He is at the same timeslot as The Colbert Report. The two of them have a similar comedic style, which divides the audience base. Since the target demographic is the 18-34 demographic, the fact that Colbert is on a cable network doesn't decrease his impact on Conan as much because that is an age group that is more likely to have cable and watch it. Also, Colbert follows the Daily Show rather than the real news, people who are looking for laughs are likely to already be tuned into Comedy Central and less likely to change the channel for a similar experience to the one they are going to get on Comedy Central because, let's face it, people are lazy enough to not change the channel if they don't have to.
The long break after Leno left before Conan joined the show. People are only going to watch reruns for so long when another show is running new episodes. The couple of months spent running reruns of The Tonight Show gave other people a chance to get hooked on Letterman while they were waiting for Conan to start. It was a long enough break that people may have even forgot about the show or taken it out of their routine since a lot of the people who watch the late night shows are people doing it out of routine before going to bed.
i LOVE them both. think they are both better than leno by a long shot - leno himself was never very entertaining, he just surrounded himself with funnier people.
i hate to say it, but conan is too young and edgy (if you can even say that anymore) to host the tonight show. it's an old school institution. it needs white bread like jay leno. unfortunately, conan is more like that really good slice of raisin bread after a bong hit.
I am an unapologetic Leno fan. There, I said it. And I don't give a shit if you think I'm a simpleton for liking someone who "isn't funny" or "doesn't know how to interview anyone" because the bottom line is that I actually ENJOYED watching him on "The Tonight Show." I tuned in because I wanted to, because I was excited to, not because there was nothing else on at 11:35 PM. I looked forward to it, recorded it when I wasn't able to watch at 11:35... I loved it, and I miss it.
Conan (and his style of humor) simply isn't fit for the earlier time slot, nor is the type of show he actually wants to make. "Late Night" was so great because it was the anti-Leno (yes, you're allowed to have liked them both). Now, Conan is trying to make the same show he always has, yet fit into what the network (and audience) expects for 11:35, and it's a disaster. He wants to do sketches, but can't do the ones that made "Late Night" so hilarious, so instead of abandoning it he does unfunny sketches. His interviews aren't as funny because they aren't as awkward, and they're not as awkward because it's "The Tonight Show" and they're not supposed to be. His monologue has some great jokes, but it's basically the "Late Night" monologue on steroids, and sooner or later people get tired of hearing one-liners unless you do something in between for a minute or so, and he chooses not to.
I would go on, but I want you all to be able to read through my entire comment before nightfall, when I'll be looking for something to watch besides "The Tonight Show" instead of giddily awaiting the clock to strike 11:35 so that I can hear "You're watching NBC, America's Late Night Leader!"
@nozer: No, and -- as I said already in the fucking paragraph you're referencing -- I don't give a shit if you disagree. The show entertained me, and that's all that matters.
@mattchew03: While never nearly as enthusiastic as you, I, too, have gone to bat for Jay. I was never a regular watcher but found something comforting about his show. The guy has his flaws but is truly the hardest working man in show business. People in NY and LA love to bash him and pretend they never watch, but his ratings would suggest otherwise. I like Dave, too, and always thought that if you had their monologue jokes on paper it would be hard to tell who said what. Jay ain't perfect, but NBC made a huge mistake.
@NigelAstydameia: What I hated about the Leno version of the Tonight Show was, Leno was FAR funnier without the golden handcuffs. When he was free to swear, or get truly emotional about something, he was awesome, but he visibly was NOT that on that show.
I dunno. Letterman and Conan are still to by the book for my tastes. Craig Ferguson, for my money, is kicking late nite ass. Plus... he drinks out of a snake mug. A SNAKE MUG!!!
@leytpr4: Ferguson is on a TiVo season pass in my house; Letterman and Conan are not.
Letterman looked great last night: He knows he's on a roll and is enjoying every minute of it. Conan still looks like he's wearing underwear about six sizes too small, and Andy Richter managed to get fatter and less funny the last three years.
The only sad thing about this is that you could derive that somehow, some way, people gave a shit about Jay Leno.
