You have to realize that while the hosts themselves are multi-millionaires, they have an entire staff of people who are not. Conan fought NBC to make sure his entire staff received severance pay and for several months he actually paid his entire staff their salaries out of his own pocket.
Leno took a large pay cut to keep his entire staff, among many other things he did over the years for them. They both treated their people with grace and generosity.
@@TJ-kk5zf 1. Conan screwed himself by not getting the ratings when he was given the job. That’s the business, and he simply failed at it. If you don’t think he was given enough time, blame the network. 2. Jay was relatively close to a retirement. He didn’t want to go to another network and start from scratch, so he took the 10pm slot that he was offered. Blame the network for offering him that, not Leno (you’ll see a theme here). The same argument that people make for Leno hanging around is the same argument one could make for Conan demanding the time slot 5 years before, which was the initial catalyst that set all this in motion. Leno didn’t even want to retire in the first place…He was forced out, when he was number 1 by a significant margin (again, blame the network). 3. It’s not Leno’s job to coddle Conan. Is not his job to make things super easy on him. It was Leno’s job to honor the agreement from 5 years before (which again was forced on Leno), and give up the time slot, which he did. If Leno was truly the egomaniac people say he is, he would have done what so many stars do, thrown a fit like a two year old and created a bunch of drama. 4. Leno had a right not to retire and take any job he was offered. He doesn’t have kids, doesn’t smoke or drink. He puts all his efforts into his work, which we can see to this day with his Jay Leno’s Garage show and how many days a year he still tours the US doing stand up. This is his personality, he likes to work, and to try to take that away from someone like that is disgusting.
Howard Stern is one of the realest people to ever become famous. He wasn’t rich, he didn’t know anyone. He did everything on his own and he’s always kept it 100% honest
Watching this reminds me why I don't have TV. "Let's schedule a segment where we cut to howard stern and have him talk about Leno. How long should we block for that? I dunno.. 30 seconds." What? Why have a person as big as Stern on, ask him controversial questions, and then not let him talk?
Well this is just a proof that shit happens in life, and you can come out of it in the most graceful ways ever. Conan is a legend, he keeps inspiring me everyday
Leno was even worse than how Stern described. It was all agreed upon in 2004 that Conan was to replace Leno in 2009, so it was known for all those five years what the plan would be. It was an agreement in writing from every party. Not only did Leno refuse to bow out gracefully, he stuck around the NBC lobby and literally sabotaged Conan's shot just as Stern elaborated. I understand the dilemma of NBC executives who knew Leno moving to another network would be a loss for them but they agreed on all of this in 2004. Beyond that, why didn't Leno have some class and hand the reins over to Conan who deserved it? Why didn't Conan deserve a shot for all the years and patience he put in? Why does Leno feel he needs to be on TV after almost 20 years when he ended up retiring a few years after that mess anyway? Ego. Pure ego and vindictiveness that he was pushed out not on his own terms. It's not a secret most people in show business can't stand Leno, he has a history of being a phony "brat" as Letterman once put it, but Stern has the balls to say it out loud.
+nick m. I recently caught on with this whole NBC screw up business, and i gotta say Jay Leno reminds me of one of the horrible bosses in the movie "Horrible bosses". The character played by Kevin Spacey , who wouldn't back out of the office despite all the hints he gives to his subordinates that one of them will become the successor to his position, and I know there are lots of people out there in real life like that, for whatever reason, whether it be money, fame, or pride. They just dont want to pass down the torch
You don't realize how silly you sound.. A company I worked for promised me lots of free hookers and stuff but they reneged on their word just like as if I fumbled the football and they fired me
Er ... no! First NBC pretty much forced Leno out. The 5 year plan was forced down Jay's throat by NBC. He had no choice but to agree to it even when he did not really want to be forced out. Then NBC did not want their no. 1 guy, Jay, to leave to a rival network so they kept him around. It was all on NBC. So stop spreading misinformation.
Uouttooo It doesn't matter what Leno wanted to do or not, NBC mandated it to keep Conan and it was all written, signed, and on paper. Leno has always had a reputation of being a "brat" (as Letterman has put it) and illustrated that very attribute by not having any class, dignity, or grace, and choosing to sabotage Conan's era on the show which he earned. I didn't spread any misinformation at all, I laid out the facts that you didn't even contradict, so I would ask you to not misuse the wrong words. What Leno wanted to do or not was never the point. The point was that it was agreed upon, contracts were signed, promises were made, and it was decided for five years in advance. If Leno had a problem with it, he should've waged that battle at the appropriate time rather than completely sabotage Conan's career and livelihood of his entire crew to feed Leno's ego. Get your facts right.
Love him or hate him Howard Stern is an absolute genius at what he does. The reasons are obvious, one because he's honest, he is not phony or fake. Two the things he says are compelling. He demands you listen to him.
Example of how he is fake is when a person is not on the show and Howard takes shots at them, then later on maybe a few weeks or years they come on his show, and he ass kisses so much. Happened with Conan O'Brien, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity. He did his little shot at Craig Ferguson during the course of a discussion about Conan and Jay. In one sentence he takes a shot at Craig, pretending not to know his name and not care about Craig's show, two minutes later he says its a funny show and he met Craig and told him so. Utter garbage and lies.
Leno only did so well in the ratings because right after Letterman went to CBS, a ton of CBS affiliates switched over to Fox and Letterman lost all that available market exposure. The idea that Leno consistently beat Letterman in the ratings is misleading.
Im not apologizing for Leno, but that doesn’t explain why Letterman destroyed Leno for like the first 3 years in the ratings. I know this was pointed out at the end of “Late Shift”, but I remember what was stated to be true in that Leno’s show took off when he had Hugh Grant on right after the whole Divine Brown hooker thing and Seinfeld/Friends both exploded around that time which helped Leno bc he had the two biggest network shows in the world as his lead ins.
