Jimmy Fallon? I wonder if he’ll have time in his busy movie career to do it? Wasn’t he supposed to be a big star after leaving SNL, and all he’s done in four years is Taxi, Fever Pitch and Doogal? I’d say its insanity to have him host a talk show since he has never displayed any skill at interviewing people, but it hasn’t hurt Carson Daly.
I drive by the Tonight Show studio every night, it’s really funny seeing all the tourists lined up there. it wasn’t quite as funny when that sidewalk was filled with striking writers, but I digress.
Conan will get the Tonight Show studio, time slot and anything else he feels like keeping from the show. I suspect he will get to choose if he wants to keep any of the workers from the Tonight Show or use his own crew. Same thing goes with the writers.
As for the show? That is all up to Conan so long as the ratings don’t get any worst.
Consider how many people have failed at hosting a talk show. it’s hard to pull off.
Conan already bought a house in California, so I suspect the show will move there. Overall, I think his show will be less funny. Some of his more edgy stuff would not work in that time slot.
I imagine that there will be pressure for Conan to raise the ante a bit from his normal low-brow humor. My guess would be to expect some kid of hybrid Leno-Conan comedy hour; a little classier than Conan now, but with the same general idea.
Things we’ll probably continue to see:
The masturbating bear
Triumph
Actual Items (actually, I pray that he just takes over Headlines from Leno – Headlines is funnier)
Jaywalking (Conanwalking? heh.)
Fake celebrity interviews via satellite
Videos found on YouTube
Things that we’ll probably not keep seeing:
Desk driving
If They Mated
Things I won’t put money on either way:
The Walker Texas Ranger Lever
I like Conan, for the most part. His monologue will hopefully become more Leno-esque – the kinds of jokes he does now are generally off the wall, and hit or miss. You either get a rousing cheer from the audience, or crickets chirping. Leno has a wider appeal with his jokes, I think, and at least brings news events into it.
Now… that said… prepare to lose all respect for anything you just read. I like Jimmy Fallon. A lot. I think he’s hilarious, and overall quite charming. Now, is he talk-show-host material? I don’t know. But I predict that it’ll be hella funny.
To me, at least. 
I have no cite, but yesterday on the way home I heard an announcer say that Leno had decided to stay. Is there any substance to this?
What happens? I finally won’t have to choose between Craig Ferguson and Conan.
The fact that Carson Daly has a show and continues to have a show is a mystery. I think the execs at the network just don’t ever stay up late enough to see that hot mess. Unfortunately, I have insomnia a lot and no cable TV so that’s the only station without infomercials. I guess I’m also a little bit of a masochist sometimes I roll my eyes so much during that show it hurts.
Stay how? His contract ends in 2009 and Conan’s begins when Leno’s ends. I heard some talk yesterday that ABC and Fox might offer Leno an 11:30 hosting spot, however.
Anyone else picture **Two and a Half Inches of Fun ** rocking back and forth on his chair on the porch?
1982: “David Letterman? The Starland Vocal guy? He can’t do late night. He will not be on longer than three years.”
1992: “Jay Leno? Instead of David Letterman? He will be on no longer than three years.”
1993: “Conan O’Brian? Who? He will be on no longer than three years.”
Triumph deserves more airing.He is hilarious.
for me to poop on!
I know that’s not quite the right lead-in, but I couldn’t resist
I’ll stick my neck out and say I guarantee there will be no “masturbating bear” jokes when Conan takes over The Tonight Show. He won’t have carte blanche to make any jokes he wants. The network suits control the content, and they’ll want Conan to play more for The Tonight Show’s older demographic.
Nevermind the suits, Conan himself will know better.
I hope he doesn’t move to L.A. The Tonight Show, fun fact, was based in New York until midway through Johnny Carson’s run on the show. I’d like to see it move back. New York is funnier than L.A. The celebrities will fly where they’re asked to fly.
I think Jimmy Fallon is very charming, and I’ll be interested to see his version of Late Night, if the rumors are true. He’d be a nice contrast with fellow American Craig Ferguson.
Which could get NBC to offer Leno a new contract and pay off Conan. I don’t like Leno, but the guy has the ratings. My money is on Leno staying and Conan collecting.
Johnny Carson left the Tonight Show because he felt it was time to leave. Johnny then went into seclusion and was hardly ever seen again until the day he died.
Leno, on the other hand, has no plans to go quietly into the night and will, at the very least, continue to do his shows in Las Vegas and other arenas. He has said he would like to continue The Tonight Show.
NBC is stupid for not letting him continue. His ratings are still very high, he continually beats all the competition and has become a television legend. I believe I read his show still brings in $13 million a WEEK in ad revenue! To force him to leave in order to put Conan into that slot is simply stupid.
ABC and Fox would love to get Leno for a late night show…and they are offering more money and some nice incentives (an additional follow up show like Letterman has with Late Late Show).
The executives at NBC have not been known for their wise programming schedules in recent years, but this could be the biggest, dumbass blunder they have ever made. It might just send that network into a nosedive that will takes years to recover.
Replacing Leno when he is in no hurry to leave? I think it was good old Ann Landers who said, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Conan is a genius. Leno is an unfunny hack. When Conan takes over, the Tonight Show will get a lot funnier.
And $10 says the Masturbating Bear stays.