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George Lopez: how he really felt about being bumped by Conan

posted 10 years ago by a_l_i_e_n
13 replies | jump to latest

There was a time when suggesting that George Lopez's TBS show being bumped by Conan was anything like what NBC wanted to do to Conan's Tonight Show would be met with dismissal, disapproval, and even anger.

"Conan asked George if it would be okay and George said he was fine with it"

"George couldn't be happier with the arrangement"

"Conan as lead-in will probably boost the ratings of Lopez Tonight"

Some even claimed it was George's idea that Conan should come to TBS and bump his show.

I always doubted that George was completely okay with it, and the assertion that he didn't receive any prodding from his employers to get on board with the plan seemed unlikely, too. Was he really any more thrilled to have his show bumped an hour later into the night than Conan O'Brien was by the same prospect at NBC? I was officially skeptical, but I could never prove it. And then someone came through for me.

Just start listening at 15:15

https://youtu.be/yUZ1fIJP7N4

Talk about irony that it should be Leno loather in chief, Howard  Stern?!?! who finally gets George to reveal the truth behind the spin. Never thought I'd be saying this but...

Thank you, Howard. 💏

[–] Drebin31 10 years ago

Never thought I'd be saying this but...Thank you, Howard.

haha I've always thought he was a great interviewer. His interviews can be an hour but never get dull or boring because he really knows how to squeeze out the information we want to hear from people.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

So from Conan's point of view, during negotiations with TBS, he got a call from George telling him what a great place TBS was to work for, essentially giving his "blessing" to take his slot. But George now tells Howard Stern that the network basically forced him to do that, with the implication that if he resisted they would have let him go after his contract expired.

And maybe sooner, because (as we've certainly seen in the past) money can break just about any contract.

My question would be, did Conan know the phone call from George was insincere? I mean, when Howard asked George if he ever said to Conan "wait a second, you're taking my job!" George said no,

Personally, I think if he believed another host would be completely okay with having their show take a back seat to his, then Conan confirms NBC's assessment about what a very naïve guy they found him to be. Conan wants to think of himself as a real okay joe, and he's not a bad guy mind you. But, he does seem to be in denial when it comes to admitting that some of the stuff he's done is not so different from the actions of those he criticizes.

What I really didn't get, though, was why George was mocking TBS for thinking Conan may go to FOX instead. He said that FOX didn't have late night talk shows. Well, obviously, if they wanted Conan, they would create one. That doesn't sound so implausible to me. We'd have to ask a FOX executive if the network was actually ever interested in him.

According to Carter's book, although at one time they were very anxious to get him over there, after Conan left "The Tonight Show" there were no further offers coming his way from FOX.

[–] Drebin31 10 years ago

According to Carter's book, although at one time they were very anxious to get him over there, after Conan left "The Tonight Show" there were no further offers coming his way from FOX.

Then I wonder why TBS (according to George) thought they were competing with FOX. Either Bill or George is wrong about something, or TBS erroneously thought FOX was trying to get Conan, or TBS just pretended they were competing with FOX as a way to persuade George to be happy with the move.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Either Bill or George is wrong about something, or TBS erroneously thought FOX was trying to get Conan, or TBS just pretended they were competing with FOX as a way to persuade George to be happy with the move.

I think you've laid it out perfectly.

[–] sjbradford 10 years ago

Many of Fox's affiliates didn't want to turn the time over to a network talk show. They were/are making more money airing reruns of shows like Seinfeld and Family Guy. Fox floated an idea where Conan would originally start out on FX and then eventually transition to the Fox broadcasting network as its affiliates deals for syndicated shows expired. But that never came to fruition. According to Bill Carter, Conan's people asked Fox not to publicly reveal that their negotiations weren't going anywhere, because they didn't want TBS to lowball them.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Yes, things had changed after 2004 when FOX made their 20 million dollar offer to Conan (including the perception of Conan as being a hot property). Carter mentions that Conan thought he had perhaps made a mistake not going there when they were eager to have him.

[–] megafauna005 10 years ago

Conan ' s ratings are beyond horrible on TBS and it's a miracle they haven't axed him. He can't last too much longer!

Jesus NEVER existed! He is Judeo Christian MYTH!

[–] Benihanahasnofunflare 10 years ago

Yeah, lowballs aren't fun.

[–] EazyEwok 10 years ago

Yeah, Conan's a dick because he took someone at their word. Even if he is naive, that still doesn't put any of the blame on him, because he's not the one being dishonest. It's not as if Lopez Tonight was some TV institution, with a long established timeslot either. On a basic level they may seem like similar situations, but it only takes about 5 seconds of critical thinking to realize they're not at all the same.

http://tinyurl.com/kz5er35

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Yeah, Conan's a *beep* because he took someone at their word. Even if he is naive, that still doesn't put any of the blame on him, because he's not the one being dishonest.

Maybe just with himself. In the case of "Lopez Tonight", Conan seemed to be in denial that the guy getting bumped might actually have been a little resentful (Conan certainly was when he was the one being expected to move), or that Lopez was actually pressured into going along with the decision.

It's not as if Lopez Tonight was some TV institution, with a long established timeslot either.

Lopez was, however, the first Latino with a late night talk show, who barely a year into his run is suddenly expected to take a back seat to another entertainer. Can't blame the guy for being a little annoyed- especially considering his ratings were better when he had that timeslot.

[–] fedora_stud 9 years ago

Conan is hypocritical. So George was ok with suiciding his own show for Conan? Really?

After what NBC did to O'Brien, you'd think he'd be more sensitive.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 9 years ago

So George was ok with suiciding his own show for Conan? Really?

After what NBC did to O'Brien, you'd think he'd be more sensitive.

I don't think Conan is a bad guy; it was, afterall, TBS's idea to bump "Lopez Tonight". BUT, I do think Conan was kidding himself that George wouldn't have seen being bumped an hour later as a demotion- just like Conan felt when NBC tried to bump his "Tonight Show" to midnight. I don't think it much matters that "Lopez Tonight" was a fledging show; he was at TBS first, and now he was being expected to do something that Conan over at NBC would not. That's a double standard.

[–] 9 years ago

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