@@StuUngar Have you seen Leno hosting the newest version of You Bet Your Life? He looks like a muppet. A very old, tired muppet. Why is he bothering? He's sitting on half a billion dollars. God, finance a film or something. But sitting there slumped over with your mouth hanging open while you pretend to listen to what these moron contestants have to say... I will say this, though: at first I thought Letterman's beard was stupid, but now I realize that he is basically saying, To Hell with everything; I'm going to do whatever the hell I want and if I want to do this bizarre, late career tangent, then I'll do it. He's interviewing interesting people because, despite his curmudgeon persona, he is a people person. Leno is a Leno person.
This is a 9 year old comment I’m replying to as of today. (2/26/2021). Conan is still going strong with a cult following on TBS and online, while Leno’s legacy after a formal retiring from late night is only how much of an insufferable backstabber he was towards others in show business. Time has really told the tale on all of this.
the thing is, I have seen conan and letterman do things that are simply stunning. I have actually thought to myself, if this guy never told another joke this was worth it. I have never seen leno do anything brilliant, or witty, let alone stunning. except maybe how amazingly cowardly and backstabbing he can be.
@@dparsons1225 - Well, I really DO NOT care about Howard Stern being "mainstream" and a "new and changed" man! After all, the way he had presented his radio show for decades is a major embarrassment to modern American culture these days.
@SethHesio - Howard Stern is a pathetic clown using and abusing his fame and fortune for putting some celebrities in the hot seat and asking rather uncomfortable questions to them!
I think possibly the name branding of the Tonight Show it’s what was successful not Jay Leno. It’s not that he’s not funny you just mildly chuckle or worst titter. His jokes half the time you can think of a better punchline or you want to workshop the idea to make it land. He’s the guy at work who’s mildly funny and you laugh because there’s nothing better to laugh at. Except in this case that guy ended up being famous.
Harry got it 100% correct. The lead-in was gone. Why? Because Jay’s 10pm show wasn’t interesting to anyone and they turned the channel to another network. Watched the show there, which led-in to the late local news, which led-in to that network’s late show. Jay caused the lack of viewers on Conan’s show because everyone was tired of him and they changed the channel. “But they can change it back”. Sure they can. But how many people watch their favorite prime time show and then change the channel to another network’s late local news, and then change it to another station to watch a late show? Hardly anyone. NBC should have done the right thing and said, “Thanks for the memories, Jay.” A 100% parted ways with him. But he weaseled his way into a prime time slot and messed up the Tonight Show for Conan. Leno sucked, and will ALWAYS suck. He was a perv, too, as most of his jokes were sex jokes. He needs to just disappear.
Not to mention NBC axing a bunch of 10 PM shows that probably could've turned things around for them for that primetime flop… "Southland" on Thursdays at 10 PM after "ER" finished its run, anyone? Sure, that show went on for four more seasons on TNT, but it was still barely making it. ABC had balls of steel when they premiered "NYPD Blue" way back in 1993 and with "southland," NBC might've been able to recapture broadcast TVs edge in the spring of 09.
If you look at the summer ratings that year for Conans tonight show they weren't bad at all then Jay got his show at 10 then as a result even the local news channels had gone down creating a chain effect dropping everyone's ratings.
People also need to keep in mind that not every first season is a smash hit. Look at The Office, Cheers, Family Guy, etc. You have to give them time to find their bearings especially with talk shows. In conclusion, Leno was complete trash for doing this and it’s not a shocker other comedians have very little respect for him.
(1) Jay Leno did not push Carson out of "The Tonight Show." He and *NBC* signed a deal stating he would get the show when Carson retired. It was Helen Kushnick who went behind Jay's back and planted stories that the network wanted Carson gone. Howard actually went on "TTS" and told Jay that *NBC* made the right decision. He's contradicting himself. (2) Dave took his time about deciding to move to *CBS.* He actually got *NBC* to offer him "TTS", and only decided to turn it down after Carson said that if he were in Dave's place, he'd leave. Further, Dave at that time was in his 40s, whereas Jay in the double 0's was 59 when his contract expired. It's a bit different expecting a guy almost sixty to pull up stakes and start over some place new. And Conan could've left when his contract was set to expire in early 2006, but he chose to accept *NBC's* "TTS" offer...at Jay's expense. (3) Howard was apparently unaware that when requested by *NBC* to move back to 11:35, Jay asked if he could get out of his contract. *NBC* said no. So Jay couldn't just leave. And since Conan chose to resign, why should Jay have turned down the chance to return to the job that Conan had a hand in taking from him? (4) No, Jay didn't need the money, but he had a staff he wanted to keep employed (just like Howard does). And Howard says he quit *NBC* once, but after this interview he accepted an offer to be a judge on "America's Got Talent" which meant working for the network that re-hired Jay as host of "The Tonight Show." Did Howard need the money that badly? And yet he talks about Jay lacking integrity. Double standard.
Leno only came back to 10pm slot when they promised to pay him and his staff's salary for two years regardless. That is from Jay's own mouth. So it was selfish and about the money.
@@tomcooper6108 It's not selfish to take a deal that favours your entire staff. Those people gotta eat, too. Conan gets credit for paying his staff after he left "TTS," but in his case he OWED them because it was his decision to resign that put them all out of a job.
What!!? I just watched a video the other day of Howard on jay Leno's show calling him the nicest guy who never speaks ill of anyone and just on and on praise for Jay. Howard you don't even keep your own opinions straight.
