“The shows are an extension of the host and, like it or not, this is my sense of humor. It would be a mistake to reinvent myself as a completely different person now.”
— Conan O’Brien, host of Late Night with Conan O’Brien for the past 16 years. Tonight is O’Brien’s final show before he heads to Los Angeles to take over for Jay Leno on the Tonight Show on June 1, 2009. Saturday Night Live alum Jimmy Fallon will succeed O’Brien in the 12:30 A.M. slot on NBC starting Monday, March 2.
Following in the footsteps of Leno and Johnny Carson, O’Brien is determined to make the Tonight Show his own. But he’s a little concerned about his skin. “I think the direct sunlight in LA will affect the show,” he said. “I’ll be badly burned most evenings doing the program, so I’ll be wearing a lot of creams and salves.” Maybe he should give sunscreen a try. –Jessica Shambora