Jay Leno vs Conan O'Brien

Brock Landers · 05-29-09, 09:26 AM

Letterman or no one for me. I have NEVER liked Conan, i don't think i've laughed one time at anything he has said.

VegasDave · 05-29-09, 09:28 AM

They didn't "demote" Jay, Jay did it to himself.

Jay said that he was going to retire. NBC said take your time to be sure. Leno decided yes, I want to retire. So NBC moved ahead and signed Conan to a multi-million dollar deal to take over on the tonight show.

Then Leno got cold feet (ala Brett Favre) and NBC was stuck, because if they opted out of the Conan deal it would have cost them something to the tune of $50 million and they probably would have lost him all together.

Nicky Santoro · 05-29-09, 09:29 AM

wow, a letterman fan? i swear i didn't even think anyone watched him anymore... he used to be so funny. now that he's gotten old, i dont find him one bit funny.. his show is boring.

wow, do we actually have letterman fans here?

I still say Jay Leno is king.. no one has a better monologue than Jay.. it's impossible to watch 1 monologue and not laugh..

I still don't know why they hired that idiot conan over Jay. He owned that 1130 pm slot..he was king.. This move will not work.. Conan will fail..

Nicky Santoro · 05-29-09, 09:33 AM

dave, that's not what i heard.. i heard NBC thinks conan is the future and Jay was mad that he will be out of a job. .no way jay wanted to leave.. this was his life.. they did hire conan to replace jay and then they felt sorry for jay, so they gave him the 10 pm slot.

this will be a big mistake.. Conan's act will get old..

Deuce · 05-29-09, 09:34 AM

No one compares to Johnnie. No one. Conan is a hilarious, Leno is ok, shit has been week for a few years now. That scottish chap is terrible though.

Casperwaits · 05-29-09, 09:38 AM

Vegas is right. Leno wanted to "retire" from the Tonight Show. Leno will be on TV now more than ever. I like Conan. I think Leno has gotten stale. Conan also has had way better guests in my opinion. Edgier bands. Leno's schtick seems old by comparison. I will say that I remember Carson, and he was the best.

Bread · 05-29-09, 09:38 AM

Leno is garbage. Loved Conan since day one.

I can't believe Nicky and Landers don't like Conan, yet I do. Astounding!

capitalist pig · 05-29-09, 09:41 AM

Jay fan here.

later

VegasDave · 05-29-09, 09:46 AM

Originally posted by Nicky Santoro

dave, that's not what i heard.. i heard NBC thinks conan is the future and Jay was mad that he will be out of a job. .no way jay wanted to leave.. this was his life.. they did hire conan to replace jay and then they felt sorry for jay, so they gave him the 10 pm slot.

this will be a big mistake.. Conan's act will get old..

http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,702402,00.html

Jay Leno has a famously Cal Ripken-esque work ethic, but on Monday, he announced his retirement -- effective in five years. In 2009, he said, he'll vacate his desk at The Tonight Show and pass the torch on to Late Night host Conan O'Brien. Leno will break the news to his audience on Monday night's show, which marks the 50th anniversary of Tonight's debut on NBC.

''In 2009, I'll be 59 years-old and will have had this dream job for 17 years,'' Leno said in a statement. ''When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor, and there is no one more qualified than Conan. Plus, I promised [my wife] Mavis I would take her out for dinner before I turned 60.''

Tonight, of course, is one of the most celebrated franchises in TV history. Since its premiere on Sept. 27, 1954, it's had only four permanent hosts: Steve Allen (1954-57), Jack Paar (1957-62), Johnny Carson (1962-92), and Leno. For most of the last decade, Leno has routinely beaten CBS rival David Letterman in the ratings. Letterman, who hosted NBC's Late Night from 1982-93, was notoriously passed over for the Tonight job in favor of frequent Tonight guest host Leno, leading to his departure for CBS and the hiring of O'Brien in 1993. By sewing up the succession issue five years in advance, NBC will avoid a replay of that messy scenario.

''The Tonight Show is one of the great franchises in television, and I am thrilled to get this opportunity,'' O'Brien said in a statement. ''I am thankful to everyone at NBC -- which has been my home for the last 11 years -- and I am particularly grateful to Jay for all the generous support and kindness he has always shown me.'' We bet Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is already drooling over the move.

He announced his retirement Nicky, this was very public stuff, NBC had the highest rated late night, there would be no reason for them to have pushed him out.

