Conan the Conqueror

Article from July 11th (supplements are not in the e-version of the newspaper)....

One month on, everyone has something to say about the late night switch from Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien on The Tonight Show. The latter 6”4’ red-headed comedian’s approach to comedy and chat shows clearly has little in common with the observational humour of his dapper predecessor. So, is Conan hilarious or horrible?

In India, where the legendary variety show has become as much of a cultural institution as chai, the transition has come as a welcome change. “I think that people might relate to Jay more, but Conan has a sharper whit. He’s fresher,” says Chetan Bhagat, author, screenwriter and talk-show enthusiast. For him, Jay Leno is more of an ‘everyman’ who appeals to the widest viewing, but O’Brien is cutting-edge.

Actress Suchitra Pillai finds the former host more likeable. “I’m a Jay Leno fan,” she states, matter-of-factly. She admittedly has nothing against the lanky Irish-American, but simply prefers Jay. “I think that both of them are good at what they do, but Leno has the advantage of a funny face,” Pillai adds. In any other business, that might not be construed as good thing.

And it’s true that both presenters bring different comedic material to the stage. Leno, with his distinctive shock of black hair, looked to newspapers and current events to make his audience laugh. He definitely benefited from the golden years of the Lewinsky scandal as well as the entire George W. Bush administration. Endless material.

Then Conan came along. “He has crazy mannerisms and is all about madness!” exclaims TV host and funny man Kunal Vijaykar. “He’s always jumping around and making funny faces,” continues Vijaykar, describing O’Brien’s more conceptual, skit-based comedy.

The first episode of the The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien highlighted the former ‘Saturday Night Live’ writer’s passion for sketches. An opening sequence showed O’Brien in his final stages of preparation before he takes the stage, having done everything, except move to L.A. We follow the long-legged host as he runs across the country to his fully refurbished Universal Stage 1 location – only to have left his keys back in New York.

And if the move to sunny California has been a shock to the pasty O’Brien, he too has left his mark on the sunshine state. “Leno never makes fun of his guests without them knowing, he doesn’t ruffle feathers. Conan is more edgy,” compares Shenaz Treasuryvala, who catches the show whenever she can. She worries, as do others, that Conan will have to curtail his former Late Night antics to appeal to the new Tonight Show audience.

If Indian television-watchers seem favourable to the show’s overhaul, American viewers are more sceptical. Having topped the time slot without fail for 14 years, Conan slipped to number two behind the Late Show with David Letterman after only one week.

But Leno fans won’t be wanting for long. NBC announced that the talk-show icon will host a new variety show at an earlier 10pm spot. If the Network’s move may seem hasty, Leno is keen, joking that “10 o’clock is the new 11:30”.

And let’s not forget that 17 years ago when Jay took over for the hugely popular Johnny Carson similar discontented rumblings questioned NBC’s decision. As the transition period continues, Conan has faith. For him, it’s simple: “make sure the show is funny and everything will take care of itself.”