LINK LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- NBC's "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno will retire at the end of his current five-year contract in 2009 and be replaced by "Late Night" host Conan O'Brien, the network said Monday. O'Brien signed a new contract Monday that guarantees he will assume the job as host of America's top-rated late night talk show, "The Tonight Show," sometime during the 2009 season. Leno took over the show from Johnny Carson in May 1992. By the time he steps down, he will have hosted the program for more than 17 years.
Conan is too full of himself nowadays, he was much better when he first started out. Now he thinks he is the show even when guests are involved.
This has got to piss Letterman off just a little bit... not that he would want the job NOW, but that's exactly what should have happened when Carson quit.
I am a Letterman fan all the way. Neither Conan nor Leno float my comedy boat. The real question would be, who would ever replace Letterman!?
I completely disagree with this, but Conan IS the show. I record it every night on my DVR, then only watching the opening minologue and skit. Screw the guests.
Agreed! My gut tells me that NBC was afraid it might lose Conan when his contract comes up so to KEEP him at NBC they promise him the Tonight Show gig. Nice incentive!
He is probably the best of what's out there but when it comes 10 o'clock I usually just watch Stern on E.
I guess this means "The Tonight Show" will be moved to 1am in Houston so they can squeeze in some more reruns.
Good move by NBC to lock up Conan so they can avoid another Leno/Letterman type situation. If you've seen or read The Late Shift, you know how messy that got. My only concern is how much Conan will tone down his act for the 11:30 crowd. I can't imagine NBC allowing characters like Pimpbot 5000, the Masturbating Bear, or the Coked Up Werewolf to be shown. At least Triumph has appeared on the Tonight Show already, so I imagine he'll be given the green light.
