Conan versus Max?
Just as the New York Times publishes a mostly favorable piece about Conan O'Brien, another shoe may be ready to drop for the banned (but fabulously wealthy) late-night host.
First, the Times piece focuses on O'Brien's ability to capitalize on a fan base, despite NBC's determination to keep him off the air until fall. A new website, teamcoco.com, features an enormous, Stalinesque poster of the comic that advertises his upcoming gig: "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour."
"O’Brien largely sold out his 30-city comedy tour" after a few Tweets, according to the Times, and he's closing in on a million Twitter followers.
But, much as there was with O'Brien's "Tonight Show" run, there's apparently another shoe to drop. The Wrap, a Hollywood-focused website, reports that bandleader Max Weinberg may be seeking to take Kevin Eubanks' spot on Jay Leno's rechristened "Tonight Show."
Weinberg - a member of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band - is an O'Brien stalwart, having worked alongside the comic for 17 years. Now, though, he may be looking to jump ship.
Thusfar, losses have only seemed to empower Team Coco, but, if Weinberg leaves, I'll still miss LaBamba.
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About the author
Kara Miller is an Assistant Professor of English, specializing in journalism, at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth. She also serves as a guest panelist on WGBH-TV's “Beat the Press” and contributes to 89.7 FM WGBH (NPR). More »Recent blog posts
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