VegasDave · 05-29-09, 09:49 AM

I like them both and they are both strong in their own ways, but Conan O'Brien is an idol of mine. His combination of dry sarcastic humor and over the top humor is awesome to me.

daggerkobe · 05-29-09, 09:49 AM

Terrible move. Conan couldn't even beat Craig Ferguson, how's he gonna compete with Letterman?? This guarantees that Letterman will return to #1.

I like Conan but his sophomoric humor, terrible stand-up and amateurish interviewing skills will not go over well with the traditional older TS crowd. His show became a success because of drunk college frat boys being up at 12:30 with nothing to do but get buzzed and laugh at the stupid skits he did. I feel sorry for him cause he'll be fired within 3-5 years.

Chi_archie · 05-29-09, 09:52 AM

is Leno's new show on everynight?

Casperwaits · 05-29-09, 09:56 AM

Originally posted by Chi_archie

is Leno's new show on everynight?

''

5 nights a week.

Chi_archie · 05-29-09, 09:58 AM

10 pm eastern?

Nicky Santoro · 05-29-09, 10:00 AM

dags is right.. conan owned the young college crowd. i used to loooooooooooooove conan.. but now that i watch him everyday, i noticed it's the same shit with him.. always the same type of jokes, same moves... the way he says when he is introduced.. first he jumps up in the air, then it's ..... keep cool my babies..... keep cool my babies..

he never changes it up.. i can predict what he's going to do and say each time.. his act is old now.

no way the older mature crowd of 1130 pm will like conan. they loved Jay.. jay is pleasant.. conan used to be great, but he is no longer funny. the 1130 pm crowd will not like Conan..

and i doubt Jay will work well on prime time. it jsut dont seem right watching this stuff at 10 pm when there are tons of games going on still.. i don't think i will watch it that much

Junkyard Dog · 05-29-09, 10:03 AM

write-in vote for jimmy kimmel

Chi_archie · 05-29-09, 10:04 AM

Chevy Chase had a good show for awhile eh?

Nicky Santoro · 05-29-09, 10:08 AM

Originally posted by Junkyard Dog

write-in vote for jimmy kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel is awesome.. i didn't mention him cause it's a jay vs conan tonight seeing it's jay's final show and conan is his final guest.

i just hate Uncle Frank.. and guillermo annoys me.. and so does aunt chippy.. but i love cousin sal.. i do love kimmel. he really is great and has a great monologue.. his mononlogue is as good as jay's..

But now that we are talking about Kimmel.. what do you boys think of Jimmy Fallon.. i heard his ratings are good. say it ain't so.. i absolutely hate him and find him and his show boring.. i think it was a bad move replacing conan with him.. they could have done better. he is NOT funny at all..

anyone watch him and anyone like him? I also hate Craig Ferguson. how does this boring guy even have a show.. anyone here actually watch this guy.. i say NO...

Matt Rain · 05-29-09, 10:12 AM

Conan's act is getting a bit tired at times, but I have faith that he's going to reinvent himself for this new show. I blame him for my love of the absurd/random type of humor.

Leno was always "meh" in my opinion. Not particularly funny, but still entertaining when he had good guests.

Letterman is king right now - his interview skills are unmatched and I love the deadpan stuff. I worship David Letterman.

Kimmel has improved quite a bit these past few years. Haven't watched him much, but he seems to be a giant in the making.

blittydeuce · 05-29-09, 11:56 AM

I grew up watching Leno. Big Fan. Even have one of his autobiography books. Nice thread Nicky.

vega007 · 08-16-09, 10:01 PM

I record Conan every night and try to watch it when I can. I used to love this guy, I couldn't wait for his show to come on. He's terrible now. The jokes just aren't funny. You can tell that even Conan hates being up there telling crappy jokes in his monologue. SG had it right back in May. Conan will not last a year at the Tonight Show.

head_strong · 08-16-09, 10:03 PM

Jay Leno.....

Nicky Santoro · 08-16-09, 10:16 PM

vega, i watch him everynight too, but i hate him now.. his act is the same each night. same fukkin jokes. when he imitates arnold, or the geeks with that voice.. etc. always the same same same.. he is no longer funny.. i used to love him to death.. now i dont even laugh anymore.. his jokes are not funny nor his skits.. he has become too predictable now.. even jimmy fallon is better now.

cant wait for jay in sept..

lakerboy · 08-16-09, 10:31 PM

I miss arsenio hall

flyingillini · 08-16-09, 10:33 PM

Neither, I grew up on Carson but only into Letterman.

paco · 08-16-09, 10:59 PM

Arsenio Hall is best