(2004-09-27) — With the announcement that ‘Late Night’ host Conan O’Brien will replace Jay Leno when the latter retires from ‘The Tonight Show’ in 2009, a “devastated” Dan Rather said he would “soldier on” in his current role as the #2 entertainer at CBS.

NBC executives made the early announcement of Mr. O’Brien as host-in-waiting for ‘The Tonight Show’ after industry buzz pegged Mr. Rather to succeed Mr. Leno. However, speculation has run rampant that the recent ‘Memogate’ forged-documents scandal would scuttle Mr. Rather’s attempt to “get behind the big desk” at the most influential political show on television.

“I’m not going to let this setback slow me down,” said a visibly shaken Mr. Rather. “I keep telling myself ‘Courage, Danny. Courage.’ A lot things can happen in the five years before Jay retires. Conan O’Brien isn’t getting any younger you know.”