I have really avoided posting about the Conan O'Brien (b. 1963) vs. Jay Leno (b. 1950) drama because I knew it would involve me indulging in the age-old Gen X gripe - why won't Baby Boomers retire so Gen Xers can have a shot at leadership? Afterall, Boomers took those jobs, like 20 years ago, when they were the age Gen Xers are now. Moreover, reports indicate that because of the economic meltdown and devastating blows to their 401ks, Boomers aren't going to retire as previously scheduled, further delaying the promotion of Gen Xers. But, then came along a story we could all feel good about. Gen Xer Conan O'Brien would finally get his promotion to the Tonight Show desk. Except, it all went terribly yick, didn't it? But, leave it up to tech savvy Gen Y and Gen X to mount a Facebook campaign, I'm With Coco. There are T-shirts and buttons, and you can even get your own Conan hairdo.
So many Gen Xers have weighed in on this via blogs. Here are a few posts including early ones from blogs I follow, Gen X Reflects and Latchkey Man.
The Conan-Leno Debacle from Gen X Reflects
I hope to God/satan/Buddha that Conan Knocks Leno Off the Air from Latchkey Man
It's not Conan vs. Leno is Old TV vs New Media from EbbyNezer
Jay Leno and Generation X from Steve's HR Technology
So does it feel like a mental setback, an emotional belly punch for Generation X? Which guy do you like best regardless of your age? Are you with Coco?
27 comments:
To me, age and "generation" is irrelevant in this situation. There are a lot of baby boomers who stick to their jobs keep gen x from new positions because the boomers are still GOOD and EXCEL at their jobs... Jay Leno, however, stopped being funny a LONG time ago in my opinion. He needs to learn to quit while he is ahead (if he even still is).
I have yet to meet a boomer who isn't OVERPAID, OVERFED, OVEREMPLOYED and NEVER IN THE OFFICE. Jenx, I just happened upon your blog and it's serious business about how the older generation got their jobs (by just showing up)and now are holding on to them because they needed the money. J.S.
Hey Jen, I don't watch either guy but I do think that Conan is getting shafted.
At a Men's group meeting this morning at my church the speaker talked about a crisis in men aged 35 to 49 in that a very high percentage of them do not like their jobs at all.
Bad social problem. I don't think the answer is for Baby Boomers to enter the unemployment ranks.
Many Boomers still have a lot to contribute to our economy and country.
I think we need to work on making the pie bigger for everybody.
I'm employed by a baby boomer who plans on NEVER retiring so I'm somewhat divided on the battle of the generations.
That said, I agree w/ the Muffin Man, Leno stopped being funny long before he took this earlier time slot.
Go CoCo!
BTW I too highschooled in an itty bitty KS town.
@THEMUFFIN - I have to confess, I'm not a fan of either one and therefore, must go with the Xer. I also must confess that Chelsea Handler, who is very naughty and stole my blog name for her book (are you there vodka? it's me, chelsea, is funnier than both of them put together.) (of course, i ripped off judy blume's title, and i never watch crass humor like handler.) ;) Yes, many Baby Boomers do excel at their jobs. Bill Clinton for one! hahahaha!! And, his wife!
@J.S. - Yes, many did just show up and got the job, and are now overemployed. Like half of Congress. hahahaha!!
Seriously, it's painful for Xers who have faced hiring freeze after hiring freeze; then RIFs and downsizing; booms followed by major busts and now record high unemployment. I have hope though, that for Gen X, the best is yet to be. I really this to be true!!!
@YOGI - I wish you'd guest blog for this blog about what boomers wish gen xers knew about why they aren't retiring! I'm serious!
@THE MAD WOMAN BEHIND THE BLOG - What Kansas town? Maybe we've been in the same football stadium - opposite bleachers. =) Leno is NOT funny. Is Coco? I gotta side with the Xer.
Jen, when it comes to genxers it seems like they are taking the lead in reporting and helping in Haiti. It seems like every day Dr. Sanjay Gupta is treating dozens of patients by himself and today I saw Anderson Cooper running through the streets carrying a bleeding teenager from harms way. Let's get some boomers out there reporting and saving lives. Rob
@ROB - Sanjay and Anderson rock!!! Xers of the year, I say!
Although I'm an X'er (a year younger than Conan!), I have to side with the "Retire the Tonight Show name because all of these guys together couldn't tie Johnny's shoes in his prime and only a couple of them come anywhere close to him when he was past it" side.
@FRIAR - I still miss Johnny. I loved it when he wore the genie hat and put the envelope to his head!!!
Jen,
Despite being a proud GenX-er I have to say Letterman will always be king of late night for me. Sure, he's a boomer but he rose to prominence just as we were coming of age and always seemed more ours than Carson was. (For the record, I really liked Conan at 12:30; never been a fan of Leno's.) I also don't understand why someone would desire The Tonight Show over their own successful gig. I mean, I wouldn't give up an established, lucrative solo music career--if I had one, heh heh--to replace Ron Wood in the Stones. (Unless I could do both, that is.)
