New Book Explains Why Conan Refused To Book Sarah Palin

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by Steve Krakauer | 12:37 pm, November 9th, 2010

» 17 comments

We got a preview of Bill Carter‘s forthcoming War For Late Night in Vanity Fair two weeks ago, but now that Conan O’Brien is back on the air, the book takes on added meaning.

Carter was a guest on Morning Joe this morning to talk about the circumstances surrounding the book, and…Sarah Palin.

One of the interesting subplots that hasn’t been released is the idea that Conan’s bosses wanted him to go more mainstream – more middle America. When David Letterman was in his war of words with Sarah Palin, his bosses wanted him to book the former Alaska Governor. But Conan wouldn’t do it. Says Carter:

When Sarah Palin was in her big fight with Letterman, they wanted Conan to book her and he didn’t want to do that because he thought, ‘I don’t want to have her on just to rip my competition. He thought his audience would react negatively to that. It might not have been the right decision but it was the right decision for him.

When Jay Leno re-took the Tonight Show, Palin was on his first week.

There was also a discussion about the tough competition Conan faces now at 11pmET. “I did have a quote in the book where someone says, ‘young people love Conan but they’d take a bullet for Jon Stewart,’” said Carter.

And there’s this unbelievable story about Ron Meyer, Universal Studios President, who, according to Carter, brokered a last minute deal among all sides that would keep Conan at NBC. He called Jeff Zucker, gave him 10 minutes to give the go-ahead, and when that expired, Conan was gone. So basically this movie will be even better than The Late Shift.

Here’s the full interview, from MSNBC:

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Bill Carter, Conan O'Brien, morning joe, NBC, Sarah Palin, War For Late Night

philipjames

Well, I guess there was an attempt to somehow portray this as a diss of Sarah Palin, but it appears that he just did not want to rip Letterman. After all, Sarah Palin won that battle with Letterman anyway.

But, just to remind folks, Sarah Palin did appear on Conan…. when she came on and did a skit with William Shatner… and it was pretty funny…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM-mgBvCJmo
AntiHyperbole

Conan = Class.
stoogedudes

philipjames said:
Well, I guess there was an attempt to somehow portray this as a diss of Sarah Palin, but it appears that he just did not want to rip Letterman. After all, Sarah Palin won that battle with Letterman anyway. But, just to remind folks, Sarah Palin did appear on Conan…. when she came on and did a skit with William Shatner… and it was pretty funny… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kM-mgBvCJmo

That is exactly what I thought! Why is this newsworthy on Mediaite if nothing else than to stir the right-wing pot on this site to start bashing Conan?
http://pouredwithpleasure.com obillo

OK, Conan didn\t want to be seen as getting in the gutter, ripping Letterman. This is a STORY??? Please.
As for Leno’s booking Pal;in so asoon after his return, that wasn’t ‘ripping the competition’ because when it came to Leno vs Letterman, Letterman wasn’t any competition at all. As seen by his quick retreat to the safety of a later hour.
Kitsune

stoogedudes said:
That is exactly what I thought! Why is this newsworthy on Mediaite if nothing else than to stir the right-wing pot on this site to start bashing Conan?

Way to start attacking people who haven’t even done anything.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alfred-J-Lemire/100000045361210 Alfred J. Lemire

I have never watched Conan O’Brien, other than being pointed to something about him visiting Finland and using a hand puppet. Does he make his politics obvious, as David Letterman and Saturday Night Live do? And as Johnny Carson and Steve Allen never did?

I have briefly watched Jay Leno; he appeared to zing people regardless of their (not his) political views. Is my impression of him correct.?

As for Mr. Letterman, I remember something from a radio program of my youth, repeated often: If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.
Michéle

Conan, got another gig, missed that breaking news item.
Cancon2

Here is a very good article. Chack out the links and see what a drop off there has been since Johnny left the chair.

http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/tv/2010/11/07/16017606.html
Alric_IV

Cancon2 said:
Here is a very good article. Chack out the links and see what a drop off there has been since Johnny left the chair.

http://www.torontosun.com/entertainment/tv/2010/11/07/16017606.html

That drop-off would have occurred whether Carson was there or not. Cable itself has expanded our choices, and people have more options now. Carson was old an old insider, and younger people wouldn’t have the nostalgic loyalty to it. Older folks generally hold on to things for old-times sake.
njoy-d-ride

Hope Conan’s new show does well.
stoogedudes

Kitsune said:
Way to start attacking people who haven’t even done anything.

Umm…how was I attacking? If anything, I was critical of Steve for writing a rather non-newsworthy article.

If what I wrote above constitutes an attack on right-wingers, it’s a pretty tame one compared to others I’ve seen.

Alfred J. Lemire said:
As for Mr. Letterman, I remember something from a radio program of my youth, repeated often: If you can’t say anything nice about someone, don’t say anything at all.

I wish we commenters here on this site could follow this. Kudos.
njoy-d-ride

Alric_IV said:
That drop-off would have occurred whether Carson was there or not

Have to agree with you. On both the number of choices people have today, and the audience itself is changing. References that make sense to me go right over younger people. Ask someone younger than 40 who “Tricky Dick” referrs to, just for an example.
Contessa

No explanation was required.
http://www.facebook.com/people/David-Mangan/100000213524770 David Mangan

cancon2

Way back in the ’80s I was at the Paris Air Show and found myself standing next to Johnny C. who I engaged in conversation. I had just come back from an extended trip to the Middle East and Asia and we talked about how the political situation was there. A rather obnoxious minder kept trying to tell him how evil the inhabitants of certain countries in the region were, but he shrugged the fellow off and I found him a gracious intelligent curious and attentive gentleman.

Just like he was as host of the Tonight Show, in fact.
Pat Quinn

Conan may not be funny but he is obviously smart. To be seen defending Sarah Palin in public usually holds you up to ridicule, I mean look at Jay Leno hahahaha.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Alfred-J-Lemire/100000045361210 Alfred J. Lemire

Hmm. there’s an exception to the rule about not saying anything about someone for whom positive words are not possible: politicians. The views of the politicians of the left, such evil fanatics as the President, the outgoing Speaker of the House, and the Majority Leader are subject to criticism. I attack the President and call him a fanatic, a demagogue, an ignoramus, and deeply dishonorable and dishonest human because he is, but also because of the mistaken high regard so many have had and continue to have for him. Someday, some will awaken from their trance. They will not do unaided, though none is a price and I am no princess.

I hold liberals, also known as progressives, but best known as leftists, in great contempt. Some do have ideals, but they invariably are so ignorant, irresponsible, and incompetent that they pursue the worst ways to accomplish their ideals, like supporting the weak, the poor, the infirm, and the aged in our society. One of the people behind what I call DemCare, often called ObamaCare, has decided that not enough dollars are available to spend on society’s health care needs. Forced to make a choice, he believes society limit the “chances” for care to the aged and the weak of mind. His thinking is not quite like that of the leftist Nazis, but it’s close.

And I still have nothing to say about Mr. Letterman, other than to wish him a good retirement. Today.
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