The Fearless Blogger

click image to get your own Conan Hair portrait via Buzzfeed.com

The recent NBC “Tonight Show” battle has provided a wealth of video clips as each host and their supporters take on-air jabs at each other.

Of all the clips making the rounds this one may be the least current, but (in my opinion) it’s the most successful at making Leno look like a jerk.  Proving that no one does a better job of making Jay look like an a-hole than Jay, it’s a clip of Leno’s 2004 announcement of his plans to hand the Tonight Show over to Conan in 2009.

Some classic quotes:

When I took this show over, boy there was a lot of animosity between me and Dave and who’s going to get it, and quite frankly a lot of good friendships were permanently damaged and I don’t want to see anybody have to go through that again.

You know, this show is like a dynasty. You hold it and then you hand it off to the next person and I don’t want to see all the fighting and all the who’s better and nasty things back and forth in the press so right now, here it is:

Conan it’s yours. See you in five years, buddy.

As James Poniewozik points out in his post about the video

. . .the biggest danger to Leno among the audience is not his money, or sympathy for Conan, or the notion that he was somehow pulling the strings behind NBC’s decision. It’s being seen as a phony. Or, more to the point, actually being a phony.

People will forgive a lot of comedians they love. They’ll forgive affairs, offensive remarks, arrests, jokes that crossed a line. But they rely on guys like Leno to puncture other people’s phoniness and to have an impeccable B.S. detector. . .

My guess is Leno’s B.S. detector finally broke down from the stress of Leno setting it off himself so frequently.

Update: I found this clip of Conan’s 2004 announcement on Funny or Die & I thought it was worth including

In the market for a talk show?

If you don’t mind one that’s been slightly used, Conan’s listed his on Craigslist!

4 SALE: BARELY-USED LATE NIGHT TALK SHOW – MAKE ME AN OFFER!!!

This is a chance of a lifetime to own your very own late night talk show–guaranteed to last for up to seven months!! Really must see to appreciate.

Information for potential buyers:

- Measures 100’ x 100’ x 32’ – plenty of room for a futon!

- Designed for 11:35 but can be easily moved

- Band can be sold separately

- Buyer must honor Barry Manilow booking next Thursday

MAKE ME YOUR BEST OFFER!!!!! (Also willing to trade for Coldplay tickets.)

(How much for just La Bamba?)

For those times when you catch yourself thinking how much YouTube has enriched our lives . . . Just perhaps, maybe we don’t need to be this enriched!

Probably, possibly NSFW* (depending on where you work, at least!)

(Filed under: random, WTF)

*NSFW is internet lingo for “Not Safe for Work” (i.e., maybe wait ’till you’re home to watch it!)

The good news:
Will Arnett and David Cross are back on TV in a new sitcom!

The bad news*:
The new show only airs in the UK.

*unless you live in the UK

Based on this three minute clip of The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, my thoughts:

• It’s funny.
• People swear a lot on TV in the UK (or at least American characters do).
• It’s been too long since Will Arnett and David Cross have been featured in a sitcom.
• Hopefully the show will make its way to iTunes (and soon!).
• I forgot to mention that Spike Jonze is part of the cast too.
• I am shallow enough to consider (if only for a fleeting moment) moving to the UK solely to be able to watch a television show.

Here’s the clip:

(via The Huffington Post)

Happy Thanksgiving!

This year marks a first for the Fearless Blogger – preparing Thanksgiving dinner!

Since I can’t work my tofurky magic sitting here blogging, I’m relying on my muppet friends to host my online holiday celebration.

Can’t Make Pumpkin Pie Without Pumpkins!

How Not to Roast a Turkey

Thanksgiving is About Family – The Swedish Chef & His Uncle

A Turkey that Likes Thanksgiving?

Ode to Joy