MovieChat Forums > The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) Discussion > Was anyone else hoping...

Was anyone else hoping...

posted 10 years ago by tyler-92
29 replies | jump to latest

...that Jay would at least address the Conan debacle? I really didn't like that they made a lot of jokes over his getting fired the first time without even mentioning the guy that really got screwed.

[–] jwdog 10 years ago

I don't think anyone who received a 32 million dollar severance package for six months of work got screwed. Leno should not have to defend himself, and Conan should be the one to apologize for the way he conducted himself during the entire fiasco.

[–] tyler-92 10 years ago

I mean "screwed" in the context of the profession, not compared to us commoners.

And Conan should apologize to whom? The executives who pulled the plug after just six months, or the guy who gave the executives a dependable fallback option? The same thing that happened to Conan would have happened to Jay if Carson hadn't retired gracefully.

[–] sjbradford 10 years ago

The same thing that happened to Conan would have happened to Jay if Carson hadn't retired gracefully.

Nope - not at all. In the year following Carson's retirement, TTS overall ratings were roughly the same as they had been during the last year of the Carson era. Leno's version was significantly cheaper to produce than Carson's, so it became more profitable for NBC. Plus, the demographics were younger. NBC would not have offered Carson his job back.

Contrast this with the transition to Conan. By the end of Conan's first three month period on TTS (before Jay started doing the 10 pm show), the ratings fell from the Leno era by 45%. That's not a typo - 45 percent! Of course they had to get rid of him.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Plus, the demographics were younger. NBC would not have offered Carson his job back

Yes, there was a reason that "Saturday Night Live" was doing sketches where Dana Carvey played Johnny trying to get hip by coming out with an Arsenio Hall-style flat top cut and going "whoof! whoof". He was quite simply losing the younger viewers to Arsenio. Reportedly, Johnny was especially steamed when in another sketch they referred to his act as "old hat", and it didn't seem like any coincidence that after that one, Johnny never had frequent guest Dana Carvey on the show again. Johnny could dish it out over the years but he sure couldn't take it.

[–] sjbradford 10 years ago

I'm always amused/perplexed at the reverence afforded to Carson. He went on about 10 years too long. He was a good interviewer, but his monologues were full of corny jokes and often quite unfunny in the 1980s. Those episodes felt stale and old hat - from the sets to the jokes to the guests to the sidekicks. David Letterman was the funniest late night host during that era. I remember suffering through Carson to get to Letterman.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

...that Jay would at least address the Conan debacle?

He talked about it on both "Sixty Minutes" last month as well as this week on "Access Hollywood".

I really didn't like that they made a lot of jokes over his getting fired the first time without even mentioning the guy that really got screwed.

There was one Jay told at the time that went:

"NBC is presently working on a deal that effectively screws both parties."

I didn't watch TBS last night. Did Conan address the Tonight Show debacle and maybe acknowledge how that time it was his deal with NBC that got Jay removed from "The Tonight Show"?

[–] tyler-92 10 years ago

Jay agreed to the deal in 2004. Wasn't Conan's fault that he changed his mind.

I think I read that Conan did make a joke about it but I haven't watched last night's Conan yet.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Jay agreed to the deal in 2004.

Jay didn't make a public fuss like Letterman. But how many people agree to be fired? The guy was handed his walking papers.

Wasn't Conan's fault that he changed his mind.

He didn't change his mind. NBC did.

[–] tyler-92 10 years ago

Jay didn't make a public fuss like Letterman. But how many people agree to be fired? The guy was handed his walking papers.

http://www.today.com/id/6115643

"In 2009, I'll be 59 years old and will have had this dream job for 17 years," Leno said in NBC's written statement. "I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor and there is no one more qualified than Conan."

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Yes, that was Jay being a good sport inspite of the rotten deal he got. You see, NBC had made it's decision: he was out, and Conan was in because (at the time) they felt Conan would be a big ratings challenge if he went to another network. Jay didn't want to ruin his relationship with the network because he still had another 5 years left as host of "The Tonight Show". And when Conan proved not to be as popular as they assumed, by not getting pissy about it, Jay preserved that relationship so that NBC was more than happy to keep him from going elsewhere.

[–] tyler-92 10 years ago

It still looks bad to promise a smooth transition and then to take the 10pm gig. Jay knew that was going to look bad and he did it anyway. And he knew moving back to 11:30 and essentially pushing Conan out was kind of a dick move even if he (Jay) never wanted to give up the Tonight Show in the first place.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

It still looks bad to promise a smooth transition and then to take the 10pm gig.

