Conan O'Brien was offered the opportunity to return to TV -- even if it was for only 15 seconds. According to "Entertainment Tonight," the former "Tonight Show" host was asked by David Letterman's team to appear in a Super Bowl commercial with Dave, Jay Leno, and Oprah Winfrey. However, Conan chose to politely decline.
What was the reason behind the move? It's possible that Conan wants some time out of the spotlight, or that he'd like to distance himself a little from the late-night wars of recent weeks. Whatever the reason, the host will likely continue to negotiate with Fox in hopes of landing a show there as early as September. The biggest issue for now seems to be figuring out if the affiliates will be interested in picking up the show.
As for Letterman and Leno, they are still in the headlines for their ad, which playfully poked fun at their longtime late-night feud. Why do you think Conan O'Brien turned the offer down? Let me know your thoughts with a comment and stay tuned for more news.
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Comments
Er, from what I understand 1) Conan's exit deal with NBC places limits any appearances he can make at the moment and 2) The commercial was shot within days (2?) of his final show, so flying out to NY to film it would have been a logistical nightmare.
asds
If Conan was in the ad, it would seem like he and Leno were really buddies and the whole thing was a ratings ploy. He would lose support from his followers, who really hate Leno like I do. I was forced to watch his show last night, didn't laugh once. I wouldn't want to be in the same room with the guy. The ad wasn't even Conan's type of humor, or funny.
I think that it was because obrien thought it would be in poor taste with his entire staff losing their jobs. You ask your entire staff to move to LA, you lose the show, everyone gets canned, and then you star in a Super Bowl commercial. Obrien has more class than to do something like that.
Gee, seems some folks forget that initially it was Leno who got kicked to the curb because Baby Conan threatened to leave NBC if he did not get his way. Well, he got his way, and what a suprise, he couldn't walk in the Big Man's shoes. Leno's a class act and I'd love to be in any room with him- I love, love, love him and am so very grateful his humor thankfully, really thankfully is indeed not Conan's type of humor. Oh, Oh wait- did I say Conan and humor in the same sentence? Musta made some sort of a oxymoromic mistake. Hhhmmm.
Jay got kicked to the curb because of Conan?
Not quite right. Fox offered Conan more money to leave, and NBC counter offered with the same money, but a promise to host the Tonight Show in 5 years.
If NBC had just beat FOX's bid and said "we'll wait until Jay starts slipping", then this mess wouldn't have happened.
NBC didn't trust Jay to stay on top for 5 more years. How is that Conan's fault?
Conan was prohibited from making any TV appearances in the 7 months from the end of his show
Let me take a guess. Sam is a woman and is over 50. That seems to be the Leno fan base.
Simple: Conan's far classier than that.
Sam, if your idea of "kicked to the curb" includes a prime time show and becoming the highest paid star in the history of television (according to the NBC brass) then I want to live in your world.
I think Conan chose not to do it because it was pitched to him as they were wrapping up the Tonight Show. He had his priorities in line and he didn't have the time to think about shooting a commercial. Simple timing conflict.
CONAN, is not old like those two guys and his sense of humor and his act is class, he doesnt need mama oprah and sad face to pump his image...that would have brought him low..CONAN IS HIGH HIGH HIGH... GREAT DECISION CONAN ONCE MORE BRAVOOOOO TO YOU..
SAM is making up stories about CONAN and leno. One has to take the facts and decides upon them. leno had to leave since his show was new and had no rating.. so why CONAN and the american iconic show = tonight show had to change time and go to next day to cater the looser leno??
I'm 51, never could stand Leno. I think his appeal is to undereducated, white males who cannot see his tired jokes blowing smoke signals from a mile away. Leno is a hack and should stay in Vegas where he and his act belong.
Cannot wait to follow Conan wherever he lands.
If Conan would have been at the door, delivering a pizza - this would have been the best ad ever..
As it is, I am surprised more people have not noticed that Jay's part is OBVIOUSLY spliced into the Dave and Oprah part.. If you watch the clip, there are some dead giveaways. Watch Jay's Left elbow, the lamp behind him and Oprah and Oprah's right arm.. Dave and Jay were not sitting together on that couch.
"I'm 51, never could stand Leno. I think his appeal is to undereducated, white males who cannot see his tired jokes blowing smoke signals from a mile away."
Gosh, was there a contest to see who could make the most condescending comment? If so, this one won 1st place.
I too thought it would have been funny to have him there with the three of them (and yes, they WERE in the same room according to Dave on his talk show Monday night). However, Conan does have a "no appearance" clause in his buyout. He's probably stinging by the treatment he received from NBC. It has to be a blow to the ego to know the affiliates pushed for his removal because they were losing so much money. It was cheaper to buy him out than continue to lose that much revenue monthly. Jay's show wasn't doing well because it made no sense to do a late night talk show...in the evening! So, he'll be back where he belongs as one of the stalwarts of late night talk. And don't be surprised if Conan ends up on Oprah's network instead of Fox. She ain't stupid.
Because he's a good person and it wouldn't be appropriate to joke about a situation in which all his employees lost their jobs.
BayouMan: The affiliates were angry about Leno's ratings, not Conan's.
Who is Conan O'Brien?
I think Letterman shot himself in the foot.
As much as i hate Jay Leno, I hope the commercial comes back to bite Dave.
When I hear the words "Leno" and "classy" used in the same sentence, I want to vomit.
A classy guy would have taken Conan's side against NBC for pushing out the new guy before he could build a solid following. A classy guy would not have been willing to push back the "Tonight Show" a half hour just so HE could squeeze himself back into the spotlight. And finally, a classy guy would NEVER TAKE BACK the same show that he relinquished.
Jay Leno had some whopping opportunities to prove that he was a man of integrity, but he failed to take any kind of stand. His sad addiction to public attention trumps any kind of ethical, adult-like behavior.
Like him or hate him, but please don't call him classy.
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all of them are pretty dumb. the dumbest of all are the networks who continue to pay these dweebs millions per year to read stupid headlines, and have actors shamelessly promoting their own movies. then finish off the show with a no name, no talent singer or group. If i am up at that hour, I watch syndicated reruns of, well, just about anything. and the same goes for kimmel and fergeson.
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