The Poojer Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 the obligatory 'stern hasn't been funny...' line out of the way, Stern has always felt that Leno stole skits from him...stole Stuttering John among other things....he really portrays Leno as a total prick, hard to decipher how much is true, but he really does not like the guy at all I only caught part of the Stern show today so someone who heard the whole discussion correct me if I'm wrong. It seems Howard is considering appearing on Conan before his gig ends to give him a ratings spike that Leno would never be able to match when he comes back at 11:35. I know Howard's hatred for many celebrities is largely schtick (Oprah etc.), but he really seems to despise Leno with a passion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Something just crossed my mind about the earlier comments about the Tonight Show dying when Carson retired. For those who said it, would you think differently if Letterman was given the show instead, since he was the one Carson wanted to host the show? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 So long as the socialism doesn't impact him or the other rich liberals that frequent his show. Yes buftex, I have watched his show from time to time but not recently. The times I have watched, he's always had a panel full of left wingers with a token moderate/conservative and they whoop it up while patting themselves on the back for being so enlightened compared to everyone else. I would bet that his attitude and treatment of Obama, Pelosi and the current gang bears little resemblance to his attacks on the government back when the other side was running things. But I'm sure there are still plenty of Sarah Palin jokes. Now you look at a guy like Sean Hannity who during President Bush's administration couldn't defend the government (Which spent at a deficit) any harder. Now all he does is bash Obama for an hour every night, also he has a 3 man panel made up of 2 conservatives who agree with Hannity and a token liberal who they beat up on. Its like Hannity and Maher have switched places. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Kimmel was on a Leno segment last night and really let him have it pretty good...in a funny way of course. Can't believe Leno let that go to air. Leno was in on it. The show is taped he could have easily cut it out and filmed something else. Also at lot of the questions Leno asked were very leading. No one in TV makes someone look that bad unless its by design. I did love Kimmel's response to what was the greatest prank you pulled and Kimmle said 5 years ago I told a guy he could have my show and then right when it was time for him to get it I took it away from him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted January 15, 2010 Share Posted January 15, 2010 Now you look at a guy like Sean Hannity who during President Bush's administration couldn't defend the government (Which spent at a deficit) any harder. Now all he does is bash Obama for an hour every night, also he has a 3 man panel made up of 2 conservatives who agree with Hannity and a token liberal who they beat up on. Its like Hannity and Maher have switched places. Hannity is a douche just like Maher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 The latest news on the Late Shift situation is that Conan and NBC are nearing a buyout deal that would give Conan somewhere between 25-30 million and in exchange for him getting a lump sum around 65-75% of what he is suppose to be getting (Saving NBC a little money) Conan will be getting the right to join another network as soon as September. So Leno gets what he wants all along a return to the "Tonight Show" and Conan really gets the Shaft. Now I really want Conan to go to Fox and stick it to both NBC and Leno and beat them (And everyone else) in the ratings. Conan deserved much better he fought to work hard at his craft (In his first few years he was working off of 13 week contracts) and now he gets the short end of the stick its really a shame. I just hope Leno tanks in the ratings worse then O'Brien he deserves it for being a backstabbing manipulating D-bag. Here is a link. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/15/...n-parting-ways/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Leno was in on it. The show is taped he could have easily cut it out and filmed something else. Also at lot of the questions Leno asked were very leading. No one in TV makes someone look that bad unless its by design. I did love Kimmel's response to what was the greatest prank you pulled and Kimmle said 5 years ago I told a guy he could have my show and then right when it was time for him to get it I took it away from him. Was he? I am on Conan's side, but Kimmel's remark talking about how Leno only has cars and not kids seemed a little far. I just cannot understand, though, why Leno wants to be the villain again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 The latest news on the Late Shift situation is that Conan and NBC are nearing a buyout deal that would give Conan somewhere between 25-30 million and in exchange for him getting a lump sum around 65-75% of what he is suppose to be getting (Saving NBC a little money) Conan will be getting the right to join another network as soon as September. So Leno gets what he wants all along a return to the "Tonight Show" and Conan really gets the Shaft. Now I really want Conan to go to Fox and stick it to both NBC and Leno and beat them (And everyone else) in the ratings. Conan deserved much better he fought to work hard at his craft (In his first few years he was working off of 13 week contracts) and now he gets the short end of the stick its really a shame. I just hope Leno tanks in the ratings worse then O'Brien he deserves it for being a backstabbing manipulating D-bag. Here is a link. