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Go West, Young Man: Conan O'Brien is Coming Back to Cali
Tonight kicks off the last week of Conan O'Brien's run as host of the New York-based "Late Night" show. O'Brien is packing up his life on the East Coast and is headed to Los Angeles, where he will take over Jay Leno's timeslot and hosting duties of the night owl stalwart "Tonight Show."
But the chair shuffling that's seeing SNL alum Jimmy Fallon in O'Brien's seat and O'Brien's in Leno's isn't as straightforward as the red-headed comedian may have hoped; in December NBC announced they were giving Leno a show in the 10 p.m. timeslot that would run every weeknight. O'Brien's response was that he was "thrilled" for Leno, and he hopes that viewers' habits of recording shows on DVR's will help keep his ratings up against perennial favorite David Letterman and CBS' Craig Ferguson, and save room for his well-liked predecessor.
O'Brien has been waxing nostalgic off and on the air as his time in New York comes to a close. This will be his Third time living in Los Angeles. O'Brien worked here as a writer on HBO's "Not Necessarily the News" and performed with the Groundlings for a couple of years in the late 80s before SNL called and sent him to the Big Apple, and he returned briefly to write for "The Simpsons." His digs here this time around are definitely a step up from what he could afford as an unknown TV scribe two decades ago; his $10.5 million, six-bedroom Brentwood home "boasts a screening room, library, wine cellar, outdoor kitchen, pool and spa," according to SF Gate.com.
Welcome home, Mr. O'Brien.
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
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