Subversive, cerebral humor will attract younger audience, say execs
Advertising Age Nov 3, 08 10:20 AM CST
(Newser)
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With the Tonight Show 's June transition from Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien on the front burner, NBC is already anticipating a jump in younger viewers. The June handover "is as important an event as is going to happen to this company in 2009," an NBC VP tells Advertising Age. Even with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert dominating late-night buzz, NBC's signature property made $255.9 million in ad dollars last year.
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OPINION
Late-night hosts can shape opinion for networks and their viewers
Gawker Sep 26, 08 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser)
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John McCain is playing with fire if he thinks he can stand up David Letterman and get away with it. "The middle-of-the-road personalities who've dominated network television since its inception do retain one singular power," Gawker Media head honcho Nick Denton, writing for his flagship blog, warns the wayward candidate. "When they finally get off the fence, the mass of similar-minded voters take notice."
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Ajemian cut off by Catholic church after leaving psychiatric treatment facility
Boston Globe Sep 11, 08 6:00 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Conan O’Brien’s “stalker priest” has been suspended by the Boston Archdiocese, the Globe reports. The Rev. David Ajemian was instructed by his bishop to remain indefinitely at a residential psychiatric facility after he harassed the NBC late-night host, but he has apparently absconded. For disobeying the treatment order, Ajemian “is not authorized to function as a priest,” meaning his financial support from the Catholic church is over, too.
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But Dave would love to continue beyond 2010
New York Times Sep 3, 08 8:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
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David Letterman isn't planning to head off into the sunset when his Late Night contract expires in 2010, the New York Times reports, telling a Rolling Stone interviewer that he would love to keep going at CBS—and that he was confused by NBC's decision to put longtime rival Jay Leno out to pasture next year. "I don’t know why, after the job Jay has done for them, why they would relinquish that,” said the 26-year veteran.
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Host's retirement may set off cascade of late-night dominoes
Los Angeles Times Aug 11, 08 2:05 PM CDT
(Newser)
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These should be banner days for ABC’s Nightline , John Edwards’ confessional outlet of choice. Instead, staffers fear Jay Leno's departure from NBC will wind up costing them their jobs, the LA Times reports. ABC appears to be Leno's most likely destination after he retires next year, which would likely spell the doom of the 29-year-old news magazine.
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NBC officials still negotiating to keep star with network
Broadcasting & Cable Jul 22, 08 3:02 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Jay Leno's last appearance as host of the Tonight Show will be the final Friday in May, reports Broadcasting & Cable . Conan O'Brien will take over the following Monday. In the several months between O'Brien's leaving Late Night and his Tonight Show debut, NBC plans a huge promotional campaign to keep his profile high.
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New host will post short programs on the web
New York Times Jul 21, 08 3:54 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Jimmy Fallon is launching his career as host of NBC's Late Night on the Internet, reports the New York Times . Late Night producer Lorne Michaels will produce 10-minute segments with Fallon for an online audience months before he takes over on TV from Conan O'Brien, who's set to replace Jay Leno on the Tonight Show .
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ANALYSIS
Comedian may be getting the boot, but tomorrow's looking pretty bright
Hollywood Reporter Jun 28, 08 6:37 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Jay Leno might be losing his beloved "Tonight Show," writes the Hollywood Reporter , but the host still has a ratings punch and an enviable set of options (in decreasing order of probability): Take ABC’s 11:30pm-12:30am slot, displacing Nightline and Jimmy Kimmel Live and competing with Letterman and O’Brien. Launch a show on Fox at 11 or 11:30pm—Fox doesn’t currently run late-night shows, but could use Leno’s brand to push into the new territory. Sony Pictures TV puts Leno’s Tonight Show into syndication, which could eventually lead to another late-night gig.
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Comedian unlikely
to stay after O'Brien takes over show
New York Times May 13, 08 6:28 AM CDT
(Newser)
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Jay Leno is probably leaving NBC when Conan O’Brien takes over the “Tonight Show,” an NBC executive said yesterday. After a news conference unveiling Jimmy Fallon as O’Brien’s 12:35 replacement, NBC Entertainment co-chair Ben Silverman said the network would try to keep Leno on board, but “I think it’s a reach.”
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Ex-SNL actor to host when O'Brien takes Tonight Show in '09
Fox News Apr 24, 08 12:09 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Jimmy Fallon will take Conan O’Brien’s Late Night desk when Conan leaves for the Tonight Show, writes Roger Friedman for Fox News. O’Brien is set to replace Jay Leno in May 2009; the former Saturday Night Live star is rumored to be “thrilled and ready, if not a little scared” to take over. An announcement is expected next month.
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For the first time, CBS late-night show carries higher overall ratings than NBC's
New York Times Apr 10, 08 4:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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It appears the tides are changing for Conan O’Brien—well, sort of. Last week, and for the first time, the NBC late-night host was beaten in overall ratings by CBS rival Craig Ferguson, the New York Times reports.
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Disorderly conduct conviction for Ajemian in harassing TV host
WBZ 4 Apr 8, 08 4:17 PM CDT
(Newser)
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A Roman Catholic priest who stalked Conan O'Brien pleaded guilty today to disorderly conduct and apologized for his actions, WBZ-TV reports. Rev. David Ajemian, 46, sent the late-night talk-show host threatening letters on parish letterhead—referring to himself as "your stalker priest"—contacted O'Brien's parents, and got caught trying to sneak into a New York taping after being told to stay away.
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