Conan O'Brien's post-NBC options

With Conan O'Brien's management team busy trying to figure out how to free their client from NBC with the most money and least restrictions on when he can find a new home, we thought we'd look at some of his options.

Fox is the most obvious choice, and Kevin Reilly, the network's entertainment president, has not been subtle about how much he likes O'Brien. But, as we've previously noted lots of times, the network's affiliates would be a hard sell. They already have programming in the 11 p.m. hour and while sitcom reruns may not seem sexy, they are big cash generators for local TV stations.

With Fox already trying to get affiliates to give the network a cut of any money they get from cable operators for carrying their local stations, asking for a time slot on top of it may be a reach. Fox's own TV stations may also be wary about late night for the same reason. Those reruns cost a lot of money.

Roger Ailes, the Fox News chief who also oversees the company's TV stations, said he hadn't done all the math but anticipated there would be expensive programming contracts that would have to be written off. The network could try for the 11:30 time slot, which might be an easier sell to its stations, although that would put O'Brien against Letterman and Leno.

But the idea that Conan can walk out of NBC today and pop up on Fox Monday is a little far-fetched even if NBC were to cut him loose with no restrictions on when he can go back on TV. Fox would be unlikely to pay the estimated $12 million to $15 million NBC was paying O'Brien. Wonder if they can at least cut a deal to rent O'Brien's new studio.

Having said that, of course if Fox really wants O'Brien, it will make it happen. Rupert Murdoch wanted the Wall Street Journal and got it over the concern of shareholders. Conan O'Brien would be a much easier sell.

If Fox decides to pass, ABC seems an unlikely option. Steve McPherson, that network's entertainment chief, said ABC is content with "Nightline" and Jimmy Kimmel. We're pretty sure neither the CW or Ion are looking to get into the late-night game.

So that leads us to cable. Though O'Brien's sensibilities may seem a perfect fit for HBO, the pay cable channel really isn't in the daily programming business. Having a daily show to hype would be a huge hassle even for the cash-rich HBO. Whether O'Brien would want a weekly or monthly show remains to be seen. Showtime and Starz would also be wary about getting into the daily-show business for the same reasons. And there is no way O'Brien could make the kind of money he's been making if he went to pay or commercial cable.

Comedy Central is the most obvious fit for O'Brien's sensibilities. But they have Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert from 11 p.m. to midnight, and if O'Brien didn't want midnight at NBC, why would he want it on Comedy Central?

For now, it seems George Lopez is probably safe on TBS.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Conan O'Brien. Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[JC]

Carson also handed a #1 show to Leno, and it took him years to bring it to #1 again. It's not that easy. Plus he had top-rated prime time programs to boost his show as well. Conan didn't have the time nor the ratings, as Leno's program was a disaster since day 1. We used to be Leno fans, but not anymore. He's a scumbag, and worse of all, not funny anymore. I don't wish him bad, but I predict he'll tank this time. Nobody seems to like him anymore. We'll see. And yes, Conan is giving up a ton of money, but at least the guy is putting his principles above money. If he just wanted the money he'd have stayed. Wish him well.
JC

[SoCalGal]

I agree with Scott who wrote: Just small pockets of die-hards who enjoy a man [Leno] who belittles others for laughs and essentially bullies his way to get what he wants.

Leno will do or say anything for a laugh. He mocked and vilified (through "humor," of course) Michael Jackson through Jackson's humiliating ordeal, but of course didn't say a damn thing when the FBI's exhaustive ten year inquisition proved they had NOTHING on Jackson. How 'bout a joke or two about THAT, Leno?! I haven't watched Leno since 2005. On the other hand, I'll follow Conan wherever he goes.

Leno is the personification of all that's wrong with media. It's populated by a bunch of money-grubbing fools who'll do anything--ANYTHING!--for ratings. I think Satan himself runs the media with Frupert Merdork as his head minion.

[Ray]

I love Conan. Dude is hilarious. I loved the Simpsons when he used to write for them and loved SNL when he wrote for them. His humor KICKS ASS and is VERY successful. I think if Fox lets him do what he wants and gives him a year and pits him against Leno and Letterman he will eventually win. Leno and Letterman are old now and Conan connects with my generation 30 and under. I know some on this board don't like Conan, but that just means you don't get his humor. It dark and thats what comedy is about. Leno skirted the dark but Conan embraces it. NBC also put restrictions on Conan when he took over the Tonight Show and everyone has noticed Conan being effected by it. Since this BS has happened Conan has stopped caring and people can see why Conan was liked so much. I really hoped that Leno would just give it up and go somewhere else. What would Leno have done if Conan kicked ass from the beginning, but that the thing. Leno sucking via people watching screwed Late Night News and Conan indirectly. Shows rely on lead ins and ER type shows helped Late Night News and Leno. Conan got screwed just like Letterman did so defend Leno all you want, but Kimmel is right. Why does he have to stay? I agree he could do what he want and stay and take back over, but where does Conan go. What if Fox doesn't pick him up? The guy is VERY FUNNY. Leno is ok, but have you ever heard of Leno writing and creating something like a show. Conan was a writer for SNL and the Simpsons. I hope Fox gives him a chance I really do. Conan is no Magic he will not only succeed, but possibly beat his two predecessors. Its his time and I hope someone gives him a chance he deserves it.

Side note....NBC is 80 percent to blame for this, but Leno is the rest of it. He could take his money and ride off into the sunset but he doesn't want to and thats his decision, but that decision forces another great comedian to lose his job and Andy Richter, Max Wyneberg(sp), and all the other people who works on Conans show. So my questions is why can't Leno follow Conan if he wants to stay. Why does Conan have to follow Leno? Put Leno right after the tonight show like a after the tonight show show? Or is Leno refusing? I bet if Conan didn't have to move he wouldn't be leaving. So yes Leno is partly responsible so people who are yelling at us folks who say Leno isn't responsible yes Leno is he could say look guys lets move me after the Tonight Show instead. Maybe if Jay kept his numbers around 12 to 15 million instead of 5 to 7 he wouldn't have been fired and NBC wouldn't be yelled at from its affiliates to change the programming. Anyway I guess the old folks are fighting the future huh? I guess Conan will have to do his own tonight show online. I think Conan should be allowed to keep the Tonight Show name as well. Anyway, oh and the reason they say Leno is middle america is because he connects with all you middle american freaks. Middle America = CONSERVATIVE or REPUBLICAN. Thats why they say that. Letterman is too SMART for middle america but Jay CONNECTS with middle america. Connects = dumbs down, lol. Anyway thats why Leno would have been perfect on FOX.

[Melinda]

Jay Leno IS NOT FUNNY!!!! He only appeals to old people who will not be able to stay awake long enough to watch his show. Conan is the future. If you say you like Jay I am assuming that you are over 50. Jay needs to retire. I believe this is really going to back fire on him.

[Raif]

If either one would have hired a hair stylist they would have become more popular and just maybe they both could have kept their jobs if they looked more kept. You have to admit they both have rather goofy appearances.

[Rick]

Jay Leno has not been funny for years! The Leno Show is terrible. I hope it all works out because Conan is hilarious.

[M. Patterson]

Would Las Vegas be a possibility for Mr. O'Brien?

[mimi304]

Leno screwed over Letterman and now Conan and the veiwing public? What does Leno have on NBC? Or are their execs really this stupid? Leno should just so away . He is too vain to give up the spotlight. Well I hope he enjoys it,I won't be watching that's for sure. Letterman and Ferguson for me from now on. As for Conan and his staff,I hope they get another show with a network that isn't run by weasels like NBC. They all moved their families from New York to do the tonight show and at Lenos whim they are all out of jobs.
Carson, Letterman, and Conan showed class. Leno showed us what a real creep he is. He belongs at NBC with the rest of the weasels. I am removing NBC from my remote controller so it skips that channel. It's is a little gesture but it's what I can do. Thank goodness I have satallite.

[Jeremy]

Why would any network want Conan? A guy is known to tank a #1 show. With 30 million, he doesn't need to work neither. Let's be honest, Conan has no talent. Everyone who has ever watched his how knows.

[me]

anybody who thinks leno is funny is a moron, his two best segments are headlines and jaywalking, any moron can read a headline and interview dumb people. Jay Leno is just a big baby and he is being buried by celebs right now, Kimmel killed him last night and that was great, Conan has been the funniest late night host since he came on the air in the early 90's, he's getting screwed, maybe this is why NBC gets the lowest ratings of any network, they had a good run with Sienfeld and Friends and thats about it.

[DJO]

Maybe if NBC gives Conan a sense of humor, he will take it and leave. He sucked at 12:30 what makes them think he would be better at 11:30? They should also fire anyone closely involved with the initial idea.

