Dave On Jay Leno Vs. Conan O'Brien | Letterman

Don't blame Conan.
(From "Late Show," air dates: 9/27/04, 6/1/09, 1/11/10, 1/12/10, 1/18/10, 1/20/10, 1/19/10, 1/21/10)
#jayleno #conanobrien #letterman
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[@TheMasterofGalvin]

Dave calling Fallon Lonnie Donegan never fails to kill me

[@nitad001]

It really is perfect!

[@rocketreindeer]

I laugh to tears almost seeing that again. I think there was another show where Dave had another couple hilarious names inserted for Jimmy and another host.. I'll have to look at the long-form version of this on Don Giller's channel. Actually I think the longer it is, the funnier it is.

[@mrterp04]

In another clip not shown here he refers to him as “Denny Clausen”

[@rocketreindeer]

@@mrterp04 Yeah! Ha ha! That rings a bell.

[@electrojones]

Dave had an early read on Fallon. He was absolutely right about him.

[@bluecalix]

And I said to myself 'no-one is blaming Conan' -David Letterman, comedy assassin

[@deesnutz42069]

one of the thousand, b

[@GojiAnguirus]

Dave was on absolute *FIRE* during this entire saga. He was truly at his best.

[@katjoe1974]

It was the golden age of broadcasting

[@citisoccer]

So was Conan. I'd say it all worked out quite well for him. Let's be real...people who find Leno funny aren't the kind of people you invite to a party, so Conan wasn't going to work out as well as Leno. They HAD to give him time to bring his younger crowd over and drop off the boomers. Instead, NBC acted like an EPL owner.

[@DarknessIsThePath]

​@@citisoccerit isnt about boomers either, it is about having more conservative humour, not all boomers are outdated or traditionlists that cannot find joys in newer or different comedy

[@jameslutian1977]

This is hilarious, but nothing Dave said about the drama of Late Night has ever been true... Dave never was going to get the Tonight Show. Leno was the main guest host on Carson, and taking the Late Show host (Dave) to replace him was never even an option. Back then the Late Show and Tonight Show were two entirely different animals. If you watched Carson at the time, no one even considered Letterman until he made it an issue. Now with Conan, Dave is just projecting (albeit hilariously) his past feud and misrepresenting everything again. Leno just liked to work, and NBC executives like people who like to work. So they penciled him in whenever they were lagging. In reality the executives were the dopes and Conan should've just stayed on the Tonight show, at least for a few more years. It would've worked out, I'm guessing. But in the end everything still worked out as Leno/NBC had the #1 show for years, and Conan ended up being funnier on TBS than he was on network TV. Not to mention NBC didn't deserve Conan, anyway.

[@jameslutian1977]

​@@citisoccer Trashing Leno is so tacky. Great stand ups to this day recognize how great Leno was. Watch Dave Chappelle, Norm MacDonald, Bill Maher, or others talk about Leno. They consider him among the best standups of all-time. I like Conan better, but just because CBS and Conan ran gags on Leno for years doesn't mean they were serious. There is a reason Leno's show was #1. But yeah, you're probably right about the generational thing. Conan had trouble getting an older audience (and also had trouble with getting a Black audience which is never discussed).

[@kstepko]

I went to Ethiopia for three weeks in January 2010. The night I came home, my brother sat me down and very seriously said, “I need to tell you something”. I truly thought that someone in our family had died - but he wanted to tell me about Jay and Conan!

[@elizabethlarson9655]

That is hilarious!

[@RedRocketM3P]

Cool

[@tiffanyh1274]

😂😂😂

[@CJFerg81]

I sure hope that you didn't blame Conan...

[@lachd2261]

“I’m mocking Jay Leno relentlessly and mercilessly for one reason… I’m really enjoying it”

[@rhyancoleman6462]

I don't know. It's just fun.

[@gallery7596]

Letterman's bitterness is legendary.

[@bigoltits1880]

@@gallery7596 and Leno's backstabbery even more so

[@gaylefranklin]

@@gallery7596that’s not bitterness. That’s the giddy delight that only the sweetest kind of petty can bring. I loved every single minute.

