Sexy Beast
More Sexy BeastConan's Exit Confirmed
by Kim Masters
Kim Masters covers the entertainment business for The Daily Beast. She is also the host of The Business, public radio's weekly program about the business of show business, and the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else.
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The late-night nightmare is almost over. Conan O’Brien is leaving NBC and receiving a payout—and he’ll be free to appear on another network before his contract expires, Kim Masters reports.
The NBC-Leno-Conan war is close to ending, according to a knowledgeable source. According to the outlines of a settlement, Conan O'Brien will leave NBC and the network will make an as-yet unspecified payment. The comedian will be free to appear elsewhere on television well before his contract expires, despite earlier threats from NBC that it would prevent him from working anywhere else.
There is still opportunity for the negotiation to fall apart, but clearly, at this point it is in NBC's interest to put an end to this dismal episode.
It seems that Ron Meyer, the affable chief of the Universal film studio, played a key role in bringing the parties together when they were at an impasse and talks had broken down. Meyer is a former agent whose industry relationships run deep and wide. And of course, he has lots of negotiating experience.
According to the source, the resolution to the epic and highly public battle came down primarily to the size of the check that NBC would write to O'Brien. That amount remains shrouded in mystery for now, and no doubt the parties will have to agree to confidentiality as part of the deal.
According to a knowledgeable insider, NBC Universal started out sincerely hoping that it would be able to keep O'Brien on NBC in a 12:05 a.m. slot behind Leno, who is to be reinstated at 11:35 p.m. Part of the resolution was getting executives there to understand that the plan simply was unrealistic.
At that point, with late-night comics across the television landscape piling on night after night—and with Leno being increasingly vilified and undoubtedly chafing at the public lashing he was getting—it was obvious that the situation had to be resolved.
• Video: Clips of the Late-Night Showdown
• Bryan Curtis: Good Riddance to Conan It remains unclear where O'Brien might go next. The most obvious place is Fox, but top executives at the company have been scrupulous about avoiding any appearance that they tried to lure O'Brien there while his relationship with NBC remained unresolved. Should Fox go forward with a late-night show with O'Brien now, it will take months before he would be ready to go on the air.
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Kim Masters covers the entertainment business for The Daily Beast. She is also the host of The Business, public radio's weekly program about the business of show business. She is also the author of The Keys to the Kingdom: The Rise of Michael Eisner and the Fall of Everybody Else.
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nosocialize
Sad day. With conan out of the running for months Leno will rebuild and Conan will lose notoriety. Sad day for Jay too. He'll look like a jerk for pushing Conan out. It's sad that bad management has made EVERYONE look dirty.
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aubere
You're so right. It seems that NBC has stepped in it this time. Leno was great where he was. The move to Prime Time never made any sense at all. There are too many other programs that people have become accustomed to watching. People are not apt to change their viewing habits just because the network changes the format.
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Fordham03
Conan will do just fine. He gets a payout and can work somewhere else before his contract is up. His lawyer did a good job. Now, let's fire the suit that made these disatrous decisions--put Law & Order back in the 10PM slot and Leno in at 11:35 as before. That guy cost NBC a lot of money, and I'd give him his walking papers pronto. No one executive can afford to cost the network that amount of money. A screwup of this magnitude should be punished.
Fentro
As a former Paramount tv exec, I agree w/ Fordhan03 - the CEO should fire the programming leadership, but that would mean canning himself as well. Zucker would never fall on his sword - he makes too much dosh, has too much power (because the coddling chimps), and his ego is too huge (that goes for Jay & Conan as well); two funny guys raking it in because the TV business is stupid, filled with empty suits and nepotistic hires. And I still can't figure out what Carson Daly is - that is one no talent host that has been given the keys to the Ferrari - he must have some dirt on his company... but I digress. The fact is, Jay is not that funny anymore. I love the guy, but he's like the pickle in the back of the fridge that has gone moldy - tastes great when the 'sell by' date hasn't expired. His averageness must be the secret? And Conan should have never taken the 11:35 slot - Colbert must be kicking his butt in the ratings. In the end, who gives a rat's ass over these two tools?
bookbeast
complete agree with fordhan03 and really think. fentro was correct. all that money to lawyers ,and television stars! shame on them. zucker is stupid for starting such a mess. If conan is devastated because of what happened. I hope he takes a deep breath and knows "if this is the worst thing that happens to me I am a blessed man"
MANNY13
find the scapegoat......fire him and all is well ...ha ha ha
prmaven1
Not one of the late-night hosts can compare to the great Johnny Carson. Miss him so much!!!
sophia5
When Leno took over the "Tonight Show" for the FIRST time, it
took him awhile to gain an audience, without the critics of a 24/7 media.