I like Howard & all but it was actually Artie Lange, Not Howard Stern, who predicted the whole Conan/Leno "Tonight Show" debacle. Just throwing that out there, since Stern loves to tell anyone who'll listen about how he's an original who invented everything.
Comedians always bitch about people lifting their stuff. I know it happens, but most of the time it’s really generic stuff that can be created into something totally different t.
looking at it from the bright side. its actually great Conan did not get that job because if he did we wouldn’t have the Conan we know now. love to Team Coco!!
Not happy how the execs handled everything but I think it was just a result that Conan, although very talented and funny, did not draw the traditional audience as much as Leno. I believe it was because Conan's branding as late night following Jay just did not transfer to the 11:30 time slot. People were "trained" to think of Conan as the very late show for the "young people". I observed this by watching my own mother.
The next big late night question: Will Letterman re-up in 2012? If not, who takes over for HIM? Also keep in mind that not only does Letterman host the show, he OWNS it. NBC owns the rights to the Tonight Show.
An episode of the Three Stooges where when someone said "Niagra Falls" Moe and Larry would get extremely angry. I think Howard's trying to say that whenever you mention Leno he gets angry like that
You know what? You're right. I won't accept a late night battle dominated by an unfunny guy who gets ratings because among other things he's easier to fall asleep to.
If you read Howard's book Private Parts, Howard just praised Jay Leno as a great and funny comedian and ripped Johnny Carson. Now listen to him! Hindsight is 20/20 isn't it Howard?
Letterman is the Godfather of the modern late night talk show. Johnny Carson is the Godfather of the old traditional late night talk show and Leno is carrying on that tradition. But without Letterman, there'd be no Conan, Fallon, or Kimmel, at least not the way they are. He started that irreverent style.
Bill Hicks hated Leno, he called him a corporate shill in his pre-death material. Hicks couldn't have been more right. I watched Leno once (I'm from England, we don't get your talk shows without effort or subscriptions online really), I have to say it was the worst excuse for a talk show I've seen. The interviews revealed nothing and held little to no entertainment value, the jokes raised a polite chuckle at best and he did some product combinations thing for 10 minutes straight. Pathetic.
Howard said Jay didn't need the money go elsewhere.....no we all know that. None of these guys need the money. It wasn't about Jay's money to the executives. Jay was the rainmaker they wanted back in that spot. Jay won against anyone he ever went up against. Jay's ratings were the highest. Jay probably didn't want to hurt Conan but Conan wasn't successful in that spot. NBC wanted Jay Leno in that spot. Conan probably would have been out with or without Leno waiting in the wings.
100% accurate but you know how people are. They get 2% of the story, listen to people like Howard here who seem to keep saying Jay hung about in the lobby as if he physically did to make him seem devious but in reality his ex employer called him and said we need you please come back. And so he did right by his employer, and by his upbringing which was to go to work. No one ever mentions how Jay took a $15M pay cut to keep his entire staff employed or how he still does stand up and works to this day and worked two jobs while doing the tonight show. He was always engrained to work hard and be kind.
You realize how shitty Jay's ratings were in the beginning of his run? The difference is that Jay was given an opportunity that Conan didn't have. And second, Jay should have had the balls to go to another network and compete with his former bosses and build something on his own. His rating at his new hour wasn't all that spectacular either. The network wanted Conan around, and strung him around, so that he didn't have an opportunity at a new network to compete. Instead they don't give him a fair shake, toss him to the curb with the stain of a failed show on his back. There's a lot more you're not seeing here.
After being able to examine this objectively 14 years later (I was in high school when this was happening and followed it pretty closely) I feel like Leno was portrayed rather unfairly in this. He had a pay and play contract (which was a stroke of genius on his part for demanding that) that would’ve cost NBC millions to more to get out of than Conan’s contract. This contract was signed months and months before anyone knew that NBC’s ratings for these two shows was going to tank, and Jay Leno’s show at 10 had been cancelled at the end. Don’t get me wrong, Conan got screwed out of this, but to blame Jay Leno for being such a powerhouse that he was able to get a better contract is a bit absurd. What was he supposed to do? Say no? It’s very likely that there was a massive penalty clause in his contract for refusing to go on tv. And his staff had been guaranteed their salary for two years. And he’s supposed to give that up for Conan? That doesn’t fly with me.
When the network proposed a show that would bump Conan's "Tonight Show" to midnight, Jay asked if he could be released from his contract, and *NBC* said no. Even the biggest Conan fan can't expect Jay to place himself in a position where he could be taken to court in order to suit Conan. If in 2004 Conan had rejected *NBC's* five year plan to give him "The Tonight Show" by retiring Jay in 2009, he could've left at the end of his contract in 2006 for a show with an earlier start time at *FOX,* he would've been paid almost double what *NBC* was offering him to wait all those years, Jay and his staff could've remained at "The Tonight Show," and the entire debacle would've been averted. But somehow it's all Jay's fault.
Damn Harry Reid did everything he could to sabotage Howard's stories. Howard was right that they should have just let him rip for the rest of the hour.
Howard , Letterman already had is own show ....for 10 years ??? why would a network want to lose a host like that ? I would bet that if Dave was thinking about any type of move , his network would have sweetned up the deal to keep him right where he was . and I do not think Carson was pushed out of anywhere. Carson owned the tonight show and talk show television, he did what he wanted to . I suspect he picked Leno to take his chair. Carson was in charge
I never watched Leno at 10pm and just waited for Conan at 1130 and i liked Conan 10 times more than Leno on the tonight show. Jay was good but Conan was just better IMO.