[@gallery7596]

@@gaylefranklin Heh, well, I wouldn't call it a virtue on his part, but I give a thumbs up to your description of it as being "the sweetest kind of petty."

[@fatalmodelmadhatter]

For those of you worrying, fear not: everyone involved is fine, it's just the 14th anniversary of the debacle. And don't blame Conan.

[@fernandoguita]

Parabéns por patrocinar o Vitória, chapeleiro do Fatal Model!

[@fatalmodelmadhatter]

Nóis que voa, irmão @@fernandoguita

[@treehousebandit]

You know I woke up today and wanted to start blaming Conan but then I saw this comment, thanks for the reality check.

[@quiz1981]

"Nobody is blaming Conan" 😂

[@BarryRerack147]

I BLAME CONAN

[@birdieberry]

To watch this comedic drama play out in real time with Dave going into it like a sportscaster with a personal history in the game was a viewer's delight! 🍿🤣

[@disturbed_puppy]

When he says "I'm really enjoying it" it's like he lost 20 years off of his face for a second.

[@soapnorm]

“Yes I’m chicken hearted and yes I’m gutless. But these two characteristics have nothing to do with the current situation.” 😂😂😂😂

[@DarknessIsThePath]

"Im telling jokes and making fun of Jay Leno, over and over and over, relentlessly, mercilessly, simply for one reason, and that is...I'm really enjoying it 😄"

[@rhyancoleman6462]

I don't know. It's just fun.

[@kowalski5599]

This was peak television at the time. Unfortunately, evil prevailed and Leno got the franchise back. I'm still with Conan.

[@ottergoose]

Please, don’t blame Conan!

[@kowalski5599]

@@ottergoose *echoing Dave* "Don't blame Conan." - Paul 🤣

[@thebatman1482]

I hope you are not planning on blaming Conan, are ya?

[@KJ-je9pm]

Well in the end Conan is bigger than ever and Leno is forgotten. No one even watches old Leno clips. Conan won everyone’s hearts!

[@ZogDaMegnivizint]

@@KJ-je9pm I guess he'll just go do play spend more time in Vegas.

[@kstepko]

Leno Victims Unit was hilarious! Ice T as Carson Daly?!? 🤣

[@patton303]

Calling Fallon, Lonnie Donegan, is the most hilariously obscure pull of all time.

[@annstevens6223]

You can sure see how Dave inspired Norm McDonald’s style.

[@CobyAshpis]

We all remember when Jay Leno went to Korea and was greeted by swarms of fans like a rockstar because passionate Korean fans had translated his show clips on KZbin. Not to mention all of the amazing interactions with his long time staff, remotes, legendary writing career on the Simpsons, and hit podcast. Oh wait… that’s all Conan - remind who Leno is again? The car guy who used to read news headlines?

[@kstepko]

⁠*Leno

[@VideoHeadMan]

See! Don’t pretend you don’t remember him. Those new paper headlines have aged as well as actual printed newspapers…. Oh dear.

[@bethanydelossantos4716]

YESSS

[@bethanydelossantos4716]

TEAM COCO

[@FEARYOYOYO]

A much better stand up 😅

[@AlexanderKahrs]

Two things always gets me about this situation. David's impression of Leno, and the "I'll be in the lobby" remark lol

[@reyvelazquez7211]

2024 - Still not blaming Conan!

[@myname5918]

“I’ll be in the lobby if you need me” in Leno voice always kills me

[@al271987]

The worst part of the whole debacle was that Jimmy Fallon ended up hosting the tonight show.

[@davideramilli]

You mean Lonnie Donegan

[@georgekaptur5160]

I liked Fallon on SNL, but I can't stomach him on the Tonight Show, Poor Johnny and Ed

[@daCubanaqt]

Lol, you are so right.

[@rhyancoleman6462]

And poor Doc too who is still alive by the way

[@ObamaFromKenya]

@@rhyancoleman646296 years old Doc is still alive 🤦‍♂️

[@cactaceous]

To this very day, my name for Fallon in conversations is Lonnie Donegan. I have gotten perplexed looks from people as much as I have gotten immediate laughs from people that remember this. That is how big all this was. Said it once, said it many times and I’ll say it again… David Letterman is the unrivaled GOAT.

