Late night comedy powerhouse, Conan O’Brien is heading to TBS to host a late-night talk show that is expected to debut in November. The Emmy(R)-winning comedian’s new program will be followed by George Lopez’s “Lopez Tonight,” which will in a later time slot.
O’Brien’s deal with TBS came together quickly after George Lopez personally called him to ask that he consider joining the network’s late-night line-up. “I can’t think of anything better than doing my show with Conan as my lead-in,” Lopez said. “It’s the beginning of a new era in late-night comedy.”
Said O’Brien: “In three months I’ve gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I’m headed to basic cable. My plan is working perfectly.”
O’Brien and Lopez as a late night duo will only add more attention to TBS as a serious competitor in original programming. The cable network already has an impressive body of work and caters to a young, diverse audience that O’Brien already has a huge following in.
The NBC talk show veteran will host an hour-long, yet-to-be-titled show Mondays through Thursdays at 11 p.m. (ET/PT).
“Conan has been the comedic voice for a generation. TBS already has a huge audience of young comedy lovers, and Conan’s show will give these fans even more reasons to watch our network,” said Steve Koonin, president of Turner Entertainment Networks.
“For decades, late-night TV has been dominated by broadcast television,” Koonin said. “Now, with a young audience and a growing late-night lineup, TBS is set to be the choice of comedy fans for years to come.”
O’Brien is well-known from his many years in comedy. A Harvard graduate, O’Brien’s resume included writing stints on “The Simpsons” and “Saturday Night Live” before heading back to NBC as host of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” The show ran for 16 years, ending when O’Brien briefly took over The Tonight Show.
O’Brien is currently touring the United States and Canada with his live show, Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour.
