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Is NBC Eyeing Jon Stewart for a Late-night Gig?
Jon Stewart by Norman Jean Roy/Comedy Central
NBC Universal biggies Jeff Zucker and Marc Graboff recently had "exploratory" talks over dinner with Jon Stewart, Broadcasting & Cable reports, suggesting that the Daily Show frontman might somehow fit into the Peacock's late-night plan. Rather than pitch Stewart anything specific, a source tells B&C, Zucker and Graboff "just made their interest known in finding a way to do business together if Jon was ever available."
Stewart's Comedy Central pact expires in 2008, not long before Conan O'Brien is scheduled to inherit The Tonight Show from Leno. There is some buzz, though, that with Leno still being immensely profitable, NBC might pay Conan to walk away, thus freeing up the 12:30 slot.
POLL: Would NBC be wrong to pull The Tonight Show gig away from Conan? Vote here.
POLL: Would you like to see Stewart host a late-night talker? Vote here.
POLL: Should Leno retire as planned? Vote here.
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Jun 19, 2007 9:40 AM
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This is seriously, the worst idea I've ever heard.
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Jun 19, 2007 9:55 AM
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Afraid Jon will get horribly muzzled on a Big 4 program?
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Jun 19, 2007 9:59 AM
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I think this is cruel to Conan, because he seems so excited about going to "Tonight". He is always showing off things he is going to take to "Tonight". Nevertheless, the $40 mil he will be paid will cush the blow.
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Jun 19, 2007 10:01 AM
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Does this mean they will pay him to walk away from NBC or just hang on to Late Night with Conan a little longer. I love Conan and I'd hate to see him off TV altogether.
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Jun 19, 2007 10:14 AM
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Going from The Daily Show to NBC Late Night is like trading in your Porsche for a Huffy 2-wheeler (without the cute basket and ding-ding bell.) Don't do it Jon!!!
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Jun 19, 2007 10:39 AM
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Meh to The Tonight Show. Have Conan take Letterman's spot and give Tina Fey or Amy Sedaris their own talk show following that!
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Jun 19, 2007 10:39 AM
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I think Matt is correct: one of the best things about The Daily Show is that Stewart gets to say pretty much whatever he wants about whomever he wants. Perhaps NBC would offer him the moon, moneywise, but I'd like to think Stewart would hate working under the watchful eye of the NBC censors. The biggest pull for him at NBC would be the ginormous increase in viewers, since there are still plenty of people out there without basic cable.
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Jun 19, 2007 12:12 PM
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this is craptastic. I love conan.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:00 PM
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Frankly, I never thought the idea of Conan taking over the "Tonight Show" was a good idea. He is an acquired taste and will simply be too bizarre and quirky, leaving the traditional TS audience scratching their heads. I think he's fine where he is. He'd have to move to California and change his shtick, also. I think the show will lose viewers in droves. It's not his kind of show. I only watch him from time to time because, like Robin Williams and Jim Carrey, Conan's just a little too frenetic: watching him for a prolonged period is exhausting.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:00 PM
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Wow, best of luck to whomever hosts "Late Night" next. Enjoy your pending screwjob.
I'm sure what happened to Letterman and now perhaps Conan -- each both immeasurably more talented than 15 Jay Lenos -- is just a fluke, though.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:05 PM
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I absolutely love Conan and was THRILLED to hear he would take over the Tonight Show. I would stay up to watch that over Jay anyday! I hope NBC doesn't screw this up too and take Conan out of the picture.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:21 PM
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Two words: Craig Kilborn.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:29 PM
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This would really suck. I am a huge fan of Conan. So they would keep Leno and put Stewart in Conan's spot?! That just makes no sense. I couldn't see Leno agreeing to that anyway. If this happens, NBC would be responsible for screwing over Letterman and Conan. Not good. Not good.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:39 PM
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I'm a Leno fan, and I was very sad when it was announced Conan would take over. Conan's interviews are okay, but I cannot stand his monolog. The spins, jumping, close-ups into the camera lens just make me ill. Good thing Jimmy Kimmel's an option. I do sometimes watch Letterman, depending on who the guests are on Letterman and Leno. And some of Leno's segments after the monolog are unbearably awful. "The Audience Wants to Know", anything with the little older whiney guy or the older actor who was in the Dog Show movie are going to be not worth watching. Love Ross the Intern and the talking photo booth.
I would love it if ANYONE would do Leno when he leaves besides Conan. Sorry Conan. Maybe when you stop acting like an obnoxious 10 yr old boy in your monolog I'll watch, but I don't see you changing.
I don't have cable, so I have never seen Jon Stewart except when excerpts ar shown on network TV. I like what I've seen, and as long as he doesn't do some of the idiot behaviors during the monolog like Conan, I'll watch.
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Jun 19, 2007 1:45 PM
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