Everybody hear about the coming regime change at the Tonight Show?
NBC's Tonight Show host Jay Leno will retire at the end of his current five-year contract in 2009 and be replaced by Late Night host Conan O'Brien, the network said Monday.
O'Brien signed a new contract Monday that guarantees he will assume the job as host of America's top-rated late night talk show, The Tonight Show, sometime during the 2009 season. Leno took over the show from Johnny Carson in May 1992. By the time he steps down, he will have hosted the program for more than 17 years.
Which is about 16.5 years too long. Back in my heady childless days of yore, I watched Conan O'Brien. He continued the anarchic streak in late night that disappeared when Letterman moved up an hour, but don't count on that continuing when Conan takes over for Leno. And you can sure as hell say goodbye to the Masturbating Bear and Pimpbot 5000, as well as guests who won't get a sniff of the new time slot (Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson).
Unlike the Leno version, however, I'll actually watch the occasional Conan-helmed Tonight Show, if only to see if taking over at 10:30 makes him as unfunny and sycophantic as the Human Chin.
What about Triumph? Will 11:30 be the new time slot for him to poop on?
Conan, it looks like you finally struck that deal with the Devil.
Not to despair! You can still watch Marilyn on Graham Norton.