[TV] Conan Leaves NBC With $45 Million Settlement Deal
Posted by Larry Csonka on 01.21.2010
It’s official…
It's official, NBC announced on The Today Show that Jay Leno will return to The Tonight Show on March 1st.
NBC has reached a $45 million buy out deal with Conan O'Brien, who will see more than $33 million of that. The rest will go to his 200 staff members. TMZ adds that the new deal will require NBC to pay Conan the full $33 million even if he signs a new deal to host another show. O'Brien finishes his run as host tomorrow night with Tom Hanks, Will Ferrell (his first guest) and musical guest Neil Young. As for O'Brien's future, he can start another TV job as soon as September. O'Brien's manager had the following to say on the deal…
"In the end, Conan was appreciative of the steps NBC made to take care of his staff and crew, and decided to supplement the severance they were getting out of his own pocket. Now he just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible."
So I'm gonna have to wait 8 months to watch Conan again? Fuck you Leno, you selfish old cunt.
Posted By: Guy (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 10:51 AM
That averages to $60K for each staffer. I'm sure some will get more than others, but still, that's pretty good.
Posted By: Jim (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 10:51 AM
I know the prevailing thought is that Conan got fucked here, but making out with $33 million AND being able to collect on all of it after getting a new gig is a pretty damn good deal.
Posted By: Guest#8972 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Leno has never been funny and Conan has been consistently funny.
Jay, take a lesson from your predeccesor and do as Johnny did (although you're not as talented) and go home, have fun, live life, grow old and die.
Jay, if you listen closely you can hear millions of people changing the channel
Posted By: Guest#7359 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:13 AM
That is great, NBC sucks and Coco cleaned em out a little.
Posted By: T-Mac (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:15 AM
Conan, classy act!!
Posted By: The Dagreene (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:34 AM
i really respect conan for not just looking out for himself but also his staff and getting them all that money. it'd be beast to work for that dude lol
Posted By: bullfrog24 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:51 AM
Good for Coco. I'm anxious to see if Leno's Tonight Show ratings return. I hope Dave steps it up and crushes Leno or Coco gets back on TV and crushes Leno. Leno sucks.
Posted By: baker (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:53 AM
Won't most of his staff go with him wherever he ends up going? So they too will be able to start collecting a paycheck in September?
Posted By: juvi (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:56 AM
well to his credit Conan can write good material for other shows but never really came off as that entertaining. Yet he had more to him than Leno did.
That being said this deal could have been done sooner all that hassle for his employees dragged it out a day or two leading up to his final show.
As for those changing the channel, what will the really look at? Letterman might keep his boost but people will still watch the Tonight Show because its the Tonight show.
Those channels won't change until Conan can come up with a new show. But for now he can sit and collect on that 33 million and this fall nope....this summer kick up the dust on this crap again because his new show will premiere in September so everyone will have to relive this crap again.
NBC screwed this up but gotta wait and see if this gamble pays off
Posted By: Guest#2459 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:56 AM
You fucking haters - Jay Leno was #1 in the late night time slot for 12 years - and you all respond with 'Leno sucks, Conan's better?'
Conan - granted - deserved more than the 7 months he got - Leno originally had 2 bad years when he took over for Carson. But in today's brutal rating system, NBC wanted immediate results and didn't get them.
Conan had 5 years from back in 2004 when NBC announced he would take over to get his shit ready - and he didn't - and Leno deserves the show back - it wasn't like he wanted to step down himself, he was forced down because NBC wanted Conan and feared they would lose him.
I know Leno has more of the older audience and Conan gets the younger audience and NBC hoped to capitalize on that - but I'm 28 yrs old and think Leno is still relevant and funny.
In the end everyone makes out; Conan will get insane $$$ from Fox for a late night show and Leno will return to whooping Letterman and Kimmel's ass.
Before you O'Brien dick suckers speak, get your facts straight - NBC fucked things up not Jay.
Hate hate hate hate hate.
