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[joshcryer]

Patton Oswalt's Comments on Leno/Conan Shakeup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5lVD8GBr8

Thought you guys would be interested.

Most of that stuff is innuendo, in one breath he goes from saying "Jay Leno comes off as mean... but I don't know how he is with his staff."

I hope Jay refuses to do the 30 minute show. I know he won't because of the backlash he is getting and he wants to prove himself somehow now.

 

[Oblivion]

Can someone tell me why NBC did this re-arranging bullshit in the first place? Leno was consistently the highest rated show for his time slot, so what was the point of messing with a good thing? It's like NBC had a solution looking for a problem.

 

[TheGreatDave]

Can someone tell me why NBC did this re-arranging bullshit in the first place? Leno was consistently the highest rated show for his time slot, so what was the point of messing with a good thing? It's like NBC had a solution looking for a problem.

Leno was supposed to retire. They made plans to put Conan on in his place. Leno decided he didn't want to go.

 

[Silent Death]

What fucking company writes a contract that says if we fire you and you get another job but the pay is than what you were getting here we'll offset your loss?

 

[itsgreen]

Patton Oswalt's Comments on Leno/Conan Shakeup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5lVD8GBr8

Thought you guys would be interested.

I don't know. His argument why Leno sucks is that he doesn't have a plan. I'm just not sure about that.

What I am sure about is that I love Conan way more.

And it is a fucking dick move by NBC by not letting Conan be. Because he is getting better and better. Just like he continually was getting better at 1230.

(is Patton on Leno monday or was that a joke?)

 

[tonkatsu_ramen]

Patton Oswalt's Comments on Leno/Conan Shakeup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5lVD8GBr8

Thought you guys would be interested.

Why would he be a guest at Leno's show on monday if he is saying all these bad things about him? Since he is so supportive of conan, shouldn't he appear on conan's show instead?

 

[joshcryer]

Leno was supposed to retire. They made plans to put Conan on in his place. Leno decided he didn't want to go.

More like, Leno was supposed to retire, Leno decided he wanted to stay in comedy. NBC got scared and said "we'll give you a show." Leno got the show. Leno's new show is screwing up affiliate ratings, NBC has to cancel it. NBC looks like it's getting scared again and wanting to give him a 30 minute show in his old time slot. It's really stupid.

Tell Leno that all's fair in love and war, that he did his time, the show failed, and that they are open to other show suggestions but The Tonight Show stays where it is.


Silent Death, basic contractual stuff. It's like how you have to pay the babysitter even if the baby sitter didn't watch your kid that day.

 

[Oblivion]

Leno was supposed to retire. They made plans to put Conan on in his place. Leno decided he didn't want to go.

Ah, okay. Was wondering what the heck was going on.

 

[Ninja Scooter]

More like, Leno was supposed to retire, Leno decided he wanted to stay in comedy. NBC got scared and said "we'll give you a show." Leno got the show. Leno's new show is screwing up affiliate ratings, NBC has to cancel it. NBC looks like it's getting scared again and wanting to give him a 30 minute show in his old time slot. It's really stupid.

Tell Leno that all's fair in love and war, that he did his time, the show failed, and that they are open to other show suggestions but The Tonight Show stays where it is.

thats the problem NBC has been so scared of losing one of the two they have been making a bunch of stupid panic moves. They were afraid Conan would grow to big for 12:30 so they made the whole "2009" deal to begin with, then Jay didn't want to retire but they were too scared to let him go so they fucked themselves again by giving him the 10:00 show. Now they are trying to smash them both together in the same timeslot.

 

[Yousefb]

The video shows...

Spoiler

The first three people who had questions, didn't ask anything relevant to the late night shit going on.. one asks "can I see Tobey McGuire in the back room" (as he was the guest that night), the second goes "can I use the bathroom?" and follows up with "..well, then can I go see Tobey"... the third guy asks "how many ties do you own?".. finally, the last person to ask a question is Carson in the audience, and goes "whats going to happen to my show?"

.. honestly, it was amusing without attacking or really taking on the subject at hand, and he allowed him to go backstage to meet Tobey McGuire.

Thanks for the description man, that was a nice touch from Jimmy.

Heh guess I'm tuning in to Jay on Monday to see what Patton Oswalt has to say.

 

[Plinko]

Tell Leno that all's fair in love and war, that he did his time, the show failed, and that they are open to other show suggestions but The Tonight Show stays where it is.

