really sad what's happened to both the Tonight show and Leno. Before he got the Tonight show, he was one of the best standups ever! I got to witness in person the dividing line between the two Lenos...Back in 1989, my wife and I went to see Leno live at the University of Toledo. This was at a time when he was already subbing for Johnny on a regular basis. The first 5 minutes or so of his act consisted of what would become the meat of his Tonight show monologues...jokes about politicians, celebrities, and bad sports teams that might as well have come from second rate radio showprep services. I can remember thinking, "Is he gonna just do this crap all night?" Then, he kicked into his good stuff...the goofy stories about his family, the weird observational humor, interacting with the audience...Sadly, all of that got packed into boxes when he took over the Tonight show.

As for replacements, hasn't Jon Stewart's name come up on lots of short lists for Dave?

 

[Garrett]

With Jay Leno leaving in 2009 and Conan O'Brien taking over, who do you think would be a great replacement for Conan in New York? Will Conan do his same show when he takes over the "Tonight Show"? Who would be a likely replacement for David Letterman when he retires.

I have also read that NBC may let Jay Leno stay on like Bob Hope did for many years doing specials. Could he be successful in this format?

There is no talk about Letterman retiring at this time, so we'll have to wait on speculation for that. Letterman's contract overlaps one year into Connan taking over "Tonight"

As far as Conan's replacement, NBC is supposedly having auditions, but the only name that has come up as a front runner right now is Jimmy Fallon. We also don't know if Conan will move the show to LA or not, but he was responded when as by a guest with "Well I don't know, I kinda of like we are doing already, if it ain't broke, don't fix..." So there's reason to believe that Conan may just leave the show as it is and move it down an hour (and there's some research to suggest that this would be the best thing to do from an audience standpoint). On the other hand, it is much harder to get guests for a New York show, and some have suggested that it would be better to keep Tonight in LA.

It is interesting, huh?

 

[WordLife]

Conan is going to LA. He's already been house shopping there according to some reports. They've also kicked the Desperate Housewives off their sound stage and are building a new facility for Conan...

 

[RadioZack]

Conan is going to LA. He's already been house shopping there according to some reports. They've also kicked the Desperate Housewives off their sound stage and are building a new facility for Conan...

I was going to call BS on this...I mean, who builds a set TWO YEARS before a show debuts? Then I saw this http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/?p=1716...and now I know apparently NBC does.

 

[1069_KIFR]

NBC was afraid if Letterman was given the Tonight Show, Leno would bolt (probably to CBS) and do his own Late Night 11:35 talk show.

I do agree that Leno's jokes are tamed down quite a bit from his earlier appearances on LATE NIGHT with David Letterman. I used to look forward to when Dave would ask him, "What is bothering you?" Then Jay would unleash into a hilarious round up of topical humor. But now Leno is Lamo.

 

[Hunter]

With Jay Leno leaving in 2009 and Conan O'Brien taking over, who do you think would be a great replacement for Conan in New York? Will Conan do his same show when he takes over the "Tonight Show"? Who would be a likely replacement for David Letterman when he retires.

Someone should move Craig Ferguson (if I spelled his name correctly) into a better slot.

I do agree that Leno's jokes are tamed down quite a bit from his earlier appearances on LATE NIGHT with David Letterman. I used to look forward to when Dave would ask him, "What is bothering you?" Then Jay would unleash into a hilarious round up of topical humor. But now Leno is Lamo.

I think Leno used to have better writers. He isn't as funny as he used to be, but he's a hard working guy. He still performs here in Hermosa Beach at the Comedy & Magic Club most Sundays to work on his monologue. He's there every week this month. It's a small club. Great place to catch him. Here's the link: http://www.comedyandmagicclub.com/

 

[Corky Marlowe]

I used to look forward to when Dave would ask him, "What is bothering you?" Then Jay would unleash into a hilarious round up of topical humor.
Oh my goodness, yes! "What's your beef?" "MY BEEF, DAVE..." So sad now that Jay is so incredibly bland. One of the people to blame for the current state of affiars is no longer with us: Jay's then-manager, Helen Kushnick, who not only helped steer NBC toward him, but was behind the vicious booking war between Jay and Dave.

Jimmy Fallon for Conan? Oy vey...

 

[azumanga]

Jay's then-manager, Helen Kushnick, who not only helped steer NBC toward him, but was behind the vicious booking war between Jay and Dave.

And as I heard, she also helped bring down The Tonight Show's ratings, to a point where NBC had to talk Leno into firing her, as she was a control freak. After her dismissal, she practically became a pariah at NBC, to a point where the network brass ordered guards to block her entry.

 

[1069_KIFR]

Not only that, she also bullied others from going on The Dennis Miller Show. Also before Dave premiered on CBS, she also bullied Arsenio Hall's bookers as well.

Most of that is explored in the movie, "The Late Shift" also in the book of the same name.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

Most of that is explored in the movie, "The Late Shift" also in the book of the same name.

That's a terrific book, one I re-read all the time. If anyone has any interest in the behind the scenes world of late night television in the late '80s and early '90s, read this book. It also traces the history of The Tonight Show, how the show Late Night was created (including how Letterman and then Conan were hired), and also gives us insight into the formative years of David Letterman and Jay Leno. Plus the book recounts the other shows (Thicke Of The Night, The Chevy Chase Show, The Pat Sajak Show, The Joan Rivers Show, Arsenio Hall) that were born out of a desire to be the next big late night talk show (arguably Arsenio, out of all of the aforementioned, managed to retain a sizeable audience, if only for a brief time).

 

[Hunter]

(arguably Arsenio, out of all of the aforementioned, managed to retain a sizeable audience, if only for a brief time).

I really respect Leno...very hard working guy, but not funny without good writers behind him. Maybe it's me, but Letterman seems tired. Jimmy starts at a strange time, but I still MUCH prefer him as "Jimmy the Sports Guy" on Kevin & Bean (KROQ) anyone remember? He's likable, but his late nite show isn't that entertaining.

11:35 or Midnight needs new competition. I didn't watch Arsenio regularly at the time because there was a lot of decent competion. It's lacking now, let's give him or someone else another try. I feel the best host in late night right now is Craig Ferguson.

 

[FilmCritic3K]

(arguably Arsenio, out of all of the aforementioned, managed to retain a sizeable audience, if only for a brief time).

I really respect Leno...very hard working guy, but not funny without good writers behind him. Maybe it's me, but Letterman seems tired. Jimmy starts at a strange time, but I still MUCH prefer him as "Jimmy the Sports Guy" on Kevin & Bean (KROQ) anyone remember? He's likable, but his late nite show isn't that entertaining.

11:35 or Midnight needs new competition. I didn't watch Arsenio regularly at the time because there was a lot of decent competion. It's lacking now, let's give him or someone else another try. I feel the best host in late night right now is Craig Ferguson.

I think Letterman's as sharp as ever. Then again I'd rather sit through a week-long CPA seminar than watch Leno.

I can recall our CBS affiliate, WTOC, airing Arsenio Hall after their 11:00 news, as did many CBS affiliates at that time. Though his show didn't last too long, he was wise enough to go the Oprah route and use the magic of syndication to get more money and leverage than he would have had he simply gone with FOX rather than taking Paramount's offer.

As for Ferguson, he's fine though I wish Michael Ian Black had gotten the job.

I think that, if Conan gets The Tonight Show gig as NBC stated a few years ago, the late night landscape will look something like this...

NBC - 11:35PM - The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
12:35PM - Late Night with ______________ (hopefully not Jimmy Fallon, though it's looking like that may be the case)

ABC - 12AM - Jimmy Kimmel Live

CBS - no change, though when/if Letterman retires, Jon Stewart may take over that time slot - then again he may not, as Comedy Central affords he and his writing staff a much freer reign over material than a network would.

FOX - FOX has made it known that they're looking at starting another weekday late night talk show, as Talkshow with Spike Feresten is getting decent ratings on Saturdays after MADtv. They've been talking to sports commentator Joe Buck, apparently, as a hypothetical host. I guess enough time has lapsed since The Wilton/North Report, The Joan Rivers Show, and The Chevy Chase Show. I'm curious as to who they might want to anchor their late night show. Some have surmised Leno, if Conan gets the 11:35 gig.

 

[Garrett]

(arguably Arsenio, out of all of the aforementioned, managed to retain a sizeable audience, if only for a brief time).

I really respect Leno...very hard working guy, but not funny without good writers behind him. Maybe it's me, but Letterman seems tired. Jimmy starts at a strange time, but I still MUCH prefer him as "Jimmy the Sports Guy" on Kevin & Bean (KROQ) anyone remember? He's likable, but his late nite show isn't that entertaining.

11:35 or Midnight needs new competition. I didn't watch Arsenio regularly at the time because there was a lot of decent competion. It's lacking now, let's give him or someone else another try. I feel the best host in late night right now is Craig Ferguson.

Yeah, I like Ferguson too, but the thing is, he's not getting the ratings, and I've notice that he has particular trouble booking A-list guests. That's a shame too, because he's raw talent. I'm not trying to knock the other guys, all very good in my opinion, but Ferguson is the only one who can just get up and do a different monologue every night and completely off script. He says that he doesn't script his routine, and I believe him! He doesn't overly rely on other commedians for sketches, he seems to do his own stuff. Some nights he's the only one honestly makes me laugh.

And you gotta love a who starts every show with "Its a great day for America..."
imho

 

[Hunter]

Interesting article on Lenos wish to stay on the Tonight Show and the O'Brien controversy in the LA Times:

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-leno15oct15,0,1546316.story?page=2&track=mostviewed-storylevel