4 Sale: Barely-Used Late Night Talk Show

(CBS)  Conan O'Brien's a man of his word. The NBC talk show host - at least for the time being - promised that he would put the "Tonight Show" up for sale on Craigslist and here it is.

Under pressure from its stations, NBC plans to move Jay Leno back to 11:35 PM for a half-hour show from his current 10 PM slot. "Tonight" with O'Brien is averaging 2.5 million nightly viewers, compared with 4.2 for David Letterman's "Late Show," according to Nielsen figures. O'Brien, who has balked at the plan, which would force his show back to 12:05, used the occasion to tweak his bosses and joke with the audience that the highest bidder on Craigslist could have the whole shebang.

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"You may never get a chance like this again," O'Brien said.

In the advertisement, O'Brien bills it as "a chance of a lifetime to own your very own late night talk show--guaranteed to last for up to seven months!! Really must see to appreciate."

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Meanwhile, the the chairman of NBC Universal Sports, Dick Ebersol, referring to O'Brien as "an astounding failure" and saying that his jokes about Leno were "chicken-hearted and gutless," according to a post in the Huffington Post. What's more, the New York Times quotes Ebersol calling O'Brien (and Letterman) "chicken-hearted and gutless to blame a guy you couldn't beat in the ratings."

Whatever hard feelings linger apparently is not going to prevent a buyout. According to a report in People Magazine, O'Brien will receive a huge buyout and that his last show on host of the Tonight Show will be next Friday.

[MedazGirl]

I definately wont return to NBC. NBC is a studio ran by idiots and as for the spinless idiot named Dick Ebersol, what a perfect first name for him. Leno wants and Leno gets that isa spoiled toddler and yet its Conan the people want not Leno. WOW Dick ... You are the spineless and gutless wonder here. I will never watch NBC after Conan O'Brien ... No Chin No Chin.

[MedazGirl]

I definately wont return to NBC. NBC is a studio ran by idiots and as for the spinless idiot named Dick Ebersol, what a perfect first name for him. Leno wants and Leno gets that isa spoiled toddler and yet its Conan the people want not Leno. WOW Dick ... You really are a dick. I will never watch NBC after Conan O'Brien ... No Chin No Chin.

[ralphing]

Conan, deserved a chance to improve his ratings without any influence from Jay. Jay, took a few years to establish himself because everyone loved Carson. I watched Jay, on Late Night for many years, but did not like his new show. It was ok, but always forgot it was on, since I was normally looking at my CSI shows.

I didn't watch Conan, at 12:30 much since it was on so late, but really liked the show. So when he got his new gig, I watched it frequently. If Jay, takes his old time slot back, I will NEVER watch him again. He was always better then Letterman, but that will be my new show to watch after the news.

[formrusmcsgt]

Conan could have gone out with style, if he had any. He obviously prefers to go out like a screaming toddler.

He never came close to Letterman in the ratings - easy to see why....

[sjc_1]

Conan could have taken the later slot and most people would say that he made a foolish move. I am one of those, he blew it BIG time and now we are suppose to feel sorry for him taking more money for doing nothing every day then most people make actually doing something productive for a life time.

[RobandMandy]

They never gave Conan a chance. He waited five years to get the Tonight Show and they cut him after seven months. I hope he gets a massive paycheck out of this breach of contract.

[citizenusa-2009]

Dick Ebersol's first name is an apt description of the man. To say that Conan was a "failure" is the biggest joke of all. Ebersol's "man" Jay stunk up the 10:00 p.m. slot so bad that the whole network needed to be fumigated. Rather than dump the lame no talent "retired" talk show host, they turned on the only one who was playing the game honestly. Shame on NBC and shame on "the chin". They both can have each other. Next Friday is my last day to watch NBC.

Bravo Conan. I will follow you anywhere!