Forum Views () 
Forum Replies ()  
 
 
Read more with google mobile :
Conan O'Brien refuses Tonight Show move, NBC quiet
|  
 
 
 
	
	
		
Edition:
		
U.S.
		
		
	
	
		
			
				
					
					
						
					
				
				
					
					
						
					
				
				
					
					
						
					
				
			
		
	
	
	
		
			
				
				
			
		
	
 
	
 
	
 
	
 
	 
         
         
		
        
	
	
 
	
		
Article
    
               
      
	
Save
Email
Print
Reprints
      
	
	
    	
 
	 
         
         
		
        
  
   
	
 
	 
         
         
		
        
	 
 
				
				
					
					
Most Popular
					
Most Shared
					
				 
			
			
	
               
      
		
		
		
Big Haiti quake topples buildings, many casualties
| Video
		
	1:43am EST 
	
Scenarios: Will Internet majors rally behind Google in China?
	1:17am EST 
	
UPDATE 2-Obama to announce TARP fee on banks on Thursday
	12 Jan 2010 
	
Big Haiti quake topples buildings, casualties seen
	12 Jan 2010 
	
SCENARIOS-Will Internet majors rally behind Google in China?
	12 Jan 2010 
	
	
		
		
      
               
      
		
		
		
Big Haiti quake topples buildings, many casualties
| Video
		
	1:43am EST 
	
Why those fat thighs may help you live longer
	12 Jan 2010 
	
Google may quit China over censorship
	2:19am EST 
	
Scientists link plastics chemical to health risks
	12 Jan 2010 
	
Venezuela plans blackouts in Caracas, oil town
	12 Jan 2010 
	
	
		
		
      
 
	 
         
         
		
        
	 
pictures
Happy Birthday to the King
January 8 marks what would have been Elvis Presley's 75th birthday, and the look-alikes show no sign of disappearing.  Slideshow 
	
	
	
	
    	
 
	 
         
         
		
        
  
   
	
Conan O'Brien refuses "Tonight Show" move, NBC quiet
	
	
		
Jill Serjeant
		
LOS ANGELES
		
Tue Jan 12, 2010 10:27pm EST
	
               
      
	
Related News
	
		
		
Factbox: "The Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien
Tue, Jan 12 2010
Factbox: Key facts on talk show host Jay Leno
Tue, Jan 12 2010
	
      
               
      
      
 
    
			
     
	
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Conan O'Brien said on Tuesday he will not carry on as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" if the struggling network moves the program to an after-midnight slot as part of a revamped evening line-up.
 
			Entertainment  |  Television  |  People  |  Media
O'Brien, who took over NBC's flagship talk show from Jay Leno just seven months ago, said it was "an enormous personal disappointment" to see his program moved to the later time.
"My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of 'The Tonight Show,' he said in a statement. "But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction."
O'Brien did not say he was quitting NBC and noted he had no offer from rival networks.
Some media analysts said O'Brien's decision effectively put him in a position of asking NBC to make a choice between him and Leno -- and that Leno would be the likely winner.
Paul Kagan, CEO of PK Worldmedia, told Reuters he expected that O'Brien would move to Fox or another network and Leno would get his old job back on "The Tonight Show."
There was no immediate comment from NBC, which is owned by General Electric Co.
"My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew and I can do a show that we can be proud for a company that values our work," O'Brien said.
He slammed NBC for not giving his show more support and time to build an audience. In his opening monologue on Tuesday's telecast, he took a jab at the network.
"NBC says they're planning to have the late night situation worked out before the Winter Olympics start. And trust me, when NBC says something -- you can take that to the bank," he said.
NBC IN RETREAT
O'Brien's statements followed an embarrassing retreat by NBC on Sunday from its cost-cutting experiment with "The Jay Leno Show" in the 10 p.m. prime time slot because of poor ratings and pressure from local affiliates.
NBC is at the bottom of the four leading U.S. networks.
Network executives said "The Jay Leno Show" at 10 p.m. would end on February 12 and that they were in talks with Leno and O'Brien to move both their shows to a later hour.
Under the plan, Leno would have a 30-minute show at 11:35 p.m. and O'Brien's show would be pushed to 12:05 a.m. "The Late Show" with Jimmy Fallon would move to 1:05 a.m.
"I don't think they (NBC) will tell Jay to take a hike. To me, putting Leno back there at 11:35 p.m. was a statement," Kagan said.
O'Brien said moving "The Tonight Show" into the next day to accommodate another comedy program "will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting." He said he had "no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next."
On his show, O'Brien joked: "I may soon be available for children's parties."
Fox TV executives said on Monday they had informal talks with O'Brien's representatives about a possible move but, for contractual reasons, were waiting for O'Brien to make a decision about his future.
News Corp's Fox now has no late-night talk show. Walt Disney Co has made clear it is happy with its own late-night schedule.
Audiences for "The Tonight Show" have slid since O'Brien took over in June, allowing rival David Letterman on CBS to take the lead in the ratings battle for late-night network viewers at a time when mainstream television is losing ground to video games and social networking sites.
Time magazine TV writer James Poniewozik said O'Brien's statement was not exactly a threat to quit "but it is demanding NBC choose him or Leno."
(Additional reporting by Christine Kearney and Bob Tourtellotte; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
			