The problem, though, is that the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien is failing. Why in the world would NBC stick with it when the guy who was dominating the ratings is willing to come back and take over again?

 

[Jubs]

Since he is so supportive of conan, shouldn't he appear on conan's show instead?

He already has, this past week.

 

[Tobor]

And when his contract ends? It's hard getting a raise when you make $1 a year :lol

I don't think any network would be stupid enough to turn down a 10 year deal if they get the first five for free.

 

[Sapiens]

Why would he be a guest at Leno's show on monday if he is saying all these bad things about him? Since he is so supportive of conan, shouldn't he appear on conan's show instead?

Why not? It's part of his business to appear on these shows and get exposure.

 

[Silent Death]

The problem, though, is that the Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien is failing. Why in the world would NBC stick with it when the guy who was dominating the ratings is willing to come back and take over again?

Question is has Conan been failing because his show is bad or because NBC has the guy who was doing the show before doing the same show an hour before. Would Jay have succeeded if Johnny Carson moved his show up an hour and Jay had to follow him?

 

[Plinko]

Question is has Conan been failing because his show is bad or because NBC has the guy who was doing the show before doing the same show an hour before. Would Jay have succeeded if Johnny Carson moved his show up an hour and Jay had to follow him?

Am I mistaken, or didn't Conan's show debut months ahead of Leno's 10:00 slot? I believe it did, and O'Brien's ratings were already on their way down before Leno debuted.

Edit: Found it.

Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien started June 1, 2009. Jay Leno Show started September 14, 2009.

That's 3 1/2 months.

 

[Plinko]

Patton Oswalt's Comments on Leno/Conan Shakeup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5lVD8GBr8

Thought you guys would be interested.

Thanks for posting.

IMO, it Oswalt sounded pretty lame in his assessment. Seemed like it was just a time to take potshots at Leno and his methods while showering praise all over his personal friend Conan.

 

[Silent Death]

Am I mistaken, or didn't Conan's show debut months ahead of Leno's 10:00 slot? I believe it did, and O'Brien's ratings were already on their way down before Leno debuted.

Edit: Found it.

Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien started June 1, 2009. Jay Leno Show started September 14, 2009.

That's 3 1/2 months.

Thank now I know, that's why I asked the question. I don't watch either show.

 

[element]

Am I mistaken, or didn't Conan's show debut months ahead of Leno's 10:00 slot? I believe it did, and O'Brien's ratings were already on their way down before Leno debuted.

Edit: Found it.

Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien started June 1, 2009. Jay Leno Show started September 14, 2009.

That's 3 1/2 months.

It is to be expect to have a drop off when introducing a new host and humor on Tonight Show with Conan. It has gotten worse with the Leno lead in to the local news, as viewers are watching other stations at 10 PM, then watching that same station's 11 PM news, and then either going to bed or watching whatever that station has to offer at 11:30. It is just a bad domino effect for Conan.

 

[Fun Factor]

They're seriously considering giving Leno 30 minutes at 11:30 to do the Tonight Show and then have Conan do his Tonight Show from 12-1? That's ridiculous.

NBC should say "hey Leno you suck. You bombed at 10pm, go away" and fire him and keep Conan and Jimmy Fallon where they are.

More like NBC should say "hey Conan you suck. You bombed at 11:35pm, go away" and fire him and keep Leno at 11:35 & get the massive ratings he always gets.

 

[joshcryer]

Conan's drop was nothing significant, the whole keeping Leno thing is purely because they're afraid he'll go to another network, nothing else.

 

[saiftk]

Why would he be a guest at Leno's show on monday if he is saying all these bad things about him? Since he is so supportive of conan, shouldn't he appear on conan's show instead?

They were being sarcastic. Obviously he won't go on Leno.

 

[Teddman]

More like NBC should say "hey Conan you suck. You bombed at 11:35pm, go away" and fire him and keep Leno at 11:35 & get the massive ratings he always gets.

This is actually what they ARE doing. They're just hoping Conan walks so they don't have to buy out his contract.

 

[Barrett2]

More like NBC should say "hey Conan you suck. You bombed at 11:35pm, go away" and fire him and keep Leno at 11:35 & get the massive ratings he always gets.

Typically you try to avoid "firing" people that you still owe countless millions of dollars to. That would magnify NBC's incompetence more than it already is.

 

[element]

This is actually what they ARE doing. They're just hoping Conan walks so they don't have to buy out his contract.

