Loved the opening paragraph!!!!!<\/p>\n
People of Earth:
\nIn the last few days, I\u2019ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I\u2019ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I\u2019ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I\u2019ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.<\/strong>
\nSix years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over \u201cThe Tonight Show\u201d in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004, I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.
\nBut sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my \u201cTonight Show\u201d in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.
\nLast Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the \u201cTonight Show\u201d to 12:05 to accommodate the \u201cJay Leno Show\u201d at 11:35. For 60 years, the \u201cTonight Show\u201d has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the \u201cTonight Show\u201d into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The \u201cTonight Show\u201d at 12:05 simply isn\u2019t the \u201cTonight Show.\u201d Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the \u201cLate Night\u201d show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.
\nSo it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard, and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of \u201cThe Tonight Show.\u201d But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet, a time slot doesn\u2019t matter. But with the \u201cTonight Show,\u201d I believe nothing could matter more.
\nThere has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.
\nHave a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it\u2019s always been that way.
\nYours,
\nConan
\nvia Conan O\u2019Brien Says He Won\u2019t Host \u2018Tonight Show\u2019 After Leno – Media Decoder Blog – NYTimes.com<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Loved the opening paragraph!!!!! People of Earth: In the last few days, I\u2019ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I\u2019ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in … <\/p>\n