Conan: Moving Tonight Show will Damage Franchise

UNIVERSAL CITY: Conan O’Brien released a statement today saying that NBC’s decision to move The Tonight Show to 12:05 a.m. to accommodate The Jay Leno Show at 11:35 p.m. will "seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting."

O’Brien inherited The Tonight Show from Leno in June.  "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," he said in the statement. "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."

O’Brien noted that The Tonight Show has aired immediately after the 11 p.m. local news for six decades. "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."

He continued: "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."

Responding to speculation about his jumping ship to FOX or another network, O’Brien stated: "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."

According to reports, there is no stipulation in O’Brien’s contract that The Tonight Show must air at 11:35 p.m.; as such, NBC would not be in violation of their deal with him. Talks between the talk-show host and the network are ongoing.