All in all, I like Howard Stern a lot but for him to imply that he feels bad for Johnny Carson being forced out, I might want to direct Howard Stern to watch his old clips where he rips Johnny apart and even does so in his first book " Private Parts. " He even described Jay Leno as " funny " in his first book as well. Let's at least be honest with it as it is well documented both here on youtube and in his very own book.
so because somebody put something down in print it means they have to stick by it the rest of their lives? People change and back than he worked for NBC so he had to buddy up to Leno. Leno is a piece of shit with nothing original other than his voice and head movements. If he did push Johnny Carson out than thats a shame. Ive watched some of Carsons later interviews in the 90's and he still had a spark for it and was still sharp as a tack with his comedy chops. Thank goodness for Conan and Letterman they have saved late night shows despite the best efforts of Leno killing it.
understand that it is not all Leno's fault, blame as well the producers of NBC, Conan wanted Leno's job and he got it, Producers then said " oh hey Jay well put you at 10 and move Conan to 12", in response Jay said "oh as long as Conan's okay with it" well Conan wasn't okay with it so now NBC wants Conan to get out of there but they would need to pay him 30 million so again, it is Big Jaw Leno's (credits to Dave Letterman) fault and the genius producers of NBC.
+Lasna34 -Conan's ratings were low because they put that goofy-assed Leno show before it at 10-whatever. NBC panicked because they screwed up giving Jay Leno that stupid show as a lead-in, but instead of just dumping his ass, they dumped Conan, who had the integrity to say that the Tonight Show should NOT be moved from the slot it had been in for decades! What isn't to get? Conan didn't WANT Leno's job. Leno's job was OFFERED to Conan. Big difference.
the funny thing is Conan's show was taped so he would have worked the same hours.. His ego could not take it... Conan is a little girl.. Imagine a starting pro quarterback getting mad at getting benched
And now they are losing money on the tonight show. They had to let go some employees recently and reduce Leno's pay (even though they have good ratings). Of course, this could just be indicative of the economic times too. I think all (or most) of the late night hosts have taken a pay cut so far.
You have to realize that while the hosts themselves are multi-millionaires, they have an entire staff of people who are not. Conan fought NBC to make sure his entire staff received severance pay and for several months he actually paid his entire staff their salaries out of his own pocket.
Conan is a mensch.
Leno took a large pay cut to keep his entire staff, among many other things he did over the years for them. They both treated their people with grace and generosity.
@@bannedbycommieyoutube5time920 but he screwed Conan
@@TJ-kk5zf
1. Conan screwed himself by not getting the ratings when he was given the job. That’s the business, and he simply failed at it. If you don’t think he was given enough time, blame the network.
2. Jay was relatively close to a retirement. He didn’t want to go to another network and start from scratch, so he took the 10pm slot that he was offered. Blame the network for offering him that, not Leno (you’ll see a theme here). The same argument that people make for Leno hanging around is the same argument one could make for Conan demanding the time slot 5 years before, which was the initial catalyst that set all this in motion.
Leno didn’t even want to retire in the first place…He was forced out, when he was number 1 by a significant margin (again, blame the network).
3. It’s not Leno’s job to coddle Conan. Is not his job to make things super easy on him. It was Leno’s job to honor the agreement from 5 years before (which again was forced on Leno), and give up the time slot, which he did. If Leno was truly the egomaniac people say he is, he would have done what so many stars do, thrown a fit like a two year old and created a bunch of drama.
4. Leno had a right not to retire and take any job he was offered. He doesn’t have kids, doesn’t smoke or drink. He puts all his efforts into his work, which we can see to this day with his Jay Leno’s Garage show and how many days a year he still tours the US doing stand up. This is his personality, he likes to work, and to try to take that away from someone like that is disgusting.
@@bannedbycommieyoutube5time920 he's also known as heartless
I remember waiting for Jay Leno's show to finish for Conan to start. Team Coco
@HennesseeVol u a hater
Me too!
@HennesseeVol idiot from Tennessee
@HennesseeVol ugh
As did many.
Team Coco all the way
Allllllllllll the way
💚
Howard Stern is one of the realest people to ever become famous. He wasn’t rich, he didn’t know anyone. He did everything on his own and he’s always kept it 100% honest
Realest isn’t a word. Genuine? Yes
More like he kept it 100% opinionated.
It’s easy to be honest about everyone’s else’s life but your own
I love Artie. I wish he make's a comeback on the Stern Show before Howard retires. It would be epic.
@@nahpeace372 I want to report that line for being to good!
Watching this reminds me why I don't have TV. "Let's schedule a segment where we cut to howard stern and have him talk about Leno. How long should we block for that? I dunno.. 30 seconds." What? Why have a person as big as Stern on, ask him controversial questions, and then not let him talk?
TV is dead anyway
" Howard Stern rants about Jay Leno in 2010 and 12 years later becomes the germaphobe version of Don Imus."🤣🤣
I'll take Conan and Letterman over Leno any day. It was refreshing to see so many other hosts call him out.
Well this is just a proof that shit happens in life, and you can come out of it in the most graceful ways ever. Conan is a legend, he keeps inspiring me everyday
Leno was even worse than how Stern described. It was all agreed upon in 2004 that Conan was to replace Leno in 2009, so it was known for all those five years what the plan would be. It was an agreement in writing from every party. Not only did Leno refuse to bow out gracefully, he stuck around the NBC lobby and literally sabotaged Conan's shot just as Stern elaborated. I understand the dilemma of NBC executives who knew Leno moving to another network would be a loss for them but they agreed on all of this in 2004. Beyond that, why didn't Leno have some class and hand the reins over to Conan who deserved it? Why didn't Conan deserve a shot for all the years and patience he put in? Why does Leno feel he needs to be on TV after almost 20 years when he ended up retiring a few years after that mess anyway? Ego. Pure ego and vindictiveness that he was pushed out not on his own terms. It's not a secret most people in show business can't stand Leno, he has a history of being a phony "brat" as Letterman once put it, but Stern has the balls to say it out loud.
