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Conan to UCLA -- I Can't Replace Everybody!

Posted Jun 5th 2009 5:00PM by TMZ Staff

After James Franco bailed on being UCLA's commencement speaker, the graduating class thought they found a back-up -- but the guy they picked is just a lil' too busy these days.

Almost 2,000 students signed up for a Facebook group dedicated to securing L.A.'s newest famous resident Conan O'Brien to replace Franco. But in an extremely polite statement to the students, Conan says he won't be able to fill Franco's shoes -- because he's too busy filling Leno's:

"I am honored to be asked but I am so busy launching "The Tonight Show" there just is not enough time to give this speech the preparation it deserves. I wish everyone in the class of 2009 the best and I am honored that they thought of me."

Maybe Jimmy Fallon's available?

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Tags: commencement speech, CommencementSpeech, conan obrien, ConanObrien, james franco, JamesFranco, UCLA

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16. haha sounds like UCLA needs to get over themselves! Oh that's right, self-entitled brats don't do that.

Posted at 12:23PM on Jun 7th 2009 by xxx

17. I wish Conan's handlers would create some eyelashes and brows for him. If he has any hair there at least he could dye the brows and eyes. I find it difficult to watch him because he looks so bland...blank...

Posted at 2:40PM on Jun 6th 2009 by Lyn

18. To all the dum sh*t trojans out there, how can you even make fun of UCLA's commencement speaker?? You guys had Arnold Schwarzenegger! He didn't even graduate from college,,, he was weightlifting in Austria.

Oh and by the way, i'm sorry your basketball program is such a failure right now... oh wait, it was never good to begin with.

Maybe the president of the NCAA can deliver your keynote address next year...right after he passes some mad sanctions on your *ss

Posted at 10:50PM on Jun 6th 2009 by bruinbasketball

19. #18 - What makes you think most of these posts are by your rivals? You seem bitter. I've ran into UCLA students before during spring break, and some of you seem pretty sour and annoying. There is this clap thing you do with your hands that seems to be juvenile to boot. Conan has only one allegiance and that is to Harvard, so don't expect him to break his head over a speech in the wee hours of the morning. Just for the record, I went to college in texas.

Posted at 7:33PM on Jun 6th 2009 by what's that jack

20. Conan graduated from Harvard. He was a writer for BOTH Leno and Letterman before he became a host. So as far as being a douchebag, at least he is a smart, rich douchebag. He doesn't seem to need any PR.

Posted at 7:43PM on Jun 6th 2009 by JoJo

21. I'm so glad Conan rejected those cry baby pansies at UCLA! I cant believe they made such a big stink about not wanting James Franco to give the speech, well, i'm glad they are now stuck with nothing.

Posted at 2:55AM on Jun 7th 2009 by Ron

22. Conan's not as funny as Leno? Since when?

Posted at 1:15AM on Jun 7th 2009 by yo

23. Oh no they're not stuck with nothing, they're getting that dude who plays guitar from Linkin Park ROFLMAO. Because of course that's soooooo much better.

If I needed any more proof the UCLA students need to get over this absurd sense of over-importance and entitlement, I look at the fact that they're bothering a man who just moved cross-country, with kids, and is trying to fill the shoes of the most popular late night talk show. You really think has the time to waste on your self-important little pricks? Yeah...

And to the ones insulting Jay, what he turn you down too? Feeling a little bitter? Your sad

Posted at 10:14AM on Jun 7th 2009 by Bookworm

24. Ew, Falon? Really? He's ruining the Late Night show that Conan made amazing. I still can't believe NBC chose him. He's the new, um, Carson Daily I think his name is? The guy that's after Falons air time. They really should've had either Craig Ferguson or Bonnie Hunt take over for Conan.

Posted at 1:42AM on Jun 8th 2009 by Robert

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