Nobody knew for sure it was going to tank. Certainly not NBC or why pitch it to Jay? And who promises to remain fired?

Jay knew that was going to look bad and he did it anyway.

He didn't know back in 2004 that NBC was going to change their mind. Remember, leaving The Tonight Show" was never what he wanted. That was decided for him by NBC and Conan.

And he knew moving back to 11:30 and essentially pushing Conan out was kind of a dick move even if he (Jay) never wanted to give up the Tonight Show in the first place

Why was it okay then for Conan to pull a d-ck move and force Jay out? Didn't Conan sorta get what he deserved?

[–] Drebin31 10 years ago

Remember, leaving The Tonight Show" was never what he wanted. That was decided for him by NBC and Conan.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

I haven't read the rest of this thread, but I have to stop you there, alien. You always write about how NBC owns the shows, not the hosts. If you say Jay didn't have the power to decide what Conan had to do, then how did Conan have the power to decide what Jay had to do?

Conan told NBC he was getting offers from other networks. He made it known that he was anxious to do an 11:35 show. NBC was impressed (at the time) with Conan's ratings, and feared that if he went elsewhere he might prove to be a big ratings challenger to them. So, gambling that he was the future king of the night, NBC said they would remove Jay from "The Tonight Show" and give it to Conan if he would stay. You know, when all this was first going down and accusations were flying, I went on the assumption that Conan respectfully and courteously asked Jay how he would feel about stepping aside for him. I figured Jay must've said he was okay with it, and only after this conversation did Conan indicate to NBC that he would be receptive to their offer. Then I read "The War For Late Night" and you what, Drebin? Conan never had such a conversation with Jay. There was never a meeting, a lunch date, a phone call, nor even an email. Conan just said to NBC that he'd be fine with the deal they were suggesting, and then sat back and let them do the dirty work. When Jay came out of that meeting with Jeff Zucker, his long time producer Deb Vickers asked him how it went. Jay replied "I feel like I just got fired". Meanwhile, Zucker called an awaiting Conan O'Brien and said to him "it's done". Now remember that at 54 Jay was relatively young, hard working (no guest-hosts needed because he loved to work), #1 rated, making millions for the network, asking less than #2 rated Dave was over at CBS, and providing a strong lead-in for "Late Night With Conan O'Brien". Doesn't sound like someone you'd tell "we're cutting you lose at the end of your contract so Conan will stay", does it? But that's what they did. And they only did this after getting the go-ahead from a guy who could've gone to ABC to do an 11:35 show of his own, or FOX, where they were offering him 11:35, no 5 year waiting period to start, and more than twice what NBC was offering him to host "TTS". What's more, if Conan had accepted the ABC or FOX deal, nobody would've been forced out so he could get what he wanted. Conan was in the driver's seat on that deal, Drebin. It wouldn't have been implemented unless he agreed to it. He knew what it was going to mean for Jay. He didn't have to say yes. But he did, and Jay Leno lost his job because of it.

[–] dnseminoles 10 years ago

tyler, let's internalize this, let's make it personal...

how would you feel if you were fired from a job that you were very successful at, only to be replaced by someone who wasn't anywhere near as successful as you? What if that same unsuccessful person was the one that forced the company's hand to kick you out? What if this whole debacle wasn't your fault and you just wanted to go back doing what you love because you still had a few more years worth of quality service to offer? What would you actually do in that situation if it was you?

[–] tyler-92 10 years ago

Let's extrapolate.

how would you feel if you were fired from a job that you were very successful at, only to be replaced by someone who wasn't anywhere near as successful as you?

How about if, when you first started at that job, you were also way more unsuccessful than the person whom you replaced? And how about if they told you FIVE YEARS in advance that it was coming?

What if that same unsuccessful person was the one that forced the company's hand to kick you out?

Bull. They could have let Conan leave. The NBC executives screwed the pooch on that one.

What if this whole debacle wasn't your fault and you just wanted to go back doing what you love because you still had a few more years worth of quality service to offer?

Then Jay shouldn't have acquiesced in 2004. He should have stood his ground and said he wanted to keep doing the show. By pretending he was fine with it, he put himself in a bad position publicity-wise in 2009. He could have maintained that he was being forced out, if his job was more important to him than saving face.

