Fallon's Webisode Disappoints

As Tonight Show saga continues, Leno and O'Brien face off

(NEWSER) - As the late-night shakedown gets messier, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien seem to be turning against each other—and David Letterman is clearly on Team Conan. The Late Show host wants O’Brien to appear on his show “not to rub NBC's noses into their huge mistake, but to welcome Conan with open arms and show him that despite the way his old network has treated him, America loves him,” a source tells PopEater . More: More»

Late Night host-in-waiting responds to criticism

(NEWSER) - OK, he’s still not wearing a suit and tie, but Jimmy Fallon is trying a little bit harder. The second installment of webisodes previewing his upcoming NBC Late Night gig is an improvement over the first, Gawker reports. And you’ve got to give the guy credit for responding immediately to all those people on the Internet who called him a "douchebag." More»

David Letterman still wins, but he's in a class of his own

(NEWSER) - Despite all the publicity heaped upon them in recent weeks, there are more late night hosts than just Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien. After years of following the major late night shows, Michael Giltz decided the time has come to declare a new king. His final verdict? Craig Ferguson, but only if you take David Letterman out of the running. Check out his thoughts, from the Huffington Post :

• David Letterman: “He's already ascended to the pantheon, alongside Johnny Carson, Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Dick Cavett, and just a few others. His legacy is assured, so he doesn't get ranked alongside the others.”
• Craig Ferguson: “He's been charming the pants off us for some 1000 shows now and doing it effortlessly,” and last night’s show—during which he eschewed the audience and simply talked to Stephen Fry for an hour—“was an arresting, wonderful hour akin to the glory days of Dick Cavett.”

Buys Kentucky Derby winner and sticks NBC with the bill

(NEWSER) - Conan O'brien upped the ante last night in his war with NBC, following his $1.5 million sketch Wednesday night with one he said cost $4.8 million. He spent that amount, he said, buying Mine That Bird, the 2009 Kentucky Derby winner, putting him in a horse-sized mink snuggie, and having him watching restricted NFL Superbowl footage. Conan gleefully called the escalating bits "not so much funny as they are crazy expensive." More»

Conan to leave in February

(NEWSER) - It’s almost time for NBC’s Late Night switcheroo to begin, and the dates are now official: Conan O’Brien’s last show will air February 20, Access Hollywood reports, with Jimmy Fallon taking over on March 2. Then, Jay Leno’s last Tonight Show will air May 29, with Conan moving in June 1. Leno, of course, will headline a new prime-time show this fall. More»