Be interesting to see how Jimmy Fallon does in CB's place.
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Jay Leno to end run at "Tonight Show" on May 29 By Paul Thomasch
Mon Jul 21, 6:11 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Jay Leno will make his last appearance as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" next May 29, setting the stage for Conan O'Brien to replace him on America's top late-night TV show on June 1, the network said on Monday.
But even as they announced the exact date of Leno's long-planned 2009 departure, NBC executives said they were looking for ways to keep him at the General Electric Co.-owned network in a role other than as a late-night host.
"We're still talking to Jay about staying within NBC Universal," said Marc Graboff, a co-chairman of NBC Entertainment. "We've made our decision, we're happy with it and were very confident 'The Tonight Show' will continue to be dominant."
Leno's future has been the subject of speculation since NBC surprised the television business four years ago by announcing that he would step down at some point in 2009 to be replaced by O'Brien. Leno's last show will be a Friday night.
While NBC wants to keep Leno in the fold, other networks are known to be interested in hiring the comedian who has long reigned supreme in U.S. television's late-night ratings wars.
"We believe there is still room for him to be on the air," Graboff said, but he acknowledged that if Leno chose to leave there was little NBC could do about it.
"If he doesn't want to do it, we respect that," he said.
ABC is widely seen as Leno's most likely destination if he leaves NBC altogether, and executives of the Walt Disney Co.-owned network said last week they would be interested in speaking with him.
Other entities said to be discreetly courting Leno, 58, before the negotiating window on his NBC contract opens include the Fox network and Sony Pictures Television.
LENO IN DISGUISE
NBC unveiled its plans for "The Tonight Show" transition during a presentation to television critics, which included a brief appearance by Leno in disguise.
As rival late-night host Jimmy Kimmel had during a presentation by ABC last week, Leno posed as a reporter and fired off a dozen or so facetious questions to Graboff and NBC Entertainment Co-Chairman Ben Silverman.
"Will Leno be paid for the rest of the year?" he asked at one point, and later followed up with, "Is it true you offered Leno a fifth hour on the 'Today' show?"
NBC executives have taken pains to craft a smooth succession from Leno to O'Brien, 45, who now hosts the "Late Night" program that immediately follows "The Tonight Show."
NBC endured heavy criticism for how it dealt with the handoff from Johnny Carson to Leno in 1992, eventually finding itself in a bitter public feud with then-"Late Night" host David Letterman, who had coveted the "Tonight Show" job. Letterman ultimately left NBC to anchor his own "Late Show" on CBS directly opposite Leno.
NBC has named "Saturday Night Live" veteran Jimmy Fallon as O'Brien's successor to host NBC's "Late Night" show. Fallon will test some of his material on the Internet before his program moves to NBC's late-night schedule in 2009, NBC said.
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Eric Beech)
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Jay Leno to end run at "Tonight Show" on May 29 By Paul Thomasch
Mon Jul 21, 6:11 PM ET
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Comedian Jay Leno will make his last appearance as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" next May 29, setting the stage for Conan O'Brien to replace him on America's top late-night TV show on June 1, the network said on Monday.
But even as they announced the exact date of Leno's long-planned 2009 departure, NBC executives said they were looking for ways to keep him at the General Electric Co.-owned network in a role other than as a late-night host.
"We're still talking to Jay about staying within NBC Universal," said Marc Graboff, a co-chairman of NBC Entertainment. "We've made our decision, we're happy with it and were very confident 'The Tonight Show' will continue to be dominant."
Leno's future has been the subject of speculation since NBC surprised the television business four years ago by announcing that he would step down at some point in 2009 to be replaced by O'Brien. Leno's last show will be a Friday night.
While NBC wants to keep Leno in the fold, other networks are known to be interested in hiring the comedian who has long reigned supreme in U.S. television's late-night ratings wars.
"We believe there is still room for him to be on the air," Graboff said, but he acknowledged that if Leno chose to leave there was little NBC could do about it.
"If he doesn't want to do it, we respect that," he said.
ABC is widely seen as Leno's most likely destination if he leaves NBC altogether, and executives of the Walt Disney Co.-owned network said last week they would be interested in speaking with him.
