Conan O'Brien

[Celebrity]

Conan O'Brien: TV Guide News

NBC at the TCA: Execs Want Jay to Stay, Just Not on Tonight | The Biz | 7/21/2008
Jay Leno showed up incognito at the Television Critics Association on Monday to ask the inevitable questions about his future to NBC Entertainment co-chairmen Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff. Haven't we just seen this act? Yes, just last week when ABC chief Steve McPherson was quizzed by a disguised Jimmy Kimmel about that network's possible pursuit of Leno. Doesn't anybody have an original idea in this business?Leno came up with the idea of the appearance in an effort to make amends for his... read more
NBC Introduces Jimmy Fallon as Late Night Host | Today's News: Our Take | 5/12/2008
Confirming the worst-kept secret in television, NBC today officially introduced comedian Jimmy Fallon as the network's newest late-night host.The SNL alum will start as host of Late Night (Weeknights, 12:30 am/ET) when Conan O'Brien takes over the Tonight Show for Jay Leno in 2009.Ironically, O'Brien's show was the first talk show Fallon appeared on after joining SNL in 1998.Fallon, 33, told a news conference he has been destined to host a late-night talkfest since he was a kid. "In my... read more
It's Official: Jimmy Fallon Gets Late Night Nod from NBC | Today's News: Our Take | 4/24/2008
As expected, comedian Jimmy Fallon will host Late Night (12:30 am/ET, NBC) when Conan O'Brien moves to the Tonight Show in 2009.Fox News.com reports NBC won't make the official announcement until next month, but word leaked out today about the Saturday Night Live alum.Fallon's late-night coronation is part of what could be a late-night TV sea change in 2009. Rumors are swirling that current Tonight Show host Jay Leno has been courted by other networks about launching a new nighttime talker... read more
Flavor Flav Reveals Style Secrets to Conan | Today's Top Videos | 3/3/2008
Flava Flaaaaaaaav! Yes, it looks like Flav has been working on his Hollywood street cred—and a guest appearance on Conan is a great starting point. The reality star appeared on the show last week discussing his unique sense of style. So what’s with the bear hat? Well, obviously it represents the bear that tried to attack him in the woods. “When da bears get tough, you get tough wit da bears.” Just wait until you hear the logic behind the neck clock! read more
Other Networks Vying for Jay Leno's Attention | Today's News: Our Take | 2/27/2008
Conan O'Brien might be taking over The Tonight Show in 2009, but that doesn't mean you'll never see Jay Leno's chin on late-night again. In fact, the New York Times reports that Leno, who continues to reign as champion of late-night ratings, is already in the crosshairs of execs at ABC, Fox and Sony Pictures Television, even though they can't officially negotiate with him until November '09. ABC and Fox have both discreetly indicated their interest, while Sony has put the word out that, when... read more
Craig Trumps Conan Head-to-head for First Time | Today's News: Our Take | 2/15/2008
For the first time ever, CBS' The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson edged out Late Night with Conan O'Brien in a week of head-to-head competition, according to Nielsen numbers for the week ending Feb. 8. Ferguson's late-night fare averaged 1.85 million viewers, versus O'Brien's 1.82 mil for the week. The two shows tied for adults ages 25-54. How their ratings will impact Scotch-Irish relations has yet to be seen.For more on this week's ratings, check out Thursday's numbers, by the hour. —... read more
Conan-Colbert Brawl | Today's Top Videos | 2/5/2008
Uh-oh! Looks like Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert’s tiff over who’s really responsible for Huckabee’s fame has reached a new level—we’re talking the ass-kicking kind! Last night, both Colbert and John Stewart appeared on Conan’s show to duke it out like men. Oh, and it was ugly too—bats were swinging, trash cans were flying and they even busted out a blow torch. It was no holds barred, we tell you! read more
Reader's Cheer of the Week: Conan Strikes Back! | Cheers & Jeers | 2/1/2008
Posted by “Inkfrog in Chicago”... Cheers to Conan O’Brien for his limitless talent. The WGA strike has given us even more reasons to love Conan. From his zip-line feats to his Tom Brokaw maze, Conan clearly knows how to pass the time without his writers. But it was his drop-dead rendition of “Blue Moon of Kentucky” that truly put me over the moon. Here’s hoping he takes his guitar on the road... to Chicago!• Read and react to Bruce Fretts' opinions on Lost,... read more
Strike Watch: Another Day in Late Night | Roush Dispatch | 1/8/2008
The only true “moment of Zen” I experienced while watching the awkward writer-free return of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show Monday night — or, as Jon Stewart is now calling it, “A Daily Show” — was when his sole guest, a professorial labor expert, said of bitter strikes like the one the Writers’ Guild is currently engaged in: “It’s never intractable.... Eventually, they all get solved.”From his lips to....What a day it was in Strike World.... read more
Happy New Year for Late-night TV | Roush Dispatch | 1/3/2008
Did absence make our hearts grow fonder of late-night TV's hosts, missing in action for the last two months? I suppose it's possible, though I doubt anyone's preferences were changed by what they saw Wednesday night, when all of the network hosts finally returned to work, all but David Letterman and Craig Ferguson without writers. (If anything grew, it was facial hair, at least on Dave and Conan.)If you're the sort who for whatever reason prefers affable Jay Leno over cranky Dave, or chooses to... read more
Leno and Conan Strike Back, Return to Work Jan. 2 | Today's News: Our Take | 12/17/2007