Posted By: Leno is #1 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Everyone shittin on Leno lolol the guy simply accepted a job. NBC wanted Conan gone since ratings dropped over 50% -- how does this make Jay an evil man? Buncha crazies on the internet...
Posted By: pffft (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:05 PM
Doesn't the producer still get like 4.5 million of that?
Posted By: Guest#1039 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:11 PM
Why is Jay evil?
Let's see...
1. Fucking Letterman out of the Tonight Show gig. Carson had hand-picked Letterman as the one to take over, that's how little regard he had for Leno. Jay politicked and fucked Letterman over, though.
2. Leno has repeatedly stolen bits from other performers like Howard Stern, and refuses to admit it.
3. Leno was supposed to retire several years ago and hand the show over to Conan. The date was set, plans were made... and then Jay changed his mind. Yeah, I'd be pissed if I were Conana also.
4. Leno finally leaves the Tonight Show and then hints to NBC that he might take a job at another network and compete with the Tonight Show. So they scramble and put him in a shitty show that goes nowhere.
5. Leno decides he wants his show back instead of just telling NBC "look, it's done, I'm going to retire."
FUCK LENO.
Has there been any word of ownership of the "intellectual properties"?
Posted By: Scott B (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:14 PM
Stop bitching people, no one will watch Leno anyway. I can see your problem though, NBC will blame it on someone else again.
Posted By: Guest#1044 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:16 PM
for all of you guys saying conan's ratings were bad, get your facts straight.
The reason jay leno show was cancelled was because it was doing so poorly that the news affiliates were suffering as well. So if no one was watching the 11 o'clock news, why would they watch the tonight show. so yes conan lost the audience, but his lead-ins (including jay) contributed to that
Posted By: d-po (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:21 PM
"Before you O'Brien dick suckers speak, get your facts straight - NBC fucked things up not Jay."
well genius, it actually is the fault of jay leno and his ridiculous prime time show. yes, nbc is at fault for allowing a talk show host to have a 5-night-a-week late night program, but jay put on absolutely nothing of substance. leno was #1 in late night ratings for so long because he had popular, award winning television as his lead in shows(i.e.- ER, friends, the law and order franchise in its peak, frasier, seinfeld), and now conan has leno, who's hour long garbage set an all time low for ratings in that prime time slot. even the nbc affiliate local news channels were complaining about the leno lead-in. leno is not television gold, and i have no idea why nbc buys his snake oil.
Posted By: bud (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:30 PM
It's a work, like how they used "new Coke" to make everyone appreciate "Coke Classic" better....
Posted By: Ben S (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:34 PM
I personally like Conan more than Jay, and so does the majority of people on this site, however, we don't make up the majority of people who actually watch late night, that's the problem. I don't really care whose fault it is for the bad ratings (bad lead-in, or people just not liking), but having to wait till Sept, and having to more than likely watch Fox... Sucks.
Posted By: Smitty (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:39 PM
Fuck Jay. Conan is fucking fantastic and deserves every penny.
For all the idiots talking about Conan's ratings, remember his lead-in was Jay disgustingly bad 10pm show. His ratings were bound to go down because there was no audience retention from Jay's nightly abortion.
Posted By: SeatsPro (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:39 PM
I know the under 30 crowd enjoys Conan more than Leno. Maybe the under 35 as well. That is a big chunk of the people which actually stay up that late.
I will go back watching Letterman. Leno has two good segments. Headlines and Jaywalking which only air once a week from what I know. He is god awful with guest which is where Conan was great.
Leno is going to get a ton of backlash when he comes back. I wouldn't be surprised if someone runs on stage when a guest is on there. Something that would be hard to edit out.
NBC really shot themseleves in the foot. They will now have two big time competers instead of one. I see O Brian going to Fox. No reason for Fox to get giddy over him now since he can't go elsewhere til Sept.
Massive pick up for Fox if they do sign him. NBC continues to make awful decision and piss poor shows. CBS use to be for old people when I was a kid and now they have many of the best shows on regular TV.
