Conan taking over the Tonight Show in '09 - opinions Options

[CONEY]

We have to start a petition to keep Conan in NY. He can't move!
I've never turned off TV during Late Night. Maybe once or twice before I had become a huge Late Night fan. I used to hate Late Night. Yeah I've been insane! How can anyone hate them. The're so lovely!
Sev I've never met a man from Morocco.
When small children look at me they usually start smiling. I think that's sweet. At least someone smiles for me. But I hardly never look people in the eyes. Here in Finland it's just weird if you look someone in the eyes.

[severina80]

Coney - It's ok because I used to hate Late Night, too. Well, maybe not hate it. I was pretty indifferent toward it. But I was blind. I had been led astray! And then - I saw the light.

PS - I know now why I can't sit through Letterman. I hate Paul. I hate Kevin Eubanks, too, but he's not nearly as annoying. That's why I like Max. He practices his one line, delivers it, sometimes appears in a bit, but is quiet and happy during the show. i like that in a band leader. None of that annoying warblely crap that Paul does. Yay. I heart you, The Max Weinberg 7.

[pullle]

Coney - It's ok because I used to hate Late Night, too. Well, maybe not hate it. I was pretty indifferent toward it. But I was blind. I had been led astray! And then - I saw the light.

PS - I know now why I can't sit through Letterman. I hate Paul. I hate Kevin Eubanks, too, but he's not nearly as annoying. That's why I like Max. He practices his one line, delivers it, sometimes appears in a bit, but is quiet and happy during the show. i like that in a band leader. None of that annoying warblely crap that Paul does. Yay. I heart you, The Max Weinberg 7.

So you don?t like Paul yelling: AHHHH !! after each `joke?? This is only the worst noise in the history of mankind. They should use that noise, to torture terrorists, they would talk in two secounds.

[latenightgoddess]

Conan will make some dermatologist in LA very happy.

And what's with all the Masturbating Bear hate? You guys are not the same people I thought you were!

That's why I like Max. He practices his one line, delivers it, sometimes appears in a bit, but is quiet and happy during the show.

Lately I've been noticing I can distinctly hear Max laughing during the monologue or sketches... odd. But in a good way.


When small children look at me they usually smile and perhaps reach out for me.. Awww. Breaks my heart. I then usually want to make a scary, scary face at them. But I'll just smile and make a weird sighing noise of some sort instead.

[severina80]

And what's with all the Masturbating Bear hate? ... I then usually want to make a scary, scary face at them. But I'll just smile and make a weird sighing noise of some sort instead.

I think my Masturbating Bear indifference is more a backlash on the Stupid Frat Guy Cheering When The Following Occurs:
1) Conan mentions beer/pot and/or other drugs
2) A bear masturbates
3) Truimph says "for me to poop on!"
4) When a sports team they like is mentioned

And it's always that really annoying distinctive "YEAH!" from the back of the room. That "YEAH" crushes my soul and I die just a little more every time I hear one. Because here is some normal guy who has the capacity to become the guy who smashes beer cans on his head for the last remants of pizza his buddy passed out on top of. Or is like that guy in Borat who says that he'd let the mouse eat cheese out of his member. It makes me weep.

I would pay money to see you make a scary face at a child.

[sweet_cone_zone]

Conan will make some dermatologist in LA very happy.

And what's with all the Masturbating Bear hate? You guys are not the same people I thought you were!

Lately I've been noticing I can distinctly hear Max laughing during the monologue or sketches... odd. But in a good way.
When small children look at me they usually smile and perhaps reach out for me.. Awww. Breaks my heart. I then usually want to make a scary, scary face at them. But I'll just smile and make a weird sighing noise of some sort instead.

I dont hate the masturbating bear at all! He's just not my favourite. Give me Hannigan or the Interrupter, or the guy who unneccessarily abbreviates things! Love him! Well fu yo a ho!

[CONEY]

And what's with all the Masturbating Bear hate? You guys are not the same people I thought you were!

Nah I don't hate Masturbating Bear.

And those frat guys are sueing the producers of the Borat movie. They say they were lured/manipulated to the movie with . I think that's ridiculous. It's their own fault if they have been drunk and messing around.

[GeneStauf]

Masturbating bear rocks. 'nuff said.

[CONEY]

why did they have to put a black rectangle over the best part of the naked fight?

Yeah. Why? I was so angry.

