CONAN TO REPLACE JAY IN 2009.Byline: Valerie Kuklenski Staff Writer After an 11-year audition, Conan O'Brien Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963)[1] is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer and television personality best known as host of NBC's late-night talk/variety show Late Night with Conan O'Brien. has been tapped to replace Jay Leno Jay Leno (born April 28, 1950) is an Emmy-winning American comedian, writer who is best known as the current host of NBC television's long-running variety and talk program The Tonight Show. Biography Leno was born in New Rochelle, New York. as host of NBC's ``Tonight Show'' when Leno retires in 2009. The network announced the succession Monday morning to entertainment reporters and Leno made it official with viewers on Monday's broadcast, which was celebrating the 50th anniversary of the show. ``In 2009, I'll be 59 years old and will have had this dream job for 17 years,'' Leno said in a statement. ``When I signed my new contract, I felt that the timing was right to plan for my successor and there is no one more qualified than Conan. ``Plus, I promised Mavis (his wife) I would take her out for dinner before I turned 60,'' the notoriously workaholic work·a·hol·ic n. One who has a compulsive and unrelenting need to work. comedian added. O'Brien's new contract calls for hosting his New York-based ``Late Night With Conan O'Brien'' (the show and 12:30 a.m. time slot he inherited from David Letterman) until 2009, when he moves to the NBC NBC in full National Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. commercial broadcasting company. It was formed in 1926 by RCA Corp., General Electric Co. (GE), and Westinghouse and was the first U.S. company to operate a broadcast network. Burbank studios for ``The Tonight Show.'' O'Brien said he considers ``Tonight'' ``one of the greatest franchises in television'' and he thanked Leno for his generous support. In a 2002 interview coinciding with his 10th anniversary, Leno said, `` 'The Tonight Show' is a bit like the America's Cup. You just try not to screw it up for the next guy. I don't want to be the guy who runs it into the ground.'' ``The Tonight Show'' has led or tied the ratings against top rival Letterman on CBS' ``The Late Show'' and easily trounces ABC ABC in full American Broadcasting Co. Major U.S. television network. It began when the expanding national radio network NBC split into the separate Red and Blue networks in 1928. newsmagazine ``Nightline.'' Letterman closed the margin last week when his guests included Sen. John Kerry. Leno's tenure has seen the ridiculous (the Dancing Itos during the O.J. Simpson murder trial) and the unexpected (Arnold Schwarzenegger's stunning announcement that he would run for governor of California The Governor of California is the highest executive authority in the state government, whose responsibilities include making yearly "State of the State" addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced. ). His most popular regular comedy bits have included Headlines, a weekly skewering of typos, strange ads and ``duh'' moments in newspapers, and Jaywalking jay·walk intr.v. jay·walked, jay·walk·ing, jay·walks To cross a street illegally or in a reckless manner. [From jay2, inexperienced person. , his man-on-the-street conversations with some of Los Angeles' least-enlightened residents and visitors. O'Brien's popular bits include his mock interviews with news makers staged with a photograph superimposed su·per·im·pose tr.v. su·per·im·posed, su·per·im·pos·ing, su·per·im·pos·es 1. To lay or place (something) on or over something else. 2. over an actor mimicking the voice. O'Brien will be the fifth ``Tonight Show'' host, following Leno (1992-2009), Johnny Carson (1962-1992), Jack Paar (1957-1962) and Steve Allen (1954-1957). Valerie Kuklenski, (818) 713-3750 valerie.kuklenski(at)dailynews.com |
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