Conan was not as fortunate in these days of 24/7 instant gratification
and scrutinizing.
He should have been given more time.
As a fan of Leno . . . I'm MUCH LESS a fan of Leno. He looks
like the villain in this drama . . . the antagonist, and I'm guessing
there will be a viewer lash back towards Leno.
I was just getting into the groove of Conan's show, and not sure
I'll be so receptive to Leno.
I look forward to Conan on FOX.
idicula1979
The Fact is Connan is a million times more funnier then Leno, the Only reason Leno gets his prime spot back is becaose the audience is more fimiliar with Jay Leno and thus fimilarity is what makes it possible to "fail upwards" in the world of media.
I look forward to watching Connan on Fox, and don't blame Jay (altough he is not that funny and does not deserve his spot back) he is not the true villian. The true villans would be the exec at NBC who messed up a good and are now trying to save face.
MANNY13
to idicula.... re Conan: opinion, opinion,opinion... re NBC: opinion,opinion, opinion,but based on "the love of MONEY"
mayaderen
It was actually Conan who pushed Jay out. Five years ago he made a deal with NBC to take over the Tonight Show, whether Jay wanted to go or not. Now he's crying and getting his buddies to help him slam Leno when he started this in the first place. What goes around, comes around. Good riddance Conan.
froggy98445
WTF cares what these spoiled dilletants do?
MANNY13
OH PLEASE - rating pushed Conan out - too bad so sad - boo hoo hoo - aren't smart enough to tell NBC is the BIGGEST idiot here...
fifthavenueandfifthninth
Leno and NBC have a history of this kind of behavior. Just look back to Letterman. I'm fully behind Conan. He made a fair deal and Leno just couldn't go. He renegged on his agreement and his 10 P.M. show was a joke. Conan went into this in good faith and it's clear people should be very hesitant to do that with NBC and if the deal has anything to do with Jay Leno. Leno tries to appear innocent in this but he is anything but. Good for Conan for making the decision and taking his leave. He has a lot more integrity than NBC or Jay Leno.
MTinMO
NBC wanted to put the date on Jay's retirement, not Jay. They insisted on lining up his replacement long before he was ready to retire. When he had to give up the Tonight Show, NBC was scared to death that he would go to another network so they came up with the 10PM show to keep him from going elsewhere and because they thought they could save money. Jay has maintained a very steady ratings but the 10PM shows usually had more viewers than the talk shows. Jay Leno isn't making the decisions. You are putting blame where it isn't deserved. And Jay has one thing Conan will never have- Jay is funny- Conan sucks.
SteveScholz
Jay announced in 2004 that he would leave The Tonight Show in five years, and he also said at that time that he wanted Conan to be the next host of The Tonight Show. That's not NBC's doing, that's all Jay. You're right that NBC panicked last year about losing Jay to another network. Then Jay's prime-time show got yanked because the local affiliates were losing viewers for their local news, which again is the doing of NBC.
Yet, Jay Leno agreed to stay at NBC, and agreed to do an 11:35 show which would have pushed The Tonight Show into the next day. Instead of that, Jay could have cut his ties with NBC and gone to another network that wasn't yanking his show, and left the legacy of The Tonight Show intact, and let Conan remain the host, and still have made a killing doing stand-up as he has for years.
But now, Jay is likely to get back The Tonight Show and Conan will be off the air. That's Jay's fault. Jay's given up his retirement promise, and stopped being honest about passing The Tonight show legacy to Conan. Jay has next to no integrity. And again, that's all Jay.