[@jmaxxtv9912]

Excellent compilation of "The Golden Age Of Television". The only thing that could have made this better would have been ending it with Dave and Conan sitting together on Conan's first appearance back and just being silent. That was the icing on the cake! 🤣

[@dougherendeen3241]

"You know Jay's watching"

[@alabamawyatt5490]

Dave always had great writers, and he is naturally hilarious

[@kstepko]

Paul knew from the start that this was never going to work out.

[@ApolloVIIIYouAreGoForTLI]

Ice T as Carson Daily was brilliant..

[@privatepenguin3137]

Of all of Dave's great rants...and there have been many...the 'Don't blame Conan' rant may be one of the best.

[@kstepko]

“I wonder if I can get a tape over there.” “Maybe a little late.”

[@freckledone1073]

This whole thing was legendary.

[@nl5828]

2024 - stay tuned for the “Tonight Show with Lonnie Donegan” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@andykidd99]

This is why Dave will always be respected and Jay won't. He had integrity and called out nonsense and dishonesty when he saw it even if it ruffled feathers.

[@DarknessIsThePath]

While I agree it is a shame he partially ruined his image with all those sexual relations with his women staff. At the very least to some limited extent but yeh.

[@thomasrussell4674]

Yeah it's true, Letterman did the right thing by fellow comedians at least, Dave was a standup guy. The philandering not so good but at least he admitted it.

[@NevinNolte]

I don’t know why this got posted now…but god bless them for doing it. An incredible saga so gleefully monitored by Dave!

[@kstepko]

This all took place 14 years ago, in January 2010.

[@Mark_Brooks]

Don't come to a fight with Dave when you are unarmed.

[@charlesharper2357]

Not smart insulting a comedian with a tv show...

[@DoxGR7934]

The Leno impression was killing me. Especially since it sounded like Leno and Mike Tyson had a son together.

[@Afrocentricpoet]

Lol thought the same thing

[@colinclifford5401]

Should’ve flashed the year on screen of that first clip: 2004! Crazy that’s how far in advance they announced this transition. Poor Conan.

[@danieldougan269]

In 2003 and 2004, Conan was getting other offers, especially from Fox. He went back to NBC and told them he would leave NBC for Fox unless they guaranteed him "The Tonight Show." NBC told Jay Leno they would renew him for five more years, but after that, Conan would get 11:35. Jay and Conan both accepted this. Jay actually talked to ABC about coming on before Jimmy Kimmel and pushing his show back. It didn't pan out. So, NBC told Jay he could have 10:00. That way, they wouldn't lose anyone. It was a loophole Conan's team didn't account for.

[@edk2221]

I loooooooooved all of his vs. NBC/ Leno fireside chats

[@UpstateMediaNY]

The KOIN traffic reporter bashing Dave will NEVER get old. "The Golden Age of Television".

[@JoeVideoed]

I live in Portland now so seeing KOIN as the "Affiliate of the Night" was fascinating to say the least (& something I forgot Dave did). Thankfully no 1 on the current nightly lineup showed up in this clip.

[@brycemcneil4404]

Hard to believe we are 14 years removed from the Golden Age of Television. But the most underrated part of the whole sequence is that Dave was ready and waiting to mock the whole premise right from the jump in 2004 ("I think he said he couldn't take it one more minute so he's stepping down in *2009*).

[@gallery7596]

Yes, it seemed in 2004 like Dave got that Conan taking over the show was not Jay's choice. So these eventual rants are kind of a contradiction. If Dave understood this was a forced retirement, why should Jay have to think about Conan first if *NBC* makes a new offer? That's just a double standard.

[@ishaangovardhan7430]

@@gallery7596 speaking of double standards. I know this brave internet Cop who protects people from "bullies who use ad Hominem attacks", by using ad Hominem attacks himself such as labelling an entire community as "a cult".

[@gallery7596]

@@ishaangovardhan7430 Another exaggeration on your part. I have made it clear to you before that it's only a certain element within Team CoCo that behave with cult-like adoration for Conan. Not the entire community. If you go on saying otherwise then you're just lying.

