Louis makes an interesting point and one I hadn't really thought of. Since 2004 when it was announced that COB would be getting the Tonight Show I have been excited to see what he would do with it... not really thinking that he wouldn't be given any freedom and that he'd have to "cater to the man."

If I was Conan I would want that timeslot too. But I think I would have tried to find a way to stay in New York.

I kind of agree with him. Conan was so blinded by his dream of doing the tonight show he couldn't see what he would have to give up-his creative freedom. I do feel the ratings would be better if he was alowed to be himself. Yes, the probably would have fell from what Jay was doing, but he would of brought in even more younger viewers. In the long run I think this will be better for Consn and his fans. It's just messed up he had to move across the country first.

This is an interesting thought. I think Conan like anyone who has a "dream job" they work towards, thought this was his and wanted the opportunity to be a part of the Tonight Shows history. I guess now he's wishing he didn't take it (or not considering the payout he'll get). I also agree that it was probably partly NBCs micro-managing that did him in. I think through this whole mess that NBC has really damaged the "Tonight Show" brand and it's gonna be hard to recover even when Jay comes back. I remember the Carson years and it's kinda sad to see such a great show come to this.

Hmmmm. You know. He's right. "The Tonight Show" is absolutely nothing like what it used to be. Not for about 17 years now. Carson was a Master, and had Letterman taken "Tonight", he would have ran with it and carried on the tradition of brilliance. Leno grabbed the show and brought it down to his own dirty level with constant sex jokes and an inability to do a proper interview.

I believe Conan O'Brien thought he could have brought the show back to it's glory days. Had Conan been given the opportunity to do the show his own creative way - instead of being told how to do it by TV Execs who haven't got a single creative cell amongst them - he would have succeeded.

I wonder if Stephen Colbert would be willing to move his show back an hour on Comedy Central. "Daily Show With Jon Stewart" followed by "The Conan O'Brien Show" and then "The Colbert Report" would make a pretty good line up.

"...a unique take on what's becoming a very tired debate."

It's really refreshing to hear the writer of a television blog mention the Leno/Conan story as a "tired debate". TV Squad has really solidified its place as a television blog by randomly mentioning the story. When Gawker and other blogs/tabloids are reporting on this daily -- the biggest TV-related story in years (and specifically, since this last happened to Letterman/Leno), a blog that discusses television related news has posted more reviews of random shows than this.

You'll randomly post a blog if someone farts and it sounded like the theme from Mad Men -- you've solidified it's a great show, maybe one of the best in a long time. We get it -- how about posting about other stories in the TV realm. How is it that PopEater.com is following this story over TV Squad (a god damn TELEVISION BLOG!).

Maybe the fact that the story was one of the most commented on your site this week -- imagine how many page-views it would drive if you posted more?

I agree with Louis. I can't wait to see his new show! IS this list of stuff he could and couldn't say going to be printed? I'm curious how edgy FX is going to let him be.