Comic says Conan didn’t need ‘Tonight’

Comedian Louis C.K., a Newton native, came to the Television Critics Association press tour to pitch his new FX comedy series “Louie.’’ But like everyone else who has gotten up onstage, he was asked about the ongoing real-life drama in which NBC pushed Jay Leno off “Tonight’’ and over to prime time to make room for Conan - only both men failed, so Leno’s going back to late night and Conan’s going to be “available.’’

“Conan will be fine,’’ Louis C.K. said, adding that he never understood Conan’s whole Must Host “The Tonight Show’’ thing.

“When I was a kid, that was Johnny Carson’s show and it was what old people watched. . . . When [David] Letterman really wanted it, I didn’t understand it, because he had his own show called ‘Letterman,’ ’’ Louis C.K. said.

(Actually it was called “Late Night With David Letterman,’’ but the point Louis C.K. was trying to make is that everyone called it “Letterman,’’ as in “Did you see Letterman last night?’’)

“Conan had ‘Conan.’ People didn’t call it ‘Late Night’ - that was how much he owned it,’’ Louis C.K. continued. “I don’t know why you’d want to give that up to host ‘The Tonight Show’ - it’s just this old [expletive] thing. Let Jay have it.’’

Louis C.K. was quick to note that he’s totally pro-O’Brien, who gave him his big break as a comedy writer.

He also wanted to make sure the press knew he wasn’t dismissing the genuinely “traumatic thing’’ all the participants in the Great NBC Late Night Imbroglio were suffering - except for NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker.

“He’s just a great villain! That face! And doing all these crazy things, and making everybody mad!’’ Louis C.K. marveled.

On Sunday, journalists at the press tour also learned that people from the Fox family of television networks think O’Brien is moving into their house. FX chief John Landgraf was asked if he’d like to have a late-night show.

“Conan is one of the great comedic talents of our time, and if he ever becomes available on basic cable we would go after him in a heartbeat,’’ Landgraf said, cutting through the coy. “You never know - we’ll watch this thing play out.’’

Standing at the back of the room during Landgraf’s Q&A was Peter Rice, chief of Fox broadcast network’s entertainment operations, who earlier in the tour was promoted to add FX and Fox Movie Channel to his responsibilities.

“He gets to decide whether Conan goes to big brother [Fox] or little brother [FX],’’ Landgraf said, referring to Rice.

Though it’s widely expected that Conan will go to Fox, which currently has no weeknight late-night comedy/talk show, he’d be better off going to cable. On Fox, his show would be judged by local TV station executives against how they’re currently doing financially with the syndicated programming they air in the time slot following their late local news. Such executives are the ones who did in Jay Leno’s prime time show, which led to NBC deciding to move him back to late night.