The War for Late Night (66 page)

This book is almost exclusively the product of firsthand reporting. I gained information from several other sources, especially in-depth interviews in
Rolling Stone
magazine. I also relied on some of my own reporting for
The New York Times.
But I was most fortunate to have the encouragement of some extraordinary editors there
.
I want especially to thank Bruce Headlam and Steve Reddicliffe.

At Viking, thanks to the president, Clare Ferraro, and the executive editor, Rick Kot, as well as Laura Tisdel, who rode herd on the copy. And of course I must once again thank my stalwart agent, Kathy Robbins, a supplier of great advice and confidence.

My fondest appreciation goes to Rich and Nikki Carter, Catherine and Dan O’Neill, Alexandra Carter and Greg Lembrich, Rich and Brittany Carter, John Carter, Bridget and Danny O’Neill, Tom and Regina Lembrich, Phil and Denise Andrews, Frank and Diane Guercio, Lori and Thom Peters, Aine and Paul McCambridge, Kathy and Eric Davidson, Leslie and Paul Marchese, Gerry Uehlinger, and Dr. Tom Ziering.

Thanks to Pat Berry, and a shout-out to the “cool kids” table on the 14th floor. I also benefited immeasurably from having an early reader, and always friend, Eric Mink.

From Fox, my great thanks to Kevin Reilly and Peter Rice. From ABC, Anne Sweeney. From TBS, Steve Koonin. From the E Channel, Ted Harbert.

I am grateful to two complete professionals from NBC, Allison Gollust and Rebecca Marks, as well as Cory Shields, Jeff DeRome, and Tracy St. Pierre. Others I am indebted to at NBC include Marc Graboff, Rick Ludwin, Nick Bernstein, Alan Wurtzel, Ron Meyer, Michael Bass, and Michael Fiorile. Jeff Gaspin supplied his recollections with impressive frankness. Dick Ebersol has always related his experiences with color and candor—never more so than this time. Lorne Michaels, as he has often in the past, found remarkable ways to express the essence of what was really going on.

I want to express special appreciation to Jeff Zucker. He was, as he has always been, open, thoughtful, and giving with his time and his perspectives.

Thanks also to Gail Berman, Lloyd Braun, Alan Berger, Andrea Wong, Robert Morton, Jeff Garlin, Bob Thompson, Don Ohlmeyer, Marc Liepis, Brian Williams—and for great laughs and observations, Jerry Seinfeld. Others contributed reflections and comments and asked not to be identified. All of them have my deepest appreciation.

From
The Late, Late Show
, thanks to Craig Ferguson, Michael Naidus, and two of the best people I know, Peter and Alice Lassally. From
Late Night
, thanks to Jimmy Fallon and Mike Shoemaker. From
Late Night with David Letterman,
I greatly appreciate Tom Keaney’s efforts on my behalf, as well as Rob Burnett’s valuable contributions. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert share a common thread: their irrepressible agent, James Dixon. Big thanks to James and his clients, especially his third one, Jimmy Kimmel, whose extraordinary generosity of spirit has always extended to me.

Jay Leno has never been anything but warm and welcoming to me. I especially thank him for his thoughtfulness to me this year. I also appreciate the help and insights of Jay’s wise and essential producer, Debbie Vickers.

From “Team Coco,” thanks to Gavin Polone, Mike Sweeney, Drew Shane, and Andy Richter, as well as Ari Emanuel and especially the class act that is Rick Rosen. Throughout this effort, Conan’s executive producer, Jeff Ross, was, as he has always been for me, the gold standard for generosity, dependability, and decency.

I have been privileged to chronicle much of Conan O’Brien’s amazing ride through late night. This year, Conan displayed only more openness, honesty, and grace under pressure. He was generous beyond the call. Special thanks as well to Liza O’Brien.

Three people make everything in my life possible. My children, Caela Ellen Carter and Daniel Houston Carter, fill my days with the purest form of joy. Their mother, the love of my life, Beth Keating Carter, remains the wisest editor, most enthusiastic reader, and greatest partner anyone could ever have. No man has ever been more blessed.

ABC

proposal to Conan

proposal to Leno

Affiliates

Jay Leno Show
failure with

opposition to Conan

Agoglia, John

Alexander, Jason

Bass, Michael

Berger, Alan

Berman, Gail

Bernstein, Nick

Birkitt, Stephanie

Braun, Lloyd

Conan’s shift to 12:05, reaction to

hires Kimmel

network experience of

Brecheen, Leigh

Bromstad, Angela

Burnett, Rob

comments about Leno

and Conan

and Kilborn

on “late-night war,”

Carey, Drew

Carolla, Adam

Carson, Johnny

advice about
SNL

-Conan meetings

jokes, sending to Letterman

last show

leaves
Tonight Show

Leno alienation

and Letterman

and Seinfeld

successor. See
Tonight Show, The
with Jay Leno

CBS, Letterman signs with

Charles, Larry

Chase, Chevy

Chernin, Peter

proposal to Conan

proposal to Leno

Colbert, Stephen

as comic, development of

family background

Comcast, Universal takeover by

Cook, Michelle

Costas, Bob

Creative Artists Agency

Crystal, Billy

cost of show

Emmy Awards to

Kilborn as host

Stewart as host

Daniels, Greg

Davies, Michael

“Devil-Bear,”