They will owe Conan money no matter what happens.

1. He takes 12:05, stays on the same contract.
2. He quits. NBC is on the ropes for 4 years at $20m a year.
3. He quits and goes to another network. NBC picks up what the difference is between his new rate vs his old rate.

 

[Ecto311]

More like NBC should say "hey Conan you suck. You bombed at 11:35pm, go away" and fire him and keep Leno at 11:35 & get the massive ratings he always gets.

This is the dumbest shit I ever heard.

 

[Teddman]

They will owe Conan money no matter what happens.

1. He takes 12:05, stays on the same contract.
2. He quits. NBC is on the ropes for 4 years at $20m a year.
3. He quits and goes to another network. NBC picks up what the difference is between his new rate vs his old rate.

Nope. Conan has a two-year non-compete clause. Either he does the Tonight Show at 12:05 and gets paid, or he quits/gets fired and still gets paid, but cannot be on TV for another two years.

So all you Conan fans hoping he walks off to the bank, get ready to see him again in 2012.

 

[Sapiens]

This really sucks for Cone-bone.

I completely understand why people like Leno. I really do. But he's safe and mediocre. Conan's cool and wacky and fun.

He deserves to be there at 11:30.

 

[Teddman]

BTW, here is the most accurate summary of the situation, how NBC got there and the predicament they're in now:

Leno never intended to retire--He loved the Tonight show and wanted to stay. (This comes from interviews with Leno himself.) They told him five years ago they were taking The Tonight Show away from him and giving it to Conan. He "put the best face on it" by saying he was planning to retire. As the time drew nearer other networks were making overtures to Leno to put him in a competing time slot with Conan. NBC was desperate to prevent that happening; their "scripted" shows were getting bottom-of-the-barrel ratings. A show like The Tonight Show costs only about 10% as much to produce as an hour of scripted television, so they figured even with significantly lower ratings they'd still be turning more profit. Where they've hit the roadblock is with the "local affiliate news" at 11:00. With Leno's fewer viewers, they get a dramatically reduced "lead-in" to their local news and they're all yelling bloody murder. Add that to the fact that Conan is losing viewers to Letterman in droves and the network's hand was pretty much forced into making some sort of move.

Their problem is still massive: they don't want to risk another network getting Conan, but if they limit Leno to a half-hour show at 11:35, he's not going to get those viewers back from Letterman. And if they fire Conan; he gets a forty-million dollar buy-out. He has a two-year non-compete clause in his contract, so he'll either have to decide to stay at NBC in a demoted role, take the buy-out and be off the air for two years, or negotiate a reduced buy-out figure with the right to go elsewhere. Don't know what Leno's "buy-out" is--but I'll bet it's comparable.

http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/non-reality-shows/84034-jay-leno-s-new-show-8.html

 

[element]

Nope. Conan has a two-year non-compete clause. Either he does the Tonight Show at 12:05 and gets paid, or he quits/gets fired and still gets paid, but cannot be on TV for another two years.

So all you Conan fans hoping he walks off to the bank, get ready to see him again in 2012.

oh i didn't know he had a non-compete clause.

 

[StopMakingSense]

What fucking company writes a contract that says if we fire you and you get another job but the pay is than what you were getting here we'll offset your loss?

You don't understand the point. That is actually for NBC. It offsets their loss of a payout to Conan for breaking his contract with the network.

Nope. Conan has a two-year non-compete clause. Either he does the Tonight Show at 12:05 and gets paid, or he quits/gets fired and still gets paid, but cannot be on TV for another two years.

So all you Conan fans hoping he walks off to the bank, get ready to see him again in 2012.

See it WAS a good thing for Conan to move to California... (though i dont really know if our state's unenforcability of non-competes would affect this specific situation )

 

[StopMakingSense]

double

 

[Barrett2]

Nope. Conan has a two-year non-compete clause. Either he does the Tonight Show at 12:05 and gets paid, or he quits/gets fired and still gets paid, but cannot be on TV for another two years.

So all you Conan fans hoping he walks off to the bank, get ready to see him again in 2012.

This presumes that bumping him to midnight wouldn't be a material breach. Do we know if the contract allows for NBC to force him into another time slot?

 

[Spire]

So all you Conan fans hoping he walks off to the bank, get ready to see him again in 2012.

Not necessarily. He has cards to play, if we wants to go elsewhere he can negotiate it.

