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UPDATED: A relatively self-deprecating response from Jay Leno to the 4 Emmy nominations for his interim replacement at the helm of The Tonight Show that would’ve been pretty classy had Leno at least mentioned Conan O’Brien by name. At the opening of tonight’s show, Leno said, “The Emmy nominations were announced today. The good news — Tonight Show got 4 nominations. The bad news — I didn’t get one of them.” (Leno was shut out of the race.) ”And David Letterman didn’t get nominated either. Oh man. I guess Dave and I will be watching the Emmys at Oprah’s house this year,” he said, a reference to the trio’s Super Bowl commercial.
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That was classy?
Being classy apparently means that you never have to mention the guy whose Tonight Show got nominated for an Emmy in the first place. =D
People are so quick to jump and criticize, instead they need to learn to read before they do so.. The article did not say it was classy. It states that the mention would have been classy if Jay mentioned Conan’s name. Geesh!
What’s the point of putting the video if you’re just the quote everything they say in the article?
For search engines, dummy.
…and also because some people can’t play video links at work.
How is that classy? Is it because he acknowledged it?
how long do leno and letterman think they can be ho-hum funny and retain their thrones? conan was fresh and funny and leno should be ashamed of himself for edging conan out of the nbc spot. this has to be a happy day for conan.
As long as 85% of network television watching Americans remain mouth-breathing morons. Extremely gullible people are where the bucks are.
I agree. Ever since this NBC travesty against Conan I’ve boycotted viewing the channel! Conan gets the last laugh! LOL—I’m deliriously happy that Leno got a cold slap from Conan’s grave! I will never watch NBC again until they make a formal apology to Conan. Their “musical chairs play time” with their talk show hosts makes me sick!
Looks like you won’t have to worry about watching NBC ever again. Hell will freeze over before NBC would apologize to that lame excuse for a Tonight Show host, Conan O’Brien. Good riddance to him. Now he’s free to screw up things at TBS.
Conan is the real slimeball. The Harvard elitist let his braindead fans destroy Jay’s reputation, ironically, for stepping aside for Conan. Kid needs to seriously man up.
Don’t you know any time you, or anyone of your carbon-copied ilk, pull out the word “elitist”, you reveal yourself to be a real dummy?
Umm, you should really educate yoursef before you make idiotic comments like this one. Jay ASKED Conan to take his slot because JAY thought the earlier time slot would better fit his aging target audience (I work in the TV industry, I assure you, I know the jist of the deal). And then, to Jay’s surprise, it didn’t work out the way he thought and the Conan show starting growing and taking the audience, so what did he do? Renig and take the show back. If anyone is a slimeball, it’s Jay. And I say this as a former Jay Leno fan. Does this make me a “Harvard elitist”? (and do you even know what that means???) Thanks HANK, for reading between the lines! At least there are a few classy people in the world still.
You work in the TV industry? Really? Well then, your sources need some fact checking. Truth is, NBC went to Jay Leno after whining Conan and his people demanded to know when Conan would be handed the helm of The Tonight Show. Jay, being the class act he is, AGREED to step aside in 2009 for Conan. Jay NEVER referred to his audience as “aging”. Jeff Zucker asked Jay to take the earlier time slot after Jay asked to be let out of his contract so he could take his show to another network.
Perhaps you might want to watch Oprah Winfrey’s interview with Jay Leno and educate yourself before you post idiotic comments.
God, November can’t come soon enough. These Conan fans have way too much time on their hands to post rubish and wage their smear campaign against Leno. What a bunch of immature sore losers!
Lesley, if by “immature” you mean we don’t get AARP Magazine delivered to our door or we don’t drink Ensure then I guess you do mean us. We, the proud masses that were able to see what a greedy douche nozzle Jay was and is for taking 10:00 p.m. in the first place (and every W.G.A. West member worth his or her salt would agree with me) only to slide back into his old post after the other fucktard Zucker realized he’d have to pony up a HELL of a lot more to lose Jay than Conan for his shit-bag “seamless block of late night comedy” plan going wrong. Jay tells jokes that octogenarians find hilarious, but the rest of us appreciate a world class satirist like Conan. When you go have dinner at 4:00 with the rest of the blue hairs and spend some time singing Jay’s praises, does it strike you as odd that none of you actually stay up late enough to watch him?
