One last Jaypocalypse post (I think) for the day: James Hibberd is quoting “a well-placed Fox source” as saying that Fox would be interested in (a presumably-ticked-off-at-NBC) Conan O’Brien, should he become available. Reportedly Conan has not yet agreed—pointedly—to a deal to push his Tonight show back to midnight to make room for Jay Leno.
Would he? Could he? [Shrugs.] I was asked this in an interview today and guessed, purely on gut speculation, that if I had to bet, he wouldn’t. Yes, he’d be a stylistic fit for Fox, and yes, he has every right to want to stick it to NBC. (I’d love to see it.)
Then again, we don’t know the restrictions and penalties of his contract at NBC or how soon he’d be free; there’s the chance Jay could wash out at 11:30; he may have less bargaining leverage now that he’s had poor ratings against Letterman; and there has to be an intangible to Johnny Carson’s seat (even diminished), which he waited so long for. Just ask Letterman.
Then again, Letterman left. And because I’ve guessed otherwise, that’s good cause to assume that Conan is packing his bags.