EUGENE, Oregon – When Conan O’Brien was fired by NBC -- after Jay Leno was picked to return to hosting “The Tonight Show” – he decided to take his stand-up comedy act on the road. His first stop was Eugene’s Hult Center for the Performing Arts on April 12. “He was so funny. I thought it crazy when Conan said his return to another talk show would probably include Leno as his first guest,” said a local fan.
Obama may appear on O'Brien’s anticipated return to TV
Both President Barack Obama and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin’s name was leaked by Turner Broadcasting System officials late yesterday when asked if any political big names would be appearing on this new show that premieres just a week after the midterm elections.
TBS announced that O’Brien would host a new talk show dubbed “Conan,” and this new Los Angeles-based show will air Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m.
In fact, TBS has even come up with an “online poll,” asking fans to decide on who should be his very first guest on Nov. 8. In addition to Obama and Palin, other top vote getters are Pope Benedict XVI along with Brett Favre pared with Jenn Sterger.
Some fans have even requested an on-air “cat fight” debate between Palin and her arch rival, Michelle Obama.
O'Brien quit "The Tonight Show" in January instead of taking NBC's offer to move his start time back by a half-hour. O’Brien then took a reported $15 million in compensation for his nearly 20 years working for NBC. In turn, Leno got The Tonight Show back.
O’Brien goes on the road to exercise his demons
Without a regular gig each late night weeknight, O’Brien kicked off “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour” in Oregon last April. During that appearance that launched a 30-city tour – to “get over being fired by NBC” – the entertainer also said: “I will probably return to TV talk show hosting and Jay will be there with me.”
While O’Brien made a big stink about being cut from his shot at hosting “The Tonight Show,” due, in part to cut-throat tactics by Leno, entertainment analysts note “it’s just show business. It’s just a TV show, and these are just comedians marketing themselves.”
Hence, O’Brien’s much anticipated return to the TV talk show circuit happens at a perfect time, say TV analysts because “there’s nothing happening with late night talk shows. It’s old and boring.”
Thus, O’Brien will bring out the big guns to boost his new shos. Announced guests include: Seth Rogen, musician Jack White, Tom Hanks, the band Soundgarden and “Mad Men’s” John Hamm. A host of others will stop by to help O'Brien in his anticipated re-bashing of NBC and Leno, and then they will just talk.
Comment and add to the story without registration, but keep the comments meaningful please. Links are not accepted.
