Tangled Up In Wires

We’re keeping you updated as new info comes in. Scroll to the bottom for the latest.

UPDATE 2:22 cst: Conan O’Brien officially released a statement saying that he won’t do The Tonight Show at 12:05. Here’s the statement:

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

UPDATE 5:07 cst: TV Mojoe is now reporting rumors that NBC is looking for potential guest hosts for The Tonight Show which, if true, is not a great sign. NBC confirmed to Alan Sepinwall that there will be a new episode tonight so be sure to set your DVRs for 11:30 (while you can).

UPDATE 5:00 cst: Apparently, the internet has spoken and the support goes to Conan. Add #teamconan to your Tweets if you’re on Twitter to keep the cause alive.

UPDATE 3:18 cst: The New York Times has more info on Conan’s decision. A source says that Conan was very upset about NBC’s proposed plan when it hit the press last Thursday. Angry with the way he was being treated by NBC management, the source says, O’Brien stayed up all night last night drafting the above statement. As for a possible move to Fox, that remains tricky because of the language in Conan’s contract that has him as host of “The Tonight Show,” but doesn’t stipulate anything regarding a move to 12:05. More on that here.

UPDATE 2:42 cst: I don’t want to editorialize here too much, but, having read the statement, I think Conan’s handling this with a great deal of class and dignity. My congratulations to NBC on doing the impossible this week and finding a way to drag your image and branding even lower than it was before. Its difficult to see any way for this to end besides Leno back hosting The Tonight Show, Fallon at 12:35 and Conan on another network. Perhaps that will help restore the ratings to their previous high level, but its also possible that The Jay Leno Show failed because, simply, people are sick of Jay Leno. Even if they are not, its difficult to see how NBC will be able to generate any sort of positive publicity for a Leno return to 11:30 considering how this has all played out. And, either way, NBC has somehow managed to take the one part of its schedule that was truly dominant and turn it into a massive trainwreck. Piracy and cable aren’t killing NBC; poor management, a lack of imagination, and a total disrespect for talent is and its astounding that Jeff Zucker and Jay Leno will have a place there tomorrow and Conan O’Brien will not.

EARLIER:

We’ll have more on this as it develops, but TV Mojoe just tweeted the following:

CONAN: I don’t want to do 12:05 Tonight Show

Stay tuned!