FILE - In this June 1, 2009 file photo provided by NBC, Conan O'Brien makes his debut as the host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" in Universal City, Calif. |
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Conan O'Brien says he's rejecting NBC's attempt to move "The Tonight Show" to a post-midnight slot to accommodate Jay Leno's return to late-night. In a statement Tuesday, O'Brien says that NBC has given him a scant seven months to try to establish himself as host of "Tonight."
NBC wants to move "The Jay Leno Show" out of prime-time and to the 11:35 p.m. EST daily slot, bumping "Tonight" to 12:05 p.m. EST.
O'Brien said he hoped he and NBC could resolve the issue quickly so he could do a show of which he and his crew could be proud - "for a company that values our work" - raising the possibility he might go to another network. But he said he has no such offer.