Interesting. By the way, I’m 38 years old. Even my teenagers prefer Jay Leno over that immature, jackass Conan.
I’m 38 and LOVE AARP! But what kind of 38 year old has teenage children?!? Hellooooooo 50s!
But Conan is way better than Jay Leno. Obviously based on the humor demonstrated in my prior sentences we can all agree that internet chats resolve things. Well done Lesley!
It took years to figure out what Jay was going to do after Conan’s deal for The Tonight Show was signed. The prime-time thing came together because NBC didn’t want to lose Jay to Fox or ABC.
From an entertainment standpoint, I’m a Conan fan. I don’t find Jay funny. That being said, Jay was king of late night. He was pressured to put an exit date on his deal 5 years out because NBC didn’t want to re-live the Johnny/Jay debacle. Lo and behold, he’s still #1 when his exit date arrives. NBC doesn’t know what to do. They try this prime-time thing. It fails. NBC can either keep Jay or Conan. One or the other. Their exit packages are comparable. Remember, one of the architects of the prime-time idea, Ben Silverman, has now been fired from NBC. So, and I wasn’t in the rooms, I imagine Zucker, et al assumes they can go back to status quo by putting Jay back in his slot. The tough decision was made. Jay over Conan. 40 million dollars is paid out as a result. It’s an expensive decision. And they wait and see how it turns. Obviously it didn’t pan out. The truth is, Conan probably wouldn’t have worked either. Late night has shifted to cable – less broad, more crass. Conan ended up in the right spot, ironically, given all of the whining.
So, did Jay lobby for himself or act in bad faith throughout any of this? Who knows. The people who know him best can attest to whether he’s a good guy or not. Did Jay control NBC’s decisions or orchestrate any of this? Hell no. He’s taken a lot of blame for NBC’s mess.
Yes Lesley, because the Oprah Winfrey interview is a really good source for real, factual information about what occurred.
Really? You want to establish a defense for Leno by telling someone to go watch the Oprah interview?! Really?!!! He could not have come off worse on Oprah if he threw her over his knee and spanked her. IMO you just posted the single dumbest comment in the history of Deadline.com.
Know much about the law? Rules of evidence? It’s obvious you don’t. The Oprah interview would be Exhibit 1 in any court room. What a bunch of sorry, freaking sore losers you Team Coco people are. Get a life please!
Watch Oprah’s interview with Jay…because that’s where the truth will be found??
Yeah, had it been a real interview to get ALL sides of the story, then perhaps I would have been interested.
That interview was a f’king JOKE…Jay slime!!
Kudo’s to Jimmy Kimmel for calling out that cowardly ass!!
You work in the television industry? Really? Repair or manufacture? Because I worked for NBC for nearly 20 years and I knowing the players involved all too well, I sorta, kinda think it went down a whole ‘nother way.
“Elitist” is the word people use when they’re too ashamed to admit they were too STUPID to win or succeed.
Lower-class snobbery. Boring.
So people in Conan’s camp are both “Harvard Elitists” and “braindead?”
Haha! I like this! Good point!
Are you joking? Leno hardly stepped aside. Yes, he left The Tonight Show to make room for Conan, but he was an idiot after that. He should of just left NBC to go to another network if still wanted a show. No, he went to 10 on NBC. That plan was stupid because his ratings were bad and Conan’s ratings were bad. He should of left after NBC canceled his show, but instead he took The Tonight Show from Conan.
Also, he pretty much stole The Tonight Show from Lettermen. Carson wanted Lettermen to replace him after he left, but Leno got into bed with NBC so he could get the spot.
I’de like this person to fess up and clear his or her soul by admitting who he or her works for. This is one of the biggest money games in the communications business. Don’t think for one moment that some people writing on these comment bars aren’t paid.
Good Point. I will be a lot more sceptical about what I am reading from here on out.
Jay did a bang up job at destroying his own reputation…he had no help other than his massive ego.
That was actually kinda funny. I still kinda like Jay despite the whole Conan/NBC thing that happened. Hes funny when hes not trying too hard.
So that people like me who are reading this on an iPhone know what the hell she’s talking about
Is that what passes for classy in Los Angeles?
