Conan O'Brien to Replace Jay Leno in 2009

By Bill Carter
The New York Times

NBC announced today that Conan O'Brien will succeed Jay Leno as host of the Tonight show at the end of Mr. Leno's current five-year contract in 2009.

Mr. O'Brien signed a new contract today that guarantees he will take over Tonight, still the leading show in late-night television, at a yet to be determined date in 2009.

NBC made the news official in a press release this afternoon, after it was announced to the staffs of both shows early this morning. Mr. Leno planned to tell his own television audience of the decision on his program tonight, on a show that had already been billed as a special edition of the program because it is the official 50th anniversary of the first broadcast of Tonight, with Steve Allen as the host.

The deal to secure Mr. O'Brien and to set a date for the end of Mr. Leno's tenure was put in place by Jeff Zucker, the president of the NBC Universal Television Group. Mr. Zucker had conducted complicated negotiations over a period of months with representatives of the two stars, trying to work out a plan that would keep Mr. O'Brien at NBC after his contract expired in January 2006.

Mr. O'Brien, who has hosted the 12:35 p.m. NBC show Late Night for more than 11 years, had made it plain in interviews that his goal was to reach an 11:35 p.m. late-night show soon.

He was expected to be heavily sought after by other networks had NBC not managed to re-sign him.

NBC executives said today that Mr. Leno was instrumental in making the new arrangement, having agreed when he signed his latest deal in March that he would be willing to step aside for Mr. O'Brien in 2009. He will be 59 at that point. Mr. O'Brien will be 46.

Mr. Leno succeeded Johnny Carson as the host of Tonight in May 1992, setting off a battle over the show with David Letterman, then NBC's other late-night star. Mr. Letterman eventually moved to CBS where for a time he succeeded in beating Mr. Leno in the ratings.

But Mr. Leno zoomed past Mr. Letterman in 1995 and has dominated the late-night ratings ever since.

This is great news. Conan is quality, and Jay sucks (IMHO). I wish it were sooner.

Of course, I really wish it was still Johnny on the show. But, no such luck.

Originally posted by jayman75
This is great news. Conan is quality, and Jay sucks (IMHO). I wish it were sooner.

Of course, I really wish it was still Johnny on the show. But, no such luck.

Couldn't agree more. I wonder if Letterman will be stepping down before 2009. If not, I'll definitely have a conflict at 11:35.

http://drudgereport.com/flash5.htm

yay!!

I think this is great. Conan can do a better job than Jay. David Letterman is #1 to me. Sure he gets beaten by Leno's Tonight Show but it doesn't mean it isn't a bad show.

So Conan has to wait 5 years?

What if he wants to retire from late night TV in 5 years?

;)

A few things I'm worried about:

This almost definitely means Conan will have to move to Los Angeles. Max Weinberg is definitely an East Coaster by nature (he's a member of the E Street Band, fercryinoutloud). Will he be willing to make the move with Conan? I hope so. The Max Weinberg 7 is the best band in late night.

Also, David Letterman and Conan are my two favorite late night hosts. If Letterman's still doing his show in 2009, I'll definitely be conflicted at 11:30. Luckily, TiVo will help me out.

And, most importantly, what will become of the Masturbating Bear? I highly doubt NBC will allow him at 11:30.

I hope NBC doesn't make him tone his show down too much.

This almost definitely means Conan will have to move to Los Angeles.

Why? NBC is headquartered in New York. I don't see any indication that Conana would have to move.

I hope NBC doesn't make him tone his show down too much.

Totally agree with you here. I think he would be better suited to succeed Dave. Those two are so much alike that I doubt CBS would ask him to change anything.

Conan is my favorite show on TV right now. I'm not as happy about this because does that mean it will still be like "The Tonight Show" when he takes over or more like Late Night. I LOVE Late Night and I want Conan to stay with that. I'm just saying if Conan is going to host the tonight show with the same premise and set as it is now I won't like it. I like Conan the way he is!!

I hope Conan stays in NY.
Conan IS NY.

Anyways, GREAT news.
But your right Brad, Conan vs. Letterman will suck.

How appropriate for this to occur on the 50th Anniversary.
.... too bad Leno's stinking it up on such a landmark.

As much as I hate to admit this, LA is the place to be if you really want to get the A list stars. The majority of "Hollywood" lives in well...Hollywood.

this is great news i think conan might some of the edgeyness that the tonight show used to have under all the other hosts before jay steve jack and johnny had an unpretictibllity that jay has just never had no matter how hard he trys . conan is the best thing to happen to late night tv sience letterman and he has more than eraned his shot at the tonight show

No doubt Conan will have to move to Burbank in 2009. That is where the tonight show has been since Johnny moved there in May of 1972 from New York. Conan will have a new band. I don't think Max Weinberg will come with him in 2009. Jay will probably go back to doing his stand-up comedy acts like Jerry Seinfeld is doing after he left his show.

i read today that max is going with him to burbank

Originally posted by Brian Damage
As much as I hate to admit this, LA is the place to be if you really want to get the A list stars. The majority of "Hollywood" lives in well...Hollywood.

Perhaps the "majority" does, but I recently read an article in the L.A. Times on how a lot of stars, especially the "A-List" stars are leaving L.A.

Just as many people in Hollywood live in Miami and New York. Lots of them are either moving back to where they grew up (or, in the case of young Hollywood, staying home).

I know that most minnesota celebrities either live here full time, or at least part of the time. I live in Minneapolis and frequently see Josh Hartnett, Jessica Biel, Vince Vaughn, Jessica Lange, Prince, Jimmy Jam, Rachael Leigh Cook, Kilbourne, and Green Day's Billie Joe (his wife is from St. Paul and they have a house here).

I think that going to Hollywood to be big is just a myth with some people. I've seen just as many celebs in Miami and New York as i have in L.A., either first hand or in the media.

Originally posted by TheHappyBurgerMeister
Conan is my favorite show on TV right now. I'm not as happy about this because does that mean it will still be like "The Tonight Show" when he takes over or more like Late Night. I LOVE Late Night and I want Conan to stay with that. I'm just saying if Conan is going to host the tonight show with the same premise and set as it is now I won't like it. I like Conan the way he is!!

I agree with this observation, in that Late Night is significantly different from the Tonight Show. And quite honestly, I'm not sure if the sensibilities of Conan will go over well with the greater Tonight Show audience. That is to say that Conan -- and his Late Night material -- are something that is tailor-made for a 12:35 timeslot, but not so much an 11:35 timeslot. I think he will have to make some changes if he is to be a success, and alot of the loyal Conan fans out there probably won't like it.

http://images.bravenet.com/common/images/smilies/king.gif - King Conan rules late-night and I only hope his show keeps its edge when it moves to The Tonight Show.

Originally posted by Zebra 3
http://images.bravenet.com/common/images/smilies/king.gif - King Conan rules late-night and I only hope his show keeps its edge when it moves to The Tonight Show. I agree :)

I think it's time for Jay to pass the torch. It would be great if he retired at the end of this season. He's getting really old and needs to quit. He doesn't do half the crazy and hilarious things that Conan does. He doesn't even need to say "Stay tuned for Conan" at the end of his show. Conan has a guaranteed audience.