Entertainment
			
Television
			
People
			
Media
			
 
	 
     
      
 
	
	
More from Reuters
 
		
		
				
Google may quit China over censorship
SHANGHAI/SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Internet giant Google Inc has made a shock threat to quit China, the world's biggest Internet market by users, after hackers accessed human rights activists' e-mail accounts.
	
		
China keeps focus on property; markets fear tighter money
Yemeni al Qaeda cell leader killed: state media
Facebook taps McAfee to shield users from attacks
JAL share price collapses, bankruptcy seen near
| Video
		
White House says stimulus has saved two million jobs
	
» More Top News
		
		
           
Haiti quake leaves many dead
A major earthquake has hit impoverished Haiti, toppling buildings in the capital Port-au-Prince and burying hundreds, possibly thousands, of people in rubble and causing many deaths and injuries, witnesses say.  Full Article | Video 
Send us your photos and videos
 Live coverage of the Haiti earthquake
Factbox: Quake-stricken Haiti
NATURAL DISASTERS
 
Zero emissions hype?
Mercedes and BMW are feuding over just whose test fleet of small electric cars is closest to serial production.   Full Article 
Toyota accelerates battery R&D
Mazda sees sales up in rising market
Slideshow: Auto Show highlights
Autos
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
	
	
          
© Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters
Editorial Editions:
Africa
Arabic
Argentina
Brazil
Canada
China
France
Germany
India
Italy
Japan
Latin America
Mexico
Russia
Spain
United Kingdom
United States
 
Reuters
	
Contact Us
	
Advertise With Us
	
Help
	
Journalism Handbook
	
Archive
	
Site Index
	
Video Index
 
	
Analyst Research
	
Mobile
	
Newsletters
	
RSS
	
Podcasts
	
Widgets
	
Your View
	
Labs
Thomson Reuters
	
Copyright
	
Disclaimer
	
Privacy
	
Professional Products
	
Professional Products Support
	
Financial Products
	
About Thomson Reuters
	
Careers
Online Products
	
Acquisitions Monthly
	
Buyouts.com
	
Buyouts Europe:
	
Buyouts Conferences:
	
Venture Capital Journal
	
ECVJ
	
International Financing Review
	
International Securitisation Report
	
Project Finance International
	
PEhub.com
	
PE Week
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.
 