Minus Heroes which is doing half as much compared 2 years...what else does NBC have which people know!? I can't think of anything else.
Posted By: m fisher (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:53 PM
I wonder what kind of ratings they're expecting from Leno now. Do they automatically assume he'll be number 1 again and pass Letterman quickly? Or if he lags for 7 months (the time Conan got)is he out on his ass? Who's the backup? Yeesh, NBC made the ultimate mess of this whole thing. I agree, it's not all Leno being a dick, but he should have just gone away and retired and let Conan have the show. If it wasn't for that lame 10 PM show, none of this crap probably would have happened. Good luck, Conan.
Posted By: CourtesyFlush (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:56 PM
how much longer can the 60 year old leno host tonight?
this problem is going to come up again. how will nbc handle the succession of jay leno for the third time?
Posted By: rey (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 01:06 PM
I'm gonna watch Conan tonight and tomorrow night, then I will access my channel lineup and remove NBC so that i never accidently watch it again.
Posted By: IdontTrustNbc (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 01:20 PM
"I know Leno has more of the older audience and Conan gets the younger audience and NBC hoped to capitalize on that - but I'm 28 yrs old and think Leno is still relevant and funny."
Actually, I think you're the one that isn't relevant if you find a hack like Leno funny.
"Everyone shittin on Leno lolol the guy simply accepted a job. NBC wanted Conan gone since ratings dropped over 50% -- how does this make Jay an evil man? Buncha crazies on the internet..."
NBC weren't happy with Conan's ratings but none of this would have happened had Leno not bombed as badly as he did. The NBC affiliates basically kicked Leno out because he was fucking up their ratings which in turn fucked up Conan's ratings because the local news was his lead-in. So yeah, Leno is actually to blame for this.
Posted By: Guest#5314 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 01:39 PM
There needs to be one last "Conando" And one last "In the Year 3000" before Conan goes away.
Posted By: Guest#2641 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 01:50 PM
Scott B, why would he retire if he was #1 until the day he moved over for that disaster Conan?
Awaiting your FAIL response.
Posted By: Leno #1 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:01 PM
NBC: Nothing But Cunts
Posted By: Nick (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:06 PM
Oh - I also forgot Scotty B - Leno couldn't leave NBC because his clause stated he couldn't compete for over a year at another network.
And I do believe during the Writers Strike - Letterman had his writers back and Jay was flying solo - he was still kicking that gap tooth asshole in the ratings.
Just say you feel bad for Conan and move on - and do yourself a favor and Youtube some vids from back in 2004 when Leno and Conan both addressed the future swap in 5 years - not hatred but rather encouraging words for one another.
In the end, just like with anything else in life, the better person wins - talent, looks, chick, job - however and whatever you compete for - and ultimately ratings killed Conan and NBC realized there mistake.
Hate hate hate hate hate
Posted By: Leno is #1 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:06 PM
Won't most of his staff go with him wherever he ends up going? So they too will be able to start collecting a paycheck in September?
Posted By: juvi (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:56 AM
I bet a lot of his staff, especially the trade jobs like cameramen, will just use their severance package and move back to LA where they can get new entertainment jobs again.
I think that's where the problem was, so many of the staff had uprooted their lives and moved cross country Conan felt they were owed something for that.
Posted By: Deathpool (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:19 PM
Before you O'Brien dick suckers speak, get your facts straight - NBC fucked things up not Jay.
Hate hate hate hate hate.
Posted By: Leno is #1 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 11:57 AM
Wow, Leno is #1, if Leno is #1, then why does his prime-time show suck balls? Obviously his show is lacking in content, and Leno is proving to suck ass, like he did in his first two years.
