Conan O'Brien and James Taylor set for Leno's final 'Show' - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 05-14-2009, 05:16 PM

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Jay Leno will conclude his late night run on May 29 by passing the "Tonight Show" baton to final guest Conan O'Brien.
Singer James Taylor will also perform on that last episode. And Leno, who spoke to reporters Thursday, said he was planning a surprise "personal" ending.

"I have something unusual and different planned," Leno said. "It's something out of left field. It has to do with our show and staff."

The final week of Leno-hosted "Tonight" episodes will include video packages throughout the week; other guests, previously announced, will include Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wanda Sykes, Billy Crystal and performers Lyle Lovett, Prince and Dwight Yoakam.

As for Leno's upcoming move to 10 p.m., the host said the new show is still in the planning phases - a set has yet to be built, and beyond the fact that they plan to stock the show's second half with more comedy bits, there's no format in place yet.

"People like the monologue, they like 'Headlines' and some of the bits we do, so we'll update those," he said. "The real trick is that second half-hour... the job giving a lead-in to the 11:00 news is really important. That's where our local affiliates make their money. We want to make sure they have a strong lead-in."

Asked about Boston NBC affiliate WHDH's attempt to pre-empt Leno in prime with a 10 p.m. newscast, Leno said station owner Ed Ansin's issues with the network predated him.

"His apprehensions didn't start with me," Leno said. "It started a year earlier. NBC has not had a great track record at 10 p.m. He wanted to do a 10:00 news in Boston and had been fighting for that long before talk (of Leno at 10 began). We had a nice talk and we'll work it out."

Leno said he believed the competition will be tougher at 10 p.m., and that he's a "realist" in predicting that the show probably won't beat the competition, at least initially.

"It's easier to go against a parade of white guys," he said. "They're all doing the same thing... (On the other hand,) 'CSI: Miami' is the best-looking show on TV. Do I expect to beat them? Probably not."

Echoing NBC's take on the 10 p.m. competition, Leno said the show will likely be more successful economically than its scripted competish - and that winning the timeslot would be "gravy." And once the summer months and repeats are factored in, Leno believes the show "will make up ground and hopefully win."

Leno also took issue with the criticism that the new 10 p.m. show is forcing out dramas in the hour - and putting scribes out of work.

"There hasn't been a successful 10:00 launch of a drama series in the last five or six years," he said. "There's plenty of drama on TV. Look at FX, USA and all of those shows, 'The Closer.' There's more drama now than there's ever been. What we hopefully will be providing, there's no laughs at 10:00."

As for whether advertisers will be willing to pay primetime cost-per-thousand (CPM) rates for the new show, Leno said he believed his show would be much more ad-friendly than the procedural dramas he'll be up against at 10 p.m.

"If the ratings are there, the ad people will be there," he said.

NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios co-chair Ben Silverman has touted the marketing tie-in possibilities on the new show - but Leno was a bit more cautious about doing too much of that on air.

"Ben is very enthusiastic," Leno said. "If it were up to Ben, I'd be doing the monologue in a McDonald's hat and a Budweiser jacket... I'm open to speculation at this point. It will probably be somewhere between Ben's enthusiasm and 'no.'"

Marvo301 · 05-14-2009, 05:41 PM

I think it's a real class act by Jay to have his replacement as his last guest. It's rare to see that kind of class in show business!

TVFactFan · 05-14-2009, 06:05 PM

Am I the only one who thinks that Conan will DROP the Tonight show BATON?-LOL

Schmoopie · 05-15-2009, 06:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

I think it's a real class act by Jay to have his replacement as his last guest. It's rare to see that kind of class in show business!

I love Jay Leno. He was in Vegas last summer and I would have loved to have seen him. I bet he's hilarious on stage! It's amazing to think that he hosted the Tonight Show for 15 years! It doesn't seem like it's been that long! This new show of his should be interesting to watch.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TVandSportsGuy

Am I the only one who thinks that Conan will DROP the Tonight show BATON?-LOL

Conan is hilarious and I think he's established himself enough now that he'll do fine. I hate to compare, but Drew Carey is doing a really good job on "The Price is Right" and he was the last person I could see taking over for Bob Barker.

Now since Conan's position is "empty", does that mean that whomever comes on after him (I haven't watched Conan's show in forever) will move into his spot and it continues on down the line?

TVFactFan · 05-15-2009, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

I love Jay Leno. He was in Vegas last summer and I would have loved to have seen him. I bet he's hilarious on stage! It's amazing to think that he hosted the Tonight Show for 15 years! It doesn't seem like it's been that long! This new show of his should be interesting to watch.