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
Other News on Wednesday, 13 January 2010 Iran blames U.S. "agents" for killing of scientist  
Woman who saved Anne Frank's diary dead at 100  
AOL says to close German, French offices  
Nigerian's trips may offer clue to U.S. attack plot
|  
Record profit for US central bank  
China shuts down, blocks 15,000 porn websites: state media  
Afghan war should stay out of Pakistan: FM  
New evidence of Qaeda tie to Madrid blast: expert
|  
France accepts Google role in book scanning  
Parents of Madeleine McCann face accuser in court  
Airbus warns military plane failure threatens company  
US trade deficit widens as imports grow  
Q+A: What's driving China's latest Web crackdown  
Abbas spurns US effort to revive Mideast talks  
'Nazi guard' lawyer calls for trial suspension  
Yemen negotiates as Western hostages located in war zone  
Iran court opens trial of 7 Baha'is on spy charges  
Shanda Games buys U.S. firm to expand global presence  
U.S. forces fight Taliban in Afghan south, 13 rebels dead
|  
Hundreds of Yemeni rebels slain in clashes: Saudi official
|  
Forrester sees global tech spending rebound in 2010  
Hamas seeks to lower tension with Egypt, Israel
|  
eMusic inks Warner deal; plans for streaming  
Iraqi forces seize explosives, arrest 25 in raids  
Venezuela plans blackouts in Caracas, oil town
|  
Mexico captures major Tijuana drug gang leader
|  
Turkey demands Israeli apology as ties sour
|  
Indonesian govt red-faced over prison perks  
Alaska man gets 189 years for dad's machete murder  
Cambodian PM says Thai government will not survive  
One dead, scores injured in China land brawl: witnesses  
2 hairstylists arrive in the Salahi probe  
China takes new steps to curb bank lending  
NYC: Nigeria owes millions in unpaid taxes  
US tells Afghans to grow grapes not opium poppy  
Historian: Marriage about more than procreation  
Gunman kills 2, wounds 1 in Japanese bar shooting  
Intel to start tech earnings season with bang
|  
Thai policemen charged in missing Saudi man case  
Gov. O'Malley to Gov. Patrick: Pony up the lobster  
Thai court to rule on Thaksin's fortune next month  
Brother of tourist slain in Fla. pleads for help  
Moderate quake strikes off Indonesia  
Biden eulogizes mother, calls her courageous  
Sri Lankan woman killed in election-related attack  
APNewsBreak: Removal or censure for NY senator  
U.S. East Coast port shut after explosives spill  
US port shut as 'highly explosive' containers punctured  
Carlyle, Beijing set up yuan-based investment fund  
Nissan aims to expand in US, boost image with electric Leaf  
Hyundai eyeing a growing share of US auto market  
Pakistan economy expected to grow despite militancy: bank  
Johnny Depp in Serbia for Kusturica's film festival  
Incoming EU trade chief lashes out at China  
India's Bharti acquires control of Bangladesh telecom firm  
India's Infosys reports 0.6 pct rise in profit  
S&P affirms China's sovereign credit ratings  
NY's top court rejects Rather's appeal against CBS  
Cybill Shepherd's son charged in mid-air thefts  
NY top court rejects Dan Rather appeal in CBS case
|  
On this rare map, China is the center of the world  
Spain posts drop in domestic violence victims in 2009  
Sarah Palin to debut as Fox News pundit Tuesday  
New York restaurants urged to cut back on salt  
Matt Morris parlays Disney contacts for new CD  
Mary J. Blige to headline 2010 Essence Fest  
Johnny Depp in Serbia for Kusturica's film festival  
Nominees announced for $20,000 Story Prize  
Nine dead in Koran protest shooting in Afghanistan: police  
N.Ireland parties hopeful of crisis deal  
Big Haiti quake topples buildings, many casualties
|  
Google may pull out of China over censorship  
Palin combative in Fox TV commentator debut  
Despite dismal economy, luxury on display at US auto show  
Aide to ex-UK PM denies 'sexing up' Iraq dossier  
Turkey demands Israeli apology as ties sour  
Yemeni al Qaeda cell leader killed: state media
|  
Online ReputationDefender wins investor backing  
A low blow: Israel puts Turkey down with snub  
AP stories not welcomed at Google for now  
Cash-short North Korea opens up to U.S. tourists
|  
Suicide bomber kills 7 in Iraq's Anbar province
|  
Intel to start tech earnings season with a bang  
Bomb plot against ministries in Baghdad thwarted  
Forrester sees IT spending rebound in 2010  
Turkey says again Israel Gaza attack hurt peace  
Iran accuses US, Israel of murdering nuclear scientist  
Guinea's Camara arrives in Burkina Faso
|  
Hamas seeks to lower tension with Egypt, Israel  
Turkey demands Israeli apology as ties sour
|  
Colombian ruling backs Uribe re-election bid
|  
Mexico captures major Tijuana drug gang leader
|  
Google may quit China over censorship
|  
Facebook taps McAfee to shield users from attacks
|  
Chinese Internet activists applaud Google, see no backdown
|  
Man on FBI's most wanted list returned to LA  
Arson eyed in 5 east Texas church fires this month  
White House credits stimulus with up to 2M jobs  
NKorea warns SKorea over propaganda leaflets  
Philippine massacre witness implicates suspects  
Report: Obama team has too many vacancies  
Former Army captain sentenced for stealing $400K  
Train hits school bus in Pakistan, 8 children die  
Rape investigation of David Copperfield closed  
S.Korea jails N.Korea spy for 10 years  
2 Americans reported trapped in wreckage in Haiti  