[@patton303]

I never get tired of this clip. It’s some of the most perfect television ever created.

[@neiloch]

I think someone tried to blame Conan so they reposted this. Don't, DON'T, blame Conan.

[@mattypaul87]

The Jay Leno "state of the network" bit was my all-time favourite from Letterman. "No one is blaming Conan" always has me laughing.

[@aaronkapps5553]

Truly the golden age of television. Cannot be recreated,even in a simulation

[@antisoda]

Remember, kids: Don't. Blame. Conan. Please. :)

[@TyrSkyFatherOfTheGods]

PAUL: Well....don't blame him.

[@DarknessIsThePath]

You're saying this is vintage Jay.

[@SNESdrunk]

I hope nobody here is planning on blaming Conan

[@bluedistortions]

We gotta blame him for something

[@jordanschooley7836]

I think this is the most fun I ever saw Letterman have.

[@kstepko]

“Hey there, Mavis! Bring me some Quaker State!”

[@gallery7596]

I never understood why Dave thought it was okay to use Mavis Leno's name to mock her husband. What had she done to deserve that?

[@eatonuter7113]

Arguably one of the best moments in late-night television, despite the situation at the time.

[@RomanoLemm]

Dave was basically living for these exact moments.

[@andreaudet]

The golden age of television...

[@TinyDiodes]

This never gets old.

[@kstepko]

Until today, I had no idea that there was a 1960s Scottish singer named Lonnie Donegan. I thought that Dave just made that name up out of thin air.

[@Kylefassbinderful]

0:19 Yeah it's apparently "getting to him" LMAO gets me every time

[@JohnSmith-rc5nm]

This era of late night TV never gets old. Don't blame Conan.

Dave´s impression of Leno is hilarious.

[@jordankohler3407]

“I’m having trouble staying up this late”💀 Dave is a menace

[@markjones952]

My favorite part... Dave calling Jay "Big Jaw"...

[@MCMNasty2]

What a time to be alive! Classic moment in time. Thanks for letting me relive it.

[@DimJongUn]

9:53, this is why i love this man

[@userdude36]

Team Coco was born from this nothing to lose energy. David is the Goat for siding with justice. THERE WAS TALK OF GERBILS!!!!!

[@sm0ki]

I remember this like it was yesterday 😂

[@WilyWillyT]

Being of a younger age, I never watched as much as I did during these years, This saga was wild, and Dave's coverage was great.

[@truthhurts3524]

I love rewatching these! 😂

[@haroon420]

This is just absolutely gold!! Thanks for putting it all together!! Oh the laughs!! 😂😂

[@j.jester7821]

The whole Jay Conan thing was just gift to Dave.

[@hnfg6102]

Conan’s last week as Tonight Show host was some of the greatest television ever.

[@CARamey]

You can see why Letterman likes Norm MacDonald. Very similar sense of humor.

[@gallery7596]

And the irony is Norm actually saw Jay's side in that debate, too. He felt Jay was getting blamed for decisions that *NBC" was making.

[@JustinGreene0224]

"Greatest period of American television." Just keep living my best life by not blaming Conan.

[@rocketreindeer]

"The bungling machinations of the executives at NBC," was possibly my fave Dave quote about this whole debauched corporate screwup. I was literally on the floor every time he continued on about this as he got funnier and funnier. Similar to his stories about why he thought Dr. Phil was a "quack."

[@gallery7596]

I remember Dave had Phil on one night and he said *"can you believe what Jay did?!"* to which Phil replied "he got screwed, too." Dave goes "yeah, well..." Phil looked at him and said "I had no idea you had such pent up anger towards him." I don't think Dave expected to be analyzed right there on his show but it was fun to watch.

[@treybratcher389]

Im just here for Dave’s impression of Jay

[@dvnshow]

11:15 "Is it any wonder I pound out of bed every morning with a smile on my face?" That's gold, Dave!

[@MagicAl5F4781]

The fundamental flaw with this succession plan was that it was a guy in his early 40s waiting for a guy in his early 50s to retire.

