Conan O'Brien to Begin Official Talks With FOX

[EmpireWF]

A fresh tread for a new beginning.

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/fox_ready_to_swoop_in_on_conan_dnDxLiRzyGOJAc6xufoIfJ#ixzz0ddnwodDl

http://www.businessinsider.com/fox-begins-official-talks-with-conan-obrien-this-week-2010-1?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Business Insider reports through the NY Post (which is owned by FOX head Rupert Murdoch) that FOX is looking to begin negotiations ASAP and wants to get a deal done ASAP.

According to the report, one of the big issues will be whether Conan can own the show (as Letterman owns his) or whether he will have to split ownership with the network.

The report says FOX has already begun talking with affiliate reps about whether they would be willing to air a Conan late night show in place of re-runs of The Office and Seinfeld.

The report also says that HBO is expected to talk with Conan's people, too. They say the best deal ($$$ and other intricacies) will get Conan.

Conan cannot return to the air (as host) until September.

[krulmichael]

Conan on HBO would be quite interesting...but either way, can't wait to see him back on TV regardless where he goes.

[red33]

wherever conan goes i hope he shts on the tonight show. i guess this would best done on fox.

[MVP1991]

Conan on HBO would be very interesting

[Splugeon]

Never even considered an HBO show from him.

Have to say he's funny enough clean as is. It'd be interesting, but I'm not sure it would really add to the show at all.

I don't know why you'd consider re-runs of The Office and Seinfeld over a Conan late night show though.

I'm not very knowledgeable to what gets good ratings though. Anybody have an idea on how re-runs do on the majors?

[Fox1994]

THANKZ BOMB BITCHZ!!!!!

Watching late-night TV has been added to my list of things to do now that the season's over: Smoke, Eat, Lift..... Watch Conan and other late-night TV

[SuperKevin]

It's a cost issue. It's much much cheaper to run re-runs of Seinfeld and The Office. It's all going to come down to whether they feel Conan can make a serious run at the ratings title or not.

[LiquidLarry2GhostWF]

It's a cost issue. It's much much cheaper to run re-runs of Seinfeld and The Office. It's all going to come down to whether they feel Conan can make a serious run at the ratings title or not.

Exactly. Purchasing syndicated shows and airing them is cost effective for FOX considering they have no horse in the late night race.

If they pony up the money for Conan, they will do it with the hopes and belief that Conan can become one or two in the late night TV market...they won't dish out that money over a number of years for #3, they are better off saving their money and running the cheap re-runs of whatever show they have on at that point.

[JBauerisGod]

If he goes head to head with Leno and Letterman, it might be suicide. But if FOX was to put him on right at 11, I think things could definitely work in his favor.

I don't think he's going to have anywhere near as big a budget as he did on the Tonight Show, but he was just as funny (probably funnier) on Late Night with a small budget. Conan doesn't need a ton of money to be funny.

[EmpireWF]

http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/20/syndicated-top-25-wheel-rules-again-legend-of-the-seeker-returns-from-reruns/39578#more-39578

Syndicated #s for Seinfeld and The Office.

-Seinfeld averages over 3.7 million viewers while The Office averages over 4.6 million viewers.

[JMeist]

Did people finally realize how funny this guy is?

[krulmichael]

Did people finally realize how funny this guy is?

He's always been funny and my fav late-night host. Just take him for granted when he's been doing it for a damn decade.

[trojan49er]

Good for him, the Jay Leno show was a huge slap to the face. He had been hiding in Leno's shadow for the better part of a decade, finally gets the Tonight Show and then they put Leno right back in front of him...wtf if that? I hope he gets his own show and shits on Leno and Letterman

[Marley]

COCO ON FOX!

Do you guys really think they get rid of late-night legend Wanda Sykes for Conan though? It's like getting rid of Letterman!

[krulmichael]

COCO ON FOX!

Do you guys really think they get rid of late-night legend Wanda Sykes for Conan though? It's like getting rid of Letterman!

She only has her show on Saturday's I believe...so that shouldn't even be an issue.