Conan's Last

During this whole Late Night debacle, I've had a change of heart. I loved Jay Leno - I was the biggest fan of Headlines and of the Tonight Show at 11:35 p.m. I wasn't a massive supporter of the move to 10 p.m., but I was so happy to receive my Headlines every Monday night again.

Ever since the suggested move has been thrown out there, I am no longer a fan of Jay Leno. As much as I love his little bits (even the new ones like Jay's 10 at 10), it is no comparison to what Conan has earned over the years. True, Conan was a writer in the beginning and he had no television experience, but look at the fan base he has created! Most college students have heard of something said by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, or know the Imaginary String Dance.

When Conan's show ended at 12:05 last year, I watched the last episode of Jay and Conan. I wasn't even a dedicated fan of Conan's at the time, but I have such respect for him now. He is taking a stand for what is rightfully his. He has the cajones to say "This isn't the way it should be handled" to the execs of NBC, and he's absolutely right. Leno has more than enough money, cars, etc. that he does not NEED to work, not to mention that his 10 o'clock show simply wasn't working. It wasn't generating the numbers and his star power is over after the nearly 20 years on the air (either in prime time or late night).

Okay, finally, I am so heated about this whole mess, and now I have to look back and ask, "why is this even remotely important?" One of my roommates says (indirectly) that it doesn't matter. And in the grand scheme of things, clearly the "Late Night Debate" is not what keeps the world turning. I am boycotting Jay Leno's return to 11:35 p.m. after the Olympics. I am hoping that the rest of the Late Night world joins me. According to my roommate, people will just be sitting, watching the television and saying, "Oh, Jay's on. He's funny" and watch either way. Why celebrate a man who has stolen another man's golden opportunity?

Conan and his staff have worked for months and months to produce a wonderful show. Everyone in his staff had to relocate from NYC to LA, and all for a less-than-a-year sham. I feel for Conan's staff and crew, and I am sad for his show to conclude in the little time remaining of his last show.

After all of that ranting, I do have to say: Support Hope for Haiti Now. It's a wonderful cause, and the performances from Hope For Haiti Now were truly moving and inspiring.
Go to hopeforhaitinow.org. Text "give" to 50555 or "haiti" to 90999.