# Leno/Conan Shakeup at NBC **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 7, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073 "2010-01-07T21:31:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 38
**Author:** ![dhkendall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9adbd/32.png) [@dhkendall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dhkendall)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/741 "2010-01-23T17:31:58Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Carson was such a class act. When he was done, he walked away and never popped up again. I am a card-carrying member of Team Conan, and the above is the number one reason why - the insinuation is that Jay is _not_ a class act. Nice to see Team Coco and Team Leno can agree on something. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/742 "2010-01-23T17:41:12Z")
> [@Rilchiam](#): > > And that’s why he got canceled. HaHaHaHaHaHaHaHa… Sorry, reality is funny. ---
**Author:** ![Eternal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@Eternal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eternal)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/743 "2010-01-23T17:46:46Z")
It’s funny how everyone is anti-corporation but as soon as there’s some single person they can blame everything on they leap at the opportunity. Another reason NBC is thanking God for Jay Leno. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/744 "2010-01-23T17:47:37Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > That’s it, plus the fact that when he talked about going back to the Tonight Show on his 10:00 show, he kept making “Those guys at NBC” comments, which I think is complete BS. Jay’s not getting screwed by being sent back to the TOnight Show, but Conan et al are getting screwed. > > There are probably a dozen different options that NBC and Jay could have gone with, but this is what they’re doing and Jay’s trying to act as if he’s got nothing to do with it or any say in it. It would be that easy for him to say “No thanks, Conan has it now.” But he didn’t and he blamed the “Suits” for it. He blamed the suites for taking him off in the first place. Conan was a tonight show train wreck before his first monologue. It’s not his audience. it’s like replacing Letterman with with Howard Stern. Leno should never have been pushed out. Conan may have wanted to do the tonight show but he wasn’t really suited for it. His show style didn’t fit and when he tried to make it fit he lost his own audience. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/745 "2010-01-23T18:00:31Z")
> [@Stink Fish Pot](#): > > Of course. But he could have handled it privately, not on the show. It’s so strange. > > He’s going to cry? Please. > > If you really feel badly for him, send him a few bucks. > > This has been a pathetic cry for attention. It just doesn’t speak well for him, IMO. I have not found Conan O"Brian funny for years, havent watched him more than 3 or 4 times since he took over the Tonight Show, and am not wailing in anguish over his firing. That said, he was ONLY emotional last night when thanking his FANS for their loyal, heartfelt support. He may not be my idea of funny these days (having Will Farrell sing fucking-A Freebird?!?) but he is clearly a decent guy and a class act, and does not deserve to be denegrated for becoming emotional when reflecting on his good fortune. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/746 "2010-01-23T18:03:02Z")
Most people don’t know who runs NBC, but they know Leno. So it’s easier to focus your anger on someone you know. ---
**Author:** ![agrgurich](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@agrgurich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/agrgurich)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/747 "2010-01-23T18:40:16Z")
When Conan came out last night to that wild applause, I rather expected him to start singing, “Don’t Cry For Me, Argentina”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/748 "2010-01-23T18:40:18Z")
As I have stated many times, I don’t hate Conan, but just don’t find him funny. Last night was the first time I saw his Tonight Show. If that show was any indication, no wonder the ratings sucked. His “highlights” reel was painfully unfunny, his heartfelt chat was lame and that godawful finale with Will Ferrell was alone enough to have this show canceled. I think his show will do better on Fox - they don’t care about being number one in the ratings and he will do well with a smaller, targeted audience. But I doubt Leno or Letterman will lose sleep regarding Conan’s audience tapping into their market. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/749 "2010-01-23T18:52:32Z")
I thought the fact that Ferrell can’t sing it was what made it even better. ---
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/750 "2010-01-23T19:03:36Z")
I really enjoyed the “Freebird” finale. It just was so joyful and cool. To the person that said it wasn’t funny, It was a farewell, not a bit. Just because it had Will Ferrell dressed in southern rock apparel doesn’t mean that it was supposed to make us laugh. Just make us smile, and I have to imagine it succeeded pretty well at that. Was that Ben Harper sitting down playing slide guitar? ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Jon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bb73d2/32.png) [@Evil\_Jon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Jon)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/751 "2010-01-23T19:06:04Z")
The Ferrell bit was more of a “having fun on TV” thing. One last garage-band type moment with his buddies before he leaves. Whether it rocked or sucked didn’t matter, they were having a blast. At least that was my take. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/752 "2010-01-23T19:06:36Z")
Yeah, that was Ben Harper. Beck was also playing, as was Billy Gibbons. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/753 "2010-01-23T19:25:04Z")
> [@Evil\_Jon](#): > > The Ferrell bit was more of a “having fun on TV” thing. One last garage-band type moment with his buddies before he leaves. Whether it rocked or sucked didn’t matter, they were having a blast. At least that was my take. And it gave Conan something to do. He looked like he was going to tear up. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/754 "2010-01-23T20:00:51Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > If that show was any indication, no wonder the ratings sucked. His “highlights” reel was painfully unfunny… You mean the montage of 2-3 second clips taken out of context with a singular music track laid over them? Yeah, who wouldn’t expect those to be hilarious? :rolleyes: As one who saw most of those (often hilarious) bits originally, they were a pleasant reminder of what has occured on the show the past seven months. It wasn’t supposed to be “funny” so much as a reflection. I’ll be honest, I teared up a little bit during that segment–especially during the clips taken from the first episode, when he’s making the trip from NY to LA. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/755 "2010-01-23T20:07:29Z")
I liked the clips. Yeah, they weren’t all in context and they’re not easy to laugh at, but the cross-country run including going through Wrigley Field during a ball game was hilarious. I thought the motorized desks were funny, too. OK, so who was Will Ferrell’s lady with the pregnant belly and the wig? I had a chuckle when they started making out in the middle of the song. ---
**Author:** ![Raygun99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Raygun99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raygun99)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/756 "2010-01-23T20:08:36Z")
That’s his actual wife (and yes, she’s about ready to pop). ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/757 "2010-01-23T21:24:11Z")
> [@DMark](#): > > His “highlights” reel was painfully unfunny As others have said, it’s not much without context - especially all the shots of him running across various parts of America. [Here’s the bit all those shots came from (it’s how the first Conan Tonight Show opened), and I do think that bit was hilarious.](http://alidavis.livejournal.com/) It was admittedly strange to show bits of it by themselves spliced through the other shots. ---
**Author:** ![BigBertha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@BigBertha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigBertha)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/758 "2010-01-24T01:11:07Z")
Yes, and the To be continued ending was great ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/759 "2010-01-24T01:34:36Z")
> [@bup](#): > > As others have said, it’s not much without context - especially all the shots of him running across various parts of America. > [Here’s the bit all those shots came from (it’s how the first Conan Tonight Show opened), and I do think that bit was hilarious.](http://alidavis.livejournal.com/) It was admittedly strange to show bits of it by themselves spliced through the other shots. I distinctly remember the first show and his trip across America. Did not like it one bit. Thought it was a painfully slow start to a new career and not his best foot forward. I gave him 3 more viewings and that was it. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Barchetta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/da6949/32.png) [@Red\_Barchetta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Barchetta)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/760 "2010-01-24T01:38:43Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I distinctly remember the first show and his trip across America. Did not like it one bit. Thought it was a painfully slow start to a new career and not his best foot forward. I gave him 3 more viewings and that was it. Different strokes. I loved it and thought it was a great way to open the show, considering he had been based out of New York for most of his life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073.md?page=37) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073.md?page=39)