Conan-NBC Deal Official

NEW YORK — NBC says it has reached a deal with "Tonight" host Conan O'Brien for his exit from the show, allowing Jay Leno to return to the late-night program he hosted for 17 years.

NBC made the announcement early Thursday that O'Brien will conclude his "Tonight" show run, seven months after O'Brien took the reins from Leno.

O'Brien landed the "Tonight" show after successfully hosting "Late Night," which airs an hour later, since 1993. But he quickly stumbled in the ratings race against his CBS rival, David Letterman.

Under Leno, the "Tonight" show was the ratings champ at 11:35 p.m. Eastern time, but he proved an instant flop with his experiment in prime time.

Comments

[VincentDafalong]

06:49 PM on 01/21/2010

Jay Leno is the nicest, hard-working guy in Hollywood...

FOR ME TO P00P ON!!!

[Iwpach]

11:58 PM on 01/21/2010

I like that,that good
Now what is NBC going to do when Jay comes back and his audience doesn't?

[clausnitzer]

04:09 PM on 01/21/2010

The only reason Conan's numbers were down is because most of us under 30yo get our entertainment from the internet and don't watch it on TV. However, Leno caters to an older audience that have not yet figured out how to utilize a computer.

His jokes are predictable and boring. Johnny Carson was hilarious, Letterman is hilarious and Conan is hilarious. Leno can't hold a candle to any of them. But don't worry old, boring middle America.... he'll be spoon feeding you punch lines soon enough.

[riluve]

02:52 AM on 01/24/2010

Maybe you are not aware, they actually track things watched online. I'm not even sure how anyone can watch conan on tv anyway - you would have to zip past most of his nonsense, which is much easier with streaming media. Jay does just as well on Hulu as he ever did when I owned a TV.

I mean seriously though - carrot top of cathy griffen or almost anyone is better suited then conan who just isnt funny.

[clausnitzer]

04:07 PM on 01/21/2010

Leno blows.

The only reason Conan's numbers were down is because most of us under 30yo get our entertainment from the internet and don't watch it on TV. However, Leno caters to an older audience that have not yet figured out how to utilize a computer.

His jokes are predictable and boring. Johnny Carson was hilarious, Letterman is hilarious and Conan is hilarious. Leno can't hold a candle to any of them. But don't worry old, boring middle America.... he'll be spoon feeding you punch lines soon enough.

[Ryan Holmes]

02:31 PM on 01/21/2010

Conan Rally Song!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeKMyhFf4bE

[NelsonC]

11:49 AM on 01/21/2010

Friday will mark the last time I watch an NBC program for quite some time.

These executives are taking a show that has survived for over half a century and managing it with all the foresight of an over-caffeinated day-trader.

I don't know what they think they will be gaining by resuscitating Leno's Tonight Show. It won't be the show they had before. There will be a huge asterisk next to it, and the subtle reek of milk that has gone bad.

[AprilPA]

09:22 AM on 01/21/2010

The last time I will ever watch The Tonight Show will be Friday. I will never watch Leno again. He and Zucker screwed Conan.

[oldfuzz]

09:16 AM on 01/21/2010

What a relief to have the world's #1 problem solved.
Time to move on to more important matters like which end of the banana to peel.

[bob876]

08:36 AM on 01/21/2010

Conan O'Brien was terrible, I surprised that he was kept as long as he was even before he moved to the Tonight Show. Jay Leno will never gain back the number one spot and Letterman will rule.

[thethrifter]

08:08 AM on 01/21/2010

i hope a family of aids make their home in jay's ace

[crossoverwriter]

08:03 AM on 01/21/2010

That short segment with the car was genius.
Conan is getting some funny revenge.
Leno can't hold a candle to this. He's too old school.
I will be waiting eagerly to find out where Conan lands.
Leno is bound to fail back at 11:30. Very clumsy move, which he should not have accepted.
Only Conan had the b*lls to move on.

[Bigrcube]

07:58 AM on 01/21/2010

And anyone thinks it was Conan's fault ? NBC made the decision for the switch, then ONLY gave him 7 months ?? DUH?!?! Jay Leno should have RETIRED @ 59 like he was planning and NOT accepted the GOBS of Money$$ that NBC threw at him to stay for the 10 p.m. time slot. Again, NBC execs made THAT decision (Jeff Zucker).

[Brendan Diamond]

08:21 AM on 01/21/2010

Over the years, I always heard that Jay Leno is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. The only one who ever seemed to think that Leno is an ass-hat was Letterman. Guess who was vindicated?

[oldfuzz]

09:20 AM on 01/21/2010

Charles Manson?

[Ben Udashen]

07:36 AM on 01/21/2010

Best of luck to Conan. Also, Jay Leno is a smug weasel. Guess I'll watch Letterman until Conan's eventual show on Fox.