Leno’s Last, Conan’s First Show Now Set

We now know when Jay Leno’s last show will be on NBC.  We also know we won’t have much time to think about it because Conan O’Brien will start his version of the Tonight Show three days later.

Jay Leno will walk out on stage for the last time as host of the Tonight Show on Friday, May 29, 2009.  Conan O’Brien will walk out on stage for the first time as host of the Tonight Show three days later on Monday, June 1, 2009.

We are also learning that Jimmy Fallon will take over Late Night in March or April of 2009.  So, that means Conan will have a few months off before starting his new gig on a new coast.  Perhaps, like Leno did when he took over for Johnny Carson, Conan will tour NBC affiliates around the country trying to convince viewers and local station executives that he is the real deal.

I still can’t believe NBC is really going to let this happen.  Sure they pay Leno $27 million a year, but he makes the network almost $300 a year.  Will Conan O’Brien be able to hold Jay’s ratings and revenue?  I don’t think Conan will demand that much salary, but I also don’t think he will demand the ad dollars that Jay brings.  Five years from now, maybe….but that’s a long time in a short fused business (just ask Katie Couric). 

Despite what I say here, it is going to happen…so now we can spend the next ten months trying to figure out where Leno will land.  ABC, FOX, CNN, Oprah….actually, that is a good debate…where will Jay be a guest first?  Conan, Letterman, Kimmel, Larry King or Oprah?  My money would be on Kimmel because I think Leno will wind up at ABC.  The only thing we do know is that Leno is done with NBC.