LOS ANGELES -- After a successful 17-year run, Jay Leno will announce that he is turning over hosting duties of "The Tonight Show" to his NBC late-night counterpart Conan O'Brien in 2009, Access Hollywood reported.

Leno will officially make the announcement during Monday evening's "Tonight Show," a show that also celebrates the 50th anniversary of the late-night institution.

"In 2009, I'll be 59 years old and will have had this dream job for 17 years," Leno said. "When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor and there is no one more qualified than Conan. Plus, I promised Mavis I would take her out for dinner before I turned 60."

In the meantime, O'Brien will continue for another five years as host of "Late Night With Conan O'Brien" before taking over as host of "The Tonight Show."

"'The Tonight Show' is one of the great franchises in television and I am thrilled to get this opportunity," said O'Brien. "I am thankful to everyone at NBC."

Since it first premiered in 1954 with Steve Allen as its host, "The Tonight Show" has had just four permanent hosts, including Leno. Allen, host of the then titled "Tonight," eventually left late night to start his own prime-time variety series on NBC.

Jack Paar premiered on July 29, 1957. In 1962, Johnny Carson started his nearly 30-year tenure as host of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." Leno became host in 1992 after guest hosting the show since 1987.

O'Brien joined NBC as a writer on "Saturday Night Live" in 1988. He began hosting "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" in 1993.





Ah, finally some good news in the world. Conan O' Brien, the funniest interviewer on TV, will get his chance at the Tonight Show chair.

So, as Conan will move up to 11:35.....who do you all think will or should take over for him on Late Night?

Also in a related topic, who do you think CBS will hire to be Letterman's replacment?



My personal oppinion is that NBC will go with Chris Rock to host the late show, and that CBS will probably go with a fairly common actor, comedian, or writer....that like Kilborn (and again if he gets the job) will not stand a chance against Conan.

You gotta figure that Leno was basically asked to leave in 2009 as opposed to actually wanting to leave. I guess having the number 1 show in that time slot isn't good enough. Not that I find Leno particularly funny - give me Letterman any day.

Letterman is the man! And if Leno was even funny....well, I still wouldn't watch him.

I think Leno is much the better comedian, however, Letterman is a funnier interviewer.

More over, The Cone Zone is even funnier than the two put together. lol.

Letterman is a genius - when he is on form he cannot be surpassed.

Conan is right up there with Letterman - wacky & funny

Leno is just a boring staid comedian with an oversized chin - he just reads his jokes from a book and has practically no real talent to speak of that I can see.

I will never understand how Leno has kept that top job for so long and why his ratings are better than Letterman.

Ah, Conan is so far passed the rest.

I seen a very very interesting article today on msn or yahoo or the like, that hints at none other than Trimuph the Insult Comic Dog hosting Late Night.

Could this seemingly dream be a reality? Lets hope so, lol.

Conan will be excellent competition against letterman for ratings at that time spot. I just might have to either watch one and tape the other, or get two TV's and watch whatever one looks more interesting at the time.

Generally, the greatest Bulk of interview of a guest is done during the competetiors commerical break if you notice.

I have trouble seeing Letterman stay at CBS longer than Leno at NBC....I think it would hurt his pride too much to be beat by Leno for so many years, and then turn around and get beat by the man who tooks his old gig.

People who like stupid humor will most likely have a better time understanding Letterman....Those who like...well...whatever it's called will like Leno.....those who just love all around everything that is funny and people who can take any sort of product, event, or person and make something funny out of it....Co-nan is your co-man! (shameless humor).

Shame-less thats what I like, lol.

Leno does more of your Bill Maher and Steven Miller (not as funny), current even observational comedy, so you have to kill brain cells and follow the news to get a lot of his humor.


The one thing that irks me about Leno is his cockyness. Whenever a comedian is on, he treats them as though they are inferior to him. When an actor, politician, model or what have you is on, and try to be funny, he makes fun of them and uses the very tired...

