What Happened to The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien?
Conan O'Brien's brief tenure as host of NBC's 'The Tonight Show' from June 2009 to January 2010 ended amidst a highly publicized conflict with the network and his predecessor, Jay Leno, over time slot changes. Following a $45 million settlement, O'Brien departed NBC, subsequently launching a successful cable show 'Conan' on TBS, a popular podcast, and a travel series, while continuing to host major events like the Academy Awards in 2026.
Quick Answer
Conan O'Brien hosted 'The Tonight Show' for a mere seven months, from June 2009 to January 2010, after NBC attempted to move his show to a later time slot to accommodate Jay Leno's return. O'Brien refused, leading to his departure with a substantial settlement. Since then, he has built a diverse post-late-night career, including his acclaimed podcast 'Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend,' the Max travel series 'Conan O'Brien Must Go,' and is slated to host the 2026 Academy Awards and appear in 'Toy Story 5.'
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline16 events
Conan O'Brien Announced as Jay Leno's Successor
NBC officially announced that Conan O'Brien would take over 'The Tonight Show' from Jay Leno in five years, in 2009.
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Premieres
Conan O'Brien officially took over as host of 'The Tonight Show,' moving from New York to Los Angeles.
The Jay Leno Show Premieres in Primetime
Jay Leno began hosting a new prime-time talk show at 10:00 PM ET on NBC, preceding local news and O'Brien's 'Tonight Show.'
Ratings Decline and Affiliate Complaints
Both 'The Jay Leno Show' and 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien' experienced declining ratings, leading to complaints from NBC affiliates about reduced lead-in viewership for local news.
NBC Proposes Time Slot Change
NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker proposed moving 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien' to 12:05 AM ET, with Jay Leno returning to the 11:35 PM ET slot.
Conan Issues 'People of Earth' Statement
Conan O'Brien publicly refused NBC's proposed time slot change, stating he would not participate in what he believed would damage 'The Tonight Show' franchise.
NBC Announces Settlement with O'Brien
After two weeks of negotiations, NBC announced a $45 million settlement to buy out O'Brien's contract, ending his tenure and relationship with the network.
Final 'Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien' Airs
Conan O'Brien hosted his last episode of 'The Tonight Show,' concluding his seven-month run.
Conan Premieres on TBS
After a contractual seven-month ban from television, Conan O'Brien launched his new late-night show, 'Conan,' on the cable channel TBS.
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend Podcast Debuts
O'Brien launched his highly successful podcast, 'Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend,' which quickly became one of the top comedy podcasts.
Conan on TBS Concludes
After 11 seasons, Conan O'Brien ended his TBS late-night show 'Conan' to pursue new projects with HBO Max.
Team Coco Sold to SiriusXM
Conan O'Brien's digital media company, Team Coco, including his popular podcast, was acquired by SiriusXM for $150 million.
Conan O'Brien Must Go Premieres on Max
O'Brien's travel series, a spin-off of his podcast, debuted on the streaming service Max, featuring him meeting fans globally.
Conan O'Brien Announced as 2026 Oscars Host
Following a successful debut in 2025, Conan O'Brien was announced to return as host of the 98th Academy Awards, scheduled for March 15, 2026.
O'Brien Reflects on Post-Late-Night Career
In an interview with The New Yorker, Conan O'Brien discussed his enjoyment of the 'freedom' in his current career, reaching more people through his podcast and travel show.
Voice Role in 'Toy Story 5' Release
Conan O'Brien is set to appear in 'Toy Story 5,' lending his voice to the character Smarty Pants.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Conan O'Brien's journey to host 'The Tonight Show' was a long-anticipated succession plan set in motion by NBC in 2004. After 16 successful years hosting 'Late Night with Conan O'Brien,' he was slated to take over the iconic 11:35 PM ET slot from Jay Leno in June 2009. However, the transition was fraught with complications. NBC, eager to retain both popular hosts, created 'The Jay Leno Show,' a prime-time talk show that aired at 10:00 PM ET starting in September 2009.
This decision proved disastrous for NBC and its affiliates. 'The Jay Leno Show' struggled in ratings, and crucially, it delivered a significantly weaker lead-in audience for local news programs, which in turn negatively impacted 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien' and 'Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.' By late 2009, 'The Tonight Show' ratings were down by approximately two million viewers compared to Leno's previous tenure. Facing pressure from disgruntled affiliates, NBC proposed a controversial solution in January 2010: move 'The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien' to 12:05 AM ET, and reinstate Jay Leno at 11:35 PM ET.
O'Brien vehemently rejected this proposal, issuing a public statement to 'People of Earth' on January 12, 2010, asserting that delaying 'The Tonight Show' would 'seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting.' He refused to participate in what he believed was the destruction of the show's legacy. This public stance garnered immense support from fans, creating a 'Team Coco' movement online, while NBC faced widespread criticism for its handling of the situation.
After two weeks of intense negotiations, NBC announced a settlement on January 21, 2010, paying O'Brien and his staff a total of $45 million, with $32.5 million going directly to O'Brien. His final 'Tonight Show' aired on January 22, 2010, marking the end of his 22-year relationship with NBC and the shortest-running iteration of 'The Tonight Show' at 146 episodes over seven months. Jay Leno officially returned to host 'The Tonight Show' on March 1, 2010.
In the years since, Conan O'Brien has successfully reinvented his career. After a contractual seven-month hiatus, he launched 'Conan' on TBS in November 2010, which ran for 11 seasons until June 2021. He also started the highly popular podcast 'Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend' in November 2018, which continues to thrive in 2026 and was part of his Team Coco media brand, sold to SiriusXM for $150 million in 2022. As of March 2026, O'Brien is actively involved in several projects: his travel series 'Conan O'Brien Must Go' premiered on Max in April 2024 and was renewed for a third season in March 2025. He is also slated to host the 98th Academy Awards on March 15, 2026, after a successful first stint in 2025, and will lend his voice to 'Toy Story 5,' set for release in June 2026. O'Brien is also embarking on a 2026 comedy tour. He has expressed enjoying the 'freedom' of his current, more flexible career path, reaching more people through his podcast and travel show.