Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien Drama Intensifies
In one of the most chaotic and controversial succession plans in the history of late-night television, the tension escalated dramatically on January 12, 2010, when Conan O’Brien publicly stood his ground against Jay Leno’s return to the coveted late-night slot. This unexpected twist in the late-night landscape shocked fans and industry insiders alike.
Conan O’Brien, who had been a beloved host of NBC’s Late Night program for an impressive 16 years, transitioned to the network’s flagship The Tonight Show on June 1, 2009. This shift was the culmination of a commitment made by NBC five years earlier, positioning O’Brien as the successor after Leno’s long-running tenure. However, this dramatic change left Jay Leno, the established star of the still-popular The Tonight Show, suddenly out in the cold, leading to a brewing conflict.
Fast forward two decades, and NBC had already faced a turbulent transition when Leno took over from the legendary Johnny Carson. That shift had resulted in Late Night host David Letterman feeling overlooked, prompting him to leave for CBS, where he would later challenge Leno in the 11:30 slot. The network, wary of repeating this history, sought to prevent another significant loss by offering Leno a new one-hour talk show at 10 PM. Although skeptical about the viability of this new time slot, Leno accepted the position, especially after being assured that his staff would receive two years of salary, irrespective of the show’s fate.
As Conan’s tenure on The Tonight Show began, ratings struggled, placing him behind Letterman’s Late Show. However, O’Brien did attract a younger demographic that advertisers covet. Simultaneously, Leno’s ratings at 10 PM plummeted, a scenario that NBC anticipated but failed to fully grasp the repercussions of, particularly how Leno’s poor performance would adversely affect the local 11 PM news broadcasts and, by extension, O’Brien’s ratings. This unfortunate chain of events ultimately prompted local affiliates to pressure NBC into reevaluating their strategy.
On January 10, 2010, NBC announced their decision to pull Leno’s show from prime time in hopes of reinstating him to the late-night lineup. The proposed plan was for Leno to reclaim the 11:30 slot for a condensed half-hour program, allowing O’Brien to take the stage at midnight, with Jimmy Fallon’s Late Night shifting to a new time at 1 AM, creating further tension in the late-night ecosystem.
Watch Conan O’Brien Mock NBC on ‘The Tonight Show’
Faced with a “take it or leave it” ultimatum and given no notice, O’Brien responded with a heartfelt public statement on January 12:
For 60 years, the Tonight Show has consistently aired immediately following the late local news. I genuinely believe that postponing the Tonight Show into the following day to accommodate another comedy program will severely damage what I consider to be the most significant franchise in media history. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply cannot retain its identity. Additionally, accepting this change would mean disrupting Late Night, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, jeopardizing its long-standing time slot and adversely affecting the other NBC franchise that I value.
It has come to this unfortunate situation: I cannot adequately express how much hosting this program means to me, and the immense personal disappointment I feel at the thought of losing it. My team and I have dedicated ourselves tirelessly and are immensely proud of our contributions to the legacy of The Tonight Show. However, I cannot participate in what I believe is its demise. Some may argue that with modern technology like DVRs and the Internet, time slots are irrelevant. Yet, with The Tonight Show, I firmly believe that nothing could be more significant.
There has been speculation regarding my potential move to another network; however, to clarify, I currently have no other offers and genuinely do not know what lies ahead. I sincerely hope that NBC and I can reach a swift resolution so that my staff, crew, and I can continue producing a show we can take pride in for a company that recognizes our efforts.
However, the calm and calculated tone of O’Brien’s statement quickly evaporated when he returned to the studio that evening, visibly frustrated. “Hosting The Tonight Show has been the realization of a lifelong aspiration for me,” he exclaimed. “And I want to tell the young viewers out there: You can achieve anything you desire in life. Well, almost anything… unless Jay Leno wants it too.”
The stage was set for a dramatic conclusion. O’Brien would host just eight more episodes of The Tonight Show, but he made the most of his limited airtime, delivering a barrage of humorous critiques aimed at NBC. Among these was a nightly skit where he humorously attempted to waste the network’s budget, including an absurd purchase of an ancient fossil from the Smithsonian, which he whimsically used to drizzle Beluga caviar on an “original” Picasso painting.
Watch Conan O’Brien Waste NBC’s Money
Late Night Icons David Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel, and Howard Stern Unite Against Jay Leno’s Tactics
In the fallout of this late-night drama, several prominent figures in the industry quickly rallied against Leno. David Letterman seized the opportunity to poke fun at Leno’s clumsy attempts at damage control, quipping, “He said we shouldn’t blame Conan for the situation… ‘Don’t blame Conan for what’s happening.’ And I thought, ‘No one is blaming Conan.’” Letterman went on to criticize Leno for clinging to his show instead of seeking new opportunities, unlike himself during his own past struggles with NBC.
Watch David Letterman Respond to Jay Leno’s ‘Don’t Blame Conan’ Speech
Jimmy Kimmel, the late-night host on ABC, took it a step further by openly ridiculing Leno during an appearance on Leno’s own 10 PM show. When asked about the best prank he had ever pulled, Kimmel humorously responded: “I told a guy that in five years I would give him my show. Then, when the time came, I handed it to him and snatched it back almost immediately.”
Watch Jimmy Kimmel Roast Jay Leno on His Own Show
Meanwhile, the legendary Howard Stern echoed Letterman’s sentiments, advising Leno on how to have handled the situation differently: “Many years ago, I was let go by NBC. What did I do? I didn’t sit there like a puppy and accept it. I picked myself up, moved on to a competing station, and successfully buried NBC.” Stern also pointed out that Leno’s 10 PM show significantly contributed to O’Brien’s struggles. “Jay effectively sabotaged him. By taking the 10 PM slot, he secured the best guests and drained Conan’s excitement. In the end, Jay is nothing but a thief, and that’s what irritates me the most. He appropriates bits from my show and from Dave’s show… they lack originality.”
Watch Howard Stern Fillet Jay Leno
In a twist of fate, this tumultuous saga ultimately resulted in a substantial ratings boost for O’Brien and The Tonight Show. However, his tenure as host came to an end on January 22, marked by a poignant farewell monologue where O’Brien expressed gratitude and encouraged viewers to remain optimistic: “No one in life receives exactly what they expected. But with hard work and kindness, extraordinary things can unfold.”
Just five weeks after Conan’s final episode, Leno made a triumphant return for a second run as host, which continued for an additional four years before he gracefully transitioned the hosting duties to the well-known Jimmy Fallon. Following the conclusion of his stint on The Tonight Show, O’Brien launched his own late-night program on TBS once his non-compete agreement expired. The Conan show ran until 2021, after which he shifted his focus towards his popular podcast and the travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go.