This just in from NBC:"After two months of repeats, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Night with Conan O'Brien will resume broadcasting all-new episodes beginning Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008. The late-night shows suspended production due to the strike by the Writers Guild of America on Nov. 5 and have aired repeats since. "During the 1988 writers' strike, Johnny Carson reluctantly returned to The Tonight Show without his writers after two months," notes Rick Ludwin, executive vice president,... read more
Will Tonight Show Go On... With Guest Hosts? | WGA Post-Strike Watch: News About Returning Shows | 11/12/2007
While many expect David Letterman or Jimmy Kimmel to return to their late-night hosting duties sooner rather than later, NBC is said to be pondering a series of guest hosts for The Tonight Show and Late Night, should Jay Leno and/or Conan O'Brien opt not to ire the WGA — especially in light of the tongue-lashing that picket-line crosser Ellen DeGeneres has taken for resuming her own talker. According to Variety, Tonight Show exec producer Debbie Vickers issued a statement saying, "All... read more
Ask Matt | 11/12/2007
A few strike-related questions for you. I'm familiar with the basic reasons behind the writers' strike but not the fine details, so I'm still wondering why the late-night talk shows are affected. Conan, Letterman, Leno, Jon Stewart and the others are all accomplished comedy writers and I'm sure could write their own monologues and comedy skits. Couldn't Dave throw things off the roof of the building or play Show and Tell with the audience without the help of writers, and then still do ... read more
Ask Matt | 11/9/2007
I have seen a few criticisms of Brian Williams' decision to host Saturday Night Live, people saying that as a newsman he would be denigrating his integrity, Edward R. Murrow would be spinning in his grave, yada, yada. I normally don't watch the show, but as a (print) journalist, I was curious to see Williams' performance. I think there's a line between pandering yourself for cheap laughs and showing an ability to poke fun. In my opinion, Williams did a great job of demonstrating the latter. He... read more
Holy S--t: Conan's Stalker Is a Man of the Cloth | Today's News: Our Take | 11/8/2007
A Boston priest has been arrested on charges of stalking Conan O'Brien. (Hey, for once at least it isn't child molestation.) The twisted padre contacted the talk-show host's parents and has been bombarding him with threatening letters since 2006. When he was denied entry to a taping of the program, his next missive asked, "Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans?" Sheesh. It's enough to make me glad I didn't pursue my original dream of becoming a superpopular male model. — Ben... read more
NBC Boss Won't Leggo His Leno | Today's News: Our Take | 10/31/2007
NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker on Tuesday reiterated the existing plan for Conan O'Brien to claim The Tonight Show come 2009, but stressed that that does not mean Jay Leno is leaving the Peacock. "I would very much like to keep [Jay] in the family," Zucker said to a gathering of media types at Syracuse freakin' University's S.I. Newhouse ultracool School of Public Communications, "and those discussions are going on now.... I'm hopeful Jay will be with us beyond 2009." At which time Leno's... read more
In the Works: Benjamin Bratt Cleans Up, and More | Today's News: Our Take | 10/16/2007
Benjamin Bratt (E-Ring, remember that one?) will star as The Cleaner in an A&E pilot about an addict who makes a pact with God to set himself straight in prison and then forms a team of extreme interventionists, says the Reporter.... Will Smith is hot to turn the 2005 film Hitch into a TV sitcom, which he would exec-produce.... The CW is developing The Collection, a drama drawing from the real-life experiences of designer Isaac Mizrahi. Do not expect Scarlett Johansson to guest-star.... NBC... read more
Conan O'Brien Hosts Comedy Benefit for Injured Service Members | TV Guide News Report | 9/21/2007
Bob Woodruff hasn’t had a lot to laugh about in the last couple of years. But thanks to Conan O’Brien and a lineup of top comedians, there will be plenty of humor to go around during a special evening on Nov. 7 to benefit the Bob Woodruff Family Fund.In conjunction with the New York Comedy Festival, O’Brien will host the event, Stand Up for Heroes, which is dedicated to the nation’s injured service members. The proceeds of the benefit — where Lewis Black, Bruce... read more
No Round of Applause for "Emmys-in-the-round" | Today's News: Our Take | 9/17/2007
It kinda looked cool when first unveiled, but the "theater in the round" approach to this year's Emmy Awards telecast drew decidedly mixed reactions from those who partook in the festivities. "It was very disconcerting... the way they had the theater set up," James Spader (Boston Legal) said after grabbing gold for Lead Actor in a Drama Series. "So many people you wanted to be addressing were behind you. Literally all of my bosses were sitting behind me, and so were the other nominees."Conan... read more
Conan O'Brien (Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program) | Emmys Live Blog: Backstage with the Winners! | 9/17/2007
Finally, a good answer to the "Where will you keep your Emmy?" roundup question: "I had a giant Emmy shelf built years ago, capable of holding 500 Emmys," says Conan, fielding questions backstage with headwriter Mike Sweeney.When a reporter flubs his verb tense and asks for Conan's take on how Ryan Seacrest is doing (the telecast had ended), O'Brien quipped, "If he's still doing it in the parking lot, that’s very, very sad. I think he's lost his mind, he's on TV way too much. It's not good... read more