[@gallery7596]

Yes, and Johnny went to 65, so how could Jay (still consistently #1) not be disappointed that he's being retired while still in his 50's. Just a terrible plan from the start.

[@jakefisher3328]

That "I'm really enjoying it" lives rent free in my brain.

[@jds1999]

This really was the golden age of television.

[@GeoffreyTMusic]

Oh, what a classic

[@agatahb]

the gleam in David's eyes every time he talked about Leno is the best thing ever :)

[@MichaelJShaffer]

Lonnie Donegan😂😂😂

[@JayDeeIsMyName]

Great edit, Don. Thanks.

[@Keychain-]

the writer momentarily walking towards Dave as if he was welcome to do panel was a hilarious touch on that bit

[@vicmaralmonte5909]

Dave is my all time favorite, the most organic and fun. Much blessings.

[@banzobeans]

Never gets old :)

[@maheshseth751]

Joan rivers always said Jay Leno jokes were perfect for sleepy people and people trying to fall asleep

[@gallery7596]

Probably in part why he never had her on the show.

[@SHARON.I]

This is GOLD!!! LOVE you DL!!!

[@thelettermanpodcast]

The golden age of television.

[@DonMinnows]

Out of all of these talk show hosts, Dave and Conan are the two I have watched religiously and marathon their previous shows. Their shows are timeless, innovative and hilarious.

[@moizzle]

gotta love The Donz. excellent cut and kudos to the team

[@olivernutriepersonal]

"In the television industry there are two types of talk show hosts: Jay Leno and those who have been victimized by Jay Leno"

[@JohnSmith-rc5nm]

Classic bit.

[@switfranc]

I like how the current set of hosts is getting along well (Strike Force Five!), but damn do I miss this saga.

[@osofroeschle]

Spot on compilation thread, all i remembered was "Don't blame Conan" 😂, always wondered what I missed. Leno's a putz.

[@robertross2596]

Gosh I miss the bearded one! I hear he's in Montana or Wyoming or some such place...Leno comes over to fix his snowmobile and rehitch his snowplow to his Dodge Power wagon. What a guy!!

[@thelettermanpodcast]

I thought it was a steam tractor…

[@brycemcneil4404]

He always makes sure to bring a photographer.

[@Football-Sidelines-NO]

Great timeline, it puts a smile on my face

[@donmelissanicky]

Lonnie Donagan. 😂 I love Dave. He was always my favorite back in the old days of Jay vs David. This was a great trip down memory lane re the Jay vs Conan fiasco. “Don’t blame Conan.” 🤣

[@mikel3030]

Absolute gold

[@Mph-ut4bs]

You don’t wait in the lobby!

[@Jwdude123]

When Letterman says “I’m really enjoying it” he loses 20 years off his face.

[@ChristopherDazey]

Lonnie Donegan was the biggest victim of all of this.

[@DarknessIsThePath]

Nope he was the only victor actually.

[@penguin44ca]

Don't blame Lonnie.

[@gallery7596]

@@penguin44ca Yeah, that Lonnie guy's taken enough abuse.

[@meiray]

The best thing to come out of the Conan vs Leno Tonight Show fiasco was how much it energized Letterman, Conan and Kimmel. They brought their A-games throughout.

[@treborretsnom6186]

'You don't wait around'... Is the nail in Leno's guilt coffin

[@zachrousseau1097]

Ice-T as Carson Daly caught me so off guard, I cackled at 3 AM

[@MrStuNYC56]

I miss seeing Dave in late night!

[@jimmyjames2022]

Oh man, awesome compilation of 'Leno v O'Brien', thanks! Watch this first then go watch Dave with Conan as guest after he got the boot by Leno (5/17/12).

[@ladyd3187]

For me, this never gets old🙃😂

[@OLegendStudios]

One of the most interesting times in late night

[@georgekaptur5160]

I remember watching all this unfold nightly...this was late night tv folks!!

[@markbirchette8740]

Letterman was the last great show there was. Cheers to Dave, Paul and all the years of great entertainment.

[@thedude4672]

Nonsense. Conan's show was just as great.

[@charlesharper2357]

Nothing wrong with Colbert.