Monday was a big day for “The Tonight Show.” It was the 50th anniversary of the late-night staple that started with Steve Allen, continued with Jack Paar, vaulted Johnny Carson to iconic status and turned a big-chinned lug of a comedian named Jay Leno into a household name.
It also marked the start of what’s to come.
NBC announced a move that will keep the show fresh, relevant and, above all, smart: Conan O’Brien, the pasty-white king of late-late night TV, will step into Leno’s ample shoes when Jay steps down in 2009.
It’s a gutsy move on the surface–after all, Leno has become synonymous with mainstream vanilla, while O’Brien’s later-night offerings are more often spiked with spicier humor. But NBC is showing some serious far-reaching vision by announcing this move, and announcing it now.
It’s true, Leno is the king of late-night TV (behold the ratings, Letterman fans). It is
also true that O’Brien is very different than Leno. O’Brien’s gags are smarter, riskier, and when they’re ridiculous, they are more sublime (i.e., the race between the Seattle Space Needle and Toronto’s CN tower.)
O’Brien’s persona is not as accessible as the Everyman Jay; the carrot-topped comedian was certainly an acquired taste to his viewers. But those who love him are absolute devotees, and that group is ever-widening.
The other smart thing about this move was the timing: None of this will actually happen for another five years. NBC has deftly created a bridge between its two back-to-back late-night shows, giving Leno viewers a chance to embrace O’Brien and giving O’Brien’s audience a chance to age into the current Leno demographic.
Smart of NBC to make it work in their favor. Smart of Leno to bow out before he was pushed out. Smart of O’Brien to recognize the impending shift in his demographic appeal. Smart viewers will follow him, because at the end of the day, he always delivers.