 

[Tobor]

This presumes that bumping him to midnight wouldn't be a material breach. Do we know if the contract allows for NBC to force him into another time slot?

The newest info is that it does not. NBC is screwed on this no matter what.

 

[Teddman]

This presumes that bumping him to midnight wouldn't be a material breach. Do we know if the contract allows for NBC to force him into another time slot?

It does. Clever of NBC, the ability to bump the Tonight Show to 12:05 am is in the contract ostensibly to afford time for special events like Olympic News supplements and special reports. But there are no restrictions on it.

Not necessarily. He has cards to play, if we wants to go elsewhere he can negotiate it.

That might be the most likely scenario. Conan agrees to step down for a far reduced contract buy-out and regains the ability to compete for the next two years.

 

[BenjaminBirdie]

This presumes that bumping him to midnight wouldn't be a material breach. Do we know if the contract allows for NBC to force him into another time slot?

I heard 12:05 was purposefully put in the contract as an option for The Tonight Show time.

 

[Jin]

Am I mistaken, or didn't Conan's show debut months ahead of Leno's 10:00 slot? I believe it did, and O'Brien's ratings were already on their way down before Leno debuted.

Edit: Found it.

Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien started June 1, 2009. Jay Leno Show started September 14, 2009.

That's 3 1/2 months.

Expecting a new host to have good or better ratings on a show that has been around since 1954 in 3 1/2 months is a tall order. I don't think anyone is capable of achieving that.

 

[Souldriver]

Nope. Conan has a two-year non-compete clause. Either he does the Tonight Show at 12:05 and gets paid, or he quits/gets fired and still gets paid, but cannot be on TV for another two years.

So all you Conan fans hoping he walks off to the bank, get ready to see him again in 2012.

You sure? I also heard that those three options posted by element are the only options Conan/NBC have.


Perhaps NBC changed their non-competing stance and just said "we'll pay the difference between your new contract and our old contract if you decide to go to another network", just to heighten the chances of Conan leaving.
Or is such a thing impossible with a contract?

 

[Teddman]

You sure? I also heard that those three options posted by element are the only options Conan/NBC have.

There's definitely a non-compete, it's been widely reported by TMZ and others. NBC aren't that stupid.

 

[SoulPlaya]

Patton Oswalt's Comments on Leno/Conan Shakeup
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib5lVD8GBr8

Thought you guys would be interested.

WTF is this? He admits that Leno comes off as a nice guy, and that he doesn't know how he treats his own staff, but he's still an asshole? Why? Because he doesn't push the envelope on the Tonight Show? Conan doesn't either, if anything, Conan's gone backwards since becoming host when compared with Late Night, and I love Conan. Incredibly, Patton still finds it OK to come on Leno's show and help promote it, despite its deplorable host? Get the fuck outta here.

I will say this, though, Letterman has really grown on me as I've gotten older.

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

WTF is this? He admits that Leno comes off as a nice guy, and that he doesn't know how he treats his own staff, but he's still an asshole? Why? Because he doesn't push the envelope on the Tonight Show? Conan doesn't either, if anything, Conan's gone backwards since becoming host when compared with Late Night, and I love Conan. Incredibly, Patton still finds it OK to come on Leno's show and help promote it, despite its deplorable host? Get the fuck outta here.

I will say this, though, Letterman has really grown on me as I've gotten older.

Patton, as funny as he is (probably the best stand-up guy out there today) is really good friends with Conan and probably shouldn't be trusted. But it's just his opinion, and it doesn't matter much.

But I think it should be noted that pretty much most comedians are probably on Conan's side, or have a similar viewpoint as Patton's. Unless you're Dennis Fucking Miller or whatever.

 

[SoulPlaya]

Patton, as funny as he is (probably the best stand-up guy out there today) is really good friends with Conan and probably shouldn't be trusted. But it's just his opinion, and it doesn't matter much.

But I think it should be noted that pretty much most comedians are probably on Conan's side, or have a similar viewpoint as Patton's. Unless you're Dennis Fucking Miller or whatever.

I guess I just don't see how this is Leno's fault. He wants to continue doing what he loves. I'm sure he would've had no problems staying at 10 PM, but NBC wants him out of that time slot, and back on his old time slot.

If he declines it (and why should he?), NBC would still seek a replacement if Conan's ratings continue to tank. Besides, even if Leno declines, I don't see how Conan could ever trust NBC again.