+nick m. I recently caught on with this whole NBC screw up business, and i gotta say Jay Leno reminds me of one of the horrible bosses in the movie "Horrible bosses". The character played by Kevin Spacey , who wouldn't back out of the office despite all the hints he gives to his subordinates that one of them will become the successor to his position, and I know there are lots of people out there in real life like that, for whatever reason, whether it be money, fame, or pride. They just dont want to pass down the torch
I couldn't agree more with You. You're so right!
You don't realize how silly you sound.. A company I worked for promised me lots of free hookers and stuff but they reneged on their word just like as if I fumbled the football and they fired me
Er ... no! First NBC pretty much forced Leno out. The 5 year plan was forced down Jay's throat by NBC. He had no choice but to agree to it even when he did not really want to be forced out. Then NBC did not want their no. 1 guy, Jay, to leave to a rival network so they kept him around. It was all on NBC. So stop spreading misinformation.
Uouttooo It doesn't matter what Leno wanted to do or not, NBC mandated it to keep Conan and it was all written, signed, and on paper. Leno has always had a reputation of being a "brat" (as Letterman has put it) and illustrated that very attribute by not having any class, dignity, or grace, and choosing to sabotage Conan's era on the show which he earned. I didn't spread any misinformation at all, I laid out the facts that you didn't even contradict, so I would ask you to not misuse the wrong words. What Leno wanted to do or not was never the point. The point was that it was agreed upon, contracts were signed, promises were made, and it was decided for five years in advance. If Leno had a problem with it, he should've waged that battle at the appropriate time rather than completely sabotage Conan's career and livelihood of his entire crew to feed Leno's ego. Get your facts right.
I'm proud of Conan for walking away from that dump. Howard you tell em how it is.
Love him or hate him Howard Stern is an absolute genius at what he does. The reasons are obvious, one because he's honest, he is not phony or fake. Two the things he says are compelling. He demands you listen to him.
Howard is fake. What are you talking about?
Example of how he is fake is when a person is not on the show and Howard takes shots at them, then later on maybe a few weeks or years they come on his show, and he ass kisses so much. Happened with Conan O'Brien, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity. He did his little shot at Craig Ferguson during the course of a discussion about Conan and Jay. In one sentence he takes a shot at Craig, pretending not to know his name and not care about Craig's show, two minutes later he says its a funny show and he met Craig and told him so. Utter garbage and lies.
Just because he is loud, it does not mean he was right.
He's very fake.
Leno is a fake ass too. But stern is worse because he yells at everyone for being fake when he is worse.
Leno only did so well in the ratings because right after Letterman went to CBS, a ton of CBS affiliates switched over to Fox and Letterman lost all that available market exposure. The idea that Leno consistently beat Letterman in the ratings is misleading.
Im not apologizing for Leno, but that doesn’t explain why Letterman destroyed Leno for like the first 3 years in the ratings.
I know this was pointed out at the end of “Late Shift”, but I remember what was stated to be true in that Leno’s show took off when he had Hugh Grant on right after the whole Divine Brown hooker thing and Seinfeld/Friends both exploded around that time which helped Leno bc he had the two biggest network shows in the world as his lead ins.
@@StuUngar Have you seen Leno hosting the newest version of You Bet Your Life? He looks like a muppet. A very old, tired muppet. Why is he bothering? He's sitting on half a billion dollars. God, finance a film or something. But sitting there slumped over with your mouth hanging open while you pretend to listen to what these moron contestants have to say... I will say this, though: at first I thought Letterman's beard was stupid, but now I realize that he is basically saying, To Hell with everything; I'm going to do whatever the hell I want and if I want to do this bizarre, late career tangent, then I'll do it. He's interviewing interesting people because, despite his curmudgeon persona, he is a people person. Leno is a Leno person.
What's the point in asking Stern a question if you're not going to let him finish an answer?
now Conan's still doing well, although on a smaller TBS
This is a 9 year old comment I’m replying to as of today. (2/26/2021). Conan is still going strong with a cult following on TBS and online, while Leno’s legacy after a formal retiring from late night is only how much of an insufferable backstabber he was towards others in show business. Time has really told the tale on all of this.
@@MrSoopSA Conan retired :(
@@mokiicustoms not yet. He's still running his Podcast and on his way to HBO Max.
@@diligentone-six2688 still have hope!
the thing is, I have seen conan and letterman do things that are simply stunning. I have actually thought to myself, if this guy never told another joke this was worth it. I have never seen leno do anything brilliant, or witty, let alone stunning. except maybe how amazingly cowardly and backstabbing he can be.
Yes.
And still, he beat all of those geniuses year in and year out...
Yeah Leno's show was boring as hell.
Leno wasn't out there in the streets doing bits.
Because Leno is the velveeta cheese of comedy. Not edgy in any way. Appeals to the widest range of people.
HOWARD will always be KING!!!!
Stern, in my opinion, is the KING of ALL SLEAZE!
@@robertpolanco1973 How is mainstream now
@@dparsons1225 - Well, I really DO NOT care about Howard Stern being "mainstream" and a "new and changed" man! After all, the way he had presented his radio show for decades is a major embarrassment to modern American culture these days.
Integrity is a keyword. love Conan. love Dave. love Howard. Guess who nobody loves.....
I ADORE Howard Sterns completely justified hatred of Jay Leno.
@SethHesio - Howard Stern is a pathetic clown using and abusing his fame and fortune for putting some celebrities in the hot seat and asking rather uncomfortable questions to them!
You know what Conan has and other shows don't ?