"This comedy thing is so easy is it? *pull tie twice*" line.

Originally posted by jerejerebinks
I have trouble seeing Letterman stay at CBS longer than Leno at NBC....I think it would hurt his pride too much to be beat by Leno for so many years, and then turn around and get beat by the man who tooks his old gig.

He was probably joking, but he did say the other day that he's going to stay on one day after Leno retires and then retire himself. :D

Am I the only one here that likes Leno?

Originally posted by LionelHutz
He was probably joking, but he did say the other day that he's going to stay on one day after Leno retires and then retire himself. :D


I seen on VH1's Greatest Week Ever this comedian said something like:

"I bet Leno and Letterman retire at the same time, and then Leno will take Letterman's job, just so he can say screw you one more time."

Sorry Mr. Tooner, it kinda looks that way, though jere kinda throws some support your way...

Yes, Tooner, I think I done posted this, but I think hes the better comedian...but Letterman is a better interviewer.

And Kevin Eubanks is a lot less annoying than Paul Shafer.

But Paul Shaffer is more spontaneous while Eubanks just laughs at whatever drivel is coming out of Leno's mouth.

True....

But you have to take into account, he is stoned out of his temple pilot.......and Shaffer is wound up on Crack Cocaine.....Eubanks is a much smaller offender. lol

..........But..........he's funnier than Eubanks.....nuff said :p

Hmmmm....

Max Weinberg is the best....can we agree on that? No one is so charasmatic without having any charisma than Max Weinberg....which reminds me, I hope the Max Weinberg 7 moves to the tonight show with Conan.

Ahhh Max Weinberg.....good man....yeah he'll pass.

Did you happen to see the opening of Conan tonight? He was actually quite animated (weinberg)

So who is the worst side kick?? I always hated that gay acting music guy on Rosie O'donnel, lol.

Just about every sidekick on any daytime show sounds like that

Are there a lot of daytime side kicks??? Other than Gilman on Regis that is:D:D

There's whoever is on the Tony Danza Show, Ellen's show, i'm sure sharon osbourne had someone...but hey, wouldn't you agree that the best sidekick on ANY talk show, late night or daytime, was Andy Richter on Conan? He was the reason why I stayed up late on school nights back in the day!

:OTONY DANZA HAS A SHOW????:O :eek:

Thats got to be a sign of the end times.


And yes, Andy Richter is the best there ever was or ever will be. And still is when he stops by occasionally.

Oh and lets not forget....the best announcer in the history of the game, Joel Gotter.

Yes...I actually saw it on TV yesterday while channel surfing.....I wanted to cry...

I'm more of an Alan Kalter fan myself, but yes, Joel Gotter does rank somewhere up there on my list

Im not a big Alan Kalter fan...but he is better than that Ramirez or whatever the new guy on Leno's name is...

I still cant get over the absense of Ed Hall....

Excuse Me...*grabs tissue and runs off*

Originally posted by silverbulletkc
I'm more of an Alan Kalter fan myself,

What's the deal with the Elvis suits lately?

He'll have to field that one, I havent seen him for a few weeks...but on the same intuition, has anyone noticed that Max Weinberg has been dressing like a 1920's Chicago Gangster?

If I find out Copone played drums....:confused:

ORiginally posted by LionelHutz
What's the deal with the Elvis suits lately?
And other phrases like "well, Dave, tonight's prize is A BRAND NEW MONKEY!!! (split-second flash of a picture of a monkey)...Back to you, Dave!"

As for his Elvis suits.....well, maybe he has a fetish....a fantasy...a secret love (knowing it's Alan Kalter).

As for Max Weinberg, maybe it's a sign to Conan saying he will be beaten repeatedly if he leaves him behind when he takes over on the tonight show:).

Excellent Anaylsis sbkc.

Why, thank you! Just doin' my job.

And a quite superb job...


Now something that I originally asked but havent gotten to, who would be the best choice to take over Late Night once Conan is in Burbank?