I am – Hercules!!


With Conan O’Brien free since 3 a.m. Thursday to pursue a new show launching as early as Sept. 1, a source with “knowledge of the situation” tells Bloomberg.com 60 to 70 percent of Fox affiliates would be free to carry an O’Brien series.

O’Brien would then be able to expand his clearance as Fox affiliate contracts with syndicated programming suppliers expire.

Fox entertainment boss Kevin Reilly indicated Jan. 11 that the network was interested in O’Brien, but was waiting to see how the host’s situation with NBC would be resolved.

Fox has been trying to launch a successful late-night franchise as early as “The Late Show With Joan Rivers” (1986-87) and “The Wilton North Report” (1987-1988) and as recently as “The Chevy Chase Show” (1993), “The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show” (1997-1998) and “Talkshow With Spike Feresten” (2006-2009). Syndicated late-night offerings “The Aresenio Hall Show” (1989-1994) and “The Magic Hour” (1998) also ran on numerous Fox affiliates.

As Fox contemplates an alliance with O’Brien, The Hollywood Reporter suggests a number of cable outlets, among them FX, USA, TNT/TBS, Comedy Central, HBO and Showtime, also seem to be exploring the idea of bringing O’Brien aboard.

O'Brien nearly doubled Jay Leno's audience Thursday's night, according to the Reporter:

2.6 O'BRIEN
1.4 LENO
1.2 NIGHTLINE
1.0 FALLON
0.9 LETTERMAN
0.6 KIMMEL
0.5 FERGUSON

Wednesday figures:

2.0 O'BRIEN
1.5 LENO
1.2 NIGHTLINE
1.1 LETTERMAN
0.8 FALLON
0.6 KIMMEL
0.6 FERGUSON

The last new episode of “The Tonight Show With Conan O’Brien,” featuring guests Tom Hanks, Neil Young, Will Ferrell and likely others, airs 11:35 tonight on NBC.

"Jay isn't leaving."

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