Jordan Schlansky
Sona, Aaron, Andy etc.
Jay Leno's primetime ratings preemptively sabotaged any chance Conan had at a stable audience.
Jay was never funny, not once did I ever laugh at his so called jokes.
He was funny pre tonight show, ask anyone who waa around back then including Letterman.
@@bmla88 you mean wayyyyyy back when Leno was a comedian? Yeah.
I think possibly the name branding of the Tonight Show it’s what was successful not Jay Leno. It’s not that he’s not funny you just mildly chuckle or worst titter. His jokes half the time you can think of a better punchline or you want to workshop the idea to make it land. He’s the guy at work who’s mildly funny and you laugh because there’s nothing better to laugh at. Except in this case that guy ended up being famous.
HAHA - "You have absolutely no one to go to Harry - you should stick with me" Gotta love Howard.
Harry got it 100% correct. The lead-in was gone. Why? Because Jay’s 10pm show wasn’t interesting to anyone and they turned the channel to another network. Watched the show there, which led-in to the late local news, which led-in to that network’s late show. Jay caused the lack of viewers on Conan’s show because everyone was tired of him and they changed the channel.
“But they can change it back”. Sure they can. But how many people watch their favorite prime time show and then change the channel to another network’s late local news, and then change it to another station to watch a late show? Hardly anyone.
NBC should have done the right thing and said, “Thanks for the memories, Jay.” A 100% parted ways with him. But he weaseled his way into a prime time slot and messed up the Tonight Show for Conan.
Leno sucked, and will ALWAYS suck. He was a perv, too, as most of his jokes were sex jokes. He needs to just disappear.
Not to mention NBC axing a bunch of 10 PM shows that probably could've turned things around for them for that primetime flop…
"Southland" on Thursdays at 10 PM after "ER" finished its run, anyone? Sure, that show went on for four more seasons on TNT, but it was still barely making it. ABC had balls of steel when they premiered "NYPD Blue" way back in 1993 and with "southland," NBC might've been able to recapture broadcast TVs edge in the spring of 09.
i LOVE how Freds laugh was picked up on mic....classic
Damn, Howard Stern really nailed this prediction lol
#HowardKnows
He looks scarier with glasses but so gentle without. Very puzzling
Stern. A face only his mother could love. No class.
"everybody talks about u runnin"
"I'm a bike rider" 😒
Haven’t watched Stern since 2005, man he was funny.
0:40 The painting lol
I’ve never heard Howard speak so badly of anyone!😂😂😂😂😂
What Stern is saying is that Leno was supposed to have created a Michael Scott paper company
"your name is harry, right?" lmao
harry's cool he says man🙃
KING OF RADIO
If you look at the summer ratings that year for Conans tonight show they weren't bad at all then Jay got his show at 10 then as a result even the local news channels had gone down creating a chain effect dropping everyone's ratings.
“The ratings were pretty good all summer, but then our lead in changed, and they just weren’t so good anymore.” - Andy Richter
People also need to keep in mind that not every first season is a smash hit. Look at The Office, Cheers, Family Guy, etc. You have to give them time to find their bearings especially with talk shows. In conclusion, Leno was complete trash for doing this and it’s not a shocker other comedians have very little respect for him.
I love Howard Stern. I would like to see Jay Leno and Howard Stern go head to head.
Now Stern is one of the biggest Lapdogs around for one side of the Aisle. He used to be the man when he spoke his actual mind.
"Nobody has better show-biz insight than me, Right Robin? I'm always right, Right Robin? Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoooooo! Tell em Fred!"
hoo hoo I invented late night TV Robin, television ended at 10pm before I got here
"Slowly I turn..." the coolest Little Rascals skit
Letterman's best move was to CBS, he got 25 million while Leno was making 3 million.
And yet Stern turned into a Jay Leno who wouldn't let go.
(1) Jay Leno did not push Carson out of "The Tonight Show." He and *NBC* signed a deal stating he would get the show when Carson retired. It was Helen Kushnick who went behind Jay's back and planted stories that the network wanted Carson gone. Howard actually went on "TTS" and told Jay that *NBC* made the right decision. He's contradicting himself.
(2) Dave took his time about deciding to move to *CBS.* He actually got *NBC* to offer him "TTS", and only decided to turn it down after Carson said that if he were in Dave's place, he'd leave. Further, Dave at that time was in his 40s, whereas Jay in the double 0's was 59 when his contract expired. It's a bit different expecting a guy almost sixty to pull up stakes and start over some place new. And Conan could've left when his contract was set to expire in early 2006, but he chose to accept *NBC's* "TTS" offer...at Jay's expense.
(3) Howard was apparently unaware that when requested by *NBC* to move back to 11:35, Jay asked if he could get out of his contract. *NBC* said no. So Jay couldn't just leave. And since Conan chose to resign, why should Jay have turned down the chance to return to the job that Conan had a hand in taking from him?
(4) No, Jay didn't need the money, but he had a staff he wanted to keep employed (just like Howard does). And Howard says he quit *NBC* once, but after this interview he accepted an offer to be a judge on "America's Got Talent" which meant working for the network that re-hired Jay as host of "The Tonight Show." Did Howard need the money that badly?
And yet he talks about Jay lacking integrity. Double standard.
Leno only came back to 10pm slot when they promised to pay him and his staff's salary for two years regardless. That is from Jay's own mouth. So it was selfish and about the money.
@@tomcooper6108 It's not selfish to take a deal that favours your entire staff. Those people gotta eat, too. Conan gets credit for paying his staff after he left "TTS," but in his case he OWED them because it was his decision to resign that put them all out of a job.
What!!? I just watched a video the other day of Howard on jay Leno's show calling him the nicest guy who never speaks ill of anyone and just on and on praise for Jay. Howard you don't even keep your own opinions straight.
