Conan O'Brien,  Jay Leno,  The Tonight Show

Will NBC Keep Jay Leno?

July 22, 2007 /

Posing for a group photograph, comedians gather to honor political satirist Mort Sahl during an 80th birthday salute to Sahl in Los Angeles June 28, 2007. Shown are front row (L-R) Shelley Berman, Jonathan Winters, George Carlin, Mort Sahl and Harry Shearer. Back row (L-R) Richard Lewis, Jay Leno, Norm Crosby,Kevin Nealon, friend Hugh Hefner, Ross Shaefer, producer of the tribute, Drew Carey and Albert Brooks.

Conan O’Brien is scheduled to take over for Jay Leno at The Tonight Show in 2009 when Leno turns 59.

The question:

Will NBC keep Jay Leno with the NBC network?

The Answer:

Doubtful

ABC and Fox need a late night presence. After a six month hiatus, Jay will jump to the highest bidder for a few years and jump start their competition with The Tonight Show and CBS’s Letterman.

NBC made a strategic error with promising The Tonight Show franchise to Conan O’Brien – who in Flap’s estimation will not be able to maintain Carson and Leno’s audience.

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