GernBlanston
Seventeen years hosting The Tonight Show and you're claiming Leno got played? If he's got enough leverage to drive the flip-flip, his hand couldn't have been THAT forced years ago. Leno's idea of primetime innovation was deleting the desk. But did he makeover his act? No, it was the same bits, same targets (Clinton sex jokes, still!), the same familiar gruel of guffaws. From his first show it was apparent he figured the lazy schtick would do the trick. And why not? Being "people's choice," he did what worked (way) before and not thing more. But hopefully when The Late Shift II concludes, TV's new Machiavelli will take a ratings fall. And all the old king's jokes won't put things together again.
jerseybing
i agree MTinMO.....NBC....gave a "unknown-awkward" talented writer a shot at "big time" tv....i remember his early years....he was terrible....got worse when Andy left....but eventually he carved out a following.....Conan take your ego....the money ....and run....your a frigin' comedian....(according to ratings)...go get another gig....
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GernBlanston
As you correctly point out, it is all about ethics. Leno in The Hollywood Reporter 2004: "When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor, and there is no one more qualified than Conan." Now I have every faith Mr. Zucker is most to blame for this adorable little potboiler, but Leno playing the victim is an act few are buying. But then Jay was never known for his impressions. So take the "Jay's #1" defense if that is your wont, but you can't play the ratings card and the ageism card simultaneously.
citivas
Have you ever been quoted in a press release? I have. And I've written them too. That was a canned statement made up by a publicist to sugar coat what was happening. It was widely known and widely reported that Jay was not consulted, had not planned to retire and was unhappy about the deal with Conan because he had no plans ot quit. He got shoved by a bump of idiots in suits who thought they could someone juggle keeping everyone happy and not losing anyone to another network. I'm sure I could dig up a quote from Conan on some press release praising Leno's move to 10pm too, but that doesn't mean he was ever happy about it. I wouldn't be surprised if after they settle the payout they'll get another positive quote from Conan too, but it will be b.s. So if the best that you can do is quote a press release and say that supercedes everything that was done to Jay or Conan and holds Jay responsible, you'll have to do better.
GernBlanston
But I thought you said Conan "screwed" Leno over? Or is the "suits?" Or both? Or is Deep Throat still alive?
We all know about adventures in press releases. But there's being forcibly quoted on one's behalf and there's acquiescing to your own private sham. Even if he did feel forced, you can't put a rider on Leno's boundless narcissism, also "widely known." The trustee of folkiness played the part of the good company man for years, but now, Jay unhappy! He want something done! His displeasure is utterly understandable, but dare he it make it palpable? Maybe a mea culpa on his force-fed sentiments of '04? Or tell why he didn't use his #1 stature back then to reject the deal? Perhaps he could expend some of that burnished blue-collar rep and tell us how Conan wound up with a knife in his back, but seems everybody's buddy thinks himself above the good samaritan law. No, Mr. forever in blue jeans does what ever takes to placate and reinstate Jay, all so he can keep telling jokes like it's 1999.
Ignatzmuskrat
citivas , Carson alas did not choose to have cancer, which is why he left The Tonight Show. I guess you forgot.
annpel
i seem to remember that leno played this going to another network ploy once before, when carson left and when letterman was supposed to get the tonight show.
as far as the ratings are concerned, apparently civitas you dont remember that jays first 15 months or so had atrocious ratings, enough so that nbc was shopping for another host.
what REALLY bothers me about leno fans, is that not one of you, much like your hero leno, show one bit of concern for the staff of conans show, the staff of fallons show and the staff of daly's show. all of those people would have felt the effects of leno moving to 11:30 or the effects of obrien leaving! but hey as long as leno is happy, who cares that he ruined late night on nbc, right?
if you think that leno is going to go back to his old ratings, you are more than a little delusional. conan will get another show and as such will fragment the ratings between leno, letterman and obrien. add to this, the hit his reputation has taken amongst hollywood insiders and the public at large. not only will it be harder to book guests on his show [ i sincerely hope that obrien will stay in CA because that will fragment the guests who only appeared on leno cause they didnt want to fly to nyc.] it will be harder to get his old ratings because so much of his REAL personality and moral code has been shown to the public in this fiasco.
i dont really blame the nbc execs as much as i do leno because as 4th place network, they kind of should be expected to underperform and make disastrous mistakes.
frankly, i believe that as a result of this, it marks the end of the tonight show and really, it should. the show has been tarnished and corrupted enough by leno so that the tonight show really needs to just go away with whatever little dignity it has left.