[Dave]

Jay Leno whined up a storm back in the day when he was turned over the Tonight Show. Jay Leno then proceeded to tank for a LONG time, blaming NBC at every turn, before growing a fan base over time. Jay Leno's success was MASSIVELY helped by the fact that NBC was a number 1 network at the time. Leno had the best lead in in televison history, Friends, Seinfeld etc. When Jay Leno's ego forces the Tonight Show away from O Brien, and O Brien refuses to take the bull, LENO, not O Brien, whines.

Conan works hard for years and years, working towards the goal of The Tonight Show, something he obviously worships. He doesn't complain endlessly like Jay. When he is finally given the chance to thrive, he is booted after only seven months, a fraction of what Jay got back in the day. Conans show has an incredibly weak lead in on a now last place NBC, The Jay Leno Show, who's ratings are worse than sin. O Brien refuses to be pushed back to 12:05. It's national humiliation, and being pushed to 12:05 makes it the tomorrow show.

Jay Leno is publicly slayed by all over Late Night hosts, not to mention TV critics, and several celebs. Conan is supported by every one. Jays fans are too old and out of touch(not to mention humor retarded) to even know what is going on.

If you laugh at Jay Leno jokes, the chances are I probably don't care for you as a person.

Viva la CoCo.

[odogg]

Conan didn't tank his show morons. Leno was so horrible that people changed the channel and both the news and Tonight show suffered in ratings. Learn your facts before running your mouth. Also, anyone who was mad that leno left and conan replaced him must be a fucking dinosaur. You're old and have no sense of humor because you like leno and that idiot is not funny at all.

If you like leno chances are you still remember when pay phones used to cost a quarter or even what a pay phone is. You don't like comedy central because you don't get the jokes and you go to bed at 10 pm.

[Troy]

Conan is the "Arrested Development" to Jay Leno's "Two and a Half Men". Sadly, the latter will always be more of a mainstream draw than the former.

Conan would do well to step away from the Tonight Show. His sensibilities were far to inhibited there. He can cut loose again on another network/cable outlet.

Let the mediocrity-enjoying, Paul Blart-loving masses have their Leno. As long as Conan has a little piece of the world to screw around in he, and his fans, will be happy.

[MP]

Fox is obvious, but everyone forgets that Dave owns WWP and can make things happen if he wants to. Piece of the action in WWP which may mean more than a contract. In other words, extend The Late Show to six nights (add Sat.) and have Conan host three nights and Dave host three nights. Benefits: Conan gets on the air immediately. Dave has a successor. Dave gets a reduced schedule. They BOTH screw over Jay.

Don't rule it out.

[RG]

Neither Conan or Leno are anywhere near as entertaining as Carson was. The network also screwed up the format of the tonight show. Ed McMahon was a significant part of the tonight show. The team of Carson and McMahon were what I enjoyed watching.

After Carson left and Leno was brought on-board I watched, even tried to like it. I switched to watching Letterman. Do I like Letterman's show? Not really. I've many times tried to go back and try out Leno again.

When Conan took over scant months back I tried again. All the network did was take Conan's show which I never can say I really enjoyed and move it to the Tonight Show. But... I went and watched for a week with an open mind. Back to Letterman I went.

I like the absolutely ridiculous Craig Fergeson show more than all three combined.

See.... THE NETWORKS need to REALIZE that people WATCH these late night shows before they go to bed for a REASON. That reason is TO BE ENTERTAINED. That means the shows should have decent adult humor, some slapstick and a FORMAT that is entertaining.

Having "side-kicks" such as Max Weinberg (now this other noodle, whos actually more entertaining than Conan) or on Leno's show the Guitar player is just plain STUPID. Carson had McMahon and the TWO made a GOOD TEAM.

While the network probably cant get a truly smart AND funny entertainer they SHOULD try.

For example, Billy Crystal, a "toned down" Robin Williams... SOMEONE who has NATURAL talent that can ACCENT what the writers are coming up with and have FUN with it.

People want to go to sleep preferably in a GOOD mood. Nothing better than some intelligent dialog along with GOOD humor not 100% scripted crud given to alleged comedians who really are NOT good at improvisation.

Ricky Gervais for the scant times I have watched him is SO much better than Leno, Conan & Letterman combined its night and day.

NBC.... DO US A FAVOR and we'll be MORE than happy to tune in your network late night. Give us something that's good and do so with a PROVEN comedian who is preferably intelligent as well. Give us a sidekick to that banner person who is a true accent to the show.

[kingcarcas]

No worries i'm sure Coco will find a home, actually i think taking over the TS has hindered him in some ways, having to be more "clean". It's always the hacks who get what they want and tons of money so no surprises there Leno. At least i will be able to check out Craig Ferguson now he seems pretty cool. NBC can crash and burn.

