Leno's prime-time "experiment" cancelled, bumping Conan and Fallon

[OnePimpTiger]

NBC's Leno back to late nights

NBC host Jay Leno is going back to late nights after a low-rated experiment in prime time, the network announced Sunday.

Leno's prime-time talk show, which debuted in September, "didn't meet affiliates' needs," said Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment.

The program will go off the air February 12, when the 2010 Winter Olympics begin.

The network is now negotiating with Leno and its current late-night hosts, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon, to decide who ends up with which time slot, Gaspin said.

O'Brien took over NBC's flagship "Tonight Show" when Leno moved to the 10 p.m. slot in September. Fallon took over O'Brien's former show, "Late Night."

Gaspin said the plan now is for Leno to host a new, half-hour show at 11:35 p.m. ET, followed by "Tonight" with O'Brien at 12:05 a.m. Fallon's show would move to the 1 a.m. hour, he said.

The goal is to keep all three hosts, but nothing was a done deal as of Sunday, he said.

I wouldn't mind seeing Fallon bumped later, but Conan has earned his spot and deserves to keep it. Ditch Leno already...the guy's a hack anyway!

[shortking98]

Jay Leno isn't funny, Conan is. That's all I can add

[OnePimpTiger]

Jay Leno isn't funny, Conan is. That's all I can add

Amen and amen...'nuff said.

[JeRmZ]

good thing, I can not stand Leno and his lame jokes. Never watched this new show of his but if it was anything like the other show then it must have been Uberlame!








... lol

[Stlouisrams1600]

Yes, I can now watch Fallon at a reasonable time. :)

[avstars]

If Leno's movie results in bumping Conan and Fallon, Fallon is the one that gets screwed the most. NBC has been known to make stupid decisions, so all this mess is entirely another one of NBC's headache.

[Star_Cards]

Have always loved conan and leno is rarely funny. You're not funny when you're funniest sketch requires people not knowing answers to common knowledge.

It sucks that they are jerking Conan around just because Leno is going brett favre and not actually staying retired. Even worse, they are bumping him because leno's show hurt local news ratings??? Seems a bit odd to me.

I'd bet conan will push his show back, but hope that he jumps to FOX. If he does, that would screw NBC as they owe Conan for 5 more years at 20 million a year. I did hear that NBC has to cover the difference of his salary if he goes to another network. More importantly Conan made the commitment of moving his crew and his family out to LA only to have the go down not even a full year after. I can see why NBC wants this new lineup... I guess... but pretty shady if you ask me. Leno stepped down so if he doesn't have a job that should be on him... not screw two other guys over.

[garnett_21]

If Leno's movie results in bumping Conan and Fallon, Fallon is the one that gets screwed the most. NBC has been known to make stupid decisions, so all this mess is entirely another one of NBC's headache.

Actually, Carson Daly is the one getting screwed, as his show won't get pushed back - it will be cancelled.

[RenegadeLonghorn]

Leno retired. Time to actually retire. His new show in primetime sucked. NBC's ultimatum to Conan is a joke. I hope Conan bolts to a different network. Maybe take over for Letterman.

[avstars]

Actually, Carson Daly is the one getting screwed, as his show won't get pushed back - it will be cancelled.

lol, you're right. That wasn't even on my radar, and now it will certainly never be on my radar.

But anyway, NBC is the one to blame here. They made Conan their king of late night and promised him everything. Now he has to yield to Leno? I would be upset if I'm Conan and I would leave ASAP!!!!!!