Conan takes Leno chair next June
- Published by David Knox
- on
- Filed under Subscription
Jay Leno’s last night hosting The Tonight Show will be Friday, May 29, 2009, NBC has announced. Conan O’Brien will take over the late night show on Monday, June 1, 2009.
The news at a press conference by NBC co-chairmen Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff on the last day of a TV critics press tour in the US. There were persistent questions to the two executives by a mysterious reporter, who turned out to be Leno in disguise, with a bald cap and fake goatee. Hard to hide that chin.
“When is Leno’s last show?” the unnamed reporter demanded to know.
“Will Leno be paid for the rest of the year?” he inquired. The answer was, “Of course.”
Later, after Leno had left the room Graboff said it was not a foregone conclusion that Leno would be heading to ABC for a late night show, as has been widely rumoured.
NBC is still pursuing him for future projects.
Jimmy Fallon, who is O’Brien’s replacement on Late Night, will begin an online version of his show nightly at 12:30 a.m. this fall before premiering on air in March or April, Silverman said.
O’Brien’s last show at 12:30 a.m. will come some time in the first quarter of 2009.
Source: Courant.com, NYTimes
3 Responses
For me it’s the opposite… I hate Conan and love Leno… never heard of Jimmy Fallon but I wish Comedy would get Jimmy Kimel!
Don’t like Leno and I’m a huge fan of Conan so I don’t mind. As long as Letterman is still going I’m happy!
Wow only one year to go, and while I do like Conan more than Leno, at least now we get the both of them, where as a year for now it’ll be just Conan…and that jimmy guy. kinda sad 🙁