If I were in Jay's position (but in my own career) and they told me I was going to be replaced in five years even though I liked my job, I wouldn't tell everyone I was fine with it and then not make any sort of contingency plan.

If the people above me were so enthralled with the person below me that they wanted to replace me with him to avoid losing him, that's their call. I'm not going to tell the guy below me that I think it's a swell idea and that it's time for me to pack it up and move on, and then create a new position right above his that diminishes the importance of his position. I'm not going to pretend it's a swell idea and then jump at the opportunity to take my job back when the new guy struggles the same way I did when I first took that position.

I'd tell anyone who would listen that I think it sucks and that I like my job and that I don't want to leave. That way, when I step on people to get my job back, it will be clear that I'm not a two-faced prick, but just a guy who wanted to keep his job.

[–] dnseminoles 10 years ago

How about if, when you first started at that job, you were also way more unsuccessful than the person whom you replaced?

I'd consider myself very lucky but know that being allowed that kind of grace is the exception not the rule.

Bull. They could have let Conan leave.

Not sure what you're calling BS on. Conan said, I want the Tonight Show relatively soon or I'm leaving. NBC obliged, you have info that wasn't how it went down?

I'm not going to tell the guy below me that I think it's a swell idea and that it's time for me to pack it up and move on, and then create a new position right above his that diminishes the importance of his position.

Why would you be so concerned about his well being if he was the one that was responsible for you being vacated in the first place? He doesn't care what happens to you, why should you care what happens to him?

He should have stood his ground and said he wanted to keep doing the show.

Uh, with what leverage? Jay, you're fired. No, you better let me keep my job in 2009 or I'll...?? Or you'll do what?

Jay didn't cause Conan to be unsuccessful at 1130, it was what it was. Middle America, average joes just weren't that interested in him. Executives could have been kind to Conan's feelings while affiliates abandoned ship, losing countless amounts of money, possibly falling into a permanent ratings slump. Or they could have asked the guy back who was never ready to leave in the first place. The guy that was pushed out by the other guy who couldn't pull his weight.

It was an ugly situation, but the network's ratings/ability to accumulate revenue was far more important than Conan's feelings.

Just seems weird to me how you're so angry at Jay for not showing how hurt/unhappy he was at the deals were being made. How he expressed his displeasure seemed like the least of importance in this situation.

"In space, no one can hear you jizz."

[–] tyler-92 10 years ago

I'd consider myself very lucky but know that being allowed that kind of grace is the exception not the rule.

That's selfish. You're put in a position where you can do the same thing for the next person that the previous person did for you, and you're saying you wouldn't do it.

Not sure what you're calling BS on. Conan said, I want the Tonight Show relatively soon or I'm leaving. NBC obliged, you have info that wasn't how it went down?

Conan didn't play that level of hardball, but he did say he would rather move up at NBC than move to another network, but he never said "give me the Tonight Show now or I move to (FOX/ABC/CBS/etc)." My point was that the NBC executives made the mistake at that point, not Jay. They should have gauged Jay's feelings before indulding Conan.

Why would you be so concerned about his well being if he was the one that was responsible for you being vacated in the first place? He doesn't care what happens to you, why should you care what happens to him?

Here's where we don't have all the information. Did NBC tell Conan they were firing Jay to make room for him, or did NBC tell Conan that Jay was willing to step down in 2009? You seem to be assuming the former, when I sincerely doubt Conan would be that malicious. Whose to say that Conan wouldn't have just gone to FOX if Jay wasn't willing to step down gracefully? Conan already wasn't willing to go to TBS when he felt like he might be pushing Lopez out. It took George calling Conan and encouraging him before he was willing to do it.

Uh, with what leverage? Jay, you're fired. No, you better let me keep my job in 2009 or I'll...?? Or you'll do what?

I think you misunderstand me. I don't mean Jay should have refused to leave. I mean Jay shouldn't have told the media that he was fine with what was going on. He should have been honest about his feelings about the whole thing, lest he come off like a two-faced prick when he wouldn't leave gracefully in 2009.

Whether Conan could have made the Tonight Show work was never proven. It didn't work well (ratings-wise) in the first six months, but six months is nothing in late night talk show time. It's just a different time now than when Jay took over and they're not willing to wait around for things to click.