One last thing: I was under the impression we were born btwn '61 and '75. If it extends to '81, you have a bunch of people born in the late '70s to early '80s with very little in common w/the rest of us. Just sayin'.
Keep up the good work!
Baby boomers were born between 1946 and 1964. The term Generation Jones is being used for younger boomers, but it doesn't have official status with the U.S. Census Bureau, the agency that keeps track of the country's statistics.
I don't watch much TV and have only watched Conan a few times. He wasn't funny at all. He did a sketch about Europeans that was so bad that I wrote a comment to his show about it.
BTW, Conan is a boomer, too.
I wish that Gen Xers would get on with their lives and stop blaming baby boomers for all their problems. Life in America is what it is and you make your own future. Complaining about others isn't going to further your lives in a positive way.
Rita blogging at The Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide at http://boomersurvive-thriveguide.typepad.com.
While Conan isn't quite my cup of tea.. I seem to connect a bit better with him than Leno or Dave.
Leno is no Carson (whom I watched from the time I was a young boy, until his retirement). I can definitely see Conan being entertaining for years to come.
@RITA - I use a broader definition for Generation X - the one from Strauss and Howe. I understand your position, but Boomers are to blame for many of the problems we have now, just as Gen X will be to blame for later problems - and even current problems - like the ones the teacher's guide to Gen X parents illustrates. We all have a long way to go. Thank you for your comment and insight! I dig the Gen Jones meme, actually. =)
I bet you're a lot fun at parties, Rita.
Back to the topic at hand, I don't really see this as a generational thing as much as REALLY poor business decisions on the part of NBC. They made a mistake in taking Leno out (he was #1, like it or not) and putting him in primetime (which was an obvious mistake), then moving him back to his original slot for 30 minutes and bumping the other guys back half an hour.
Stupid is as stupid does.
I think Leno would be content to get out of the game at this point, but NBC won't let him. I respect Conan for not letting the peacock push him around. I have no doubt other avenues have already been scoped out and there is a back-up plan in the works.
Leave it to NBC to screw up ANOTHER time slot.
The generational issue I see here, though, is that late night talk shows really don't matter to many people beyond the boomers. Sure, there are some "CoCo" fans who are up in arms about this, but most of Gen X is just kind of "meh" about the whole deal. Why watch that when the TiVo is full of "good" shows to watch?
The times they are achangin.
@KIKO JONES - Yes! I have always been a letterman fan - but man, he's been so not-a-good-boy lately!!!
@DARRIN - I have just never been a Leno fan, but I do like the fact he's always seemed so loyal to the wife - mavis??? the car collection - weird!
@JAZZMASTER - Oh, my gosh! Is that line, "Don't let the peacock push him around" original with you. Seize that. You should brand that. That's like the ultimate Gen X logo. hahahaha! I love it. If you don't use it I'm so going to.
Also, I agree about late night comedy. All the Xers are in bed. We have all these kids and work stresses. I'm drooling on the couch at 915. And, how come nobody has mentioned the hot Xer Colbert or Stewart? This is Conan's real competition, don't you think???
I don't understand why Leno doesn't move on? Letterman addressed this last night and I found his comments to be very interesting.
I adore Conan and his biting sarcasm. I hope that he ends up with a much better deal after all is said and done. Maybe FOX will bring him on board? I have to think there is a happy ending in this somewhere.
@BALONEY - Can you believe how much publicity he's received! He's going to come out of this very well!
re: Letterman
Jen, as long as his screwups are confined to the non-11:30 PM to 12:30 AM hours of the day, I'm fine with it.
Jen,
I did watch "Johnny" at times, but I never watch any of the three:
LETTERMAN
LENO
CONAN
Hugs-- Gracie
Heh, heh...
Yeah, that's an original line. I'm glad you liked it.
"Don't let the Peacock push you around."
Sounds like a good title for my blog tomorrow. Hmmm...
(You can edit this part out, if you like. Won't hurt my feelings!)
http://www.B2design.wordpress.com
Rita - trust me - I am not a Baby Boomer in any way, shape or form. The reason Gen-X starts in 1961 is because most of us born that year were left behind.
TR
1961
Gen-Xer
It's not a metaphor but a manifestation. At a individual level it's a metaphor (Jay vs Conan) but it reflects the larger dynamic between the generational cohorts. I don't think its that the time slot is wrong as much as Conan's fan base isn't large enough to compete with Jay's Boomer Horde (~2x more than Gen X). I'd also be curious to know whether or not the Gen Y (aka Boomer spawn) is part of the Coco bunch. If not, then the odds are doubled up again against our generational tribe.
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