Dick Ebersol Stays True to Name

In very ironic and hypocritical criticism, NBC Universal Sports Chairman, Dick Ebersol, said this of Conan O’Brien:

• referring to Letterman and O’Brien: “chicken-hearted and gutless to blame a guy you couldn’t beat in the ratings.” [Leno was always so polite in referencing Letterman prior to this.  He never once mentioned Letterman’s sex scandal–insert sarcasm symbol here.  And in the 18-49 year old demographic O’Brien is actually destroying Leno this week.]
• “what this is really all about is an astounding failure by Conan.” [and the NBC local affiliates threatening to preempt Leno’s show due to the abysmal lead in ratings.]
• “He was just stubborn about not being willing to broaden the appeal of his show.” [Sounds false, though this would indicate why Ebersol doesn’t get Conan, he has integrity.]
• “They’re just striking out at Jay,” Mr. Ebersol said. “It seems like professional jealousy.” [So true, stand up comedians are after all known for their cordial appreciation of their peers.]

“Jeff and I are big boys,” Mr. Ebersol said, referring to Mr. Zucker. “When we do something big in the public forum and it doesn’t succeed, we know we’ll be the butt of criticism.”

Does letting your network fall to fourth place not count as failure for Zucker?  Or perhaps Dick Ebersol, director of NBC sports, considers the millions of dollars that he has said NBC will lose on the Winter Olympics a success?

Ebersol added:

But you don’t personally attack someone who hasn’t done anything.” In this case, he added, “we bet on the wrong guy.”

Does trashing Conan in an interview with the New York Times not count a public personal attack?

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