Other entities said to be discreetly courting Leno, 58, before the negotiating window on his NBC contract opens include the Fox network and Sony Pictures Television.
LENO IN DISGUISE
NBC unveiled its plans for "The Tonight Show" transition during a presentation to television critics, which included a brief appearance by Leno in disguise.
As rival late-night host Jimmy Kimmel had during a presentation by ABC last week, Leno posed as a reporter and fired off a dozen or so facetious questions to Graboff and NBC Entertainment Co-Chairman Ben Silverman.
"Will Leno be paid for the rest of the year?" he asked at one point, and later followed up with, "Is it true you offered Leno a fifth hour on the 'Today' show?"
NBC executives have taken pains to craft a smooth succession from Leno to O'Brien, 45, who now hosts the "Late Night" program that immediately follows "The Tonight Show."
NBC endured heavy criticism for how it dealt with the handoff from Johnny Carson to Leno in 1992, eventually finding itself in a bitter public feud with then-"Late Night" host David Letterman, who had coveted the "Tonight Show" job. Letterman ultimately left NBC to anchor his own "Late Show" on CBS directly opposite Leno.
NBC has named "Saturday Night Live" veteran Jimmy Fallon as O'Brien's successor to host NBC's "Late Night" show. Fallon will test some of his material on the Internet before his program moves to NBC's late-night schedule in 2009, NBC said.
(Editing by Steve Gorman and Eric Beech)
Just read this, could not agree more.
What he did to Letterman was deplorable, and all Dave did years ago was help his career.
Letterman writes alot of his material, that no talent Leno needs copywriter help,
Letterman was Carson's hand picked successor.
You know what all the critics say.
"Leno gets the numbers, but Letterman gets the accalaids"
Leno's schitk has always been standup...He's never been a good interviewer or conversationlist like David Lettermen..If you ever noticed probably 80% of the questions Leno asks his guests are generic and planned, then the guests go off in their pre-rehearsed routine or story they had planned for the show...Not so with Lettermen..There are alot of surprising offbeat questions and moments on his shows. He actually sounds like he's having a one on one conversation with his guests...Lettermen is brilliant imo. Just like Carson and Tom Snyder were in their day.
I am the orignal Craig Ferguson fan.
Ask my wife.
Knew he was a natural from the first second I saw him on the Drew Carey show, (who is also immensly underrated)
Drew Carey discovered Ferguson when he came over from Europe without a dime.
Ferguson states he owes his career to Carey.
But I digress.
Watch, just don't just look at Fergusons first 3 segments, his first segment alone is is 10 minutes of ad libbed stand up, and he does that 5 times a night.
The man is down to earth, not afraid to poke fun at his own masculinity, and makes you feel comfortable with his funny as hell double entendres.
Lettermans successor.
I have no problem with Leno. He's a funny guy. Letterman is a fucking genius though. Definitely one of the best natural funny guys on television.
I also agree about Craig Ferguson. He'll no doubt make a great tonight show host once Letterman retires and he'll do a damn good job.
I also agree about Craig Ferguson. He'll no doubt make a great tonight show host once Letterman retires and he'll do a damn good job.
you're not in the minority.. conan is the least funny person on tv in my opinion.
i tape his show sometimes when he has decent guests on . and its the same routine . all he does is make fun of his own appearance.
we get it already..
he has never said one thing that has made me laugh.
triumph the insult dog comic would be a better replacement for leno than conan
NBC made a terrible mistake in hiring Leno instead of Lettermen..Johnny Carson wanted Lettermen to succeed him..And everybody thought he would since he was on the same network at the time... Carson even appeared on Lettermen's show after he retired..And he very seldom made any other kind of public appearances..Also, why don't these guys use sidekicks anymore..I thought Carson was better with Ed McMahon as a sidekick. Conan O'Brien certainly needs one because it's obvious he can't do it in front of a major audience on his own..In a way Lettermen has one with Paul Shafer, who is always chiming in with his guests..They'll be making another mistake if they don't give O'Brien one when he goes into prime time in Leno's spot.