Dixon, James

as Colbert’s agent

as Kimmel’s agent

as Stewart’s agent

DVDs, impact on ratings

Ebersol, Dick

improving show, suggestions to Conan

Jay at prime time, negativity toward

and late-night programming

as Leno supporter

and NFL deal

post-war position of

Tonight
/ Conan, negativity toward

Elliott, Chris

Emanuel, Ari

and Conan move to
Tonight Show

Conan’s shift to 12:05, reaction to

and Fox/Conan talks

Emmy Awards, Conan as host

Endeavor

and Fox/Conan talks

See also
Rosen, Rick

Fallon, Jimmy

as comic, development of

family background

Late Night
with

on
SNL

upfront week performance

Ferguson, Craig

as comic, development of

family background

Late Late Show
host

Ferrell, Will

Finnerty, Dan

Fiorile, Michael

Fox

acquiring Conan, efforts in

pitch to Kimmel

proposal to Leno

See also
Chernin, Peter

Garlin, Jeff

on late-night wars

Gaspin, Jeff

on Conan as financial liability

Conan’s Manifesto, interpretation of

expectations of Leno

on late-night wars

Leno leaves prime-time meetings

Leno leaves prime-time strategy

NBC Entertainment under

post-war position of

Glaser, Patty

Gollust, Allison

“Gossip,”

Graboff, Marc

and Conan move to
Tonight Show

Conan’s Manifesto, interpretation of

and Leno contract negotiations

Leno leaves prime-time meetings

Leno leaves prime-time strategy

at upfront week

Groundlings

Halderman, Joe

Hale, Boyd

“Happy Happy Good Show, The,”

Hartman, Andrea

Harvard, Conan’s activities at

Harvey, Allan

Iger, Bob

proposal to Conan

proposal to Leno

Immelt, Jeff

and NFL deal

Zucker relationship with

cancellation leak

canceling, NBC alternative ideas

departing statement

failure with affiliates

first show

format of

the “Leno effect,”

Leno’s contract

Leno’s negativity about

as NBC “don’t lose Leno” strategy

NBC negativity toward

pay-and-play agreement

ratings

Jay Leno Show, The
(special 1986)

Jean, Al

Kimmel hired for

Leno parody

“10 at 10” with Leno

time slot changes

upfront week performance

during writers’ strike

Kilborn, Craig, and
Daily Show, The

Kimmel, Jimmy

career, development of

comments about Leno

family background

on future of late-night show

late-night show. See
Jimmy Kimmel Live!

and Leno

Leno’s package deal for

as Letterman fan

post-war position of

on Super Bowl promo

Kinnear, Greg

Klein, Howard

Koonin, Steve

Koppel, Ted

Kudrow, Lisa

Kushnick, Helen

Lasko, Regina

Lassally, Peter

Carson jokes, sending to Letterman

pitch to Ferguson

relationship with Letterman

Ferguson hired

improv approach to

ratings versus Conan

Snyder, first host

during writers’ strike

Late-night show, future view for

Late-night wars

post-war commentary

Conan’s audition

early feedback

first renewals, thirteen-week

first show

improving, NBC notes ignored

last show

new host, Conan as choice for

positive turnaround

Prince of Wales contract option

ratings, rise in

Ross as producer

sidekick. See Richter, Andy

Stewart as competitor

successor. See Fallon, Jimmy

during writers’ strike

Carson jokes submitted to

head writer/producer, offer to Conan

Leno appearances on

Letterman leaves NBC

search for successor

Late Night
with Jimmy Fallon

beginning of

McCain, bits about

on 9/11

Palin insult/apology by

ratings versus Conan

ratings versus Leno

reinvention of show

revenues

during writers’ strike

Leno, Cathryn Muir

Leno, Jay

ABC proposals to

attorney. See Ziffren, Ken

automobile collection

as Carson successor. See
Tonight Show, The
with Jay Leno

“closet moment,”

comments about Conan

comments about Letterman

contract renewal (2004)

earnings at NBC

family background

finances, handling of

image, post-war rehabilitation of

and Kimmel

Late Night
appearances

lifestyle of

NBC “don’t lose Leno” tactics

negative portrayals of

outreach to Michaels

at prime time. See
Jay Leno Show, The

public image of

relationship with mother

representation, lack of

school difficulties

self-comparison to Letterman

Sony offer

special (1986)

Super Bowl promo

Tonight
with Conan, Zucker meeting

upfront week performance

wife of

work ethic of

Leno, Mavis

Leno, Patrick

Letterman, David

affair/extortion incident

Carson, relationship with

comedy, personal style

comments about Conan

comments about Leno

Conan’s shift to 12:05, reaction to

earnings at NBC

Emmy Awards to

leaves NBC

Leno at prime time, reaction to

versus Leno for
Tonight Show

negative life events

personality traits

politicizing, refusal

relationship with Conan

social anxiety of

staff ostracized by

and Super Bowl promo

wife of

See also Late Night with David Letterman
;
Late Show with David Letterman, The

Liepis, Marc

Littlefield, Warren

and Conan on
Late Night

on Conan’s ratings

Lopez, George

Ludwin, Rick

on ABC/Leno proposal

and Conan’s move to
Tonight