I’m proud of Conan O’ Brien.
I am very proud of Conan O’Brien today. After I read the story and his statement ,my first and final emotion was nothing less than pride. He’s right. Everyone knows he is right and though everyone expected the congenial host to step aside and let Leno/The Network have their way, he didn’t.
I am not a part of the Leno hate and even stated in our weekly podcast that this past summer’s ”Leno hate is bullshit” because it was. He’s not a bad guy. He’s just a lame duck who can’t quite let go and honestly….who hasn’t been put in that position before? Obviously not the position of a host of a comedy institution but of not wanting to let go of a place that you felt welcome, loved and successful. That was Jay and so I get it.
Jay Leno simply should not have accepted the 10/9 offer. I think he should’ve tried something new and a bit different. I would love for Jay to host a show in which he talks to his guests about entertainment. You can’t argue against his interview style that relaxes most. A 30 minute show in which Jay and company discussed movies, television, music, past/future projects. That would be awesome.
It is a sad state that even if you’re out to promote your incredibly moving drama you must go on a comedic talk show to do it. Tell us a funny anecdote before we show your clip about atrocities of the holocaust I think Jay could deftly handle a show that is part Charlie Rose/part Dinner for five with a small bit of Inside the Actor’s Studio…. But that’s just my idea.
Most believe the move for Conan to the Tonight Show was far too early and its unfair that Jay was dethroned so quickly but we’ve all read the stories or watched the movies about Jay’s succession of Johnny Carson. Jay must’ve knew that karma of his actions during that situation was bound to resurface and resurface it did. Johnny never struck me as a vengeful person but I hope he is smiling somewhere.
Conan deserves this shot and the Tonight show is an institution that can work, will work, and deserves to work in its rightful time-slot. To move it to 12:05 (technically the next day) was a ridiculous idea. I don’t want Conan to leave NBC but he is so very right in not accepting the time-slot jump. Conan took his time and thought this decision out. He didnt make it lightly and most importantly he didn’t do it for his self. I truly believe he did it not just for his staff who work to put a show on every day but for the Tonight Show itself… Lest it fall into the pit of network maligned shows.
So Conan I know your parents will tell you this and perhaps quite a few sycophants but here is a fan who just thinks you do a pretty good show and knows this decision wasn’t easy and I want to say I’m proud of you man. I truly hope to see you at 11:35 for many years to come.












along the lines of betrayal and redemption occurring in my last review. These prognostications made sight unseen and entirely based on 30 second promos of the show. In this episode I can check and check those off as they both very sadly occured. The showing finds two cases being held simultaneously. One in which Percy Daggs (Wallace of VM) is accused of accosting a school mate. One in which an innocent man is being railroaded into jail despite Zack’s beliefs that he is not guilty. In this episode Zack’s legal adversary is his girlfriend. She is playing hardball and knows it. She requests to pause the relationship because of the case. Zack agrees but he is so sure that she’s being silly. Sure she’ll fight hard to win but so will he. The thing is her defintion of hard means fighting dirty. This means tampering with his witness so that he is deported. Zack’s old buddy with access to a jet comes to the rescue in time for Zack (fine his characters name is Jerry!) to win the case but he feels betrayed more than he could ever imagine…. even if the entire audience saw it coming 500 miles away. So this show which I panned even before it aired remains to be exactly what I thought it would be–formulaic mediocrity. I can’t really imagine anyone liking this show. I suppose it may appeal to the same audience that likes The Hills and Laguna Beach. It doesn’t require much thought and the people are very pretty. So there ya go Steven Bochco. You’re a half a step above The Hills. What would TV do without veterans to bring back the same crap over and over again? Try something new? Ye gods well thats just crazy thinking.

