Conan O’Brien at SiriusXM Studios in May 2023.Photo:Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Jamie McCarthy/Getty
Conan O’Brienis making his way back toThe Tonight Show!
Nicole Richieand musical guestBenson Boonewill also appear on the April 9 episode.
The Tonight Showwith Conan O’Brienran for two seasons on NBC before the host was fired from the role. He was unceremoniously removed from the show in 2010 after former host,Jay Leno, decided to return to screen.
The network proposed a half-hour time bump forThe Tonight Showto 12:05 p.m., which O’Brien was outspoken about — and largely met with public support.
Conan O’Brien hosting The Tonight Show in 2010.Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty
“I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it,” he said, in part, ina statementat the time. “My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of theTonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with theTonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.”
O’Brien bounced back quickly, landing his own self-titled TBS talk show, which aired from 2010 to 2021 for 11 seasons.
Leno commented on the switchup in a 2022 interview onBill Maher’sClub Randompodcast, denying he “deliberately sabotaged” O’Brien’s shot at the show. “That doesn’t work,” Leno said. “It doesn’t work that way. You try and do the best you can and it didn’t work.”
Leno’s version ofThe Tonight Showaired from 1992 to 2009, then again from 2010 to 2014. Fallon, 49, stepped in as Leno’s replacement in 2014 and has maintained the hosting job ever since.
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The Tonight Showwith Jimmy Fallonairs weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET on NBC.
source: people.com
