Conan vs Leno

[apsham]

I loved that video too, and I don't really like Leno at all but damn that was hard to watch. It's made even weirder by the fact that I love Kimmel.

[GoGo Yubari]

I know it was posted earlier in the thread, but Jimmy Kimmel ripping Leno to shreds was just perfect. I've always really liked Kimmel, but that video solidifies WHY he is so amazing. I can't believe Leno didn't say anything. He just stood there and took EVERY blow.

The moment Leno blurted out that witless "... uh, tomorrow doesn't work for me" he was completely fucked. I mean, and this isn't meant as a knock on Jimmy Kimmel here, but it's one thing to be mocked by like the fourth or fifth most relevant network late night host on his own show and another to be completely humiliated and torn to shreds by that same host on your own show. Either Jay Leno really is that witless and oblivious now or he was trying to get sympathy by just standing there and taking it whilst Kimmel berated him for the entire fiasco to his face, and if the latter is true, it sure as hell didn't work.

[Blaze09]

The more that segment went on, the more it seemed that Leno was setting himself up to get torn to shreads.

[RPS]

I mean, Kimmel has been pretty vocal about how he feels about the issue - having him on your show isn't a good idea. I think Leno didn't really think he'd go for the jugular like that, let alone just continually trash the guy. I think Leno kept going because what's the alternative on live television? If he shuts it off, he probably would have ended up looking just as bad.

[GoGo Yubari]

Well, it's not actually live television but if they cut it, it just would have come out anyway from someone in the audience or Kimmel himself talking about it and then Leno would have looked even worse.

[zero]

It's official, Conan's last show is tomorrow night:

source

It's all officially official now. Here's the just-released statement from NBC:

NBC and Conan O'Brien have reached a resolution of the issues surrounding O'Brien's contract to host The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

Under terms of an agreement that was signed earlier today, NBC and O'Brien will settle their contractual obligations and the network will release O'Brien from his contract, freeing him to pursue other opportunities after September 1, 2010.

O'Brien will make his final appearance as host of The Tonight Show on January 22.

And:

NBC confirmed that Jay Leno will return to host The Tonight Show beginning March 1 and Jimmy Fallon will continue to be broadcast at 12:35 a.m.

"We're pleased that Jay is returning to host the franchise that he helmed brilliantly and successfully for many years," said Jeff Gaspin, chairman NBC Universal Television Entertainment. "He is an enormous talent, a consummate professional and one of the hardest-working performers on television."

[Blaze09]

Nail, meet coffin. You two should get along very well

[ROC]

That press release is un-fucking-believable. It really really is. I'm ready for Friday night, though. Sad times!

[Ananas]

You know, it's been said that you can tell a lot about someone's character from the way they act when their back is against the wall. Ladies and gentlemen, Conan O'Brien.

[Guest Big Dog]

So, 10 people prefer The Big Chin over CoCo. Are they high? Chinny ain't funny.

[Mofoticon]

I don't know how many of you have been watching this week, but conan has been on fire...some of the best late night tv i've ever seen

the finale should be epic, but no conan until september saddens me

[AnnIQ Edison]

Being a Conan fan, the best resolution to this mess would be Leno getting bombed in the ratings and the general public shoving it in NBC's faces.

[AnnIQ Edison]

Double Post because it's Double True

Edited January 22, 2010 by The Inquisition

[GhostMachine]

FREEBIRD! *busts out lighter*

R.I.P., NBC late night programming

[Mofoticon]

Conan is one of the classiest people i've ever seen on TV, and he proved it again with that final speech...to thank NBC after all that's happened and the way they screwed him over was just something a lot of people wouldn't be able to do. A perfect ending to a show that should have lasted for 10-15 years minimum

Can't wait to see him in September

[GoGo Yubari]

I felt oddly unsatisfied with that episode for the most part, I think because my expectations were so lofty there was really little chance of the reality matching up. I dunno, I honestly wanted to see classic Tonight Show/Late Night characters instead of the likes of Steve Carrell, especially since a lot of them didn't have any presence over the last couple weeks (Frankenstein, Conando, Pierre Bernard who didn't make a single appearance while freaking Deon Cole showed up four times, I don't think Brian McCann appeared even once). That being said, Conan's speech was beautiful and classy when he really had the right to have gone out angry and defiant, and the montage of Conan's Tonight Show run was very nicely done.

Also credit to Jimmy Fallon, who did a nice little tribute to Conan at the top of his show.

[Death Before Dishonor]

I just made this...I was bored, thought it turned out alright, heh. Would love to see it, although then I'd have to DVR TDS/Colbert Report. These 7 months can't go by quick enough!

[GhostMachine]

I wish Conan had done one last "In The Year 3000" bit while he was still able to insult NBC.

Loved the "what to do with the studio" bit.

Ending of the show was awesome, but I bet it gets cut from re-runs and Hulu, sadly.

And if I was a donator, my name would be "Chip Whitley" right now.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Thursday and last night were the first times in my life I'd gone out of my way to watch Conan (incidental viewing was between him and Kimmel most nights in the Late Night era I was up that late, but Letterman usually beat him out post-switch).

Both were very good shows and really gave me the impression that Conan and Jay speak to completely different audiences. Anyone else notice that in Conan's thanking of NBC (which I took more as subtle jabs at them for ending such a long-lasting relationship), he never once thanked Leno, or said he'd do a good job, or even brought him up other than as a joke in the Things To Do With The Studio list? Definitely some bitterness there.

[Guest JukeboxHero]

I watched the show earlier at Hulu and it's all there, even the end, so you can check it out here:

In any event, it was a fun show, I thought. A very fitting send off. If you watch any part of the show, make sure it's the last segment with his speech and the awesome musical performance. Phenomenal stuff. Can't wait to see where Conan goes from here.