Sad.
“Classy” would have involved congratulating Conan. Not that Leno had to. He didn’t, really. Especially since a chunk of that Emmy nom involved making fun of nbc/Leno. But this wasn’t what most would call, “classy.” lol.
Congrats to Conan. I’m loving this turn of events!!! NBC tried to snuff out Conan, but they couldn’t stop him from being nominated on an award show that will air on their own network. lol. This story just gets better and better.
Yeah, somehow I don’t think Nikki would have presented Leno’s response in the same light -fan of his that she is…
Yeah, real classy that he’s making it sound like it’s HIS Tonight Show that got nominated, not Conan’s. I can’t wait until I hear “The Emmy goes to The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien”.
You have to hand it to Conan. He fails, walks away with fourteen million or so, plays the martyr, gets a new show, plays the martyr, gets an Emmy nomination, plays the martyr… oh, did I say that?
Jack, what exactly did Conan “fail” at? He was actually growing the show (despite his short stay), there are numbers to prove it… but let’s not go by the numbers. Let’s just pretend those do not exist. Jay had the strong arm to do what he wanted to do, and he wanted his thriving time slot back, the one that he WILLFULLY handed to Conan because Jay thought the earlier time slot would benefit him (selfishly). If you look at the facts, it was actually JAY that was the failure in his new role, and HE is the crybaby for demanding the show back(yes, I said demanding – he threatened to leave NBC altogether if he didn’t get the show back)… Again, a purely selfish move by Jay Leno (not NBC). AKA: “I want my toy back…WAAAAHH! DO IT or I’m not your best friend!” Hmmm, another interesting fact… how many times was Jay Leno actually nominated for an Emmy during his rein as host? All you Conan-haters google that one, why don’t ya.
And one other thing. This is not just a game Conan was playing. He was truly depressed beyond believe. His career suddenly got the plug pulled out from him. Imagine how it feels when there are only a few opportunities for you for work, and then you get fired. Yes, Conan got a deal when they fired him, but they still fired him…for no reason. I say way to go Conan for not slipping into the shadows. He is way too talented to be edged out of the spotlight. Can’t wait to watch his new show on TBS in the fall. Should be pretty interesting, since TBS is giving him an open format, so he can make the show whatever he pleases. THIS ladies and gents will be the true test – the results of his fall show will be the only time anyone has the right to call him/his show a failure since he will have full control (and I highly doubt that will happen).
He failed? Are you referencing the ratings. Leno was number one when he left. When Conan took over, he was number 2. Carson was number one when he left. When Jay took over he was number 2. If Conan was a failure, then Leno was a failure too.
Letterman still got a nomination for the kids show he produced..just sayin’..
Before: pretty classy. Now: relatively self-deprecating. LOL.
The Tonight Show is a brand that does NOT belong to any host. It belongs to the network. Jay did just fine. The author of this thread is probably a Conan fan and has no objectivity in writing source material.
Yes, it is not Jay’s fault and yes, Conan the crybaby with his immature crybaby whiners need to grow up and man/woman up.
I doubt that Conan would have congratulated Jay if it were reversed and Jay was nominated.
Yes, this is a pity sympathy nomination and nothing else.
Keep on keeping it classy Jay. Rise above all this childishness.
Wow… do you actually believe that the Tonight Show doesn’t belong to the Host?? haha. So you believe that if Tom Green hosted the Tonight Show it would continue to do as well? What about Jim Carrey? I’m sorry to say, you have it completely backwards there Linda. You’re right about it being a solid brand, but it is that BECAUSE of the hosts they have selected over the years.
*And I have worked with Conan… I am pretty sure he would have offered congratulations to Jay had the situation been flipped (in fact, I would bet everything I own on that fact). Conan is a humble comedic genious. Those of you hating have simply never opened up to watched his show.
If you think Conan would have congratulated Jay you completely underestimate the betrayal and anger Conan feels. Did you see 60 Minutes? You must have worked for Conan a long time ago, because anybody who’s worked for him in the past year knows that Conan is angry beyond belief and would never congratulate Leno for anything ever.
