Saint Therese Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 [b]Fox ready to swoop in on Conan[/b] Comments: 6 By MICHAEL SHAIN [i]Last Updated:[/i] 10:31 AM, January 25, 2010 [i]Posted:[/i] 1:31 AM, January 25, 2010 FOXis set to move fast to pick up Conan O'Brien for a rival late-nightshow, according to sources.<p> </p><br>Talks between O'Brien and Fox could start as early as thisweek.<p> </p><br>"Chances like this don't come around very often," says the source withknowledge of the situation.<p> </p><br>"If Fox wants to be in late night, now's the time."<p></p><br>That Fox is interested in Conan is no secret.<p></p><br>"He's one of the few guys on the planet who has demonstrated he can doone of these shows every night," Peter Reilly, Fox's entertainmentpresident, said last week.<p> </p><br>What is new is word that Fox wants to complete a deal with Conanquickly.<p> </p><br>Fox has long wanted to create a late-night show -- and a morning show-- to compete with NBC, ABC and CBS.<p> </p><br>"<p> </p><br>Today" and "<p></p><br>Tonight," for instance, are cash cows for NBC --bring in around $800 million a year in revenues.<p></p><br>But starting flagship shows like those has been next toimpossible.<p> </p><br>"<p> </p><br>The Chevy Chase Show," Fox's lastattempt to crack late night, was canceled in 1993 after just fourweeks.<p> </p><br>Joan Rivers lasted less than a year on Fox late night in1986-87.<p> </p><br>But more things are in Fox's favor now than in the past, sourcesexplained.<p> </p><br>O'Brien's young appeal is a better fit at Fox than at NBC, which wasused to the larger-but-older audience that Jay Leno had been getting at11:30.<p> </p><br>Fox is the top-ranked network now -- it was No. 4 then -- thanks toshows like "<p> </p><br>American Idol," and it hasthe clout to promote Conan better.<p> </p><br>And, most attractive of all, Conan's salary will be paid in large partby NBC -- thanks to the $32.5-million settlement he received last weekto get out of his "Tonight" show contract.<p></p><br>Indications are that Fox execs began quizzing local affiliates lastweek to see if time at 11 p.m. -- now reserved mostly for reruns ofcomedies -- can be cleared.<p> </p><br>"If they don't jump now, they'll have to wait another five years foranother opportunity like this to come along," says the source.<p></p><br>Offers from cable TV channels and TV syndication are also expected tocome in this week, sources close to Conan said.<p></p><br>At the center of talks with Fox will be whether Conan, like DavidLetterman, will be allowed to own his show -- or split ownership withFox.<p> </p><br>"One things for sure," says a Conan source. "He won't do anything thatis not a high-quality show."<p> </p><br>Translation: Any new show will be expecting a "Tonight" show-typebudget.<p> </p><br>A spokesman for Fox could not be reached yesterday.<p></p><br> FOX is set to move fast to pick up [url="http://www.nypost.com/t/Conan_O%27Brien"]Conan O'Brien[/url] for a rival late-night show, according to sources. Talks between O'Brien and Fox could start as early as this week. "Chances like this don't come around very often," says the source with knowledge of the situation. "If Fox wants to be in late night, now's the time." That Fox is interested in Conan is no secret. "He's one of the few guys on the planet who has demonstrated he can doone of these shows every night," Peter Reilly, Fox's entertainmentpresident, said last week. What is new is word that Fox wants to complete a deal with Conan quickly. Fox has long wanted to create a late-night show -- and a morning show -- to compete with NBC, ABC and CBS. "[b][url="http://www.nypost.com/t/Today_%28NBC_Program%29"]Today[/url][/b]" and "[b]Tonight[/b]," for instance, are cash cows for NBC -- bring in around $800 million a year in revenues. But starting flagship shows like those has been next to impossible. "[b]The Chevy Chase Show[/b]," Fox's last attempt to crack late night, was canceled in 1993 after just four weeks. [url="http://www.nypost.com/t/Joan_Rivers"]Joan Rivers[/url] lasted less than a year on Fox late night in 1986-87. But more things are in Fox's favor now than in the past, sources explained. O'Brien's young appeal is a better fit at Fox than at NBC, which was used to the larger-but-older audience that [url="http://www.nypost.com/t/Jay_Leno"]Jay Leno[/url] had been getting at 11:30. Fox is the top-ranked network now -- it was No. 4 then -- thanks to shows like "[b][url="http://www.nypost.com/t/American_Idol"]American Idol[/url][/b]," and it has the clout to promote Conan better. And, most attractive of all, Conan's salary will be paid in large partby NBC -- thanks to the $32.5-million settlement he received last weekto get out of his "Tonight" show contract. Indications arethat Fox execs began quizzing local affiliates last week to see if timeat 11 p.m. -- now reserved mostly for reruns of comedies -- can becleared. "If they don't jump now, they'll have to wait anotherfive years for another opportunity like this to come along," says thesource. Offers from cable TV channels and TV syndication