Conan Bids Farewell
M.J. Editorial Board
Issue date: 1/26/10 Section: Perspectives
As we all know, Conan O'Brian said his farewell to his viewers on Friday, Jan 22, 2010, raking in more than 7 million viewers. Just compare that to the 2.8 million viewers for David Letterman and 1.4 million for Jimmy Kimmel. Can you say popular or what?
Not too long ago, O'Brian took over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno, seven months later he "divorced" NBC for a $45 million settlement, where he took a lump sum of $33 million and the rest was split between his team and staff. Not bad for a seven-month run on NBC as the new host of The Tonight Show. He said he couldn't have done any of it without his team.
Some people have said O'Brian has changed since he took over The Tonight Show, mentioning that he lost his sense of humor, the sense of humor they knew and loved before The Tonight Show days. But then again, isn't that what his viewers tuned in for? His sense of humor? But if this really is the case, then now he has all the chance in the world to get his sense of humor back and use it towards his advantage.
There are already talks about what O'Brian next move is. Fox already has their eyes on O'Brian. They can provide him with marketing strategies that will give him the opportunity to gain a strong foundation and audience that he can entertain. This is exactly what Fox has done for Simon Cowell, American Idol, and they plan on doing the same with O'Brian.
It seems like O'Brian could be at a standstill if he doesn't play his cards right. Officials are saying that the broadcast route could provide the most money for O'Brian, but that is only if he makes the right move. Moving to a cable network would be the perfect opportunity for him to be a "Free bird," as he sang on his last episode, to go beyond the limits and be as creative as he wants to gain an audience that way. The possibilities are endless, and we are just going to have to wait and see what he decides to do next with his career.
The Michigan Journal believes that it isn't fair that O'Brian was given the boot. He doesn't deserve to suffer (so to speak) for what the viewers want or don't want. Just because Jay Leno had more ratings when he had The Tonight Show, doesn't mean that O'Brian couldn't have gained the same amount of ratings; if only NBC gave him a chance, rather than a seven-month run. Obviously, it doesn't matter how funny or how dull you are, all that matters in this industry is if the boss like you or not. It's the boss' way or no way at all.
Not too long ago, O'Brian took over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno, seven months later he "divorced" NBC for a $45 million settlement, where he took a lump sum of $33 million and the rest was split between his team and staff. Not bad for a seven-month run on NBC as the new host of The Tonight Show. He said he couldn't have done any of it without his team.
Some people have said O'Brian has changed since he took over The Tonight Show, mentioning that he lost his sense of humor, the sense of humor they knew and loved before The Tonight Show days. But then again, isn't that what his viewers tuned in for? His sense of humor? But if this really is the case, then now he has all the chance in the world to get his sense of humor back and use it towards his advantage.
There are already talks about what O'Brian next move is. Fox already has their eyes on O'Brian. They can provide him with marketing strategies that will give him the opportunity to gain a strong foundation and audience that he can entertain. This is exactly what Fox has done for Simon Cowell, American Idol, and they plan on doing the same with O'Brian.
It seems like O'Brian could be at a standstill if he doesn't play his cards right. Officials are saying that the broadcast route could provide the most money for O'Brian, but that is only if he makes the right move. Moving to a cable network would be the perfect opportunity for him to be a "Free bird," as he sang on his last episode, to go beyond the limits and be as creative as he wants to gain an audience that way. The possibilities are endless, and we are just going to have to wait and see what he decides to do next with his career.
The Michigan Journal believes that it isn't fair that O'Brian was given the boot. He doesn't deserve to suffer (so to speak) for what the viewers want or don't want. Just because Jay Leno had more ratings when he had The Tonight Show, doesn't mean that O'Brian couldn't have gained the same amount of ratings; if only NBC gave him a chance, rather than a seven-month run. Obviously, it doesn't matter how funny or how dull you are, all that matters in this industry is if the boss like you or not. It's the boss' way or no way at all.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 4
Birmingham Movers
posted 2/03/10 @ 2:27 PM EST
Decent article, but, embarrassingly, you didn't even bother to look up the correct spelling of Conan's name. It's O'Brien.
Mick
posted 2/03/10 @ 9:59 PM EST
The paper comes out on Tuesday... they still don't have it loaded onto the internet. Really bad newspaper staff.
Iz U
posted 2/09/10 @ 4:40 PM EST
Iz you gonna put da paper on da internet dis week? Or iz you so ashamed of what you is writin' dat you keeps it away from da public?
Hows can U publish an open letter to da president of da university if U iz too ashamed to open it to da public?
Da taxpayers wanna no. (Continued…)
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