Anyway, I think Jay is certainly a nice guy, but that he just went about the whole thing poorly by not being more up-front about his feelings. If I wanted you to give me something, and you pleasantly agreed to give it to me, and then after giving it to me, told me you wanted it back and that you never wanted to give it up in the first place, you'd seem like kind of a prick.

[–] dnseminoles 10 years ago

That's selfish. You're put in a position where you can do the same thing for the next person that the previous person did for you, and you're saying you wouldn't do it.

What's selfish is pushing the other guy out so YOU can attain the spotlight. Again, why do you keep expecting Jay to bend over backwards for Conan when he was the one that set in motion for Jay to be out of his job?

he never said "give me the Tonight Show now or I move to (FOX/ABC/CBS/etc).

He didn't say "now," but if you don't give it to me relatively soon aka 2009, I'm taking my act else where. That's a fact. It wasn't Jay or NBC that came up with Conan taking over in 09. It was Conan's idea. If Conan's gonna spearhead this risky business move, then he should be prepared to take the consequences of it not working.

I think you misunderstand me. I don't mean Jay should have refused to leave. I mean Jay shouldn't have told the media that he was fine with what was going on.

From the interview I saw of Jay, he said something to the effect of, he didn't wanna seem needy. Wanted to give off the impression that he wasn't hurt by their decision. And you know what, I can totally empathize with that. I've had people say they don't wanna hang around me anymore, but I don't go into a tirade of, "how could you do this to me, why don't you like me anymore?" Jay could have been outwardly outraged, but at the risk of going out like a whiny baby. He played it close to the chest.

six months is nothing in late night talk show time

I don't know about that.

If I wanted you to give me something, and you pleasantly agreed to give it to me, and then after giving it to me, told me you wanted it back and that you never wanted to give it up in the first place, you'd seem like kind of a prick.

I used to see things from that very angle myself. But then it kinda dawned on me that it was never really Jay's property to give to anyone. When he was saying, "the show is yours, Conan." I think he was just speaking on behalf of the company.

If Jay really has the power/authority to say, "I'm gonna give the show to you now, Conan." Then he must also have the power to say, "It still belongs to me and I'm keeping it." Jay obviously wanted to keep it but he couldn't, cause it's not his. See my point?

The company lent/allowed Conan to be put in charge of something they owned and he failed to live up to their expectations. They still had the ownership to say whether or not Conan could continue.

"In space, no one can hear you jizz."

[–] what-ever 10 years ago

You're giving Conan way too much credit if you're implying that he "was the one that forced the company's hand to kick (Leno) out."

Conan did what anyone in his position would do. NBC had felt that Leno was at the end of his usefulness.

NBC also made a mistake in not showing Conan more confidence, by not keeping him at 11:30 despite lower ratings at the time. All Conan needed was to draw an audience, because it's "THE TONIGHT SHOW" that gets the viewers over the long run, due to its prestige. Leno has been the epitome of banality, and has added nothing to "The Tonight Show" other than uniformity. "The Tonight Show" under Carson was influential, and people discussed it the next day. Under Leno, it's no different than any syndicated afternoon talk show.

Too bad Conan, or for that matter, Letterman, hadn't been the host, because each have an originality that's currently missing on Tonight. Letterman's show is better than Tonight, but unfortunately not as good as in the "Late Night" days, probably due to the exit of his old producer.

By the way, Jimmy Fallon will do just fine, although he really needs to tone down that band, for people trying to sleep at 11:30.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

You're giving Conan way too much credit if you're implying that he "was the one that forced the company's hand to kick (Leno) out."

What really happened, though, what, was Jeff Zucker assumed Conan was the future King Of Late Night comedy, and fearing what his presence on another network might do to NBC, he took a chance and gave Conan what he really wanted: Jay's job.

Conan did what anyone in his position would do.

Or, Conan could've gone to another network so nobody would've lost their job to service his ambition. That would've been an option.

NBC had felt that Leno was at the end of his usefulness.

In 2004 they predicted that by the end of his contract he wouldn't be holding onto his lead in the ratings. Then 5 years later Jay is maintaining his lead over Letterman and Kimmel and suddenly everybody wondered if they were betting on the wrong pony.

NBC also made a mistake in not showing Conan more confidence, by not keeping him at 11:30 despite lower ratings at the time.

