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Apr 12, 2010 12:10 pm US/Central
Conan O'Brien Signs On For TBS Late-Night Show


Late-night mainstay Conan O'Brien is headed to TBS to resume his comedic duties with a talk show expected to debut in November, the network says.

The program will air Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. Eastern, shifting TBS' "Lopez Tonight," starring George Lopez, to midnight.

Monday's surprise announcement hit the same day O'Brien starts a two-month, nationwide comedy tour in Eugene, Ore., amid persistent reports that he was likely to claim Fox as his new late-night home.

Barring Fox, syndication was widely considered O'Brien's most likely option. Few if anyone mentioned TBS as a plausible destination.

O'Brien began serious talks with TBS just last week, the network said.

"In three months, I've gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I'm headed to basic cable," O'Brien said in a tongue-in-cheek-toned statement. "My plan is working perfectly."

O'Brien left NBC in January after hosting "The Tonight Show" for just eight months, as his ratings plunged from those of his longtime "Tonight" predecessor, Jay Leno, who reclaimed the hour. Until last June, O'Brien had followed Leno as host of "Late Night" since 1993.

OBrien's parting deal bars him from appearing on TV until September.

O'Brien, who counted his viewers in the millions on NBC's "Tonight," also plans to play to a small-town crowd of 2,500 — and no TV cameras — as he opens a two-month, nationwide comedy tour Monday.

For fans, it's a chance to see the star in person and discover how he performs unfettered by network broadcast standards. For O'Brien, who joked he's trying to avoid helping around the house since leaving "Tonight," barnstorming 30 cities may help build the case for his return to TV.

He'll have a chance to hone his stage act in the Northwest and Canada before he hits bigger U.S. cities (Los Angeles, April 24-25; New York, June 2-3; the tour ends in Atlanta on June 14). With tickets priced from $40 and up, "The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour" is virtually sold out.

(© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

http://wcco.com/national/...26610.html

I don't think I've ever watched a TBS show. I guess I have to now.

wow... this is great news. conan is the only late-night host i will watch.
I'm glad he found a new home for his show.

cool. So its gonna be similar to the George Lopez show?? I really enjoy Georges shows when I get the chance to see them. I enjoyed the episodes with Chris Jericho and Jennifer Love Hewitt.

Sorry Coco my hear belongs to Chelsea @ that time.

Conan = Awesome.

TBS = George Lopez Show.

My excitement is mixed with debilitating confusion.

lazycrockett said:

They repeat Chelsea Lately about 10 times a night. You can watch the Coco Show.

Mars23 said:

I hear ya.

Wow, I wonder how Lopez feels about being "bumped" to midnite???

SHOCKADELICA1 said:

I thought the same thing. Shades of NBC.

squirrelgrease said:

lopez personally called Conan and help make the deal. Even if its an hour later the lead in audience will be higher than what he had going it cold.

lazycrockett said:

Interesting.