Leno says he'd return to 'Tonight' if NBC asked

This is true. I've seen his show twice now and he looks so uncomfortable that you begin to feel uncomfortable watching him. One of the brilliant things about Carson was his ability to follow gaffes with a gaffe. It's that split second comedic timing Leno doesn't have on this new show. You see his guests throw out one-liners and some commit faux pas but he never takes advantage of them, sometimes not even responding to them.

We don't want you back.

Conan's tonight show is the funniest it has been since Carson's prime. Conan is funnier in one season than Leno has been for the past decade.

I grew up on Conan's Late Night in the 90s, and I have to say. His tonight show is actually funnier than he has ever been. And that's impressive considering how much they could get away with on late night.

Leno is such an ass.

Conan should bitch slap'em.

I have to say, I find Leno and Letterman not funny. Leno bores me and Letterman is a hypocrit. I can't say anything about Conan because I have never seen his shows. Johnny Carson was great. I think The Daily Show is good, too. Can't say about the Colbert report because I have only saw one episode.

What you are all seeing in my opinion is the quality of the writers on the Tonight Show. But, I do think Conan and Letterman are naturally funny guys...took me awhile to warm up (grow up?) to Letterman though. Plus, it's all about the chemistry these hosts can generate with guests. Leno just seems like an insecure, complex-laden guy to me for some reason...like it wouldn't be hard to make him cry on his own show or something! The relatively fewer viewing options in the late slot, plus the writing was the draw to Leno on the Tonight Show.

Jay Leno should retire, enjoy his money, and chill. He has had a good run... Now he will have more time to play with his neat toys.

" no one could ever compete with Johnny Carson. " Agreed.. nice that his old shows are now available on DVDs.

The tonight show is an institution and Conan is tanking it.

They have to do something, Conan can't last without killing the show.

Johnny, Ed & Doc were the institution.

The Tonight Show lost its relevance when they left.

Leno is a joke-teller, not an innovator of the calibre of Carson. Conan is a damn good writer... a pretty good comedian... a so-so interviewer... and a generally nice guy. He does a lot of things that a young Carson did (or would have done without the tight-fisted censorship in the early days).

Conan doesn't have the edge of Letterman, nor the gut-busting humor of Ferguson... but there's been far worse 'talent' hosting late night.

Leno in prime-time five times a week? THAT was the mistake.

Have to admit I like Ferguson, but it comes on too late for me. Guess I can set up to record, but its not quite the same at a different time.

I agree his show is ok, but to me it looked too much like they were trying to appeal to a more youthful crowd: neon lights, seemingly "newer" jokes, etc. It looked a little odd; he also seemed a little more confrontational than before I thought. Some of his jokes were funny, but overall I think all the late night shows are fairly unfunny to be honest; Letterman's alright, Conan's alright, and Jay is alright. I'd rather watch the Daily Show and Colbert to be honest.

You really don't have to be cruel to be funny and when comedians pull that off I am impressed.

Carson was a master at is as was Red Skelton.

Today four letter words are supposed to be funny... (if you go by the jokes many so called comedians use)... oh yeah, who says?

Leno is taking this all in stride. He has lived off of the money he makes doing stand-up his entire life. He has not touched a penny of his 'Tonight Show' money. He has enough eff-you-money that if his show is picked up for another season or if gets cancelled he will be fine.

He is not edgy but he is safe and NBC needs to appeal to the oldsters who think Conan is odd and plain unfunny. That seems to be Leno's role at the moment.

With his penchant for collecting expensive cars and motorcycles, plus living in the style he does, I doubt his stand up money covers all of it. But if you read that somewhere, that makes him one hell of a businessman for him to do this. And yes, he is not edgy. He leaves that for others to either sink or swim. Funniest thing Conan ever did was his spot on South Park. I find Letterman caustic and unfunny. Even his top 10 lists suck lately.

He is not edgy but he is safe and NBC needs to appeal to the oldsters who think Conan is odd and plain unfunny. That seems to be Leno's role at the moment.

??

A lot of older people think Conan reminds them of Johnny Carson. The way he is a lot more active, involved with the audience, interacts with his guests more directly, etc.

Leno did none of that. Because he's a stand up artist. Conan was a writer for both SNL and the Simpsons, and ran his own show for 15 years before stepping into the role. Again, Leno had none of that.

With his penchant for collecting expensive cars and motorcycles, plus living in the style he does, I doubt his stand up money covers all of it. But if you read that somewhere, that makes him one hell of a businessman for him to do this.

That is from Leno's own mouth. He does hundreds of stand-up shows per year across the country, only plays theaters and sells 'em out. He is definitely one helluva businessman.

??

A lot of older people think Conan reminds them of Johnny Carson. The way he is a lot more active, involved with the audience, interacts with his guests more directly, etc.

According to Nielsen, Conan dominates among 18-35 and Leno excels among oldsters. They both have very different demos. I can't argue that Conan's interview style is more Carson-like and more entertaining but Conan's monologue and bits don't seem to connect with the older generations.

I can't argue that Conan's interview style is more Carson-like and more entertaining but Conan's monologue and bits don't seem to connect with the older generations.

That is almost surprising to me because if you watch Conan, or have watched him in the past, his show has been modeled after Carson's guidelines from day 1.

The shows are strikingly similar. Conan does site Gags, just like Carson did (Leno never did many), Conan runs around, does a jig, gives you weird facial expressions, just like Carson did (again, Leno never does that), Conan employs a permenant sidekick in Andy Richter (even though he left the late show for a while, he was there at the beginning)...Carson employed a permenant sidekick in Ed Mcmahon.

Conan didn't just suddenly decide to make up the way he runs his show (both the late night and tonight shows, Conan's run his that way since he started). It's directly modeled after how Carson's was run.

I just don't see how people do not get that is Conan's ode to Johnny.

Conan's show is structurally similar to Carson's. There is no denying that. But, I believe, the similarities end there. I am just saying the breed of comedy Conan employs targets younger generations. The Masturbating Bear and the "Fun Hole" guy do not connect with the older generation of Carson watchers. In fact, those bits offend older viewers. Generational differences in comedy have always existed and always will.

What an awkward situation for all involved.

Maybe the signal Leno is sending, isn't so much about replacing Conan, but replacing Letterman.

Letterman's zipper problem on the surface seems to have left the public unconcerned, but the legal staff at NBC may not be as complacent about the mounting allegations of systematic sexual harassment.

I get a deja vu feeling here from the original Leno vs Letterman ratings war. I thought NBC may have promoted a new Leno vs Conan as a win/win for both their shows -- feeding off a feud.

Interesting thought.

Conan is already pulling number better than Jay did on the tonight show.

I think I read that Conan isn't doing as well as Leno was.

ok, you caught me, I was pulling that out my a$$. But I wonder how many are changing the channel when the Leno Show comes on and then don't change it back?

Good point.

I don't understand why they let him have a show at 10. Isn't that the normal time for drama shows like Law and Order?

A variety show costs less to put together than a drama. The real risk is that if the variety show doesn't fly they will plunk a reality show in the spot.