I guess the true litmus test will be when his 10pm pos debuts.. I reverse my original stance and now have a feeling it will be successful, as the olds loved him, and 10p is when the olds are at their peak. They thought this through for sure.
Letterman sucks. As someone of the 18-34 demographic, the only thing I'd tune in for is to watch him have a stroke. And even then, Paul Shaeffer would ruin it with a "HHHYYEEEYYYY OOOOOOO".
@Pope John Peeps II: that isn't even what paul schaeffer does! he'd have a hilarious parody song, like for example he would take "the stroke" by billy squire but sing it about actually having a stroke!
@allyzay: I always like those times when Paul wants to say something, but he can't get a word in over Dave's joke, or is trying to interrupt the guest, so all you get is a little "EH... ah... V... W..." in between some other words.
letterman's been getting a ton of press, plus, uh, i get the feeling that you would just assume you'd have more time to catch conan, one day, than to catch letterman. he's kinda...old. so yeah this makes sense!
07/17/09
He is at the same timeslot as The Colbert Report. The two of them have a similar comedic style, which divides the audience base. Since the target demographic is the 18-34 demographic, the fact that Colbert is on a cable network doesn't decrease his impact on Conan as much because that is an age group that is more likely to have cable and watch it. Also, Colbert follows the Daily Show rather than the real news, people who are looking for laughs are likely to already be tuned into Comedy Central and less likely to change the channel for a similar experience to the one they are going to get on Comedy Central because, let's face it, people are lazy enough to not change the channel if they don't have to.
The long break after Leno left before Conan joined the show. People are only going to watch reruns for so long when another show is running new episodes. The couple of months spent running reruns of The Tonight Show gave other people a chance to get hooked on Letterman while they were waiting for Conan to start. It was a long enough break that people may have even forgot about the show or taken it out of their routine since a lot of the people who watch the late night shows are people doing it out of routine before going to bed.
07/16/09
i hate to say it, but conan is too young and edgy (if you can even say that anymore) to host the tonight show. it's an old school institution. it needs white bread like jay leno. unfortunately, conan is more like that really good slice of raisin bread after a bong hit.
07/16/09
07/16/09
07/16/09
Conan (and his style of humor) simply isn't fit for the earlier time slot, nor is the type of show he actually wants to make. "Late Night" was so great because it was the anti-Leno (yes, you're allowed to have liked them both). Now, Conan is trying to make the same show he always has, yet fit into what the network (and audience) expects for 11:35, and it's a disaster. He wants to do sketches, but can't do the ones that made "Late Night" so hilarious, so instead of abandoning it he does unfunny sketches. His interviews aren't as funny because they aren't as awkward, and they're not as awkward because it's "The Tonight Show" and they're not supposed to be. His monologue has some great jokes, but it's basically the "Late Night" monologue on steroids, and sooner or later people get tired of hearing one-liners unless you do something in between for a minute or so, and he chooses not to.
I would go on, but I want you all to be able to read through my entire comment before nightfall, when I'll be looking for something to watch besides "The Tonight Show" instead of giddily awaiting the clock to strike 11:35 so that I can hear "You're watching NBC, America's Late Night Leader!"
Not so much anymore, unfortunately.
07/16/09
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07/16/09
I prefer Conan...does that mean we are at war now?
07/16/09
And the answer to your question is no. I like Conan, I don't like "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."
07/16/09
07/16/09
Besides, how can you not love Conan?
07/16/09
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07/16/09
Letterman looked great last night: He knows he's on a roll and is enjoying every minute of it. Conan still looks like he's wearing underwear about six sizes too small, and Andy Richter managed to get fatter and less funny the last three years.
07/16/09
Letterman produces his show and I think it's not quite was Dave was in the post-Tonight show slot but it is hilarious.
07/16/09
I guess the true litmus test will be when his 10pm pos debuts.. I reverse my original stance and now have a feeling it will be successful, as the olds loved him, and 10p is when the olds are at their peak. They thought this through for sure.
07/16/09
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