are also expected to come in this week, sources close to Conan said. At the center of talks with Fox will be whether Conan, like [url="http://www.nypost.com/t/David_Letterman"]David Letterman[/url], will be allowed to own his show -- or split ownership with Fox. "One things for sure," says a Conan source. "He won't do anything that is not a high-quality show." Translation: Any new show will be expecting a "Tonight" show-type budget. Read more: [url="http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/fox_ready_to_swoop_in_on_conan_dnDxLiRzyGOJAc6xufoIfJ#ixzz0ddsVEjDe"]http://www.nypost.co...J#ixzz0ddsVEjDe[/url] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laetitia crucis Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 [IMG]http://i802.photobucket.com/albums/yy305/laetitia_crucis/Random/coco.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Therese Posted January 25, 2010 Author Share Posted January 25, 2010 I hope he gets a show on Fox, and I hope that he beats NBC every night on ratings. Good for him! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laetitia crucis Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 [quote name='Saint Therese' date='25 January 2010 - 12:54 PM' timestamp='1264438468' post='2044188'] I hope he gets a show on Fox, and I hope that he beats NBC every night on ratings. Good for him! [/quote] Ditto! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veridicus Posted January 25, 2010 Share Posted January 25, 2010 Woot Woot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Apotheoun Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 How the mighty have fallen . . . twenty years ago NBC was a pretty good place to be: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnmr6SUpglU&fmt=18[/media] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ReinnieR Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 didn't letterman also offer conan his job since his contract with cbs is about to expire this fall? it would be cute if o'brien was letterman's successor twice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saint Therese Posted January 27, 2010 Author Share Posted January 27, 2010 [img]http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/conan-obrien.jpg[/img] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laetitia crucis Posted January 27, 2010 Share Posted January 27, 2010 [quote name='Saint Therese' date='27 January 2010 - 03:44 PM' timestamp='1264621481' post='2045929'] [img]http://totallylookslike.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/conan-obrien.jpg[/img] [/quote] Who is Tarja Halonen? Good thing she doesn't have the same hair cut as Conan... then I might have to call her "Conana". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Normile Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 I could care less if Conan gets a show or not, it is not like he is either hurting for money or is a good influence on anyone. He is as liberal as any, I remember him making fun of Mel Gibson back when he was the scorn of hollywood for his Passion movie, he probably loves him now he has fallen more into line with the morals of hollyweird. They can pick up a new funny guy/liberal anywhere, probably use the same writers anyway. ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardillacid Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 [quote name='laetitia crucis' date='27 January 2010 - 06:46 PM' timestamp='1264635968' post='2046082'] Who is Tarja Halonen? Good thing she doesn't have the same hair cut as Conan... then I might have to call her "Conana". [/quote] She's/was prime minister of Sweden or Norway or something... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 [quote name='notardillacid' date='27 January 2010 - 10:50 PM' timestamp='1264650653' post='2046192'] She's/was prime minister of Sweden or Norway or something... [/quote] Finland! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardillacid Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 [quote name='homeschoolmom' date='27 January 2010 - 10:54 PM' timestamp='1264650890' post='2046194'] Finland! [/quote] They're all the same! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Normile Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 [quote name='notardillacid' date='27 January 2010 - 11:13 PM' timestamp='1264651994' post='2046201'] They're all the same! [/quote] Yup, cold places with funny speaking peoples living there. ed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted January 28, 2010 Share Posted January 28, 2010 [quote name='Apotheoun' date='27 January 2010 - 05:13 AM' timestamp='1264587213' post='2045758'] How the mighty have fallen . . . twenty years ago NBC was a pretty good place to be: [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnmr6SUpglU&fmt=18[/media] [/quote] Ah those were the days... and that was before Seinfeld and Friends... NBC used to be king... now it's a joke. (PS... ahahaha... David Letterman pulls the plug on NBC!!!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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