EDIT: Don't get me wrong either, Conan is a better host than Leno, but business is business. If Conan wants to keep getting paid $20 mil a year, then this is what he has to deal with unfortunately.

 

[JGS]

More like, Leno was supposed to retire, Leno decided he wanted to stay in comedy. NBC got scared and said "we'll give you a show." Leno got the show. Leno's new show is screwing up affiliate ratings, NBC has to cancel it. NBC looks like it's getting scared again and wanting to give him a 30 minute show in his old time slot. It's really stupid.

Tell Leno that all's fair in love and war, that he did his time, the show failed, and that they are open to other show suggestions but The Tonight Show stays where it is.


Silent Death, basic contractual stuff. It's like how you have to pay the babysitter even if the baby sitter didn't watch your kid that day.

I get why NBC would do it. What choice would they have if the opportunity presented itself? However, why would Leno do this to O'Brian? It's a selfish move especially considering all the money he made and the fact that he announced so early his retirement and Conan replacing him.

He is borderline obsessive compulsive about comedy and work in general, but he could be just as happy doing stand-up.

I had a hard time believing how ruthless he was rumored to be (With Letterman & even Arsenio Hall back in the day), but this kind of proves all of that to me.

 

[BowieZ]

Is it absolutely true that Leno never wanted to retire but NBC kinda forced his hand?

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien being moved to Conan's old timeslot isn't really such a bad thing. He can be respected for putting on a brave face, it'll give him the time and space to build up his show again, the same way he did for Late Night, return somewhat to his old format while being able to try new things out, and he'll be right there, ready to go, for when Leno quits/is fired when his show inevitably bombs.

 

[Pimpbaa]

Fuck NBC, fuck Leno, and fuck everyone who likes Leno

 

[Cheerilee]

He's still working because he loves what he's doing.

You missed the part where he doesn't spend his decades of talk show money because he thinks being a talk show host is dirty.

He's still working because he's been doing what he hates for so long that he can't stop himself.

BTW, here is the most accurate summary of the situation, how NBC got there and the predicament they're in now:http://www.fansofrealitytv.com/forums/non-reality-shows/84034-jay-leno-s-new-show-8.html

That assumes than NBC unilaterally took the Tonight Show away from Jay Leno without consulting him, and that he had no say in the matter.

Conan asked to get the Tonight Show when Jay retired. Conan asked to get a date in writing for when that might be. NBC asked Jay if he was going to retire in five years. Jay said no. NBC asked if there was a better time to retire. Jay said no. NBC asked "So five years then?" and Jay said "... yes." As time pressed on, Jay liked the looming date less and less. That doesn't mean that Jay is somehow getting screwed. That means he's getting older. It happens to all of us. Deal with it.

After Jay decided that "retire" meant "jump ship and compete", NBC obviously felt threatened and wanted to find some other job he could do for the company. It was Jay's own idea for them to give him a primetime show (which is five times more than a sweet deal). Jay obviously failed to live up to this role. Conan O'Brian did not fail in his tainted Tonight Show role any more than Jay failed when he lost 70% of Johnny Carson's audience to Letterman when he first got the Tonight Show (Conan has failed drastically less, actually).

Jay Leno is no victim here. He claims that NBC is jerking him around when the only thing they're doing wrong is bending over backwards to give him anything and everything he wants. He takes personal shots at Letterman on TV when Letterman has nothing to do with it. He's just trying to deflect attention away from himself because he's the real source of all the current problems. His show isn't getting neutered. He's retired! The fact that he's getting his position back at all (when it was already given to someone else) is absurd. Nevermind that his "half hour" show is the most that NBC can unreasonably press Conan, with the deliberate intent of pushing him to quit and handing the Tonight Show name back to Jay.

If Jay really needs to keep busy or he'll go insane, he should start his own car show. NBC would give it to him in a heartbeat.

 

[shintoki]

Is it absolutely true that Leno never wanted to retire but NBC kinda forced his hand?

Do you really think someone wants to retire when they retire on a "forced deadline".

Basically it is NBC being fucking indecisive and trying to cave into both hosts demands without actually thinking which is better for the network. They really should have just let Leno walk.

 

[Blader]

You missed the part where he doesn't spend his decades of talk show money because he thinks being a talk show host is dirty.

He's still working because he's been doing what he hates for so long that he can't stop himself.

That is the stupidest fucking thing posted here yet.

 

[Dark Knight]

This: