NBC Omits Conan O’Brien From Leno Exit Announcement

In bidding Jay Leno adieu, NBC glosses over Conan's bumpy "Tonight Show" tenure

It appears that Conan O'Brien has received short shrift from "The Tonight Show" once again.

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In its news release announcing Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" exit in 2004, NBC said Leno would "wrap up what will be 22 years of headlining the iconic late-night show."

Also read: Jimmy Fallon Replacing Jay Leno on 'Tonight' Next Spring, NBC Confirms

But that's not exactly true. As NBC painfully recalls, Conan O'Brien hosted the show from June 2009 to January 2010, before Leno once again assumed hosting duties.

The release also stated that Leno "has hosted 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' since taking over the reins from television icon Johnny Carson in 1992." Again, while technically true, the network's math ignores that brief period when the show didn't bear Leno's name.

Also read: Leno Jokes NBC Execs Are 'Snakes' (Video)

NBC confirmed on Wednesday that current "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon will step into Leno's shoes in spring 2014, with "The Tonight Show" moving back to its original home of 30 Rock in New York. "Saturday Night Live" honcho Lorne Michaels will serve as the show's executive producer.

The network said it will announce plans for the "Late Night" timeslot of 12:35 a.m. soon. Hopefully, when they do so, they won't forget to mention that Fallon used to host the show.

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