[severina80]

i like paul because of his loyalty to letterman all of these years. loyalty is #1 on my top 10 list.
i've said it before but the reason why i started watching conan is because of max. i slowly learned to carrot conan. the first time i saw conan on letterman, i guess back in 93', i hate to say but i wasn't that impressed with him. he was chewing gum and touching his nose a lot. i remember saying out loud to my now husband if he thought maybe conan had allergies cause he kept wiping his nose so much. now i see it's just one of his enduring habits he has.
max is hands down a much better band leader than paul. no question about that!

What I find really interesting is how many Conan fans I've talked to who were not at all impressed by Conan the first time they saw him. I know I wasn't. I thought he was akward, gawky, and moved around too much. I also didn't think he was the least bit attractive. The more I watched the show, the better looking he got, the less akward. And he doesn't look any different now, it's just his stage presence, his on-air personality, his quick wit, his confidence, all of that went a long way to making him "hot" to me. Now I think he's flat out sexy, but he's still gawky and moves around a lot!

[supernova8610]

What I find really interesting is how many Conan fans I've talked to who were not at all impressed by Conan the first time they saw him. I know I wasn't. I thought he was akward, gawky, and moved around too much. I also didn't think he was the least bit attractive. The more I watched the show, the better looking he got, the less akward. And he doesn't look any different now, it's just his stage presence, his on-air personality, his quick wit, his confidence, all of that went a long way to making him "hot" to me. Now I think he's flat out sexy, but he's still gawky and moves around a lot!

I first saw Conan when I was 16, and I was extremely impressed. Of course, I was watching the Late Night ep on an airplane (I was on my way to NYC), it was night time, and I was feeling very sleep-deprived, but still... I was impressed! Even more so after I snuck inside his studio a couple days later.

[FaulstiR]

It's all a hoax. See http://www.dailyhog.com/jay_leno_09282004_8932.asp .

These posts are being deleted. Notice how post that mentions the news has any replies.

Where do you get this stuff? There's numerous legit sources that this is taking place.

• Would MSNBC's Conan takes over Tonight Show article be a reliable enough source for you to accept?
• What about Conan's official bio on NBC.com?

[willis1]

<br />i like paul because of his loyalty to letterman all of these years. loyalty is #1 on my top 10 list. <img src="style_emoticons/default/wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" /> <br />i've said it before but the reason why i started watching conan is because of max. i slowly learned to carrot conan. the first time i saw conan on letterman, i guess back in 93', i hate to say but i wasn't that impressed with him. he was chewing gum and touching his nose a lot. i remember saying out loud to my now husband if he thought maybe conan had allergies cause he kept wiping his nose so much. now i see it's just one of his enduring habits he has. <img src="style_emoticons/default/smile.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile.gif" /> <br />max is hands down a much better band leader than paul. no question about that!<br />

<br /><br /><br />
Paul has one of the most annoying laughs on TV. I think Letterman is great, but he can really do without Paul.
For that matter, Max could do without Conan and we'd all be much better off. At least Max has talent that Conan is sorely lacking.

[latenightgoddess]

O'Brien is smart, funny choice for "Tonight"
NBC should stick to plan and give safe, bland Leno his Jaywalking papers
COMMENTARY
By Craig Berman
MSNBC contributor
updated 10:22 a.m. ET, Thurs., Nov. 1, 2007

Conan O'Brien may be a funny guy, and he's great doing that late night show that nobody watches, but there's no way that translates into a big-time show. NBC should pay whatever it takes to either keep the guy it already has in that role or look elsewhere for a more qualified replacement. There's no way this move won't be a disaster.

Where have we heard all that before? Oh, right, in 1993, when Conan replaced David Letterman as the host of "Late Night." Letterman moved to CBS, Conan slid into NBC's late anchor seat, and after a rough start he's been a fixture for a generation of college students, insomniacs and night owls willing to wait up for a good laugh and some great music.

Now, Conan is set to make another big jump, replacing Jay Leno as the host of "The Tonight Show"� in 2009. That's been in the works since 2004, but this week NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker reiterated that the transfer of power was still on schedule, just in case Leno has second thoughts about retiring.

And let's be honest, he must be having doubts."The Tonight Show" is the best gig in late night, a franchise that's stood the test of time. The hosting slot has gone from Steve Allen to Jack Paar to Johnny Carson to Jay Leno, and there's nowhere to go but down from that job. Leno will be just 59 when NBC gives him the gold watch in 2009, and all of those collector cars and motorcycles cost money.

No doubt, replacing Leno is a gamble, particularly if he doesn't want to leave. Though he's nowhere near his predecessor in popularity, Leno has managed to win the ratings battle with Letterman throughout much of his tenure. If he doesn't go quietly, and seizes the opportunity to take on a similar role at ABC or Fox, NBC will definitely lose market share and will face a more fragmented late-night market. The safe choice would be to keep Leno, give Conan his $40 million payoff for being passed over, and let another network take that chance.

But that's not the smart choice. And that's why NBC shouldn't do it.

A Sharper, Funnier Show
Unless NBC can somehow talk Leno into taking another job within the organization, or Conan into sticking with his past-everyone's-bedtime timeslot for the foreseeable future, the network is going to lose one or the other in two years. Controversial though the move may be, it would be crazy for the network to let go of the host with the greater potential just because some may fear change and want to keep the status quo.

Leno had the unenviable job of replacing Johnny Carson and has done a nice job, but most of his attributes are a function of dedication, hard work, and great talent bookers rather than talent. He's dedicated to the comedy craft. He shows up pretty much every night -- no continuing the Carson-era guest host series for him! He's loyal to the network.

What he's not, however, is fresh. Or funny, for the most part.

His monologues make viewers chuckle, but not laugh. His interviews tend to be bland. His standard sketches like Jaywalking and the Headlines are as safe as it gets. Basically, his appeal is that he's comfort food late at night for people who either don't want to change the channel after "ER" or don't feel like tracking down which station is airing "Friends" or "Home Improvement"� reruns.

When was the last time anyone showed up for work raving about something that Jay Leno said on "The Tonight Show"? The biggest happening the program's had in years was Fred Thompson's announcing his presidential candidacy, and judging by his poll numbers that may not be much of an event after all.

By contrast, Conan is fresh, funny, and smart. Apart from some of the self-deprecating humor that will be easy to leave behind when he takes the more prominent stage, his monologues are sharp.

"Triumph the Insult Comic Dog" is one of the best recurring characters in recent memory, and that began on Conan. Bits like his series about being the president of Finland are clever and buzzworthy. If he's hosting "The Tonight Show" there's a much better chance that it will become appointment viewing more than the current administration's product.

Battle-tested
There's always a risk replacing a fixture like Leno, even if a lot of his appeal comes from the office he holds.

But with Conan O'Brien available, that risk is decreased significantly because Conan has already shown the ability to adapt as necessary to succeed in a more challenging role. He's a bright guy with a brilliant writing staff who has already gone through the learning curve.

As soon as he took over for Letterman, rumors of his inevitable replacement began to surface. Nobody thought he would last. He was going to be the random guy who replaced the legend, allowing somebody with better credentials to step in with the easier task of simply replacing him.

But that didn't happen, because at the end of every 13-week contract Conan was getting better. If a bit didn't work, he ad-libbed his way out of it or dumped the topic entirely. He grew into the role, to the point that NBC was so worried about losing him when his contract last expired that they promised him the "The Tonight Show" gig in the first place.

Is Conan over the top sometimes? Sure. Will he have to reign that in? Probably.

But Conan O'Brien is not an idiot, though he doesn't hesitate to call himself one if that's what punctuates the joke. He'll do what it takes, not to transform himself into a Leno clone or a new version of Johnny Carson, but to take the attributes that make his current show a success and translate them to the new role.

The last time Conan O'Brien replaced a legend, it seemed far more likely that he'd be fired within a year or two than he'd still be on the job more than a decade later. But he grew into that role. He'll grow into this one as well.

[unk2u]

O'Brien is smart, funny choice for "Tonight"
NBC should stick to plan and give safe, bland Leno his Jaywalking papers
COMMENTARY
By Craig Berman
MSNBC contributor
updated 10:22 a.m. ET, Thurs., Nov. 1, 2007

Conan O'Brien may be a funny guy, and he's great doing that late night show that nobody watches, but there's no way that translates into a big-time show. NBC should pay whatever it takes to either keep the guy it already has in that role or look elsewhere for a more qualified replacement. There's no way this move won't be a disaster.

Where have we heard all that before? Oh, right, in 1993, when Conan replaced David Letterman as the host of "Late Night." Letterman moved to CBS, Conan slid into NBC's late anchor seat, and after a rough start he's been a fixture for a generation of college students, insomniacs and night owls willing to wait up for a good laugh and some great music.

Now, Conan is set to make another big jump, replacing Jay Leno as the host of "The Tonight Show"� in 2009. That's been in the works since 2004, but this week NBC Universal President and CEO Jeff Zucker reiterated that the transfer of power was still on schedule, just in case Leno has second thoughts about retiring.

And let's be honest, he must be having doubts."The Tonight Show" is the best gig in late night, a franchise that's stood the test of time. The hosting slot has gone from Steve Allen to Jack Paar to Johnny Carson to Jay Leno, and there's nowhere to go but down from that job. Leno will be just 59 when NBC gives him the gold watch in 2009, and all of those collector cars and motorcycles cost money.

No doubt, replacing Leno is a gamble, particularly if he doesn't want to leave. Though he's nowhere near his predecessor in popularity, Leno has managed to win the ratings battle with Letterman throughout much of his tenure. If he doesn't go quietly, and seizes the opportunity to take on a similar role at ABC or Fox, NBC will definitely lose market share and will face a more fragmented late-night market. The safe choice would be to keep Leno, give Conan his $40 million payoff for being passed over, and let another network take that chance.

But that's not the smart choice. And that's why NBC shouldn't do it.

A Sharper, Funnier Show
Unless NBC can somehow talk Leno into taking another job within the organization, or Conan into sticking with his past-everyone's-bedtime timeslot for the foreseeable future, the network is going to lose one or the other in two years. Controversial though the move may be, it would be crazy for the network to let go of the host with the greater potential just because some may fear change and want to keep the status quo.

Leno had the unenviable job of replacing Johnny Carson and has done a nice job, but most of his attributes are a function of dedication, hard work, and great talent bookers rather than talent. He's dedicated to the comedy craft. He shows up pretty much every night -- no continuing the Carson-era guest host series for him! He's loyal to the network.

What he's not, however, is fresh. Or funny, for the most part.

His monologues make viewers chuckle, but not laugh. His interviews tend to be bland. His standard sketches like Jaywalking and the Headlines are as safe as it gets. Basically, his appeal is that he's comfort food late at night for people who either don't want to change the channel after "ER" or don't feel like tracking down which station is airing "Friends" or "Home Improvement"� reruns.

When was the last time anyone showed up for work raving about something that Jay Leno said on "The Tonight Show"? The biggest happening the program's had in years was Fred Thompson's announcing his presidential candidacy, and judging by his poll numbers that may not be much of an event after all.

By contrast, Conan is fresh, funny, and smart. Apart from some of the self-deprecating humor that will be easy to leave behind when he takes the more prominent stage, his monologues are sharp.

"Triumph the Insult Comic Dog" is one of the best recurring characters in recent memory, and that began on Conan. Bits like his series about being the president of Finland are clever and buzzworthy. If he's hosting "The Tonight Show" there's a much better chance that it will become appointment viewing more than the current administration's product.

Battle-tested
There's always a risk replacing a fixture like Leno, even if a lot of his appeal comes from the office he holds.

But with Conan O'Brien available, that risk is decreased significantly because Conan has already shown the ability to adapt as necessary to succeed in a more challenging role. He's a bright guy with a brilliant writing staff who has already gone through the learning curve.

As soon as he took over for Letterman, rumors of his inevitable replacement began to surface. Nobody thought he would last. He was going to be the random guy who replaced the legend, allowing somebody with better credentials to step in with the easier task of simply replacing him.

But that didn't happen, because at the end of every 13-week contract Conan was getting better. If a bit didn't work, he ad-libbed his way out of it or dumped the topic entirely. He grew into the role, to the point that NBC was so worried about losing him when his contract last expired that they promised him the "The Tonight Show" gig in the first place.

Is Conan over the top sometimes? Sure. Will he have to reign that in? Probably.

But Conan O'Brien is not an idiot, though he doesn't hesitate to call himself one if that's what punctuates the joke. He'll do what it takes, not to transform himself into a Leno clone or a new version of Johnny Carson, but to take the attributes that make his current show a success and translate them to the new role.

The last time Conan O'Brien replaced a legend, it seemed far more likely that he'd be fired within a year or two than he'd still be on the job more than a decade later. But he grew into that role. He'll grow into this one as well.

[johnthefishermin]

i watch conan to see people in the entertainment biz that i actually care about...i have watched conan since the the begining and i cringe at the thought of watching him interview Tom Cruise with musical guest Backstreet boys.

[smithduke]

i watch conan to see people in the entertainment biz that i actually care about...i have watched conan since the the begining and i cringe at the thought of watching him interview Tom Cruise with musical guest Backstreet boys.

Maybe you should watch another show to "see" people in the entertainment biz. There are plenty of them out there to watch. Don't torture yourself, you poor thing, by forcing yourself to sit through a show you hate!!

By the way, Conan is the best!!!