The first week of my internship at NBC Universal in the Publicity Department was something that I had never imagined it to be—the epitome of what one might envision the entertainment industry in its lightening speed, dramatically intense environment where news passes so fast you don’t even realize that it happened in the first place. Three days after I started, I was at the TCA Winter Press Tour where NBC chairman Jeff Gaspin made the announcement that the low-rated “Jay Leno Show” would be removed from its 10 pm spot and back to its original 11:30 position, knocking Conan O’Brien off “The Tonight Show” and back into late-late night TV.
I had no idea that such a heavy storm had hit. The following week at my internship I experienced what I heard one of the Executive Assistant’s exclaim as “living hell” as I watched employees run up and down the halls to answer phones about each and every new move that Conan or the network was making, protests outside of the Universal Studio stage, and constant news updates online that I would have to follow. My first few weeks at the new internship gave me first-hand experience on what a crisis really is within all the glamour.
Now, recent news has it that Conan O'Brien will be moving to the basic cable network, TBS, replacing George Lopez, who will now succeed O'Brien. Lopez has claimed that he is overjoyed that he'll be following Conan, and he definitely should be. Instead of choosing to be a Leno/NBC competitor with a late night show at FOX, O'Brien made the healthier decision to pick cable and will definitely have more benefits for doing it. Everything is pointing toward good riddance for the new duo, with NBC responsible for giving Conan his new power and following to make him successful even at a basic cable network.
From the time NBC announced that Jay Leno would reclaim his "Tonight Show" position, and Conan took the initiative to leave the network altogether, he received not only higher ratings in his remaining episodes, but a huge fan base and supporters, and even the nickname "Coco" (which he has jokingly stated that that name 'will be taken to the grave' with him). Conan O'Brien will be successful at his brand new desk for a few simple reasons:
1. His huge new fan base (a la the NBC breakup)
People will be so excited to tune in to the new show after watching poor CoCo be kicked out of his original deal. If his show is actually good, he picked up a brand new viewer base just from all the talk.
2. His younger audience doesn't mind, and even enjoys watching cable
John Stewart and Stephen Colbert have both proven that late-night television can be successful on cable among younger audiences. So many people in the younger generation have branched out of network television to more specialized cable shows that fit more of their own interests. Jay Leno was recently reported as having the oldest
3. He gets to OWN the show and can do anything he wants with it---watch out! Conan O'Brien is completely free to do whatever he wants! Not only will he not get fired, but he can be as goofy and funny as he chooses.
4. He doesn't have to deal with competition between Jay and David and annoying reporters trying to start drama
Yes, those reporters will of course still exist and try to relate ratings and whose show was better the night before. However, since he did not choose FOX, this competition will be much, much less talked about and an intense dramatic rivalry is uncalled for because of the network-size difference.
Good luck, Conan! See you in November!
I had no idea that such a heavy storm had hit. The following week at my internship I experienced what I heard one of the Executive Assistant’s exclaim as “living hell” as I watched employees run up and down the halls to answer phones about each and every new move that Conan or the network was making, protests outside of the Universal Studio stage, and constant news updates online that I would have to follow. My first few weeks at the new internship gave me first-hand experience on what a crisis really is within all the glamour.
Now, recent news has it that Conan O'Brien will be moving to the basic cable network, TBS, replacing George Lopez, who will now succeed O'Brien. Lopez has claimed that he is overjoyed that he'll be following Conan, and he definitely should be. Instead of choosing to be a Leno/NBC competitor with a late night show at FOX, O'Brien made the healthier decision to pick cable and will definitely have more benefits for doing it. Everything is pointing toward good riddance for the new duo, with NBC responsible for giving Conan his new power and following to make him successful even at a basic cable network.
From the time NBC announced that Jay Leno would reclaim his "Tonight Show" position, and Conan took the initiative to leave the network altogether, he received not only higher ratings in his remaining episodes, but a huge fan base and supporters, and even the nickname "Coco" (which he has jokingly stated that that name 'will be taken to the grave' with him). Conan O'Brien will be successful at his brand new desk for a few simple reasons:
1. His huge new fan base (a la the NBC breakup)
People will be so excited to tune in to the new show after watching poor CoCo be kicked out of his original deal. If his show is actually good, he picked up a brand new viewer base just from all the talk.
2. His younger audience doesn't mind, and even enjoys watching cable
John Stewart and Stephen Colbert have both proven that late-night television can be successful on cable among younger audiences. So many people in the younger generation have branched out of network television to more specialized cable shows that fit more of their own interests. Jay Leno was recently reported as having the oldest
3. He gets to OWN the show and can do anything he wants with it---watch out! Conan O'Brien is completely free to do whatever he wants! Not only will he not get fired, but he can be as goofy and funny as he chooses.
4. He doesn't have to deal with competition between Jay and David and annoying reporters trying to start drama
Yes, those reporters will of course still exist and try to relate ratings and whose show was better the night before. However, since he did not choose FOX, this competition will be much, much less talked about and an intense dramatic rivalry is uncalled for because of the network-size difference.
Good luck, Conan! See you in November!
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