Fourteen years after his messy departure from NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” Conan O’Brien is set to make a return to the show on April 9. O’Brien will be promoting his new travel series “Conan O’Brien Must Go” for Max in a conversation with current host Jimmy Fallon. O’Brien had originally taken over as host of “The Tonight Show” in 2009, following Jay Leno, who was given a new prime-time show on NBC. However, after struggling ratings and pressure from affiliates, NBC made a plan to move Leno’s show to a half-hour slot, bumping “The Tonight Show” to a later time.
O’Brien refused to accept the move and publicly spoke out against it, ultimately leading to his departure from NBC in early 2010. Despite the controversial exit, O’Brien quickly returned to late-night television on TBS with his show “Conan,” which ran for nearly 11 years. While there was still some residual resentment towards NBC, O’Brien acknowledged the once “amazing partnership” he had with the network. He also mentioned that he no longer spoke to Leno, but had come to terms with what had happened and focused on what he could control.
Jimmy Fallon, who took over from Leno on “The Tonight Show” in 2014, has used his platform to extend an olive branch to past feuds, including when Joan Rivers made a brief appearance on his first night as host. Rivers had been famously banned from the show during Johnny Carson’s tenure as host. O’Brien himself made a surprise appearance on Fallon’s show after his departure from NBC, showing a sign of camaraderie among late-night hosts. O’Brien now hosts a podcast called “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” and his new travel show explores various countries around the world.
The overall dynamics among late-night talk show hosts have shifted from intense competition to more congeniality and even friendship. This was evident when Fallon, Stephen Colbert, Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Jimmy Kimmel teamed up for a podcast called “Strike Force Five” to support their staff during a writers strike. The hosting landscape has changed significantly since the days of the Leno-Letterman rivalry, with hosts now showing support for one another and working together on various projects. O’Brien’s return to “The Tonight Show” marks a significant moment in late-night television history, showcasing that time and a new host can indeed help heal old wounds.
O’Brien’s return to “The Tonight Show” also signifies a closing of a chapter in his late-night career and a chance to revisit a show that was once his dream job. Despite the tumultuous past, O’Brien’s comeback is a testament to his resilience and ability to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of television. As he prepares to sit down with Fallon on April 9, viewers will be tuning in to see how the reunion unfolds and whether it signifies a new era of camaraderie among late-night hosts. With the changing dynamics of the industry, O’Brien’s return could pave the way for more collaborations and goodwill among hosts in the late-night television world.
