Who Will Succed Conan?



Regular readers know that The Corsair finds Carson Daly about as entertaining and as culturally relevant as an abnormally moist fart locked in an enclosed, densely populkated public space (Exaggerated cough suggesting feigned detachment).

We have issues equally as foul-smelling on the hugely uninteresting Jimmy Fallon. But the culture at large found his tousled hair and deer-in-the-headlights delivery of lines on "Weekend Update" to be cute. Even after his erstwhile film career has crashed and burned and left him a bloody mess on the side of the road covered in loser dust (Dismissive wave). And yet both punk asses ascend. From Popwatch:

"On Saturday Night Live, he co-anchored 'Weekend Update' with Tina Fey and hosted a talk show as Barry Gibb in a recurring sketch. But is Jimmy Fallon ready for a real-deal hosting gig? NBC apparently thinks so; the New York Times reports that the network is currently discussing a 'holding deal,' which would secure Fallon's on-air services, with the comedian and his representatives. Though the agreement wouldn't guarantee Fallon a late-night job, NBC has been putting out feelers for successors to Conan O'Brien after the redhead host takes over from Jay Leno on The Tonight Show in 2009.

"So far, the only other announced contender is Carson Daly, who has made no secret of his ambition to succeed O'Brien, and can't be terribly happy with the news that NBC may pass him over after his years spent working the network's post-Conan graveyard shift."

We too would like a "holding deal" with Jimmy Fallon, one in which the holding veers more into the squeezing category. More (Popwatch)

And then there is that pesky but persisten t rumor that NBC might just pay Conan the $40 million they are contractually obligated to pay him should Jay leno -- currently #1 late night -- reneges and decides to stay on. (More on that HERE; see paragraph 10)