Judge: Roeder can try to make manslaughter defense  
China plans security spending hike in Xinjiang  
NY cabbie returns $21K in purse to passenger  
142,800 gallons of fuel spilled on Alaska island  
Notorious criminal escapes Papua New Guinea prison  
US lawmaker upbeat on Japan war views  
Most Taiwanese oppose smoking on the move  
Philippines concerned over UN staff in quake-hit Haiti  
Students fake foreign status to enter China universities  
Google to end China censorship after e-mail breach  
Baidu shares up as Google threatens to quit China  
JAL shares dive 81 percent on bankruptcy fears  
PAKISTAN  
Asia markets lower as China moves to curb credit  
Jetstar Pacific airline safety violations: reports  
Asian carmakers scope deeper inroads in US market  
Second year of shortfall as Taiwan passes 2010 budget  
NZ commodity prices rise in December  
NZ employee sentiment hit year-high in Q4 -survey  
Simon and Garfunkel to perform at Jazz Fest  
Could "Precious" director break Oscar barrier?  
Conan O'Brien refuses "Tonight Show" move, NBC quiet  
Conan O'Brien refuses Tonight Show move, NBC quiet
|  
Duffy recruits diverse duo for second album  
Lost creators promise cocktail of answers, mystery
|  
ABC orders "Bachelor" all-stars spin-off  
Could Precious director break Oscar barrier?
|  
Conan O'Brien says no thanks to NBC move  
Peter Sarsgaard to play "Green Lantern" villain  
Conan O'Brien to quit if 'Tonight Show' rescheduled  
ABC orders Bachelor all-stars spin-off
|  
Unreleased Hendrix recordings set for album  
Sony to open new chapter in Spider-Man saga
|  
"Lost" creators promise "cocktail" of answers, mystery  
Peter Sarsgaard to play Green Lantern villain
|  
Duffy recruits diverse duo for second album
|  
In Iran, money talks with protest slogans  
Germany 2009 recession worst since 1930s  
LG bets on Android to boost phone sales 20 percent  
New snowfalls heap more misery on shivering Europe  
Chinese Internet activists applaud Google, see no backdown  
Al Qaeda linked to rogue aviation network
|  
2009 deadliest year for Afghan civilians: UN  
Common blood-pressure drug also combats dementia  
2009 deadliest year of war for Afghan civilians: U.N.
|  
Suicide bomber kills 7 in Iraq's Anbar province  
Facebook taps McAfee to shield users from attacks  
Turkey threatens to recall Israel envoy
|  
Pakistan says U.S. drone attacks could hurt ties
|  
Ahmadinejad slams Saudi role in Yemen conflict
|  
Iran knew Israel, U.S. planned terrorist acts: speaker
|  
Italy's PM Berlusconi says will not suspend trials by decree
|  
Amsterdam-Aruba flight diverted after bomb threat
|  
LG bets on Android to boost phone sales 20 percent  
The nation's weather  
US agencies coordinating Haiti rescue efforts  
2 US troops, 4 Afghan troops killed in Afghanistan  
LG bets on Android to boost phone sales 20 percent
|  
Gay marriage trial revives camera controversy  
State media: 8 Chinese peacekeepers die in Haiti  
HK legislators urge China to release dissident  
Fatal gunplay in Maine sex dungeon leads to trial  
Adobe software may have been exploited in cyber attack
|  
North Korea says it will allow American tourists  
Philippine witness says massacre suspect shot victims  
Ex-worker charged in Ga. fatal workplace shooting  
Philippine massacre witness implicates suspects  
Obama wants record $708 billion for wars next year  
Masses gather in India for Hindu festival  
Bank CEOs: We underestimated 2008 financial crisis  
Nepal asks UN for extension of peace mission  
Japan holds Philippine transsexuals for fake marriages  
Iran speaker accuses Israel, CIA of killing scientist  
2 US troops, 4 Afghan police killed in Afghanistan  
Haitian-Americans worry about devastated homeland  
Pakistani o/n rates flat; rupee firms  
JAL shares down 81 percent amid feared bankruptcy  
Pakistan to announce monetary policy on Jan. 30  
Indonesia back-tracks on China trade pact  
Indonesian rage over luxury jail cells for wealthy  
Seoul shares fall, led by steelmakers and shipyards  
China fund's 2009 return may pass 10 pct: report  
Taiwan stocks at 2-wk closing low, China policy weighs  
Seoul shares fall led by steelmakers, shipyards  
Vietnam Airlines 2009 profit falls 42 percent  
Sentencing for Ohio chief in Parker-Broderick case  
Greying China: getting old before getting rich  
Vancouver winter Games: transportation still big issue  
Afghan town evicts addicts in desperation  
Vancouver Stockpiles Snow For 2010 Winter Games  
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro  
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found  
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever  
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production  
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time  
AMD to Start Production of piledriver  
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs  
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia  
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air  
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch  
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent  
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up  
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform  
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis  
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets  
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights