The NBC / Conan / Leno Debate
Conan O’Brien made a statement Tuesday on his refusal to continue hosting “The Tonight Show” if NBC shifts the program from 11:35 p.m. to 12:05 a.m. Conan’s decision may end up costing him his job, but he is in a position where he can stand up for what he believes. He is handling the situation in an articulate manner so far, submitting a public statement and talking about the situation on air. The statement he released is clear, concise and written in Conan’s style, however it is obvious he is not thrilled about the situation he faces with NBC.
The entire situation from NBC’s perspective seems due to poor ratings, and Conan explains, “it was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.” Conan expressed respect for the previous ‘Tonight Show’ hosts and argued that making changes to NBC’s “long-established late night schedule” will be harmful to the ‘Tonight Show’. “The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show,” wrote Conan. Bumping back “The Tonight Show” will also affect Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Night” show.
NBC faces a difficult situation dealing with Conan’s arguments and we will continue to see decisions made and public statements both written and on air. What should Conan’s next PR move be?
And if you haven’t heard enough about the situation, David Letterman, who airs on CBS, offers some “free genius TV advice” for NBC:
Thank you for reading, “People of Earth.”
