Conan O'Brien's Statement About NBC Late Night

It doesn't sound like Conan O'Brien will hang around to be the host of The Tonight Show. As you know, NBC is canceling The Jay Leno Show after four months, and may be effectively doing the same thing to Conan's Tonight Show after only seven months in late night. By way of Breitbart, here's O'Brien's official statement about NBC's new can't-miss proposition:

People of Earth: In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision. Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both. But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule. Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy. So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more. There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work. Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way. Yours, Conan

Jay Leno is expected back at 11:30/10:30 Central beginning in February, and it sure sounds like Conan is getting out of this mess entirely. Smartest thing he can do, really.And of course, Dave Letterman is far from silent on this whole thing. Check out this from tonight's Late Show:

Comments

[Josh]

Dear Jay Leno,

You're a worm. You're a backstabbing, thief, unfunny worm. You'll never be as funny as Letterman and your monologue sucks. You've backstabbed and stepped on everyone's neck to be where you are and you're going to get yours one day. I hate the way you act like you keep it low-key and try not to get attention while you drive around West Hollywood in a Model-friggin'-T. I also hate your cars and your dumb denim tuxedo. You have money. Get a new shirt, tool.

Yours in Christ.

[Chris]

I've got an idea. Tell Jay to piss off and go cash in all those NBC checks and retire your tired old jokes.

[anybody]

What a great letter. I love Conan and this really is a shame to do to him and the tonight show. Leno should be ashamed of himself if he continues to push for this to happen... NBC should have gone with Letterman all along and now add this to another in their list of screw ups.

[El Doucheo Bago]

I can finally enjoy the Tonight Show and now they plan on fucking it up........fuck Jay Leno.

[SEAN]

this is just a mess just a friggin mess....

Letterman is 1st (by far the funniest guy on late night, I mean especially in interviews w/ celebrities)

you guys are awfully tough on Leno, I mean jeez...I dont think he's funny either but I doubt he's the one pushing for this to happen

[Colin Boyd]

Read Bill Carter's The Late Shift. Leno is a very hard worker, but that book paints him to be a weasel, hiding in closets to spy on NBC executives. He didn't exactly want to leave Tonight the way he did.

[kevin]

Conan's letter is classic. If they put Leno in his time slot, I hope Conan bails. Just retire old man......Jay Leno what a joke. Jay could walk away and stop all of this Bull Shit. I got an idea, instead of sending Leno down the road lets shoe horn him in the Tonight Show's spot and nobody will know. Typical suit in an office making shitty decisions. NBC should be ashamed of themselves. NBC and Jay Leno breaking it off in Conan's Ass !

[Chad]

they ruined conans show with the changes they made. Although I just want to say the reason for Jay's appeal is that he's very down to earth person.