Adieu, Conan

Teresa · 2010-01-24T00:58:41.000Z

[B][FONT=Arial][I][SIZE=2]An excellent farewell. I am sorry to see Conan go, but it was kinda fun leading up to the final few days - he was hilarious and so were all his many supportive guests (Tom Hanks for one). Neil Young! Will Ferrell singing Freebird as a farewell song. I like Conan a lot - certainly prefer him over Leno (but a ton of viewers obviously want Leno back) - but I am kinda happy for him. he walked away with 30something million.. and had fun getting fired. It was highly entertaining. and he's off to do something - anything - we'll just have to wait and see. This last show was something. [/SIZE] [/I][/FONT] [/B] [B][URL="http://www.salon.com/ent/tv/conan_obrien/index.html"]Conan O'Brien[/URL] [/B] Saturday, Jan 23, 2010 09:24 EST [B] [URL="http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2010/01/23/conan_last_show/index.html"]Adieu, Conan[/URL] [/B] "The Tonight Show" ends not with a bang but with a cowbell Video By [URL="http://www.salon.com/author/mary_elizabeth_williams/index.html"]Mary Elizabeth Williams[/URL] [IMG]http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2010/01/23/conan_last_show/md_horiz.jpg[/IMG] AP Conan O'Brien, Will Ferrell and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons play "Freebird' on "The Tonight Show's" final episode "We've had a lot of fun being here," Conan O'Brien said on his last show Friday night. "But like everything in life, the fun has to come to end … a decade too early." And so, this was how it had to be. Not with a silver-haired O'Brien wistfully handing over the reins to a hard-working younger comic at the apex of a sentimental clip show, but instead, a mere seven months into his gig hosting one of the most venerable institutions in television. As Conan told the audience, "We have exactly one hour to steal every single item in this studio. It's ours, take it." read the rest of the article: [URL="http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/feature/2010/01/23/conan_last_show/index.html"]Salon[/URL]

SoWal Guide

Jan 23, '10 · 6:58 PM8391

An excellent farewell. I am sorry to see Conan go, but it was kinda fun leading up to the final few days - he was hilarious and so were all his many supportive guests (Tom Hanks for one). Neil Young! Will Ferrell singing Freebird as a farewell song. I like Conan a lot - certainly prefer him over Leno (but a ton of viewers obviously want Leno back) - but I am kinda happy for him. he walked away with 30something million.. and had fun getting fired. It was highly entertaining. and he's off to do something - anything - we'll just have to wait and see.

This last show was something.

Conan O'Brien

Saturday, Jan 23, 2010 09:24 EST
Adieu, Conan

"The Tonight Show" ends not with a bang but with a cowbell Video
By Mary Elizabeth Williams

AP
Conan O'Brien, Will Ferrell and ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons play "Freebird' on "The Tonight Show's" final episode

"We've had a lot of fun being here," Conan O'Brien said on his last show Friday night. "But like everything in life, the fun has to come to end … a decade too early."
And so, this was how it had to be. Not with a silver-haired O'Brien wistfully handing over the reins to a hard-working younger comic at the apex of a sentimental clip show, but instead, a mere seven months into his gig hosting one of the most venerable institutions in television. As Conan told the audience, "We have exactly one hour to steal every single item in this studio. It's ours, take it."

read the rest of the article:

Salon

Edited Jan 23, '10 · 7:00 PM

Replies

SoWal Insider

Jan 24, '10 · 7:54 PM#2

Jay Leno triumphs over what's cool - latimes.com well written analysis...i prefer obrien

beats on hood

Jan 24, '10 · 9:56 PM#3

I was hoping that someone would start a thread on this topic.

IMHO NBC made a huge mistake when they moved Leno to 10 PM EST. Watching The Tonight Show is equivalent to Mommy reading bedtime stories for the soforific effect. NBC moved bedtime stories from 11:35 EST to 10:00 PM EST. Who makes it from 10 to when Conan starts? The local affiliates have gotten a huge drop in viewer ratings.

I like Leno, but he is pretty old school. Even though Conan is pretty quirky, in my opinion he relates better to the future NBC viewers than the old-school Johnny Carson types. NBC should have dropped Leno and kept Conan at 11:35 PM IMHO.

My opinion means nothing, but I predict that NBC will tank from these two bad decisions (1. moving Leno to 10 PM, and 2. canning Conan and giving Leno his spot).

I think that Conan is quirky and goofy, but is a better choice for 11:35 PM EST. Time for Jay to retire with his money and his collection of cars and motorcycles. Just one person's opinion.

beats on hood

Jan 24, '10 · 10:07 PM#4

I had a link to the Free Bird video on You Tube, but NBC pulled it. I think I downloaded it. I will look tomorrow.

EDIT: Here's a link to the entire last episode. It's Conan at his best.
http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/video/episodes/#vid=1196131

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top who was in the Conan finale lives near us. BTW Big D took daughter to the doctor when she had a URI, and Gibbons was scaring everyone in the waiting room at the doctor's office. He was in everyone's face, talking crazy, according to hubby and daughter. I wasn't there, so I dunno.

Edited Jan 25, '10 · 9:37 AM

SoWal GuideAuthor

Jan 25, '10 · 11:59 AM#5

I had a link to the Free Bird video on You Tube, but NBC pulled it. I think I downloaded it. I will look tomorrow.

EDIT: Here's a link to the entire last episode. It's Conan at his best.
NBC Video Rewind

Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top who was in the Conan finale lives near us. BTW Big D took daughter to the doctor when she had a URI, and Gibbons was scaring everyone in the waiting room at the doctor's office. He was in everyone's face, talking crazy, according to hubby and daughter. I wasn't there, so I dunno.

you are right - it was Conan at his best! as much hail as he dished out to NBC (they deserved it) - he ended up going out with much class and grace, imo.

I would choose "Coco" over Leno any day. however, I would go further and say Letterman is my man for years and Craig Ferguson makes me laugh more than anybody ever! I don't get to watch a lot of late night - but sometimes I catch these guys and just really enjoy them.

Jimmy Fallon is rather entertaining - those guys better watch out for him!

here is a page with links to Letterman, Fallon and Ferguson paying tribute to Conan. (Letterman did some hilarious stuff all week - really hammering on Leno)...

See Kimmel, Letterman, Ferguson, and Fallon pay tribute to Conan last night | EW.com

SoWal GuideAuthor

Jan 25, '10 · 12:07 PM#6

Jay Leno triumphs over what's cool - latimes.com well written analysis...i prefer obrien

thanks Bob - excellent analysis and good background on the whole thing. I think the writer was right on target. the final statement:

As O'Brien faded into the evening last night with bundles of cash and newfound martyrdom, the baby boomers have finally gotten some small measure of revenge, however old and dorky and undesirable they may be.

while I like Conan, I really don't prefer his show. and I don't prefer Leno's either. He IS totally mainstream - and there is a big audience for him!