CBS play to get Conan O'Brien to host the Tonys looks better on paper

Deadline Hollywood had a pretty juicy story over the weekend that CBS had reached out to Conan O'Brien to see if he'd be game for hosting the Tony Awards in June.

It looks like it is not going to happen. It is unclear whether O'Brien would be in violation of his lucrative exit package from NBC, where he was bounced out as host of its "Tonight Show," if he hosted the awards show. Some say he would, others say he wouldn't. Either way, the odds of him getting the gig are long.

Although CBS certainly would generate a lot of attention for having O'Brien host the show, the thinking seems shortsighted. Last year's ratings were actually up a little thanks to the fine job by Neil Patrick Harris. Now, maybe NPH has awards-show fatigue, but what about Craig Ferguson? The CBS host has become a critics darling over the last few years, and his numbers have been solid.

There is no rule that says a network has to use its own personality to host an awards show, but generally speaking, that is what they do. It's a big platform so why not promote one of your own? If not, then get someone neutral who will bring in big numbers as well, such as Oprah Winfrey. Letterman, by the way, would likely pass on such an offer.

If CBS had landed O'Brien, would the attention have been worth the risk of potentially alienating Ferguson or anyone else with the network who might have wanted the gig or would benefit from it? Seems a long way to go just to tweak NBC.

Furthermore, once O'Brien gets through his dozen or so jokes ripping NBC, would viewers stick around? Would the folks behind the Tony Awards really want their event to play second fiddle to a bunch of inside-baseball jokes about late-night TV? There is a good chance that, by June, O'Brien will have a new late-night home, which means CBS would end up giving future competitor a free advertisement.

Yes, it would have been a sexy headline and maybe even a bump in the ratings, and that's the name of the game. But in the long run, CBS is probably better off without O'Brien hosting. If it's all about ratings, CBS should get its biggest sitcom star -- Charlie Sheen -- to host. Now that would get people to watch.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Conan O'Brien. Credit: Evan Agostini / Associated Press

Comments

[Burke Omalley]

Doesn't anyone remember that Conan had lousy ratings? He's not funny.

[The Bell]

Did Leno slide you a little something-something to write this? Sure sounds like it.

[Tony]

If I never see Conan O'Brien on TV again, it'll be too soon.

[Celeb Lover]

He is funnier than ever! He should totally do it. Has anyone else seen his tweets on this site?
http://www.toptwitsblog.com/search/label/Conan%20O'Brien

[maud winds]

Why do they always have to do the award thing? Can CBS focus on real problems for a change?

[Eva]

Why? He's not a Broadway guy.

[Kathryn Milner]

What planet are you living on? No, Craig Ferguson would not be alienated, because Conan fans love Craig. We love David Letterman and we love Jimmy Kimmel just the same. We like anyone who has the sincerity to be honest with us. In an age when so much information is available to us, it's amazing to me how media such as this still feels that they can fool us. This absolutely has to change...Keep writing stuff like this. It only inspires us.

[Me]

I love Conan! If he hosted it would be first time I have ever watched the Tonys.

[Matt Mahoney]

yo burke don't you remember he had Jay Leno as a lead-in on a prime time slot. And he also was trying to build a show to a completely different time and get new viewers.

[Louis]

While Conan will always be the host of the Tonight Show after Carson, I think CBS should do what the other network didn't and support one of their own talent like Ferguson. I'm not sure about Sheen, domestic abuse isn't quite the same low as Leno's 10:00 ratings.