Checkmate NBC.  Conan O’Brien’s statement (issued in this letter) is a rallying cry across the industry.  Surprisingly many so-called news outlets across the country reported this letter as his resignation.  It might lead to his departure, but Conan is not a quitter.  What he did was stand up in front of the bullying tactics of his employer and say enough!  Being on TV is not enough of a motivator to be treated like crap, and taking this all so public is completely unprofessional.  NBC thought they had Conan over a barrel, but turns out that spunky ginger has some fight in him.  He is my new hero.

We all know the details by now.  NBC is trying to cover up mistakes by committing more mistakes.  In the letter, Conan firmly asserts himself as the torch bearer for The Tonight Show legacy, while taking some subtle digs at NBC’s integrity.  Conan is witty, direct, and confident and sets himself up to come out of this mess completely unscathed.  He has claimed the high ground and I can see no way that he’ll be dislodged.  Communications students across the globe are going to study this letter for decades.

Leno is not so lucky.

 He failed at 10:00 p.m. because he didn’t do anything with it, much like the last eight years of his stint on The Tonight Show.  Why does he want this so bad when he doesn’t prove that desire in his content?  And now, even if he gets back in the big chair, he will seem like a total jerk, the guy who stole back a job by proposing a show that would totally undermine the one he was leaving.  I mean think about it.  NBC wants to point to Conan’s ratings?  Guess what guys, by keeping Leno all you did was suck away his demographic to 10 o’clock never giving Conan a chance to capture them.  Why should they when that familiar old chin allowed them to get to sleep earlier?  I mean, there is only so much talk show any one person can take on a nightly basis.

As I see it, NBC has three options: tell Leno he can do something else like specials or one night a week at 10:00 p.m., tell Leno to shove off, or tell Conan goodbye and release him from his contract.   Any of these options will cost big money you can add to the bottom of their already sizable loss ledger.  They spent more time building Conan’s new stage at Universal than they have allowing him to pay it off!  When will Jeff Zucker (and his empty threats) learn that no one wins when you try and cut corners and save money with cheaper reality programming?  Thankfully, the only good that’ll come out of this is five hours of prime time being returned to scripted TV.

And for all you out there who constantly tow the company line that Leno is the nicest guy in show business, give it a rest!  You don’t think his greedy little paws aren’t all over this mess?  He publicly made a claim for Conan’s job months ago and is the one that wouldn’t quit in the first place.  NBC didn’t have the guts to outright fire him and you better believe his people have been whispering in the right executive’s ears for a long time.  Listen, you can be the nicest demon in Hell (i.e. television), still doesn’t mean you’re not a demon.

Conan’s stand is a battle cry for all the writers and producers and actors out there who constantly feel the boot of the industry.  Writers who only bill for 4 drafts when they actually did like 30 because they don’t want to upset the apple cart.  Producers who see their vision crushed by notes from a screening of a dozen folks at a mall in central Iowa.  Conan is getting a note and telling them to shove it.  Either you want me or you don’t, but you don’t get to take both of us to the dance.  Conan is saying he’d rather walk away than be treated like crap.  Leno is obviously an egomaniac that cannot stay away from the TV spotlight.

Since the letter came out, tons of reports have surfaced claiming all manner of circumstance, so who knows what is really happening right now?  I did see a blurb about someone close to Leno saying he’s thinking there’s no way he could take The Tonight Show job now anyway with all the support Conan is getting.  And there is a lot of support.  The new media universe of Twitter and Facebook is alive with “I’m with CoCo” banners and updates.  Even Jimmy Kimmel made a not so subtle dig at Leno on his show Tuesday.  Letterman seems to be “Team Conan” as well.  I have yet to see a single person come out and claim that Leno should get the show back.

There’s no easy out for NBC anymore, so just make a decision and move on.  Anyway you slice it, you look like the slimy boyfriend who’s trying to talk his girlfriend into a threesome.  NBC is a loser, they’re greedy, and even if Conan stays and Leno walks, there’ll be little joy in the victory.  He’s been disrespected and subjected to an unprofessional working environment.  It is gonna take a lot of repair time from NBC to make up for their actions.  If I were Conan, I’d be praying they let me walk.  Wherever he goes or stays, I’ll be right there admiring him.