I like Howard & all but it was actually Artie Lange, Not Howard Stern, who predicted the whole Conan/Leno "Tonight Show" debacle. Just throwing that out there, since Stern loves to tell anyone who'll listen about how he's an original who invented everything.
"You've got nothing to go to, you should stick with me!" LOL.. Love that ego.
I love Howard!
Now NBC got Jimmy Faglony 😂
Just don't blame Conan.
Leno is the only late night I hate. Ferguson is the best, followed by Conan, Letterman, and Fallon.
Howard invented walkin' around and askin' people stuff. Woody Allen invented clearing his throat.
Comedians always bitch about people lifting their stuff. I know it happens, but most of the time it’s really generic stuff that can be created into something totally different t.
Leno got that bit from the Steve Allen show. So did Howard.
The “king of all media” doesn’t have audio lmfao
And look at Leno now. The karma train finally hit him 🤣
Thank you Stern 🎈
looking at it from the bright side. its actually great Conan did not get that job because if he did we wouldn’t have the Conan we know now. love to Team Coco!!
DAVID LETTERMAN THE BEST
"Jay Leno's ripping off a bit that my former, underpaid underling came up with, Right Robin!"
Not happy how the execs handled everything but I think it was just a result that Conan, although very talented and funny, did not draw the traditional audience as much as Leno.
I believe it was because Conan's branding as late night following Jay just did not transfer to the 11:30 time slot. People were "trained" to think of Conan as the very late show for the "young people". I observed this by watching my own mother.
The next big late night question: Will Letterman re-up in 2012? If not, who takes over for HIM? Also keep in mind that not only does Letterman host the show, he OWNS it. NBC owns the rights to the Tonight Show.
I’m here from the future to tell you that Colbert reporter from the Daily Show took over for Letterman.
King of all media.. that didn’t really work out..
Jay owes conan nothing.
Shut up.
aww what was the "slowly i turn" reference to again?
An episode of the Three Stooges where when someone said "Niagra Falls" Moe and Larry would get extremely angry. I think Howard's trying to say that whenever you mention Leno he gets angry like that
You know what? You're right. I won't accept a late night battle dominated by an unfunny guy who gets ratings because among other things he's easier to fall asleep to.
If you read Howard's book Private Parts, Howard just praised Jay Leno as a great and funny comedian and ripped Johnny Carson. Now listen to him! Hindsight is 20/20 isn't it Howard?
He was with NBC at the time. It was good business to praise Leno. Once he broke away, the true story came out.
Howard Stern is the man.
That reporter simped HARD for Leno.
Letterman is the Godfather of the modern late night talk show. Johnny Carson is the Godfather of the old traditional late night talk show and Leno is carrying on that tradition. But without Letterman, there'd be no Conan, Fallon, or Kimmel, at least not the way they are. He started that irreverent style.
For my money only Letterman holds a candle to Craig Ferguson.
Bill Hicks hated Leno, he called him a corporate shill in his pre-death material. Hicks couldn't have been more right. I watched Leno once (I'm from England, we don't get your talk shows without effort or subscriptions online really), I have to say it was the worst excuse for a talk show I've seen.
The interviews revealed nothing and held little to no entertainment value, the jokes raised a polite chuckle at best and he did some product combinations thing for 10 minutes straight. Pathetic.
Jeff Zucker was to blame. He got fired because of it and moved to Time Warner where he also got fired
Yes, Zucker was the real architect of that debacle.
Howard Stern, on the CBS Early Show? Dang, the world has changed.
Howard said Jay didn't need the money go elsewhere.....no we all know that. None of these guys need the money. It wasn't about Jay's money to the executives. Jay was the rainmaker they wanted back in that spot. Jay won against anyone he ever went up against. Jay's ratings were the highest. Jay probably didn't want to hurt Conan but Conan wasn't successful in that spot. NBC wanted Jay Leno in that spot. Conan probably would have been out with or without Leno waiting in the wings.
100% accurate but you know how people are. They get 2% of the story, listen to people like Howard here who seem to keep saying Jay hung about in the lobby as if he physically did to make him seem devious but in reality his ex employer called him and said we need you please come back. And so he did right by his employer, and by his upbringing which was to go to work. No one ever mentions how Jay took a $15M pay cut to keep his entire staff employed or how he still does stand up and works to this day and worked two jobs while doing the tonight show. He was always engrained to work hard and be kind.
You realize how shitty Jay's ratings were in the beginning of his run? The difference is that Jay was given an opportunity that Conan didn't have. And second, Jay should have had the balls to go to another network and compete with his former bosses and build something on his own. His rating at his new hour wasn't all that spectacular either.
The network wanted Conan around, and strung him around, so that he didn't have an opportunity at a new network to compete. Instead they don't give him a fair shake, toss him to the curb with the stain of a failed show on his back.
There's a lot more you're not seeing here.
harry cant just shut his mouth while howard is talking can he?
Harry should stop interrupting.
The reporter comes off as having some sort of bias for Leno. He is certainly in the age group.
Stearns says everyone stole something from him, it's just gotten ridiculous, nobody with any common sense at all would ever take this guy serious
Carson was the best,also love Dave..Leno is low rent I never watched the show after he became the host!
How am I supposed to get any work done when the algorithm sends me down this rabbit hole??
