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Five years ago, NBC Universal executives pulled the rug out from under Conan O’Brien. They felt audiences didn’t like him all that much, and they sorely missed Jay Leno’s broad appeal. By the time the smoke had cleared, O’Brien was out and Leno was back. The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien aired its final episode on Friday, January 22, 2010.
Support for O’Brien throughout the ordeal was tremendous. From the “I’m With Coco” and “Team Coco” public campaigns, to media professionals and celebrities providing comment, it seemed O’Brien had friends just about everywhere — except at NBC, where it mattered most. The network obviously wasn’t his biggest fan, but who else didn’t join the bandwagon? Or, to rephrase the question, who was on “Team Leno”?
NBC
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From the public’s perspective, then-NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker was the main boss at the end of the video game that was late night television. However, he wasn’t the only network executive who thought everything about Leno involved sunshine and rainbows:
Referring to the pointed jokes made this week by Mr. O’Brien and David Letterman of CBS, [NBC Sports Chairman Dick] Ebersol said it was “chicken-hearted and gutless to blame a guy you couldn’t beat in the ratings.”
He added that “what this is really all about is an astounding failure by Conan.” Mr. Ebersol is a veteran at the network, with a longstanding relationship with NBC Universal’s embattled chief executive, Jeff Zucker. Mr. Ebersol also has a deep link to the network’s late-night history, having been a creator of “Saturday Night Live,” and he has been frequently consulted on changes in NBC’s late-night lineup. (Via New York Times)
“There’s a certain amount of kidding that goes on between these personalities which can often be funny. But this has definitely crossed the line,” Jeff Gaspin, chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment said in a statement. “Jay is the consummate professional and one of the hardest-working people in television. It’s a shame that he’s being pulled into this.” (Via Los Angeles Times)
NBC carried the Leno flag with pride throughout the controversy. Even if Ebersol and Gaspin never spoke out, the network’s ties to the former Tonight Show host were strong.
Jerry Seinfeld
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That Jerry Seinfeld and Leno are best buds has never been a secret. So when NBC decided to kick O’Brien to the curb in favor of their well en-chinned ex-Tonight Show host, Seinfeld had plenty to say about it:
“I don’t think anyone’s preventing people from watching Conan. He’s there,” Seinfeld said, referring to O’Brien’s ratings declines, most of which can be attributed to poor lead-ins from Leno’s show and late local newscasts.
“I can’t blame NBC. They can’t hit the ball for you,” he said. “They can only give you the bat.”
Bottom line on the whole Leno-O’Brien debacle: “That’s showbiz. You gotta try new things,” Seinfeld said. (Via The Wrap)
That last line certainly explains The Marriage Ref. Remember The Marriage Ref? Neither do a lot of people.