Conan is hilarious and I think he's established himself enough now that he'll do fine. I hate to compare, but Drew Carey is doing a really good job on "The Price is Right" and he was the last person I could see taking over for Bob Barker.

Now since Conan's position is "empty", does that mean that whomever comes on after him (I haven't watched Conan's show in forever) will move into his spot and it continues on down the line?

Wonder if he will act the same on the tonight show.

tvfreak1987 · 06-10-2009, 03:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

Now since Conan's position is "empty", does that mean that whomever comes on after him (I haven't watched Conan's show in forever) will move into his spot and it continues on down the line?

No, Jimmy Fallon replaced Conan on "Late Night". Carson Daly stayed put.

05-14-2009, 05:16 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,499	Conan O'Brien and James Taylor set for Leno's final 'Show' Link Jay Leno will conclude his late night run on May 29 by passing the "Tonight Show" baton to final guest Conan O'Brien. Singer James Taylor will also perform on that last episode. And Leno, who spoke to reporters Thursday, said he was planning a surprise "personal" ending. "I have something unusual and different planned," Leno said. "It's something out of left field. It has to do with our show and staff." The final week of Leno-hosted "Tonight" episodes will include video packages throughout the week; other guests, previously announced, will include Mel Gibson, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Wanda Sykes, Billy Crystal and performers Lyle Lovett, Prince and Dwight Yoakam. As for Leno's upcoming move to 10 p.m., the host said the new show is still in the planning phases - a set has yet to be built, and beyond the fact that they plan to stock the show's second half with more comedy bits, there's no format in place yet. "People like the monologue, they like 'Headlines' and some of the bits we do, so we'll update those," he said. "The real trick is that second half-hour... the job giving a lead-in to the 11:00 news is really important. That's where our local affiliates make their money. We want to make sure they have a strong lead-in." Asked about Boston NBC affiliate WHDH's attempt to pre-empt Leno in prime with a 10 p.m. newscast, Leno said station owner Ed Ansin's issues with the network predated him. "His apprehensions didn't start with me," Leno said. "It started a year earlier. NBC has not had a great track record at 10 p.m. He wanted to do a 10:00 news in Boston and had been fighting for that long before talk (of Leno at 10 began). We had a nice talk and we'll work it out." Leno said he believed the competition will be tougher at 10 p.m., and that he's a "realist" in predicting that the show probably won't beat the competition, at least initially. "It's easier to go against a parade of white guys," he said. "They're all doing the same thing... (On the other hand,) 'CSI: Miami' is the best-looking show on TV. Do I expect to beat them? Probably not." Echoing NBC's take on the 10 p.m. competition, Leno said the show will likely be more successful economically than its scripted competish - and that winning the timeslot would be "gravy." And once the summer months and repeats are factored in, Leno believes the show "will make up ground and hopefully win." Leno also took issue with the criticism that the new 10 p.m. show is forcing out dramas in the hour - and putting scribes out of work. "There hasn't been a successful 10:00 launch of a drama series in the last five or six years," he said. "There's plenty of drama on TV. Look at FX, USA and all of those shows, 'The Closer.' There's more drama now than there's ever been. What we hopefully will be providing, there's no laughs at 10:00." As for whether advertisers will be willing to pay primetime cost-per-thousand (CPM) rates for the new show, Leno said he believed his show would be much more ad-friendly than the procedural dramas he'll be up against at 10 p.m. "If the ratings are there, the ad people will be there," he said. NBC Entertainment/Universal Media Studios co-chair Ben Silverman has touted the marketing tie-in possibilities on the new show - but Leno was a bit more cautious about doing too much of that on air. "Ben is very enthusiastic," Leno said. "If it were up to Ben, I'd be doing the monologue in a McDonald's hat and a Budweiser jacket... I'm open to speculation at this point. It will probably be somewhere between Ben's enthusiasm and 'no.'"
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

05-14-2009, 05:41 PM	#2
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	I think it's a real class act by Jay to have his replacement as his last guest. It's rare to see that kind of class in show business!
	__________________ Only a life lived for others is worth living. Albert Einstein A life isn't worth living unless it has impact on other lives. Jackie Robinson Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. Benjamin Franklin

05-14-2009, 06:05 PM	#3
TVFactFan Member Forum Junkie Join Date: Aug 17, 2002 Posts: 99,136	Am I the only one who thinks that Conan will DROP the Tonight show BATON?-LOL