I just heard this story on the radio this morning, so I’ll take it with a grain of salt until I get some sort of confirmation. In any case, word on the street is that NBC is thinking about hiring Jon Stewart from the Daily Show to replace Conan O’Brien. What this would also mean is that Conan will effectively lose his spot as Jay Leno’s successor for The Tonight Show, a post that he was promised a couple of years ago when Craig Kilborn left The Late, Late Show on CBS. I can just envision Donald Trump coming along and giving the “cobra” to Conan: “You’re fired.”
At that time, O’Brien was one of the people being considered to replace Craig Kilborn and the main reason why Conan was interested in the position — it was basically just a side step to go from NBC to CBS, as both Late Night with Conan O’Brien and the The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn occupied the 12:35am slot on their respective networks — was that after Conan moved to CBS, he would then have the opportunity to take over the helm at The Late Show when David Letterman decides to step down. At the time, people were saying that Jay Leno wouldn’t retire for a long time and Conan would be stuck in his current position. With CBS, Letterman was more likely to retire sooner, given his health concerns and so forth.
So, where does that leave us today? If NBC does indeed to follow though with a Jon Stewart deal — I’m sure Stewart will be much happier at a major network than at the smaller Comedy Central — then Conan effectively got screwed. The only reason why Conan decided to stay in his current job was because NBC said that he could have The Tonight Show in 2009. I enjoy both Jon Stewart and Conan O’Brien, so I have a hard time deciding who I would rather watch.
The radio deejay suggested that they simply let Leno go now, allowing Jon and Conan to take up the two late night shows on NBC. This doesn’t solve the problem, though, because the issue would arise as to who would get the premium 11:35pm slot and who would be sent to the backburner with the 12:35am time slot.
I personally think that NBC should just stick with their original plan, because they’re just going to come off as total assholes (pardon my French) if they fire Conan and hire Jon. If Stewart wants a spot in a “real” network, maybe he should go solicit CBS and get them to oust Craig Ferguson, because, well, who watches Ferguson? Perhaps Fox or ABC can make a bid, because Jimmy Kimmel isn’t exactly a big draw either.
Are you a late night aficionado? Where do you stand?
Update: I bumbled my way around the interweb and found a lot of sites reporting this news. Looks like it just might be the real deal. Here are a few links: TV Squad, Broadcasting Cable, Perez Hilton, Jossip, and Lost Remote.
craig is the best!
Hi Michael. I saw the item on Drudge yesterday morning that Jeff Zucker—who went from Katie Couric’s assistant to producing the Today Show, to heading NBC News, to heading the entertainment division, to heading the network, to heading General Electric, which owns NBC, in relatively short time (something like 15 years)—had met with Stewart. Schmoozers happen all the time in television. If we’re to believe the other hot rumour of the moment, FOX News took Rosie O’Donnell out to New Mexico so she could meet with Don Imus to sort of try and get the two of them to team up on their network. If anything, Zucker probably wanted to gauge Stewart’s interest in some sort of prime time project. NBC’s schedule is moribund, and Stewart, or a Stewart backed project (like Letterman’s company producing Everybody Loves Raymond on CBS; or Ed on NBC) would be something they were interested in.
Stephen Colbert has proved that Stewart isn’t the only ‘it’ thing on the cable network, and Stewart’s departure into greener pastures would not be destructive to the political satire dynasty that he’s cultivated at Comedy Central. Don’t forget he’s helmed the Daily Show for a long time, and you can be so hot only for so long. As for NBC not wanting to look like assholes, I think their recent history has proved otherwise. In Bill Carter’s brilliant book, The Late Shift, you see how NBC promised Letterman the Carson spot when he retired, they forced Carson’s hand by gently pushing him aside, then gave the franchise to Leno. And when Letterman was suddenly the hottest thing in television and planning to leave NBC, they offered the Tonight Show to him, while Leno was already hosting the program. I think they would be very happy to ditch Conan for Stewart if the opportunity presented itself. It’s also been reported that Leno has been unhappy with the delayed transition arrangement between him and O’Brien. That it wasn’t a vote of confidence in Leno that they only offered to extend his contract with the stipulation that he vacate no matter how high his ratings were speaks volumes of NBC’s machinations. Had NBC not promised the Tonight Show to Conan, he would have left forthwith and signed with ABC, as surprisingly enough CBS was loyal enough to stand by Letterman, as Letterman has indicated he’d like to continue hosting his show CBS owns Comedy Central, so I suspect Jon Stewart will stick around until well after the 2008 presidential election. His appeal and popularity, not to mention any influence he might have politically, is perhaps worth more than a network spot at this point. After 2008, Letterman will have been in television nearly 30 years, matching his hero and idol Carson’s record, and his chief rival Leno will be out at NBC in 2009. Letterman may abdicate and with Stewart at Comedy Central, CBS would be hardpressed not to ease him into the 11.30 spot.
Where did you get the Conan O’Brien was in the running for Craig Kilborn, Late Late spot bit? I doubt that, as it would be odd that O’Brien would go to a number two rated network with his number one rated show. David Letterman had once suggested to Les Moonves, the CBS head, that perhaps they offer the show to Leno, but I think he was being facetious. But I don’t recall Conan wanting to go to CBS. . . ABC, but not CBS. Even Letterman was tempted to go over to ABC at one point not too long ago. –joseph.
They should keep Leno. O’Brien is not as funny. Period. If O’Brien tries to go up against Letterman and Leno he will finish 3rd.
“well, who watches Ferguson?” It’s obvious you never do or you wouldn’t dismiss him. He is the best late night guy out there. Brilliantly funny–and with no budget and no writers. I’ve wondered wny CBS does nothing to promote him and now I’ve figured it out. They’re keeping mum so they won’t piss off the very pissy, jealous Letterman and then and will ease Ferguson into Letterman’s slot without attracting too much attention from FOX and ABC.
I watch Craig and I know a lot of others who do, as well.
Why?
Because he is the best of all of them – his style reminds me of Johnny Carson – who was the best, by the way.
Yes, I am serious.
It IS obvious that you haven’t watched Craig. You need to check him out.
I hope they keep Conan O’Brien, otherwise it will be completely different show…
yeah. I heard that on the radio today. I hope they stick with Conan. People under estimate his talent.
I would be so pissed. I love Jon Stewart, don’t get me wrong, and there’s nothing I would love more than an O’Brien/Stewart late night line-up, but I think Conan is one of the funniest, if not the funniest guy on television and NBC pulling the rug out from under him like that would be horrible.
What happened to the funny Jon Stewart? Right before he made Big Daddy, that guy was gold. Now he’s just a bunch of high pitched intonations and screaming. It must be said for him that Stephen Colbert’s show is much better and funnier AND more popular than his.
Conan… I love this guy. I would stop watching late night television if Jon Stewart were to take the Late Show over Conaan.
Though I dont track US TV shows so eagerly, I certainly loved Conan O Brian in all the shows that I managed to catch back here..
I am not very much aware of Jon Stewart and so I would stick with Conan for now