Fallon Tries Harder in 2nd Vid

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»

(NEWSER) - Jimmy Fallon wasn’t going out of his way to impress anyone on his first Late Night webisode, Gawker reports. The video blogs airing in advance of his March 2 premiere started last night, and the new host “couldn’t stop throwing up his hands or touching his head like a spastic spider monkey,” writes Ryan Tate. Still, better for Fallon to mess up now than on the actual show "supported by actual big-money advertisers." 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»