Bobertbobert
Conan's departure is good; it will allow him to consider some other line of work, or choose a skills training school. Leno might as well line up behind Conan. For now Dave has some new material but his days are not without end. RIP
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aggressiveFRUIT
That's show biz! I hate to see it go down this way. I like Leno and Conan. But I agree nosocialize, it is going to be hard for Conan to regain his audience after this.
MissClarity
How's bout Conan's staff. Do they get paidoff also. I hope so. They uprooted their lives, families etal and deserve something. I hope Conan held out for them.
Fentro
I hope you are right MissClarity, but in my limited experience, the huge egos get all the trimmings, while the workers get the crumbs. Just one more reason why our capitalistic economy must fail - it is designed to keep those in wealth in command, so unless you win the lottery or 'get discovered' and get very, very lucky, you get to be one of the 'little people' who have no contracts, maybe a 401K and health insurance, but when your boss's ax falls, he gets the golden parachute while at best, you get to stay on the plane if you can find a new boss.
indigomood
In my opinion, Jay should have done the honorable thing and bowed out. 5 years ago, he announced his departure and announced Conan as his successor. I'll switch to Letterman now, and if Conan resurfaces, I'll tune-in. Let's hope that Letterman trounces Leno in the ratings.
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cassandra2001
I must say that I've not been very concerned with the futures of a couple of multi-millionaires; however, I cannot believe this bodes well for NBC. What can they be thinking?
This will be seen, and rightly so, as grossly unfair to Conan; his legion of fans will follow him anywhere!
It's no skin off my nose, I watch Letterman and Ferguson; the Daily Show and the Colbert Report.
That's why god invented recording devices.
HollyK64
Jay's desire to hog the limelight is unseemly and NBC has handled this like thugs. Conan will come out of this being even more loved and appreciated by his fans.
elliebach
I'll just be happy to have Jay back in my late-night! Thanks NBC!
I just regret that the dynamics of TV ratings are so poorly understood by the public, and that Jay's getting blamed for Conan's failure - coming and going.
But the bottom line is that, after NBC realized their mistake (planning a move in 2009 in 2003) they had no choice but to find a place for Jay on NBC, and keep from shooting themselves (and Conan) in the foot by letting another network put Leno on head-to-head with Conan. Putting Leno on NBC at 11 provided cover for Conan to settle into the time period without competition from the No. 1 talent in the time period. But, the decision to try to put a late-night performer up against all those strong productions designed to deliver large audiences to local affiliates' newscasts was fool-hearted, In retrospect. It just didn't work.
But too many are confusing Leno's poor prime time rratings with "failure," while deeming Conan's lukewarm late-night numbers as "success," without any understanding of the essentials of audience programming This has all been the network's fault, not Leno's, and I think Conan should at least voice more appreciation for the chance NBC - and Leno - gave him.
cheerio
THANK YOU, elliebach! Finally someone is dealing with the facts! Conan pushed a very successful Jay Leno out, because NBC allowed Conan to do it. I was amazed and disappointed back then. Now Jay's getting blamed by Conan's fans who either never knew the truth or don't care about it. I appreciate your reminding people what actually happened!
annpel
why not take a little time and look up lenos ratings for his first year or so. they were worse than conans and leno had the advantage of strong 10pm shows like ER and law and order.
i also think you are trying to apply late night ratings behaviors with prime time. a great many late night viewers watch whatever program they watch, on whatever networks they watch the news on. late night watchers are much more likely to just leave the tv on whatever channel it is on.
carolinagurlie
At least Jay was given more than 9 months to prove himself as the host of The Tonight Show! When Leno first took on The Tonight Show, his ratings were HORRIBLE too. So all you Leno fans need to remember that Leno has not always been #1 at 11:35. It took him a good while to reach that point, and NBC isn't giving Conan that kind of time.
