NBC's Jay Leno to retire in 2009

Monday, September 27, 2004

BY JON FRIEDMAN
CBS MarketWatch/KRT

NEW YORK - Jay Leno, the host of NBC's highly successful "Tonight Show" since 1992, will retire in 2009 and Conan O'Brien will succeed him in the 11:35 p.m. slot.

O'Brien, the host of "Late Night" since 1993, has been anxious to have an 11:35 show of his own. NBC risked losing O'Brien, who has built a solid following among the prime market of young males.

NBC, a unit of General Electric, was also mindful that it didn't want history to repeat itself. When Johnny Carson retired as "Tonight Show" host in 1992, after 30 years, the network found itself torn on whether to promote "Late Night" host David Letterman or hire Leno, who had been Carson's permanent substitute host for several years.

In a solution that proved awkward, NBC opted to go with Leno and Letterman promptly bolted to CBS, creating an opening for O'Brien.

Leno has consistently posted higher ratings than Letterman for much of the past nine years. But Letterman has often been a darling of critics, who favor his cutting-edge humor.

Leno had intended to make the announcement on Monday's show, a gala to honor the program's 50th anniversary.

Leno has been on a publicity blitz lately. Many publications - even Fortune magazine - have featured him in articles about the show.

Maybe I'll start watching The Tonight Show in 2009 then.

Oh dear, whats Prince gonna do????

Jay Lenos show is the only late night show that Prince has repeatedly been on and favours the most!!!

Of course thats presuming Prince is still going by then!!!

Nobody deserves it more than Conan.

Gold319 said:

PRINCE will b definately, and we'll just hafta wait & see if he clicks with CONAN as he does with JAY, but that's 5 years away anywayz...

MrJoker said:

I like Jay.....and his corny jokes,along with Kevin Eubanks

When's Letterman retiring? The Tonight Show will replace Letterman as my fave in '09!

i love conan!!

do the string dance conan!!

I like Conan. I thought this was a good idea.

God, I can remember when Johnny stepped down. I have never liked Jay that much. But he's retiring already? Johnny gave it a longer run...that's for sure.

At least we get to see Conan one hour earlier.

ANy news on Craig Kilbourne's replacement?

superspaceboy said:

It will be 17 years which seems pretty long to me.

lovemachine said:

17 years...I thought it was 12.

Even so dang !has it been that long since I...and we...and he...

Conan is his replacement??

Mn, u americans stick with the same tired ass people 4 that long!!! I used to live in US many years ago and Jay is still on? Need to get some new people and Jay is very shit anyway! Sure hell ain't funny.....