Conan did try to get his shit in gear, and he didn't have the support from NBC, OBVIOUSLY. For some reason, they don't like people moving up the ladder. Example: Instead of going with Letterman as Carson's replacement, they chose Jay. Another example: Replacing Conan after a 7 month run in his slot with running Jay's show for half an hour before him, and bumping his back that half an hour... then when he refused, made the move to replace Conan, WITH JAY. Wow, see a fucked up pattern? I guess whomever Jay did to get give head to worked, because we can see the jizz dribbling off of Jay's big chin.
Posted By: CM Chunk (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:26 PM
Guest#8972
You and other idiots realize Conan was getting $8 million per year on his “Late Night show. For 16yrs. Than when he took over the tonight show he was contracted for 22 million ! This to me was greater than before but an insult considering Leno reportedly earned $30 million annually as HOST!
45 million sounds like a lot but it's peanuts considering the actual 5 yr contract Conan had with NBC ! You all realize NBC is only buying out the 2yrs of the contract! So Conan isn't really getting nothing he doesn't already deserve!
If he woudl have stayed HOST he would make 22 million a year do the math people! 5 yrs that's 110 million !
How is settling for 40 million where he takes only 30 /33 million for himself and the rest go to his staff ! ALot?
In the long term he woudl have made more
Posted By: Insider (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:28 PM
I'd take Jay over Conan anyday. Conan is not even funny. Jay became funnier in his new show. Before Conan took over Jay's spot, Jay was at the top.
I think they should have gotten rid of Fallon. He is NOT even funny.
Posted By: Montoc (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:33 PM
"2. Leno has repeatedly stolen bits from other performers like Howard Stern, and refuses to admit it."
Typical Stern zombie bullshit. While I'm sure Leno did lift some of his material from other comedians and comedic sources (as all comics do), he didn't take anything directly from Stern aka "Inventor of Everything."
Stern claims to have invented Jaywalking, a bit that Leno did before Howard went after homeless people and retards. Stuttering John himself who knows both parties very well, posted online that Jay came up with the bit first.
And regardless who came up with it between those two, neither of them invented it (HOO HOO). Steve Allen originated that exact bit so if Leno is ripping it off, so is Hoo Hoo Howie.
And if you think this is just Stern bashing, why not examine other things that he claimed to have invented so you too can bask in the absurdity:
* The Osbournes reality show
* Whip 'Em Out Wednesday (WOW), a radio promotion invented by Opie & Anthony in 1995
* Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader
* MTV Unplugged
* Seinfeld
* Eating
* Breathing
* Shitting
That's right Robin! Tell 'Em Fred! HOO to the mother fuckin' HOO!
Posted By: Brad B (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:48 PM
well most affiliates show the news before the Tonight show. So guess the bad carry over from Leno to the News carried over to Conan. Then again as he himself said the Tonight Show is a franchise it has a history so most people even if they didn't watch the news on before the Tonight show they know what time it starts and apparently ratings showed that they tuned in to see Conan the tuned out.
No matter how the official story is, some will say Conan forced Leno out to get what he thought should be his show, that he earned the right to get ashot at hosting. Some will say Leno never wanted to retire but since he did the same pushing out Letterman for the spot then fine Conan could do the same right force NBC's hand walk or in this amount of time Conan gets the Tonight Show, same strong arming just more up front than Leno did Letterman. Bottom line is NBC had a panic attack.....everyone crying foul on Leno's part...he was offered a job back at a time slot he knows a hell of a lot about versus that prime time spot. He took it. Conan said it once before not tooo long ago in the Tonight Show spot people will know who he is now, it might have been a joke but there is some truth to that. When the deal was made and the clock began winding down for Leno, NBC put it out there for those that for some reason didn't know Conan that he would be taking over the Tonight Show. Atleast I remember the news and even a short lil campaign on television talking about it. So the viewers knew it was coming no matter your lead in into his show for more than a year it was discussed and talked about.
Conan was successful in that time slot he had, fan base and all some of those viewers for some strange reason DID not follow him to his earlier time slot. Or maybe they did and the Leno fan base tuned out because that particular base didn't care to know Conan. Could he have hooked them.....you never know because NBC had a panic attack.