After being able to examine this objectively 14 years later (I was in high school when this was happening and followed it pretty closely) I feel like Leno was portrayed rather unfairly in this. He had a pay and play contract (which was a stroke of genius on his part for demanding that) that would’ve cost NBC millions to more to get out of than Conan’s contract. This contract was signed months and months before anyone knew that NBC’s ratings for these two shows was going to tank, and Jay Leno’s show at 10 had been cancelled at the end. Don’t get me wrong, Conan got screwed out of this, but to blame Jay Leno for being such a powerhouse that he was able to get a better contract is a bit absurd. What was he supposed to do? Say no? It’s very likely that there was a massive penalty clause in his contract for refusing to go on tv. And his staff had been guaranteed their salary for two years. And he’s supposed to give that up for Conan? That doesn’t fly with me.
When the network proposed a show that would bump Conan's "Tonight Show" to midnight, Jay asked if he could be released from his contract, and *NBC* said no. Even the biggest Conan fan can't expect Jay to place himself in a position where he could be taken to court in order to suit Conan.
If in 2004 Conan had rejected *NBC's* five year plan to give him "The Tonight Show" by retiring Jay in 2009, he could've left at the end of his contract in 2006 for a show with an earlier start time at *FOX,* he would've been paid almost double what *NBC* was offering him to wait all those years, Jay and his staff could've remained at "The Tonight Show," and the entire debacle would've been averted.
But somehow it's all Jay's fault.
The interviewer is clearly pissing Stern off by constantly interrupting him.
Damn Harry Reid did everything he could to sabotage Howard's stories. Howard was right that they should have just let him rip for the rest of the hour.
LENO would still appear to open a Walmart or a Dairy Queen if asked!
The whole episode showed everyone what a snake Jay Leno was.
Howard ,
Letterman already had is own show ....for 10 years ???
why would a network want to lose a host like that ?
I would bet that if Dave was thinking about any type of move , his network would have sweetned up the deal to keep him right where he was . and I do not think Carson was pushed out of anywhere. Carson owned the tonight show and talk show television, he did what he wanted to . I suspect he picked Leno to take his chair. Carson was in charge
Leno was the embodiment of a cut throat opportunist. The ideal protagonist of the so-called American Dream.
Conan could've left years earlier and had a show at *FOX.* Why did he green light that *NBC* proposal that was deciding Jay's retirement?
You know who absolutely hated Jay Leno? Was comedian Bill Hicks. Listen to his angry rant on Jay Leno. Fuckin hilarious.
I never watched Leno at 10pm and just waited for Conan at 1130 and i liked Conan 10 times more than Leno on the tonight show. Jay was good but Conan was just better IMO.
All in all, I like Howard Stern a lot but for him to imply that he feels bad for Johnny Carson being forced out, I might want to direct Howard Stern to watch his old clips where he rips Johnny apart and even does so in his first book " Private Parts. " He even described Jay Leno as " funny " in his first book as well. Let's at least be honest with it as it is well documented both here on youtube and in his very own book.
so because somebody put something down in print it means they have to stick by it the rest of their lives? People change and back than he worked for NBC so he had to buddy up to Leno. Leno is a piece of shit with nothing original other than his voice and head movements. If he did push Johnny Carson out than thats a shame. Ive watched some of Carsons later interviews in the 90's and he still had a spark for it and was still sharp as a tack with his comedy chops. Thank goodness for Conan and Letterman they have saved late night shows despite the best efforts of Leno killing it.
Talked over Howard the whoooole time. Grr
Classic old school Howard here. Leno did not make friends in the business.
I don’t miss free radio, right Robin?
understand that it is not all Leno's fault, blame as well the producers of NBC, Conan wanted Leno's job and he got it, Producers then said " oh hey Jay well put you at 10 and move Conan to 12", in response Jay said "oh as long as Conan's okay with it" well Conan wasn't okay with it so now NBC wants Conan to get out of there but they would need to pay him 30 million so again, it is Big Jaw Leno's (credits to Dave Letterman) fault and the genius producers of NBC.
+Lasna34 -Conan's ratings were low because they put that goofy-assed Leno show before it at 10-whatever. NBC panicked because they screwed up giving Jay Leno that stupid show as a lead-in, but instead of just dumping his ass, they dumped Conan, who had the integrity to say that the Tonight Show should NOT be moved from the slot it had been in for decades! What isn't to get? Conan didn't WANT Leno's job. Leno's job was OFFERED to Conan. Big difference.
+Dena Vallejos also NBC interfered with Conans Show a ton. Im glad hes doing his TBS cause he can do whatever he wants
Yes, Nate Robinson, you are spot on about that! I a glad he is on TBS, also. Much more leeway.
the funny thing is Conan's show was taped so he would have worked the same hours.. His ego could not take it... Conan is a little girl.. Imagine a starting pro quarterback getting mad at getting benched
+Lasna34 low bc NBC gave Jay the best guests. Seems to me NBC didn't help Conan succeed and it didn't help that Jay was being sabotaging weasel too
Johnny Carson David.Letterman Best Ever! And thank you.Howard Stern so Raw unCut BraVo
Whatever you say about Jay Leno if NBC says NO he goes nowhere with whatever you think is up his sleeves.
If you mean because *NBC* told Jay they wouldn't release him from his contract, I quite agree.
That's the blind hatred, rage, pure fury he was talking about!
I still can't believe jimmy Kimmel has a show.
Love Howard and Conan!!!
@ukusapillage
Did it ever dawn on you that some of us don't necessarily love Stern, but just hate Leno?
Did it ever dawn on you that some people don't necessarily love Leno, but just hate Stern?
And now they are losing money on the tonight show. They had to let go some employees recently and reduce Leno's pay (even though they have good ratings). Of course, this could just be indicative of the economic times too. I think all (or most) of the late night hosts have taken a pay cut so far.
This just popped up. why so old???????????? Is YT running out of material?????????
And wears a 25 dollar digital watch.
True story.
Probably true, but why did CBS give Stern a venue/free fall to bash Leno?