# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/121 "2010-01-11T07:27:59Z")
[This article](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/media/11nbc.html?hp) confirms the Leno-11:35 / Conan-12:05 plan. It also discusses some of the network’s reasons for the changes and exposes some of the brass’s delusions and hand-waving in the process. (Warning: It’s a New York Times article. It’s there as of this posting, but at some point it may want you to register. I hate that about them.) ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/122 "2010-01-11T07:52:35Z")
Question: does all this hurt Leno’s image with the American public? He’s long had the reputation of the “nice guy” of late night, but I wonder if people will start to see him as pushy or power-hungry… And frankly, they may put him back at 11:35, but he might not be able to reclaim the #1 slot - a) if his image is hurt, and b) since he’ll have no guests to hype in the promos (assuming it’s the half hour show). ---
**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 11, 2010, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/123 "2010-01-11T11:32:04Z")
What did Leno do wrong? He got forced out of a job with high ratings so he took another job that did not work out. It’s strange some people say Leno should retire because he’s 59 and has a lot of money. Letterman is 62, should he have retired 3 years ago? Should other actors/directors/etc. retire when they hit 59 to make way for younger people? ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/124 "2010-01-11T14:45:03Z")
> [@Cyberhwk](#): > > I’ve heard this IS precisely the desired demo for advertisers. College students may not have money NOW, but what they’re building is brand loyalty and at that age they’re still malleable. So they get the 20 year old hooked up with a free Mach 3 razor and they possibly have a customer for life. My grandfather has significantly more money but Gillette doesn’t have a snowball’s chance in hell of selling my grandfather a Mach 3. He’s been shaving with a DE Safety Razor since he was in his 20s and will the rest of his life. I started out using Gillette when I was a kid, but now think they’re way overpriced. So I just use Bic disposables nowadays. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/125 "2010-01-11T15:18:42Z")
> [@garygnu](#): > > [This article](http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/11/business/media/11nbc.html?hp) confirms the Leno-11:35 / Conan-12:05 plan. It also discusses some of the network’s reasons for the changes and exposes some of the brass’s delusions and hand-waving in the process. (Warning: It’s a New York Times article. It’s there as of this posting, but at some point it may want you to register. I hate that about them.) Two comments on that article. One, I like how Jeff Gaspin is trying to spin it into a positive that Zucker left his ass waving in the wind if this blow up. > [@](#): > > …he was personally responsible for setting the plan in motion, though he acknowledged discussing this and other options with the chief executive of NBC Universal, Jeff Zucker. “He let me pull the trigger,” Mr. Gaspin said. Yeah, Gaspin, I am sure Zucker was more than thrilled to let you pull the trigger on this CF. Second, when did Carson Daly get a show? He is getting screwed most of all because they cannot move his show back and no one even cares. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/126 "2010-01-11T15:53:31Z")
There were some good elements to Jay’s new show. I liked the sit down interviews without the desk. The stage was better. I liked seeing the format shaken up. Still, they couldn’t over come the bad time slot. They didn’t have as many interesting guests. The show obviously couldn’t last. I hope they keep the best new stuff and use it in Jay’s newest late night show. Jerry Seinfeld’s comments are interesting. > **[Jerry Seinfeld on Leno, O'Brien Shake-Up: What Did NBC Do to Conan? - E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/news/161350/jerry_seinfeld_on_leno_obrien_shake-up_what_did_nbc_do_to_conan)** > > Jay's buddy talks about the Peacock network's choice to switch up its schedule ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/127 "2010-01-11T17:48:07Z")
Love Conan, but just watch him on DVR, so I couuld care les what time his show is. Don’t really care for Leno so much. ---
**Author:** ![garygnu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garygnu/32/2924_2.png) [@garygnu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/garygnu)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/128 "2010-01-11T18:16:47Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > …Second, when did Carson Daly get a show? He is getting screwed most of all because they cannot move his show back and no one even cares. 🙂 Daly started doing his show on NBC _[eight years ago](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carson_Daily)_! :eek: He should go back to MTV. ---
**Author:** ![fusoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@fusoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fusoya)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/129 "2010-01-11T18:43:27Z")
Carson Daly’s show is something that especially puzzles me. First of all, who that is up at 1:30AM is gonna be watching a talk show? Secondly, I’ve seen his show a couple times mainly out of curiosity, and it is BORING. Who actually watched it?? ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/130 "2010-01-11T18:58:45Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > What did Leno do wrong? He got forced out of a job with high ratings so he took another job that did not work out. I think part of it is that Leno is seen as the mainstream, watered down guy. He’s fine, but the other hosts have a lot more die-hard fans. So in conversations like this, you won’t get a lot of people making an effort to defend Leno, but you’ll get fans of all the other guys attacking him. There’s also the perception that Leno is somehow screwing over the other hosts. IIRC Carson wanted Letterman to succeed him; Letterman himself obviously wanted the Tonight Show (and had apprenticed for it on the Late Show); and now Conan is getting pushed to accommodate Leno as well. It’s not clear how much of this is actually Leno’s doing, but it does create an impression. Also there is the continuing impression that network executives have absolutely no idea what they’re doing. 😃 ---
**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 11, 2010, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/131 "2010-01-11T20:11:03Z")
If anyone is screwing people it’s NBC. Leno is just taking jobs that he was offered. ---
**Author:** ![conway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ec9cab/32.png) [@conway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conway)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/132 "2010-01-11T20:25:12Z")
Maybe Carson knew something…he already had another job lined up: > **[Carson Daly is going back to his radio roots](https://www.latimes.com/archives/blogs/show-tracker/story/2009-12-08/carson-daly-is-going-back-to-his-radio-roots)** > > This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/133 "2010-01-11T20:38:12Z")
> [@BrassyPhrase](#): > > Then I traveled to the West Coast. It’s a three hour difference from the East Coast. I expected everything to be at least two hours earlier in broadcast. No, they run it like it’s East Coast time. To me it’s bizarre. Starting prime time at 5 PM wouldn’t do a lot for the ratings, and we have enough people out here to make a difference. Doubly odd is when you have satellite, and can get programs 3 hours early. I DVR the Daily Show at 8 PM every night, which is great. The best thing about the West in this regard, as a native New Yorker, is that the Oscar telecast doesn’t end in the middle of the night here. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Shroud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@The\_Shroud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Shroud)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/134 "2010-01-12T00:05:56Z")
> [@fusoya](#): > > Carson Daly’s show is something that especially puzzles me. First of all, who that is up at 1:30AM is gonna be watching a talk show? Secondly, I’ve seen his show a couple times mainly out of curiosity, and it is BORING. Who actually watched it?? I can’t believe I’m defending Carson Daly and Conan O’Brien in the same thread, but… I catch Daly’s show roughly 3 times a year, and about a year ago, he switched from doing a typical live-on-tape talk show, to doing a heavily post-produced interview show with 24p video and kind of an avant-garde style. I’ll admit I found the subjects boring, but it was creatively edited and completely different from the rest of the nightly talk shows. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/135 "2010-01-12T03:13:03Z")
Wow, Leno has really been ripping the network a new one. ---
**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 12, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/136 "2010-01-12T03:15:52Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Wow, Leno has really been ripping the network a new one. In his monologue tonight? I am planning on watching and hoping it’s going to be good, as he has plenty to work with right now… ---
**Author:** ![DiosaBellissima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@DiosaBellissima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DiosaBellissima)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/137 "2010-01-12T03:37:40Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Wow, Leno has really been ripping the network a new one. Maybe he’s trying to buy back his everyday nice guy cred- because he’s kind of looking like a douchenozzle who doesn’t know when to go away in this situation. SEE? I HATE NBC, TOO! RAWWWWR! ---
**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 12, 2010, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/138 "2010-01-12T03:55:27Z")
So what did he say in the monologue? ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/139 "2010-01-12T04:59:03Z")
I thought Conan had some good jokes, such as moving to Fox and following 24 in a show called 24:05. ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073/140 "2010-01-12T06:36:13Z")
> [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > What did Leno do wrong? He got forced out of a job with high ratings so he took another job that did not work out. Not his fault for getting forced out. But no on forced him to take the 10:00 spot. And he wasn’t forced to put on a crappy show at that time. > [@Bijou\_Drains](#): > > If anyone is screwing people it’s NBC. Leno is just taking jobs that he was offered. And doing a piss poor job of it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/leno-conan-shakeup-at-nbc/524073.md?page=8)