Posted: Saturday 13th June 2009 at 6:37pm by Paul
Whilst I was on vacation, The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien made its debut on NBC. The first show – on 1st June – saw Conan take over the franchise of The Tonight Show from Jay Leno.
The first show opened with a video showing Conan getting ready to start The Tonight Show only to realise he forgot one important thing – he forgot to move from New York to Los Angeles where The Tonight Show is filmed. The Tonight Show is housed in a studio in the Universal Studios lot.
In the video, Conan couldn’t hail a cab in NYC so ran from New York to Los Angeles passing through various points across the country on the way – including Las Vegas – but when he arrived in LA he forgot he left his keys in his NYC apartment, so he plowed the door to The Tonight Show studio with a mechanical digger.
Other highlights of the first show included Conan doing a Universal Studios tour in the Universal tour tram, where he took the tram outside of the lot and caused mayhem, and guests Will Ferrell (who arrived in style and even sang a special song for Conan) & Pearl Jam.
Some of his first words on the show were “I think I’ve timed this move perfectly. I’m on a last-place network, I moved to a state that’s bankrupt and The Tonight Show is sponsored by General Motors”.
Something to note about The Tonight Show – it keeps a very similar theme tune to Late Night With Conan O’Brien with some tweaks. Click here to watch the opening titles.
The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien has been a hit in the ratings – Variety says its first week ratings “proved to be even bigger than expected in key demos” and that it “averaged a 2.3 rating in adults 18-49″ which outdid the ratings of CBS’s Late Show With David Letterman. Jimmy Fallon – host of Late Night – saw big ratings for his show on the debut week of The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien. The Tonight Show saw Late Night With Jimmy Fallon get record ratings.
Variety – “O’Brien off and running on ‘Tonight’”
Times Online – “Conan O’Brien makes a hairy start as new ‘Tonight Show’ host”
Official website for The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien
Click here to watch videos
Posted: Sunday 31st May 2009 at 12:38am by Paul
It was Jay Leno’s final episode of The Tonight Show on Friday night. Conan O’Brien takes over from Monday night.
The guests on the final episode of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno were new host Conan O’Brien and musician James Taylor.
Jay’s new 10pm weeknight show called The Jay Leno Show begins later this year on NBC.
Click here to watch the Conan interview
Posted: Saturday 30th May 2009 at 1:08pm by Paul
In a recent interview on NBC’s Today Show, Jay Leno said he “would not want to see the next host go through what I went with… there was a lot of bitterness” with regard to Leno giving up The Tonight Show.
Talking about when he won The Tonight Show gig over David Letterman, Leno said his friendship with Letterman got damaged and “it really never got repaired… it got kind of ugly and awkward, and I would not to see anybody go through that again”.
Leno described Conan O’Brien – who takes over The Tonight Show on Monday night – as “a fantastic guy… a real gentleman”.
Orlando Sentinel – “Jay Leno says conflict with David Letterman ‘never got repaired’”
Click here to watch Jay Leno on NBC’s Today Show
Posted: Saturday 30th May 2009 at 12:59pm by Paul
Just two shows remaining. On Thursday’s show Jay spoke to Billy Crystal and there was music from Prince.
Click here highlights from the Billy Crystal interview
Posted: Saturday 30th May 2009 at 12:57pm by Paul
On the Wednesday show Jay welcomed Wanda Sykes.
Click here for video clips from the show
Posted: Wednesday 27th May 2009 at 10:42pm by Paul
Arnold Schwarzenegger and Dwight Yoakam were guests on Tuesday.
Click here for video clips from the show
Posted: Tuesday 26th May 2009 at 11:42pm by Paul
It’s the final week of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno.
Leno’s still making news, as on Monday’s show Mel Gibson announced he is about to become a father again with his eighth child due soon. Mel says this makes him “Octo-Mel”.
Click here to watch Mel Gibson on The Tonight Show
Posted: Monday 25th May 2009 at 10:30pm by Paul
It’s the last week of The Tonight Show With Jay Leno this week, then Conan O’Brien takes over the reigns.
Guests on Leno’s final week are Mel Gibson & Lyle Lovett (tonight), Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger & Dwight Yoakam (Tuesday), Wanda Sykes & Sarah McLachlan (Wednesday), Billy Crystal & Prince (Thursday) and Conan O’Brien & James Taylor (on the final show on Friday).
The Tonight Show With Jay Leno is broadcast on CNBC one show after its US broadcast – so Monday’s US show will air on Tuesday night at 11pm on CNBC, etc. Friday’s finale will air on CNBC on Monday 1st June at 11pm.
Conan’s Tonight Show starts on Monday 1st June on NBC, and CNBC will be airing the new show in the same slot as Leno had (11pm on a one show delay from the US).
