Jimmy Fallon

Dear NBC,

You suck. I know this is supposed to be fan mail, and it is, just keep reading. I actually am a huge fan of your network. A preponderance of my favorite programs have been on your airwaves, including my current favorite (Chuck, but that's another letter). However, it's kind of hard to believe how much you screwed the pooch on your late night schedule.

I'm a big fan of Conan, and of Jay Leno, but Jimmy Fallon is better than all the late night hosts put together. Honestly, if I had my way it would be Letterman that would retire, and, though I know it would mean you guys losing a great talent, Conan could take his slot. There is probably a lot more audience overlap between Conan and Letterman than between Conan and Leno which is why you're having the problem you're currently having.

Frankly it shows an astounding lack of insight for people who's job it is to know such things that you put Conan in that slot to begin with. If you'd been thinking you'd have understood that Jimmy Fallon would be a better host for the earliest late night spot and given him the Tonight Show when Leno left and kept Conan on Late Night.

I get that the Tonight Show is a prestigious franchise and you wanted to give it to Conan because he'd paid his late night dues, but, again, astounding lack of insight about the audience. You see Jay Leno is an affable guy, sure he's a comedian so there's an edge there, after all it's his job to make fun of people, but what I'm getting at is that Leno has a "ready for prime time" personality. Jimmy Fallon, despite his years on Saturday Night Live (supposedly not ready for prime time), has a similar personality. Conan's shtick is a lot more similar to Letterman and therefore it was remarkably stupid to put him in the competing time slot.

So this is really fan mail for Jimmy Fallon. He's a better stand up comedian, and a better interviewer than any of the others. Not to mention that there's nothing hotter than Jimmy Fallon's spot on imitation Boston accent. His bits are also better (Wheel of Carpet Samples, Beer Pong, Letters Home from Camp, Thank You Notes, etc) and his band is better. He's the kind of television personality that can really connect with the audience. It makes no sense to move him back to 1:05. Of course, I'll still watch, but then I have the DVR capacity to record Leno, Conan, Fallon, and Kimmel so I don't have to choose (if I did have to choose my choice would be Fallon).

In conclusion, NBC, you are idiots who have completely lost touch with your audience.

Love,
The Fan

P.S. Jimmy Fallon, if you're reading this, I have never played beer pong and have always wanted to.