I hate to gloat at other people’s misfortune, but only to a point, because Jay’s non-nomination is the most exciting thing the Emmy’s have announced since they announced five minutes prior to that on the same nomination special that Charlie Sheen was also getting snubbed.
Go Emmys! (Although not nominating Party Down and Parks & Rec is kind of B.S. I mean, are comedies supposed to be judged by how much they make people laugh? I think so. Nurse Jackie and Glee are great shows, but not exactly a lot of laughs-per-minute)
Cripes. Do we have to listen this this crap all over again. First of all, he’s telling a joke. Get it? Secondly, people need to remember Jay STEPPED ASIDE first when NBC GAVE Conan – Jay’s top rated Tonight Show and he did it with a relative smile.
Jay is an excellent stand-up comic. I saw him in Vegas do a solid 90 minutes. Too bad,he fails miserably as a talk show host. His incessant giggling like a school girl at the most unfunny comments by any guest is numbing. Conan is not much better with his loud obnoxious cracking voice talking over guests & going too long with a bit instead of going to the next question. Right now,I think Jimmy Fallon is better then both of them. Letterman is the funniest over all.
I’m so happy for Conan. I wish he could get the Tonight Show back.
The fact of the matter is, Jay Leno is old and his brand of comedy is weak and tired. And the principle demographic his Tonight Show appeals to is older, like-minded people. Conan’s comedy is very childish, agreed, and it’s appeal falls onto a different, more youthful (and perhaps immature) audience. It’s obvious that the Tonight Show ratings would have suffered (initially anyway)as a result. What happened to him wasn’t fair, he should have been given more time.
Anyone who has watched Conan for a while knows him for the all around nice, funny and decent guy that he truly is, and i for one am quite pleased he and his show got some recognition for that with these nominations.
Don’t worry, skylark. Conan will be back with his less than 2 million viewers in no time.
When you don’t appeal to the lowest common denominator like Leno does, your audience is a bit more selective. I love this ratings snobbery. Fox News is the highest rated cable news show – just like MCDONALDS IS THE MOST PROFITABLE RESTAURANT – and yet it’s the most unhealthy, cheap garbage in the country. Starting to get it now?
With Leno pulling a .9 in the demo since Kevin Eubanks left NBC is now losing money on The Tonight Show. No matter how much NBC execs like Jay, if this continues he won’t be allowed to serve out his contract. They can’t have a former cash cow like The Tonight Show bleeding money. If nothing else, they’ll bring in a cheaper host with a smaller staff who can get similar ratings to Leno and make the network some dough. This is long overdue. Both Leno and Letterman have stayed too long at the party.
Jay is a serial non-acknowledger…. I still remember (and never forgave him for) failing even to mention Johnny Carson’s name on Jay’s premiere episode when he took over.
I remember that too.
As if the backstabbing theft wasn’t low enough….Leno showed he could actually go lower. It was absolutely stunning to watch the lack of respect that first show.
And then contrast that with his guest host appearances where he did give Carson respect in the opening and closing.
Now there was this huge elephant in the room the entire show….and still nothing on the close either.
Lest we forget, the guy with the Peabody came up empty. I guess Craig Ferguson will have to continue to do battle against the anti-puppet, anti-robot skeleton Academy. I have to say, I enjoy his mischievious twinkle most of all. A look can have you and the studio audience in stitches, and he can do a monologue that’s absolutely hilarious and compelling off the top of his head. Read his autobiography. By rights, he should be dead.
Here’s the bottom line for me. Becoming the host of “The Tonight Show” by definition means that you are going down in history. It’s THE legendary franchise for late night TV with a history that will NEVER be eclipsed.
Once anyone has had their time in the chair, they should just gracefully move on.
BUT NOT “I’m just a humble, regular guy who does what the NBC bosses say” Leno. What a fraud.
And worse yet, Leno doesn’t even have the balls to admit he didn’t have the class to just walk away and let the guy have his time in the chair. He blames it on NBC.
HEY JAY, how about “No thanks. That wouldn’t be fair.” Nothing forced him back into the chair but his own selfishness and lust for the limelight. What a dirtball. He was never very funny anyway, unless you were a senior citizen.
Sure Conan will always make millions, but NOTHING compares to sitting in Johnny’s chair. I feel bad for the guy.