Conan O’Brien to Land on TBS Starting in November

by Dave Levy | 12:55 pm, April 12th, 2010

» 29 comments

This is all just breaking, but it seems that not only will April 12 be the day that Conan kicks off his comedy tour, but also the day his future on television is know known. According to CNN, Conan O’Brien will host a one-hour show every weekday from 11 p.m. to Midnight on TBS. Like CNN, TBS is owned by Time Warner.

More details as they come, but you have to wonder a few things, especially that there will now be a cable evening battle between Jon Stewart and Conan.

Developing throughout the afternoon…

Screen cap of the historic tweet:

Writing for the Media Decoder blog for the NY Times, Bill Carter reports:

The former “Tonight Show” host has agreed to start up a new show on TBS, the comedy-oriented cable channel in the Turner network lineup. The new show will start in November and play at 11 p.m. weeknights, teamed with that network’s other late-night show, hosted by George Lopez. That show, now at 11, will slide to midnight.

The news comes as a stunner because Mr. O’Brien was known to be in talks with the Fox network, and most predictions had him moving there in September or January.

TBS was not known to be in the picture. But Mr. O’Brien’s representatives had been quietly talking with that cable network as issues continued to arise with the potential Fox deal.

This is big news for fans of both funny things and television shows (and a HUGE win for fans of both!) Video of the breaking news reports on Fox News and CNN:

Conan O'Brien, TBS

TylerDurdin

Conan, try not to stink like ya did on NBC.
Toshiba2

Yes, Yes, Yes, O how I’ve miss you Conan!!
JamesA1102

Conan, try not to stink like ya did on NBC.

Well as least he won’t have a Leno as a lead-in dragging him down.
TylerDurdin

“Well as least he won’t have a Leno as a lead-in dragging him down.”

Leno beats ALL late night shows including Letterman.
Toshiba2

Jesus Tyler, your propensity to agitate is amazing!
TylerDurdin

“Jesus Tyler, your propensity to agitate is amazing!”

Wow, now sating facts is “agitating” in your distopic world.
Cactus

Leno at 10pm dragged down the local evening news and whatever followed after it; a Law and Order rerun gets nearly double the audience as a brand-new “Jay Leno Show”.

You can’t dispute Leno’s success in a late-night context, but in prime time, it was the worst lead-in you could possibly have.
stoogedudes

Hey, Tyler Durdin, I’m on lunch break on the job I don’t have (according to you)!

I’m glad Conan’s coming back. Don’t watch TBS much, but I will now. Conan was hilarious at Late Night and on Tonight Show, hopefully TBS will allow him to be as funny as he was on NBC.

I used to like Leno, but he’s not as funny as he used to be. Never really was a fan of Letterman, but it all depends on taste.
TylerDurdin

Hey, stoogedudes, can I get fries with that?
JamesA1102

Leno beats ALL late night shows including Letterman.

Not in the race that really counts: http://adage.com/images/random/0210/030110-LateNight-pg2.jpg?1267480645
TylerDurdin

JamesA1102 says:
April 12, 2010 at 2:12 pm

Leno beats ALL late night shows including Letterman.

Not in the race that really counts: http://adage.com/images/random/0210/030110-LateNight-pg2.jpg?1267480645”

Sorry, viewers could not care less about ad dollars.

Try again.
stoogedudes

LOL! I don’t know, the company I work for sells them by the bulk to companies in the food industry. Assuming again, are you?

I would trade barbs with you, but I do have to go back to work…something you don’t seem to have since you spend gobs of time trolling this site and who knows how many other sites. But I can’t say that you don’t have a job, can I? I don’t know if you do or not. But whatever. Have fun trolling the rest of the day.
TylerDurdin

You too!
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joo-Manuel-Gomes/100000082753555 João Manuel Gomes

Weird move in my opinion. Fox (and we can have our views about that network – good or bad – ) seemed totally game on, not only, having Conan on their network but also staying with him no matter what. Let’s see if TBS has the same frame of mind and let’s also be honest: TBS’s track record of talk show is not the best. Wanda Sykes show (even if it is a good show) is not doing well in ratings, and George Lopez’s show (correct me if I’m wrong) isn’t either and even if we forget that aspect, when we think of TBS do we think of talk show network? FOX, in my opinion would have been a better and a less volatile choice.
Toshiba2

Wanda Sykes is on FOX, and George Lopez is doing fine in the ratings!
TylerDurdin

Toshiba2 says:
April 12, 2010 at 2:45 pm

Wanda Sykes is on FOX, and George Lopez is doing fine in the ratings!”

Provide the link to support this.
Toshiba2

Go find it yourself, google.com!
TylerDurdin

Toshiba2 says:
April 12, 2010 at 2:55 pm

Go find it yourself, google.com”

You are an idiot. You made the claim now prove it or shut your noise.

You obviously are a liar because you would have had to Google it yourself to make such a bald faced lie!

And Letterman?

Even “Nightline” is beating him!

LMAO

Categorized | Late Night TV Ratings, Network TV Press Releases

“Nightline” Outperforms “Letterman” With Adults 18-49, 25-54 and Total Viewers

Posted on 08 April 2010 by Robert Seidman

via press release:

“NIGHTLINE” OUTPERFORMS “LETTERMAN” IN A25-54, A18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS
Toshiba2

huh, what am I’m lying about? Wanda Sykes is on Fox Broadcast? or Lopez is doing fine in the ratings? if you dont have the wherewithal to google if Sykes is on Fox or Lopez’s ratings um..that your problem! Google.com: What network is Wanda Sykes show on? and Lopez tonights ratings!
TylerDurdin

You are a liar!

Show Lopez’s ratings or Sykes’.
Toshiba2

What are you talking about? Try re-reading the comments from above! The Wanda Sykes show is on Fox and Lopez Tonight is doing fine in the ratings!
TylerDurdin

Lopez Tonight is doing fine in the ratings.”

If that is so, you would have had to find a site that showed his ratings were “fine.”

Provide the link that shows that.

You can’t!
Toshiba2

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/strong-starts-for-george-lopez-wanda-sykes-shows/?scp=2&sq=Lopez%20Tonight%20ratings&st=cse
TylerDurdin

Toshiba2, try again.

That’s just after their shows started.

Post something from March-April 2010.

BTW, when Leno started his 10PM show, he had nearly 17 million viewers for his 1st. show and we know how that turned out.
TylerDurdin

Toshiba2, I can’t find any recent ratings for Wanda but I found this rating just 1 week after her premiere:

“http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/11/16/wanda-sykes-show-ratings-down-14-from-debut/33750
Categorized | Late Night TV Ratings

Wanda Sykes Show Ratings Down 14% From Debut

Posted on 16 November 2009 by Bill Gorman

Wanda-Sykes

Saturday’s second episode of Fox’s “Wanda Sykes Show” drew a 1.9 metered-market household rating, down 14% from its debut. That slips just under the “Mad TV” average for the fourth quarter last year.

Oh, snap!

I can’t wait to hear you scream racism when her show is canceled.
TylerDurdin

Translation : So long Lopez!
JamesA1102

Sorry, viewers could not care less about ad dollars.

Without ad dollars there would be no shows. That’s what really matters to the networks. That’s why it’s called show business.
Jamestaylor

“Without ad dollars there would be no shows. That’s what really matters to the networks. That’s why it’s called show business.”

Really? I have yet to hear one person not in network management ask, “Yeah, I like the show, but what are its ad revenues?”
JamesA1102

Really? I have yet to hear one person not in network management ask, “Yeah, I like the show, but what are its ad revenues?”

The key phrase being ‘Not in network management’.