You no doubt noticed that I have not done a Pick of the Week this week. That’s because I was waiting. And now that the announcement has been officially made, I can now make my Pick…
Some of you might be surprised…
My Pick of the Week is the final episode of “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien.”
Though I have staunchly defended Jay Leno these past two weeks, let me say for the record that I have always loved Conan. I think he’s hilarious and he has proven that even more so through this entire ordeal. I didn’t watch a single episode of his “Tonight” though because I didn’t believe that he belonged at 11:35 p.m.—and still don’t.
But I also believe that he never deserved this. NBC should have let him go in 2004 when he had a real offer on the table. Now he faces an uphill battle to find a new home. Or better yet, Jay should have told NBC where to get off when they asked him to give up “Tonight” in 2004 and made the network get rid of him. Then he could have gone off to ABC or wherever.
But unfortunately we can’t turn back time and now we have to say goodbye to Conan, Andy, Max, La Bamba, and all of their friends for who knows how long. Conan’s final guests will be Tom Hanks, Will Farrell (his first guest) and Neil Young. It will be unbelievably bittersweet, but I know it will be funny.
I’ll be watching. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I will probably cry. I’m sure I won’t be alone…
The final episode of “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” will air Friday, January 22nd at 11:35 p.m. on NBC…
Why doesn't Conan belong at 11:35?! I hate to break it to people, but Jay's audience is getting older. Conan was the man for the younger population and could have had success there for years to come. I guess I am back to Letterman now. Leno's comedy is cheesy and unorginal.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Anon, NBC is backing the wrong horse here. The backlash against Backstabbin' Jay may be much bigger than anyone realizes.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been much better to stay with Conan, especially considering the monster numbers he's been getting the last two weeks - people are voting with the dial, and Jay's not winning that election.
Did you read my next post, Chuck? I think that this really was NBC's thinking all along. They just thought that Conan would roll over and do what they wanted. Missed that one, didn't they?
ReplyDeleteAngela, of course I read your post! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI think the letter Conan sent to the "People of Earth" was a brilliant move.
By putting The Tonight Show above his own career, he set himself up as the selfless hero, and (intentionally or not) cast Leno as the one who pulled dirty tricks to get "his" show back.
By not rolling over, Conan makes NBC and Leno look bad (unless they kept him on the show, of course).
You have to wonder what will happen if Leno's ratings are bad. Will they fire Jay and try to get Conan back before he signs elsewhere? And would Conan come back in that situation?
I'll be watching...
Chuck,
ReplyDeleteJay will not beat Letterman when he returns. That's a given. People forget it took him over two years to beat him the first time. I don't know if he can do it this time.
I think NBC is stuck now...