Leno fans also need to do some research and see that Leno was not originally intended to host The Tonight Show at all - Letterman was supposed to get that gig and got screwed out of it (much like Conan is being screwed out of it now!). And do you think Leno didn't play dirty to snatch that opportunity away from Letterman? Think again. Leno is not the saint his fans are making him out to be.
And Elliebach, you say NBC had to find a place for Jay and Conan without shooting themselves in the foot. How does putting Jay back at 11:35 avoid shooting themselves in the foot? If Jay goes back to 11:35, and Conan gets a show at 11:35 on Fox, then that puts Jay head to head with both Letterman (who, until a few days ago, was #1 in ratings since Leno's departure) AND Conan at 11:35...and let's not forget Jimmy Kimmel's show airs on ABC at 12, giving Leno even more competition during the second half of The Tonight Show. NBC has successfully shot themselves and Leno in both feet!
lowfiron
Conan's the man. I like Jay he's not a bad guy but I'm with Coco. They ought to fire Angela Bromstad, Jeff Gaspin, Jeff Zucker all of them, kick them out on their asses!!!
sperling
Based on the news stories I've read, the Twitter comments, the blog posts and dozens of conversations with people on the NBC late night issue, public opinion seems to be that Conan O'Brien was never given a fair shot and is getting a raw deal here.
Were O'Brien's only choices moving to 12:05 and/or leaving "The Tonight Show"? I know there was no clause in his contract that would force NBC to air "The Tonight Show" at 11:35 pm and in the end NBC is the final decision maker, but would it have been possible for O'Brien to fight for the time slot he was promised? Possibly using social media or traditional campaigns (Twitter, Facebook, write in campaigns, petitions, etc.).
In the end I think that Leno has been so damaged by this and comes off looking so badly that I wonder if he can recover, or will ever reach the audience level he once had in late night. Time will tell.
I do find it interesting (as I'm sure hs been pointed out already) that this is the second time NBC's siding with Leno has led to a public relations mess and one of the network's late night talk show hosts leaving on bad terms.
annpel
what really bothers me is that the nbc execs didnt see the only reasonable alternative here.
that would have been to move their news slot to 10pm like fox does, put leno on at 10:30 or 11pm and leave conan where he was. it still would have been screwing conan a bit with leno dragging him down, but businesswise, no one has a reason to complain.
it truly scares me that these execs make millions of dollars to be the 4th place network out of 4 only holding onto late night and early morning ratings and still be this stupid without being fired.
einsteinstoe
Lame call NBC. Why cut the knees of the X,Y,Z generations? I'm with Coco! Sucks for me that I will not be able to watch Conan online for many months it appears! HARSH!! As for Conan, magna cum laude at Harvard in history and literature, he's been in the biz 20 years. A writer and producer with the Simpson's.
An Emmy award with SNL. 16 years of the award winning Late Night With Conan. Conan Rocks! Yeah he just got kicked in the teeth by NBC but that's life. He'll be fine.
seeitoldya
You must be a very happy camper tonight whiny brat Leno.Shame on you and NBC.
ps2os2
I think I have watched 5 minutes if each show. It took me 1 minute to come to the realization that neither have any talent.
If NBC is so stupid to give Leno any money they really do not deserve to be a station.
As for the other one Conan, I would of thought he would have slashed his throat before even considering going over there. The station has zero basis for anything. Maybe he should have gone to PBS. That has some intelligence but they keep eroding it with their beg-a-thons.
jaimelepink
And you have ZERO BASIS for an opinion if you've watched a whopping ten minutes of late night TV. Get over yourself.
annpel
read the post above yours. like it says there, obrien is a many awards winning personality and well respected in the business. he was already on nbc. geez.
also the tonight show USED to be a venerable institution in this country before leno and his sidekick, a howard stern reject destroyed any remaining credibility it used to have. i stopped watching after leno got sued for like the 5th time for stealing jokes. i wonder how much money nbc has paid out to people that leno plagiarized?
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