Yes, but there was also the issue of advertisers paying for expensive ads that weren't being watched by as many youthful viewers as Conan was supposed to bring in. And Conan was stubbornly resistant to most of NBC's ideas to improve the show. Plus, it was just Conan's bad timing to start off during the biggest economic turn down since The Great Depression. Even big tv networks are not bullet proof against the affects of a recession.

All Conan needed was to draw an audience,

All he still needs to do is draw an audience, though. Conan's begun the 4th year of his TBS show that went from a premiere audience of more than 4 million viewers to barely pulling in as much as Carson Daly does at 1:35 in the morning. It's only because those who do watch tend to be young, and the fact that "Conan" doesn't cost as much to produce, that his limited success hasn't lead to his cancellation.

because it's "THE TONIGHT SHOW" that gets the viewers over the long run, due to its prestige.

Why would anybody watch a show just because it's been on a long time if, according to you, it's so mired in banality?

Too bad Conan, or for that matter, Letterman, hadn't been the host, because each have an originality that's currently missing on Tonight. Letterman's show is better than Tonight,

Dave held the audiences in his grip with a commanding lead over Jay for the first 2 years. What was preventing people from switching back to Dave over the last 18?

[–] tyler-92 10 years ago

One, Conan's premiere audience was more like four million, not seven million.

Two, Conan is up against The Daily Show, The Tonight Show, Kimmel, Letterman, Colbert, and Chelsea Handler. Carson Daly is up against infomercials, and Carson Daly is available on way more TVs. This more than offsets the fact that fewer total people have their TV on at 1:30.

Three, Conan has a huge digital following, something none of the other late night hosts have aside from maybe Fallon. teamcoco.com is more comprehensive and packed with content than anything offered by the other late night hosts, and is especially nice because it isn't a subdivision of the network's site like the sites for the other shows.

Four, we really shouldn't be using the will of the masses to gauge a good show vs. a bad show. People are idiots and Two and a Half Men is a ratings bonanza.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Conan is up against The Daily Show, The Tonight Show, Kimmel, Letterman, Colbert, and Chelsea Handler. Carson Daly is up against infomercials, and Carson Daly is available on way more TVs.

Everyone from Bill Carter in his book on the debacle, to even "MAD" magazine have made mention of how underwhelming Conan's ratings have been considering his surge in popularity and public sympathy after he left NBC. As for the network vs. cable availability issue, according to "The War For Late Night", through the practice of "grandfathering" shows into basic cable packages, TBS is available to 88% of all tv-equipped homes in the U.S. That's more than enough potential viewers for Conan to be a contender. Remember, he did beat all competitors handily that first week. However, garnering a .7 in overall viewers last week to Carson Daly's 1.0 is not too impressive, and at least seems to support the opinion that while his core audience is extremely loyal, Conan just lacks the broad-ranging appeal to have ever been a successful host for "The Tonight Show".

We really shouldn't be using the will of the masses to gauge a good show vs. a bad show.

I agree with you there. I don't understand what's made "Keeping Up With The Kardashians" last all these years. But then taste is relative, and so I don't look down on others simply for liking something I wouldn't be caught dead watching.

[–] jonathanstatsny 10 years ago

Let's put it under the microscope. Leno is given the golden handshake in 2004 by 2009. He didn't want it, but NBC is forcing him out. This was the first mistake NBC made in a whole host of them. Leno is extremely popular, he is the king of late night. He gets another show just to keep him around and try to keep people happy. Conan takes over the Tonight Show. It isn't the same. Folks are used to Jay. He's comfort food. Jay maintains a relationship with NBC and when Conan is floundering they axe him and ask Jay to come back. He does.

Let's look at this from a business standpoint. Hollywood is ruthless. Both men know this because both men got screwed from NBC execs who didn't know what they were doing. If you can't compete, someone else will fill your shoes. It was a debacle, but Conan was out, and I like Conan personally. Jay didn't hold a gun to NBC's head but they asked him back. If Carson had wanted to come back after he was asked around 1992 or 1993 the same thing would have happened to Jay. The difference being Jay was forced out, Carson wasn't. Jay was glad to come back and it had nothing to do with him that Conan wasn't working out.

Fastforward to 2014. Conan has his own show on TBS, Jay is again forced out of a job he doesn't want to leave and this time it is for someone much inferior to him in Fallon (I can't see him working out). NBC messes up again. They not only remove Jay but get the Tonight Show out of Burbank where it has been the last 42 years and back in New York.

Jay has explained his side of the story numerous times. He was just there as a fallback and it wasn't his fault that he was there and NBC asked him again. This is all on NBC, and it always was.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

They did want Conan to stay as host of "The Tonight Show", though. It was his choice to take the buy-out (which was considerable) and head elsewhere. Anyways, I pretty much agree with your overall assessment.

Conan made a comment at the time that went "you can do anything in life, unless Jay Leno wants to do it, too". It got a big laugh, but I liked Bill Maher's reaction:

"When Leonardo Dicaprio gets a script does he say Well, I'd really like to play this part, but Jack Gyllenhaal had his heart set on it. Would I be ruining his dream?".

He summed it up this way: "you want to be on top of the mountain? There's going to be some other people who want to be there, too. And Conan's not a kid who got his ice cream knocked to the ground"

It's hard to understand why anyone would think that Jay Leno should've considered his career as less important than what Conan wanted. Is that really how most people in that situation would feel? I get fired because of this person's decision, but I should still base my decisions on what's best for him". I think those who feel that way are mostly ultra fans who have a hard time seeing that situation from anyone else's perspective but Conan's.

[–] sjbradford 10 years ago

Jay was being a company man. He clearly didn't want to retire, and Conan pushed to get his job. Go read Bill Carter's "War for Late Night" - it confirms this. Jay's biggest misstep was being a company man; he should have immediately gone to the press and stated that he wasn't leaving of his own volition and instead NBC pushed him out due to Conan's demands.

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Jay...should have immediately gone to the press and stated that he wasn't leaving of his own volition and instead NBC pushed him out due to Conan's demands.

I am mostly in agreement with that. It's the only big mistake he made during that period. Mind you, being upfront about what NBC and Conan were doing to him would almost certainly not have saved his job (Zucker made his decision that Conan was gonna get "TTS" and he was stickin' to it). However, Jay saying he was ready to retire (which sounded less humiliating than admitting he was being put out to pasture) really bit him in the butt when Team CoCo insisted that was a "promise", and he broke it. In my opinion, when it's clear that Jay stepping aside was something that was forced upon him, I don't see how anyone can actually hold him to what he said in 2004 when we know he was trying to avoid a feud with Conan, and maintaining a relationship with NBC which he was still going to be working for until 2009. He couldn't have known in 2004 that 5 years later NBC would change their mind and implore him to stay. Can't see what Conan ever did for Jay that he could expect the guy to base his career decisions on what's best for him.

[–] Drebin31 10 years ago

Can't see what Conan ever did for Jay that he could expect the guy to base his career decisions on what's best for him.

Why, then, should Conan base his career decisions on what's best for Jay? Correct me if I'm wrong, but you seem to resent that Conan "forced" Jay out. Even if we are to assume Conan had the power to force Jay out but Jay did not have the power to force Conan out as you say, why do you write as if it's understandable when Jay is only looking out for himself, but when Conan does it it's egotistical?...Or am I putting words into your mouth?

[–] a_l_i_e_n 10 years ago

Actually I never did think the deal Conan made was so wrong. Mind you, I was not impressed with Conan's lack of concern over how Jay would feel about being removed; allowing Jay to be blindsided like that was very insensitive. But, even though it sucks when someone loses their job to somebody else, if the boss is willing (and NBC at the time certainly was), then that's just one person's good fortune and another person's tough noogies. Sorry, Jay.

Conan's deal, however, only became wrong in my eyes when he turned around and cried foul over NBC's about face, and seemed to blame the guy whose job he'd acquired for himself. And in the 2004 case it was certainly Conan who had the most power. Jay was still under contract for 5 years when they gave him his eviction notice, where as Conan at that time was free to take any offer, but chose the one that got Jay fired. Then in 2009 Jay (now under a new contract) was told to do a half hour at 11:35. Jay asked "is Conan gonna be okay with this?" and NBC assured him that he would. And I point out that Conan was still going to have "The Tonight Show" as Jay never asked that he be reinstated as that show's host. Anyways, Jay was dubious about this plan and requested that he be released from his contract. NBC said no. So my overall point here is that, ultimately, it may have just been business for Conan to choose to do what he did in 2004, but then blaming Jay for what NBC directed him to do under the terms of his contract is just a double standard on Conan's part. If Conan can exercise his leverage to get Jay's job, why then should Jay turn down an offer for another show at NBC, much less turning down a return to "TTS" when Conan resigned? Still waiting for someone to explain that one.