Conan O’Brien may be gone from NBC, but that doesn’t mean the network isn’t above running a few of his “Tonight Show” reruns until Jay Leno takes over the talk show’s reins March 1.
But maybe NBC is just trying to make sure it gets its money’s worth out of the red-haired talk show host. The Peacock Network agreed to pay O’Brien $45 million for stepping aside and letting Leno return to the “Tonight Show” desk. Now that’s a retirement plan.
Because O’Brien’s gig as host of the “Tonight Show” ended last week, NBC now has a hole to fill in its late-night schedule until Leno returns to the show he hosted for 17 years.
So far, NBC’s game plan is to run “Tonight Show” reruns. The network’s Web site is currently listing only details for tonight and tomorrow night. What happens at 11:30 p.m. after Tuesday night is anyone’s guess.
But what would our TV viewing be without a few surprises? Meanwhile, here’s what’s up, musically speaking, for the next few days.
Monday, January 25
Katharine McPhee – “Chelsea Lately”
Nick Jonas & The Administration – “Late Show With David Letterman”
Bonnie Raitt & Taj Mahal – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” (rerun)
Shwayze – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Tuesday, January 26
Adam Lambert, Harry Connick Jr. – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
The Low Anthem – “Late Show With David Letterman”
Tony Bennett – “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” (rerun)
Silversun Pickups – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Wednesday, January 27
Lady Antebellum – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
Findlay Brown – “Late Show With David Letterman”
Mayer Hawthorne – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Thursday, January 28
Corinne Bailey Rae – “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”
The Hot Rats – “Late Show With David Letterman”
Ringo Starr, Ben Harper – “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
Wilco – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”
Friday, January 29
Julian Casablancas – “Late Show With David Letterman”
Ke$ha– “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon”
John Mayer – “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Corinne Bailey Rae – “Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson”