Have you seen this video about Leno online? Check it out - it will give you real insight into Jay Leno's character. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zP7_C2Fjk

Check out this wild video posted on youtube about the real Jay Leno. From what I can tell Leno pulls dirty tricks and back door deals to get what he wants so he was planning to take the show back from Conan the whole time. The animation rocks!!
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5zP7_C2Fjk

i suppose your argument that all is fair in business but I disagree, I still think that morals are important and being a shady business guy can come back to haunt you.
As someone who works in the business world, I know for a fact that taking the high road is good business practice. Everyone should read the excellent, and short, book "Winners Never Cheat" by Jon Huntsman. This is a self made billionaire who believes in honesty and ethics and explains how the cut throat, kill or be killed style of business is toxic for a business.

Plus, Leno fans had no real need to watch Conan with Jay coming back in the Fall. So they probably gave him a very small chance, then didn't bother because they weren't impressed immediately and knew Leno would be back.
This is so basic that I don't understand why Leno defenders even argue it, unless they just enjoy being trolls. Myself and many others were saying all along that once Leno started pouting and demanded a new gig, that pretty much sabotaged Conan winning over the old audience. It pretty much showed a lack of faith from NBC in Conan, and Leno fans had no real impetus to watch Conan.
granted, Conan could have a done a better job as a host of Tonight Show and creating excitement. I think he tried with all the crazy stunts they were doing, but something wasn't clicking and it probably doesn't help that he was receiving very little support from NBC.
and why does rolltop keep giving us economic lectures, as if we all think COnan's show is some Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Of course we realize it's a business, that's the main reason Leno got to keep the job, his contract would have hurt NBC way more. simple enough.
even Conan is acknowledging the business side of it, but that if he were in Leno's shoes and publicly handed over a show, he would have honored it. I happen to think Conan is being sincere on this. I imagine once you've had your time in the sun it's time to move on to other ventures. For Leno I think his main drive is being the most successful, profitable person possible, and he'll do whatever it takes to accomplish that.
and if you still want to work, yet just got dumped by your company, why stick around with that company and try to sabotage the new guy? why not just carry your act somewhere else that appreciates you more? that has been Letterman's point all along and Conan basically did it, by cutting all ties with NBC.
i suppose your argument that all is fair in business but I disagree, I still think that morals are important and being a shady business guy can come back to haunt you.

Before "The Jay Leno Show" aired, Conan's lead-in was repeats. Now I think lead-ins are stupid. But they seem to count. My sister told me that she read that the 10 o'clock hour on NBC is up 50% with the dramas back and guess how much Jay's Tonight Show is up? 50%! So lead-ins matter. Plus, Leno fans had no real need to watch Conan with Jay coming back in the Fall. So they probably gave him a very small chance, then didn't bother because they weren't impressed immediately and knew Leno would be back. Now why Jay's ratings were crap was because I assume even the Leno fans preferred watching dramas on the other channels. Maybe they all taped TJLS, which wouldn't count for the ratings.
Conan has come through this whole ordeal as a classy guy. I'm proud to be a fan of his.

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Very true.Although he could be a really nice guy.I just dont like his comedy.

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Same here.Ive have worked with some seriously horrible people.Pure bullies.
I wish I were lucky enough to work for someone like him.

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Oh hi again, motallica. Taking another vacation from your high stress, time consuming job? Or were you able to squeeze in a few minutes just to make the groundless claim that Conan screwed over Lopez in the same way Leno screwed Carson, Letterman, and Conan? Good luck with that one.

He's angry that Jay's ratings are poor. He can only enjoy a show if the ratings are good. You're missing out on a lot of great TV pal.

Please, please shut up. You knew that Lopez was on board before they called Conan, despite what some idiot tabloid says, so stop.

I would not have done the same to Leno, instead I did exactly the same to Lopez.

OMG your using logic something COCO *** no nothing about.
ANOES remake is a failure in people eyes, PD are hacks, in still are trashcry more PD fans LMAO.

Clearly you're some internet fighting loser whos just realised that, and has moved on but I'll leave you with some facts man. Conan wasn't declining at all. Conan's ratings were never the issue, only Jay's were. Conan was outperforming Letterman in the demo by alot consistently every night till Leno came back on. Conan's numbers were not low by any measure of the word anyway.
Besides, numbers don't matter in Late Night. If they did Jimmy Kimmel would have been off the air long ago. Nielson numbers only survey a small sample of people. They are not indicative of how many people are actually watching. Broadcast executives know this and expected Conan's numbers to be lower than Jay's because his younger audience is only partially included in the survey's numbers and is much more difficult to have a group of younger people watch the show live and at the same time.

Yeah, it's the same kind of double standard I've noticed since this thing first hit the fan. It works like this: whatever Jay does is
BAD!
However, if Conan does something that seems similar, or, if we apply the same standard of responsibility to Conan's actions as we do Jay, then you're outta' line.
There's no need. Move along, folks. Nothin' to see here.
Cartman: "How do I reach these keeds?"

The new late shift comes out this fall I have a feeling it will explain what went down.
Oh crap thats the second time this week thats happened to me!

As you see, nobody said anything to explain Conan's behaviour.

"Nobody has said anything about NBC shafting Leno in 2004, when NBC placated O'Brien by offering him the Tonight Show in 5 years. Why did Conan accept that? Why didn't he say to NBC"No, I wouldn't do that to Jay."
Just wondering if you ever did get a satisfactory answer to that particular question?

Nobody has said anything about NBC shafting Leno back in 2004, when NBC placated O'Brien by offering him the Tonight Show in 5 years. Why did Conan accept that? Why didn't he say to NBC"No, I wouldn't do that to Jay. He should be allowed to do what Johnny Carson did go on for 30 years (what David Letterman is doing now)?" When he had the opportunity to address that on 60 Minutes, he completely dodged the question. NBC insulted Leno hugely in 2004, so Leno deservedly got his show back.
This point is brought up a lot, and frankly none of us know the details of what occurred. Bill Carter even wrote a book that dealt with this switchover and other topics, called Desperate Networks, but i'm willing to bet none of us have read it either.
if Leno had gone on for 30 years, he'd be like 72 or something by the time he was done, and even though I'm sure he'd be up for it I can't imagine NBC going along with it. also, it's all about ratings and I'd imagine at 72 his 18-49 demo would be horrible. Conan's ratings weren't super hot so they used that as one excuse to get rid of him, so basically networks live or die by ratings. Apparently even Leno's 18-49 ratings were trending downward towards the end, so I imagine NBC wanted to avoid a huge drama like with Leno and Carson, but that obviously failed.
the bigger knock against Leno over Conan is that Leno has more of a history of this, so in an effect he's probably more of a repeat offender than Conan when it comes to being a corporate bloodsucker type.
I think what Conan was saying in his interview that if he had publicly gone along with the plan and agreed to it, then he would have accepted it and moved on. Leno's biggest mistake was being passive aggressive and not stating his case earlier to retain the show, instead relying on his backroom schemes to get what he wants. A little bit of honesty and forthrightness would have gone a long way.

Nobody has said anything about NBC shafting Leno back in 2004, when NBC placated O'Brien by offering him the Tonight Show in 5 years. Why did Conan accept that? Why didn't he say to NBC"No, I wouldn't do that to Jay. He should be allowed to do what Johnny Carson did go on for 30 years (what David Letterman is doing now)?" When he had the opportunity to address that on 60 Minutes, he completely dodged the question. NBC insulted Leno hugely in 2004, so Leno deservedly got his show back.