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/01/15/...n-parting-ways/ If $30 million dollars to leave a job is the "Shaft," then give it to me any day. And yes I know that this sentence is leaving me open to certain jokes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooderson Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Band of Brothers is amazing....I bought the series on blu-ray a year ago and loved it. For sure, I was actually thinking about buying the blu-ray series because it's only like 50 bucks on Amazon but they're playing all of them over again so I figured I'd just watch them on TV and save the money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajzepp Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 For sure, I was actually thinking about buying the blu-ray series because it's only like 50 bucks on Amazon but they're playing all of them over again so I figured I'd just watch them on TV and save the money. Cool....it's definitely one of the most interesting and best produced series' I've ever seen....I loved every minute. David Schwimmer actually impressed me, too, cause I usually find that guy pretty lame. I won't give anything away, but it was one of the last few episodes that really hit me hard emotionally. Really amazing stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcbuck3 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 For sure, I was actually thinking about buying the blu-ray series because it's only like 50 bucks on Amazon but they're playing all of them over again so I figured I'd just watch them on TV and save the money. Just wait until the holidays. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas Best Buy puts their HBO series on Blu Ray on sale for half off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
el Tigre Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 If $30 million dollars to leave a job is the "Shaft," then give it to me any day. You want somebody to give you the shaft huh? Not that there's anything wrong with that. Sorry,but you knew somebody was gonna do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Something just crossed my mind about the earlier comments about the Tonight Show dying when Carson retired. For those who said it, would you think differently if Letterman was given the show instead, since he was the one Carson wanted to host the show? Letterman=funny Jay=doofus Yeah, it would have been much better if Letterman had gotten the slot. It amazes me that Leno has hung on this long and maintained ratings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 If $30 million dollars to leave a job is the "Shaft," then give it to me any day. And yes I know that this sentence is leaving me open to certain jokes. Its not really about the money O'Brien made enough to be set for life. Its the fact that he worked hard for 16 years to get the Tonight Show job and to get it pulled out from under after just 7 months (Thanks in part to a weak lead in provided by the guy he replaced also the guy he replaced made it hard to retain the audience) to me is the real issue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NobesBLO13 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 At least he's funnier than Leno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I just cannot understand, though, why Leno wants to be the villain again. Cause he won't be cast as a villian. NBC will. Leno is the Teflon man, even though he is behind all of this crap. Now you look at a guy like Sean Hannity who during President Bush's administration couldn't defend the government (Which spent at a deficit) any harder. Now all he does is bash Obama for an hour every night, also he has a 3 man panel made up of 2 conservatives who agree with Hannity and a token liberal who they beat up on. Its like Hannity and Maher have switched places. No argument there. But then again, no one pretends that Hannity is anything other than a partisan shill. For some reason, Maher fans like to pretend he is different. That's why I rarely bother to watch the programs of any of these guys. The only opinion show I've ever found worthwhile is the McLaughlin Group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dean Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Its not really about the money O'Brien made enough to be set for life. Its the fact that he worked hard for 16 years to get the Tonight Show job and to get it pulled out from under after just 7 months (Thanks in part to a weak lead in provided by the guy he replaced also the guy he replaced made it hard to retain the audience) to me is the real issue. I trust you aren't one of those who bash professional athletes who complain when they are asked to play a different position, or don't start, etc. For the record, Conan's ratings were below Leno's (from a year before) BEFORE Jay started the 10PM show. Of course, the weak news lead-in from Leno didn't help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 I trust you aren't one of those who bash professional athletes who complain when they are asked to play a different position, or don't start, etc. For the record, Conan's ratings were below Leno's (from a year before) BEFORE Jay started the 10PM show. Of course, the weak news lead-in from Leno didn't help. I feel like its not that they asked Conan to move a half an hour to accommodate Leno its just that they only gave him 7 months. 7 months not even a full year. Then they give him a weak lead in and he wasn't in position to retain Leno's audience either. So you put a guy in a compromised position and then yank the rug right from under him after such a short period of time. If they gave him 18 months and he didn't have the Jay Leno show leading in to him for part of that run I wouldn't be mad but its just you need to try and make it work rather then take away the guys dream and humiliate the guy without giving him a fair shake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 If $30 million dollars to leave a job is the "Shaft," then give it to me any day. And yes I know that this sentence is leaving me open to certain jokes. How about some of the other staff members who probably aren't seeing any of that cash? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 How about some of the other staff members who probably aren't seeing any of that cash? Good point. Conan moved his entire staff from NYC to LA for this gig. Now they are all out of job. Or at least until Conan gets a show on another network. