Conan’s not-exactly-resignation letter

Since Conan O’Brien released a letter saying that he would not participate in the destruction of “The Tonight Show,” meaning he’ll quit if NBC moves the show to the 12:05 time slot, Conan’s fans have rallied. Check out Facebook and you’ll see groups supporting Team Conan. Twitter also has great volumes of Tweets about Team Conan. Check out cash advance loans web sites, and you’ll see blog posts about Team Conan. I root for Team Conan, and here’s why.

10. Jay already had his chance

I think, first, it’s a question of fairness. NBC, Jay Leno, AND Conan O’Brien agreed six years ago that Conan would take over “The Tonight Show,” which has been on at 11:35 since time immemorial. Also for as long as anyone can remember, Jay Leno is not funny.

9. Conan is right about the destruction

I think Team Conan, O’Brien’s hardcore fans, will stay up to watch “The Tonight Show” even if it’s at 12:05, but the nightly news audience will be lost. They’ll keep the TV on long enough to discover that Jay Leno isn’t funny, then go to sleep.

8. Leno has proven it’s his time to go

Comedians and talk show hosts have shelf lives. The reason why “The Tonight Show” was so successful for so long was because the host is subject to change, making it a new show with every new host. “The Jay Leno Show,” which airs now at 10 p.m., and its dismal ratings have proven that Jay Leno’s days as a late-night comedy show host are over because Jay Leno is not funny.

7. It’s tradition

I think Conan said it best when he wrote: “For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting.”

6. Fair is fair

If actors and hosts are expected to honor their contracts with NBC, why shouldn’t NBC be expected to keep up their end of the deal? If you agree with the precept that “The Tonight Show” just wouldn’t be the same if it moves to any other time slot, NBC is effectively going back on its word to Conan to placate Jay Leno, which is patently unfunny.

5. ‘The Jay Leno Show’ should be canceled

If “The Jay Leno Show” is getting horrible ratings, that doesn’t mean NBC should move it to a more popular time slot. It means they should cancel Jay Leno, because he isn’t funny.

4. No one compares to Conan

If NBC moves “The Tonight Show,” Conan O’Brien will quit the show. Who will be his replacement? Conan O’Brien is the right man for the job. They can’t put Jay Leno back on the show, because he isn’t funny.

3. Show support

If enough people join Team Conan, NBC will have to pay attention. Sure, that doesn’t ensure that the network will do the right thing, but maybe there’s a chance. The network is trying to get good ratings, correct? If Team Conan grows to enormous proportions, maybe NBC will realize that it’s in the network’s best interest to leave things be. And maybe NBC will realize Jay Leno is not funny.

2. Conan is funny

Not only is Conan hilarious, he nails that witty, clever brand of humor that we all crave. He has many years of experience, and his record of involvement in really good comedy both qualify him to host “The Tonight Show” and thus deserves the 11:35 slot, more than Jay Leno.

1. Jay Leno isn’t funny

The 10 p.m. time slot isn’t the reason that “The Jay Leno Show” hasn’t got an audience. It could be that Jay Leno is why “The Jay Leno Show” has a sparse audience. Why? Jay Leno is not funny.