O'Brien-Leno mess is fodder for Letterman

NBC may not be smiling, but CBS' David Letterman sure is getting a lot of laughs out of the Jay Leno-Conan O'Brien soap opera. Of course, this is familiar terrain for Letterman, who left NBC after losing the battle for "The Tonight Show" to Leno almost 20 years ago.

On the taping for tonight's show, he quipped that O'Brien issued his statement that he would not move "The Tonight Show" to 12:05 "after he talked to Johnny Carson." 

Letterman noted that with Leno expected to move back to late night, the network would need some new dramas. Here's his pitch:

Letterman can still poke fun at himself. Despite all the turmoil at his former network, he said, "I got a call just before I came out here from NBC, and they said, ‘Look, look, we still don’t want you back.’”

-- Joe Flint

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Comments

[Tex Lovera]

Dave used to be funny.

About 25 years ago.

Quit, Dave. Your family needs you.

[Jim]

David Peckerman is a tool, with litter humor, less class and should have been shown the door in much the same way Tiger has walked away.

[rocket2]

Dave is a cocky, self-assured over-rated "has been"!!
Keep it in your pants, Dave!!

[Freelols]

Why don't we just wait for the Supreme Court to makes its decision (it'll be Leno). And then Conan can go make his documentary, "An Inconvenient Injustice."

[Mark]

Tex Lovera

Dave is STILL funny. Way more entertaining than what any of the NBC talk show hosts have to offer...

[ScoJo77]

Nah, Dave's still funny. Maybe it's a New York thing. Los Angeles is too soft for anyone to be THAT funny.

[CLK]

Dave kills it, on the daily.

[Bob Lee]

Most comedians and critics (including the late Johnny Carson) believe Dave is better than Jay. Leno is the McDonalds of comedy. Leno was #1 for years, but he shouldn't be proud of that fact.

[Matt]

It's karma for Leno. Most people don't remember how he sneaked behind the back of Letterman and used some dirty tactics to get the Tonight Show gig.

[the realist]

I don't agree with the sentiment Dave "used" to be funny. But then, it's better than Leno, who NEVER was funny. So now he's gonna run with his tail between his legs back to 11:30pm. What make him, and nbc, think the audience is gonna return?

I think the best thing Conan can do is take the many, many, many millions of dollars his contract purportedly guarantees him and go somewhere else, preferably up against Leno. That way people will be able to see NBC made the wrong choice....just as they did 18 years ago.

[cooperthebeagle]

For me, Letterman seems to have crossed the line. The so called comedy and satire he makes of this is delivered in a very bitter manner. On the 1/11/10 show, Letterman spent a good 30 seconds or more making fun of Leno's voice and pretending to be Jay working on one of his cars. Is that supposed to be funny? It came across as a sourpuss, still upset that he did not get The Tonight Show several years ago. My opinion, you may agree or not. But if you saw it, you knwo what I mean. I do not recall Leno or O'Brien taking PERSONAL shots at Letteramn after the latter confessed to having boinked not one but several subordinates. Dave seems to have gone beyond making this funny and gets real personal in his attempts to make light of the situation. I have read that significant personailty changes occur - for the worse - after open heart surgery. I think Letterman is a perfect example of that theory.

In O'Brien's statement today it appears he is not happy with Leno becasue he barely mentions him by name, initially refers to him as "my predecessor". Not taking sides - I like both hosts. Perhaps Jay should have bowed out and said, "thanks - but no, let Conan give it a try". Perhaps that is the message/tone in O'Brien's statement / lack of reference to Jay? I sure hope Conan has the best entertainment contract lawyer there in LA on his side. Perhaps that attorney will do to NBC what they appear to be doing to all of their late night hosts. Comcast, take note: all these 'executives' at NBC that have been involved in this fiasco, you should have 2 word for them: bye bye.

[the realist]

Hey Cooper, do you watch these shows? Leno made a joke about Dave's "personal business" just the other day.

Leno may have cultivated this "nice guy" image. But it's only an image, just like Tiger Woods image as a "family man."

[Greg]

I JUST WANT TO SEE LENO AT 10

[mike]

congrats fistly to conan, a man with principles, sure you will do well wherever you go.good thing nbc isn't a fire department, never heard of pouring gas on a fire as a way of putting it out. dave letterman should put his christmas theme back up for a few shows, he can check underneath the tree during the show for more gifts from nbc.lie quietly in the weeds jimmy fallon,when the dust settles you may be all nbc has left, they might just get desperate enough to insert sarah palin in their lineup.

[hedonist]

Actually Matt, according to NBC's own Headliners and Legends episode on Letterman, NBC went behind JAY'S back 6 months into his contract. You know, when Leno was losing his shirt in the ratings? Before the Hugh Grant interview? NBC offered to break Leno's contract and bring Letterman to the Tonight Show. Following Johnny Carson's advice, Letterman turned them down and ran to CBS. Even Carson didn't trust the slimeballs at NBC. So Jay Leno REALLY has an axe to grind against NBC. I would be very surprised if he signs another contract, unless it is for a LOT of money.

[Eli]

Letterman is so intelligently funny.
Sharp-witted and amazingly good at add-libbing.
Excuciatingly unfunny and talentless Jay Lamo, Please please please RETIRE! You have tortured so many talented people.