[Yobachi]

@rdean

Conan lost more than half of Leno's audience and got trounced by Letterman every night, after Leno beat Dave for about 13 years straight. That's the definition of a tank job.

If Conan is so great as everyone on the internet says he is, then why didn't y'all watch his show? If Conan was blowing it out of the water, commensurate with all the praise he gets; then NBC would have told Jay to walk. Why keep a guy with less ratings over a guy who gets more than double; makes on sense.

And as far as this lead in argument, two shows ahead of time: again, if Conan is as great and HILARIOUS as "Team Conan" says he is; why do y'all care a bit about what comes on an hour and half before? If it was so great, you'd watch his show because it's what you wanna watch.

Really, who sits and watches one station for 2 and half hours in a row? I never do? I flip around and watch what I want to watch.

[Yobachi]

@James Woods

Yes, really!

Let me repeat the facts for you again, Mr. "Team Coco" who can't understand.

At 11:30 Jay left (was pushed out of by Conan's demands and threats) a number 1 show where he beat Letterman for about 13 years straight. Conan took over, dropped MORE THAN HALF of Jays audience, and got whooped by Letterman though Dave's ratings hardly went up at all.

Those are FACTS, not an opinion.

A further FACT is Jay was still pulling 5 million a night, almost as high as his 11:30 audience, while Conan was pulling a paltry 2 million. So, yes, really on both fronts.

Both kept their original audiences. The problem for "Coco" is that his original audience is way to small for the big show at 11:30.

[Yobachi]

@JC

The HUGE difference is, Dave had an established 11/12 year show when he jumped to CBS, just like Conan has had 15 years for people to take to him.

Jay on the other hand never had a show before he got the Tonight’s show, so he never had a previous opportunity to build his own audience.

People talking this “only 7 months” stuff is bull! It’s 15 years plus 7 months. Everybody knows Conan and have already decided if they like his show or not. Conan moved up an hour and didn’t grow his audience, any. The verdict is in.

Tell me why you keep a guy who gets 2 million a night over a guy who gets 5 million a night. It makes NO mathematical sense. And NBC didn’t even dump Conan, they came up with a format that probably would have helped his numbers. He said no.

“Team Conan” just doesn’t like the facts.

[conanforever]

Conan O'Brien is hilarious and easily one of the greatest comic performers of all time. Anyone under 70 understands this. Jay Leno is a talentless hack and an unscrupulous snake. Anyone under 70 understands this as well.

I will never forget what an underhanded thing NBC and Leno have done here and from now on my home will always be an NBC-free zone. Screw over a good person and neglect every generation under the aging boomers and just see what kind of ratings you have - not just tomorrow but one, two, even 10+ years from now! This network is run by shortsighted idiots with zero taste.

Conan: We will follow you whenever and whereever you go!

[john hutter]

Jay LENO IS A BACK STABBER AND A PHONY!!!i use to enjoy his show and when he announced 5 1/2 yrs ago he was leaving the tonight show i thought conan would do a good job!!!But he never left he came on at 10pm killing conan's chance for a good start!I hope conan leaves nbc and goes to fox where he will kill leno in the ratings!!!do you think johnny carson would have pulled a stunt like this?it makes me sick just looking at leno and i hope he falls on his face going back to the tonight show!also nbc is in enough trouble with ratings i think they are being run by s bunch of idiots!!!

[gaye thompson]

jay should bow out gracefully. he caused this problem, he's like a little kid having a temper tantrum, wanting his show back. well, too bad. go ahead , nobody will watch. I certainly won't. conan is wayyyy funnier than jay ever was. GO HOME JAY!

[Happybunny]

Seen this on another website
Senior NBC sports executive Dick Ebersol entered the fray on Friday, blaming O'Brien for much of the fiasco and telling the New York Times the on-air jokes against Leno were "chicken-hearted and gutless

You know what Dick Ebersol .... It is Jay Leno who is being chicken hearted and gutless and should be ashamed of himself through all this. He passed the torch to Conan only to than take it back. If we were children that would also be called an indian giver ... & I'm sure you stick by Leno as you both are old selfish rich stick in the muds

[timtim]

The Comedy Central lineup is not a bad idea...a news-oriented comedy hour with Stewart and Colbert, followed by Conan's talk/comedy show. Only problem: to me, Jon Stewart is the marquee player of that group. In fact, if you could clean house and give the Tonight Show to anyone, I would say Stewart.