I’m With Coco
Sorry NBC, but I'm with Coco.
Jay Leno is just not funny unless you are simple minded or old (both, actually).
Conan's classy letter to the public:
People of Earth:
In the last few days, I've been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I've been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I've been absurdly lucky. That said, I've been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.
Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.
But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.
Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn't the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.
So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn't matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.
There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.
Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it's always been that way.
Yours,
Conan
Happy
Took this tonight. Natalie is teething now and this makes me a bit sad as I know the gummy smile won't last forever. She's had a tough week but I think I was happier than she was at this moment.
My 2009 In Six Pictures
On March 27th, Amy and I moved into a new house in the north part of Colorado Springs. The riding is better up here!
On April 19th, I finally broke 28 minutes from the very bottom of the Manitou Incline to the top (27:49). When I first came to Colorado Springs and was 114 pounds heavier, it took me 43 minutes.
On September 2nd, we had to put one of our Bassett Hounds, Kirby, to sleep because of a fast growing cancerous mass on his spine and shoulder. I hadn't cried that hard since I was a little boy and still miss him every single day. Telling the vet that we wanted to put him down was the hardest thing I've ever had to do. You can see more pictures of Kirby here.
On September 15th, our first child, Natalie Rebecca Buckingham was born. The best day of my life almost turned into the worst day as Amy had some serious post delivery complications. You can see more pictures of Natalie here.
On October 16th, I was in a crash on my bike and broke my left clavicle, scapula, 5 ribs and suffered a severe concussion. Ended up staying 5 1/2 days in the hospital and didn't get my clavicle fixed for a month.
On December 22nd, I finally bagged Mailbox Peak with my friend Bryan. It took me four tries to finally reach the summit.
Not The Same
This was my first drive to Seattle without Kirby. Every time I slowed down for a rest stop, I would look for his little head and big eyes peering over the back seat. But he was never there. Sally probably liked the extra room but I bet she missed him too.
