I know there’s a huge “I’m with Coco” (Conan O’Brien vs Jay Leno drama) movement going on right now. What has not made it to the news and the gossip circuit is the fact that people in the 1st arrondissement section of Paris (where 31 Rue Cambon is) has been firebombing NBC affiliates, demanding that they not use the name “Coco” in this ongoing late night wars. “How dare they use the late Madame Chanel’s name. There can only be one!” Never mind that Coco Chanel hasn’t been around all that long. But you know, it’s just like these hardcore fashionista’s demanding everyone conform to their sense of style, when it hasn’t been all that exemplary of late. And I know, they are mostly peaceful people who just want to dress nice, but I don’t see Givenchy fans acting up, not counting that one time Love Hewitt tried to do Audrey.
Besides, doesn’t anyone even care what Coco Lopez thinks about all this, holding the names to two Late Night shows simultaneously? Just because you can get your Pina Coloada’s on demand doesn’t mean you can monopolize the name “Coco” and forbid everyone else to use it. Next thing you know they’ll be stoning people for wearing Abercrombie & Fitch. Now you know why Switzerland has a strict quota on Chanel houses opening in their country. They change the skyline one day, and before you know it, they’ll be demanding everyone spray themselves with No.5. Five times a day.
Oh what do I think about our Coco drama? Oh sorry: I’m with Coco. But the truth is, it’s all about money, sponsorship, and advertising dollars. It’s not about egos. They gave Conan a try, and NBC is getting nervous because his numbers aren’t as good. Sponsors and the almighty American dollar is the only voice that is paid any attention. So the advertisers are probably threatening to pull out unless they get a proven brand back on. The economy is still bad, and everyone wants immediate results. I have been around long enough to watch Carson, Leno, and even when Conan first took over Letterman. If any of you were around to see it and if you can recall, Conan’s first few months on the Late Show was plastered with endless nervous giggling and missteps. But he recovered. And made it what it is today.
Filling the shoes of the Tonight Show is a greater feat than taking up the Late Night Show. If NBC gives Conan more time, he’ll comfortably find a niche for himself and make it his Tonight Show. The audience will return. I understand someone of Conan’s originality will not want to merely duplicate Carson or Leno. Also remember O’Brien’s years of service to NBC as a writer for SNL. I like Leno too. It’s just unfortunate that the media has to turn it into a polarized story, because there’s nothing more sensational than one group of people being pitted against another.
Personally I think Joel Godard was Conan’s lucky talisman. He didn’t go out to LA with him, and now those superficial LA types have turned Coco’s life topsy turvy. NBC displayed remarkable myopia in their gunshy handling of O’Brien’s ratings. Sure, the more mature viewers out in the midwest may find his humor quirky and frat-like, and of course, low ratings transfer to advertising dollars. But guess what? Ten years from now, when all those frat boys are at the peak of their earning powers, they’ll be following O’Brien in another network station.
The few Leno viewers who are watching today, will have passed away.
