VIDEO: NBC Boss Jeff Zucker Breaks Silence On Conan/Leno Fiasco
Posted on Jan 20, 2010 @ 06:14AM
NBC-Universal CEO Jeff Zucker broke his silence on The Tonight Show fiasco while speaking to Charlie Rose Monday, in the wake of a bitter power struggle between NBC, Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien that has shaken the network to its very foundation.
Zucker said the offer is still on the table for O'Brien to host The Tonight Show at 12:05 a.m. EST, but that if O’Brien refused, the late-night lineup would consist of Jay Leno followed by Jimmy Fallon. In the understatement of the year, Zucker admitted to Rose that O’Brien was “not comfortable” remaining on The Tonight Show at a later start time. He confirmed that O'Brien's contract had no written stipulation as to when The Tonight Show would air, as previously reported.
VIDEO: David Letterman Slams Leno's "Don’t Blame Conan" Speech
Zucker said ideas he has overseen, such as Jay Leno hosting a prime-time show were “not stupid chances,” but “chances that have some degree of possibility of success -- nothing tried, nothing gained.”
VIDEO: Conan O'Brien's Stinging Song Blasting NBC 'Morons'
O'Brien's settlement with the Peacock Network, tentatively in the works, is rumored to be $40 million and would enable the red-headed comedian to seek employment elsewhere as early as this fall.
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Jeff Zucker IS what is wrong with NBC and it's ratings....he can't face the truth!
Posted Thu, 01/21/2010 - 2:50am
I have to agree @ this point. Seriously, we have talk shows on the schedule from the break of dawn until wee hours, around the clock., It gets redundant. Same jokes, same guests, same publicity plugs, etc.
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 7:00pm
the shows been on for like 40 years.. i think they have the right to switch things up to see how it goes if they want.
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 6:15pm
Well, NBC is OFF my lineup, even including The TODAY Show.
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 2:50pm
Hey Jeff! The Tonight Show isn't the tonight show at 12:05 a.m.--get it? Further, why move over Conan for Jay the turd whose time is uP. NBC is still full of bozos. They should have gone with David Letterman as well instead of the turd Jay.
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 1:25pm
Fire Conan for acting like such a Diva, give Leno his time slot and re-run Ellen who at least is comfortable in her own skin and that would get more viewers.
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 11:08am
i'd watch ellen at 10pm :) not EVERY day but a lot of days
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 6:16pm
10 o clock programing is soooo boring!! so is 1pm
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 6:16pm
Fire Zucker, put Leno back at his 11:35pm time slot and O'Brien right after Leno. Then cancel Jimmy Fallon...he's painful to watch, he struggles for laughs, it's awkward. He needs to stick to acting like that in movies.
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 10:17am
Old news who cares abought these multi millionare cry babies. Please no more of this crap.
Posted Wed, 01/20/2010 - 9:54am