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkady Renko Posted January 16, 2010 Share Posted January 16, 2010 Good point. Conan moved his entire staff from NYC to LA for this gig. Now they are all out of job. Or at least until Conan gets a show on another network. I thought I heard that Conan was negotiating payoffs to them as well. If not, Conan can always give them a fraction of the settlement given to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike In Illinois Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Leno seems to have changed his tune since 2004: His announcement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 17, 2010 Share Posted January 17, 2010 Leno seems to have changed his tune since 2004: His announcement. I would like to give Leno the benefit of the doubt and think that around 2004 Leno did plan to retire around 2009. BUT With how manipulative and calculating Leno has been throughout the whole debacle I feel like Leno might never have wanted to retire (Or he changed his mind not too long after announcing his future retirement). As I have said through this whole thread its just sad that Conan who is by all accounts a nice guy got the short end of the stick from NBC and Leno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted January 18, 2010 Share Posted January 18, 2010 Looks like Conan is definitely gone; http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/15/c...c_n_424508.html According to the outlines of a settlement, Conan O'Brien will leave NBC and the network will make an as-yet unspecified payment. The comedian will be free to appear elsewhere on television well before his contract expires, despite earlier threats from NBC that it would prevent him from working anywhere else. Leno seems to have changed his tune since 2004: His announcement. Wow! When Leno was a traveling comic he came to Rochester and some good friends of mine got together with him after the show and they said he was the nicest most down to earth guy. It seems now that some of that is gone. What he's doing to Conan is inexcusable. If you're pissed at NBC then don't take it out on Conan. Letterman weighs in. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A98_-EeXS_I http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msC3uu4KZbg...feature=related If there is any truth to the story presented in the movie "The Late Shift" then Leno's agent really screwed Carson and Letterman. I don't think Jay knew what was going on exactly but Letterman was screwed by NBC and Leno's agent. BTW, the new agent Letterman hired, Michael Ovitz, was brilliant in handling the situation for Dave. It should be remembered that when Conan took over Late Night Letterman had him on his show to publicize his taking over Late Night. A very classy move IMO. Today Show interview with Conan just before taking over The Tonight Show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inldaPzn1Fs I hope Letterman finds some way to get WWP to sign him to a contract to do various CBS specials and then eventually take over the Late Show when he retires. Letterman invites Conan to be a guest on his show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 The Chinese explain the NBC shakeup better than anyone I've seen yet; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12hlX3iPS-g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beerball Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 $45M as a parting gift. Why couldn't I have been born funny? my hair looks better than his too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattyT Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 $45M as a parting gift. Why couldn't I have been born funny? my hair looks better than his too! Wow. Jay is not an attractive man as it is, but that is a horrible, horrible picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meazza Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 $45M as a parting gift. Why couldn't I have been born funny? my hair looks better than his too! Looks like I'm going back to watching Letterman. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cugalabanza Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 A friend of mine has the dvd of Conan's 10th Anniversary Special. I've watched it a couple times. It is comedy gold! If you like Conan at all, it will make you laugh very hard. In my opinion, Conan has a great talent for comedy. I really hope he finds his way back with a format that works for him. I'll always like Letterman too. The early days of Late Night were so great in a gonzo sort of way. I'll never forget how fun it was for me as a teenager to stay up late to watch that crazy show. Leno, you have never made me laugh. How you have weaseled your way to the top of the mountain, I have absolutely no idea. You are a comedy fraud. As far as the Tonight Show goes, I submit that it began a long slow journey to irrelevance about 25 years ago, when Carson got tame and Letterman emerged as the way cooler choice. I think that journey will be complete on Monday when Jay comes back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endzone Animal Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I'm having a little trouble feeling sorry for the guy when he just pocketed a $45 million severance. At first I loved watching the bashing of NBC for dealing him dirty, and Leno's opportunism, but now it's getting old and he seems whiny. The hand is being overplayed. Letterman? He seems like the sour grapes baby, whose bashing of Leno is all about jealousy and bitterness from being passed over 17 years ago, and then getting pummeled in the ratings for years until Conan showed up. It's easy to give love to the guy you're beating, but not so much for the guy who thumped you every night for roughly 15 years. Oh, and let's face it: Letterman, Kimmel and all the rest who praise Conan while slamming Leno and NBC, would jump ship in a second if NBC came calling for them to take over the Tonight Show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cugalabanza Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I'm having a little trouble feeling sorry for the guy when he just pocketed a $45 million severance. At first I loved watching the bashing of NBC for dealing him dirty, and Leno's opportunism, but now it's getting old and he seems whiny. The hand is being overplayed. Letterman? He seems like the sour grapes baby, whose bashing of Leno is all about jealousy and bitterness from being passed over 17 years ago, and then getting pummeled in the ratings for years until Conan showed up. It's easy to give love to the guy you're beating, but not so much for the guy who thumped you every night for roughly 15 years. Oh, and let's face it: Letterman, Kimmel and all the rest who praise Conan while slamming Leno and NBC, would jump ship in a second if NBC came calling for them to take over the Tonight Show. Ratings are one thing. Quality is another. Conan is the guy who has the respect of people who appreciate good comedy. Leno gets better ratings (at 11:35). It's hard to make that point without insulting and alienating a huge chunk of the viewership. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 $45M as a parting gift. Why couldn't I have been born funny? my hair looks better than his too! Self-important multi-millionaires arguing over a half-hour... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 A friend of mine has the dvd of Conan's 10th Anniversary Special. I've watched it a couple times. It is comedy gold! If you like Conan at all, it will make you laugh very hard. In my opinion, Conan has a great talent for comedy. I really hope he finds his way back with a format that works for him. I'll always like Letterman too. The early days of Late Night were so great in a gonzo sort of way. I'll never forget how fun it was for me as a teenager to stay up late to watch that crazy show. Leno, you have never made me laugh. How you have weaseled your way to the top of the mountain, I have absolutely no idea. You are a comedy fraud. As far as the Tonight Show goes, I submit that it began a long slow journey to irrelevance about 25 years ago, when Carson got tame and Letterman emerged as the way cooler choice. I think that journey will be complete on Monday when Jay comes back. Would you like such a self-centered narcissist like Letterman living next to you? I think not. I gave up on all these "late-night" personalities a long time ago. The light-hearted comedy- their traditional hallmark - has been replaced with chintzy, nasty, political barbs. Their current crop of gag writers fall far short of the their predecessors, IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Endzone Animal Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Ratings are one thing. Quality is another. Conan is the guy who has the respect of people who appreciate good comedy. Leno gets better ratings (at 11:35). It's hard to make that point without insulting and alienating a huge chunk of the viewership. When sponsors buy advertising, they do not ask the network if the viewers properly appreciate good comedy, they ask how many viewers will be seeing their commercials. Anyway, my point was merely that the "feel sorry for Conan" act has started to lose its humor and sounds more like whiny, sour grapes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrader Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Would you like such a self-centered narcissist like Letterman living next to you? I think not. I gave up on all these "late-night" personalities a long time ago. The light-hearted comedy- their traditional hallmark - has been replaced with chintzy, nasty, political barbs. Their current crop of gag writers fall far short of the their predecessors, IMO. So if you gave up a long time ago, how can you know the current writers aren't up to par? I really think comments like that are more a product of a change in the person watching. Their preferences changed and they moved onto something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cugalabanza Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Would you like such a self-centered narcissist like Letterman living next to you? I think not. Sure, I'll take a home in that neighborhood. Plus, I have a feeling Dave doesn't exactly show his face much at the block parties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 (edited) So if you gave up a long time ago, how can you know the current writers aren't up to par? I really think comments like that are more a product of a change in the person watching. Their preferences changed and they moved onto something else. I stop in now and then. It's no change in me - I have a keen sense of comedy, as well as a keen sense of pandering snottiness. No dispute about today's audience, shrader. That our society is decaying is not news. Edited January 21, 2010 by stuckincincy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Sure, I'll take a home in that neighborhood. Gringo wins that point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 Sure, I'll take a home in that neighborhood. Plus, I have a feeling Dave doesn't exactly show his face much at the block parties. He used to be spotted regularly in my town when he lived here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billsfan89 Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 When sponsors buy advertising, they do not ask the network if the viewers properly appreciate good comedy, they ask how many viewers will be seeing their commercials. Anyway, my point was merely that the "feel sorry for Conan" act has started to lose its humor and sounds more like whiny, sour grapes. My gripe with the Conan thing isn't that they are going to cancel him due to low ratings hey if he can't get the audience you want then you have to move on. However they never really put Conan in a position to have success. They gave him a weak lead in thanks to the Jay Leno show (also it didn't help Conan to retain Leno's audience either) and then they only gave him 7 months to try and build an audience. If they had given him a better lead in and at least 6 more month's then I would have been fine with it but they compromised Conan's show and then they gave him the boot I think a lot of people feel he just didn't get a fair shake. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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