Though it has been in the works for a very long time, the June 1st change from Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien on The Tonight Show still feels strange. Leno has grown into the face of the show, much like the legendary Johnny Carson before him. Conan O’Brien is most certainly a different type of talk show host, and The Tonight Show crowds will have to adjust to some degree. Gone is the laid back humor of Jay Leno and in is the zany, hyperactive humor of Conan O’Brien.
While some are not thrilled about the change, there is a large group of the younger generation that will move over to The Tonight Show. This group is a bit more edgy, and the humor of The Tonight Show is sure to follow. Conan O’Brien has always been known as a “push the envelope” type entertainment comedian, and he is going to be a breath of fresh air to the television show in my estimation.
Jay Leno is one of the finer talk show hosts in history, and is moving on to other projects himself. This includes a new show that is similar in format to The Tonight Show. Though Leno is moving on, he is sure to remain one of the most beloved television personalities on the circuit. Leno was not all that popular when he took over for late night legend Johnny Carson. Over time, he carved his own niche. Conan O’Brien is hoping to do something similar.
Friday night is scheduled to be the big send off for Leno, and Conan O’Brien will be on as a guest. The show is sure to be a great one as they will send off Leno in style. Conan O’Brien has shown great respect for Leno, and swears that the show is going to be strictly about him and him alone.
When Conan O’Brien takes the show over on Monday, the guests are sure to be extra special right out of the gate to help build viewership. NBC will probably spike in ratings at first, and the show will need to be top shelf to draw in those long time viewers. How Conan O’Brien will adjust his style, if it all, may determine the success of the show. One gets the impression that he is going to just be himself, and I certainly hope that is the case.
Some guests slated to welcome O’brien to the Late Night stage include Will Ferrell, Tom Hanks, and Gwynneth Paltrow. The historic first episode is slated for Monday, June 1st. The long term success of The Tonight Show is sure to give Conan a firm footing at least in the beginning, and how the old timers receive him will determine whether the fan base changes. One thing is certain; Conan O’Brien’s Tonight Show will be very different from Lenos. Whether that is a good thing remains to be seen.
