Maybe I’m just a bit jaded, but this seems like a perfect setup for a sequel to The Late Shift. O’Brien to take over for Leno on NBC’s ‘Tonight’ in 2009
NBC announced Monday that Conan O’Brien will take over from Jay Leno as host of “The Tonight Show.” But he’ll have time to write his jokes — the planned succession won’t happen until 2009.
The announcement solves a delicate problem for NBC, which realized O’Brien was getting antsy in his “Late Night” time slot (12:35 a.m. Eastern) and wanted to keep him from jumping to another network.
Leno planned to make the announcement on Monday’s edition of “Tonight,” a special celebration of the talk show’s 50th anniversary.
“In 2009, I’ll be 59 years old and will have had this dream job for 17 years,” Leno said. “When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor and there is no one more qualified than Conan.”Speaking of The Late Shift, here’s an intersting piece on John Michael Higgins who nailed the Letterman role.
Update: Rathergate 2: Electric Boogaloo
Awesome! No, not the Conan O’Brien thang, the Breakin II ref. In my universe, all sequels are subtitled “Electric Bugaloo”.
Yes, must agree… I thought I was the only one who tacks on “Electric Boogaloo” onto any version 2.0 of anything! The blogosphere has informed me once again!
Higgins was terrific as Letterman in The Late Shift. Daniel Roebuck came off pretty well as Leno. Interesting and funny movie.
Johnny Carson retired? Jeezz have I guess I should stay up later…..
Well, that’s the end of the Tonight Show as we know and like it. Putting in Conan O’Brien will kill the show for good. What a friggin shame.
~C
Higgins was great in Best In Show.
Higgins also wrote several of the folk songs in “A Mighty Wind.”
about “Late Shift” the book:
Anyone know if a reprinting was done to “fix” the last chapter? I recently read the book and the last chapter was embarassing , to say the least.
Talking about wrongly declaring an early winner …