As for Leno's ratings all those that watch Leno for what 17 years saw him at 11:35pm not at some damn 10pm. That time period was usually on lock for some other shows then his viewers knowing what time it was 11:35pm oh the Tonight Show is on. NBC panic attack no one followed Leno to prime time. Hell naw because most watched something else during that time it was habit.
If it makes you sleep better blam Leno, the real blame is NBC being to stupid not to let one or the other leave, be it Conan 4 or 5 years ago or Leno seven months ago. Before you come back saying "but Leno didn't want to leave" hell neither did Conan but his ass left with 45 million for him and staff. Pretty sure NBC could have done the same with Leno. In the end the bad business is NBC, bad company NBC and over all stupidity goes to NBC.
Posted By: Guest#5134 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 02:53 PM
I hope Andy will be a part of Conan's show on Fox (or wherever).
Posted By: Lucius (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 03:09 PM
so conan will probably got to fox or maybe even upn. and when he does nbc is gonna shit lead bricks.
Posted By: bewley (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 03:14 PM
Everyone shittin on Leno lolol the guy simply accepted a job. NBC wanted Conan gone since ratings dropped over 50% -- how does this make Jay an evil man? Buncha crazies on the internet...
Posted By: pffft (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 12:05 PM
Easy...you show some fucking integrity and choose not to accept a job and fuck the new guy over....so yes, it is his fault as much as NBC execs
Posted By: Erik... (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 03:26 PM
"for all of you guys saying conan's ratings were bad, get your facts straight.
The reason jay leno show was cancelled was because it was doing so poorly that the news affiliates were suffering as well. So if no one was watching the 11 o'clock news, why would they watch the tonight show. so yes conan lost the audience, but his lead-ins (including jay) contributed to that"
Blaming Leno for Conan's poor ratings is plainly dumb. Only people responsible for Conan's poor ratings is Conan, and NBC. Blaming others for someone's failure is pathetic.
Leno, and NBC are at fault for Leno's poor ratings at 10pm. The bad pres of him being bashed by stupid greedy actors and the affilaites didn't help either. All it proved is that late night talk shows should be on at 10pm.
Leno DOMINATED the late night talk show circuit for over a decade, and Conan came in and DESTROYED those ratings, and it ONLY took him 7 months to do so.
btw, I like Conan. And, Jay; but face it Conan isn't some pleb. The guy just got himself 33 mil TO DO NOTHING for half a year. See this single tear: It's me crying for the poor soul known as Conan.
Anyways, NBC are the ones whos crewed majorly. They mishandled this thing from the get go.
However, NOBODY is 'evil' in this situation. People like to abuse that word. It's ridiculous.
Posted By: Volourn (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 03:43 PM
All these people jerking off in Conan's hair know nothing about the entertainment business.
Johnny Carson was Tonight Show host for 30 yrs and left when HE wanted to leave. He was not forced out. He was 79 when he left.
Carson may have wanted Letterman to replace him, but he's not the boss. NBC chose Jay to host instead of Letterman.
People don't watch the Tonight Show just because it's the Tonight Show, they watch it based on the host. At first everyone watched Letterman on CBS, cuz everyone assumed the guy Carson liked would be good. But 2 months into Leno's debut his ratings BEAT Letterman, and he kept that lead till NBC forced him out of hosting.
Jay didn't want to leave. He was #1. But Conan's contract was coming to end and he whined about his spot and threatened to leave NBC if he didn't get the Tonight Show spot soon. NBC's first mistake was giving in to Conan's pathetic whining.
Conan started the show after Leno was forced out, which Leno was gracious about, Conan failed. He already had a show and he failed. Leno started the Tonight Show new and he destroyed Letterman. Conan started with a built in audience and failed.
Leno's primetime did bad not because he's Leno, but because people watch drama at that time.
NBC decided to move Leno as a lead in to Conan in hopes of boosting Conan's pathetic ratings. Conan whined again.
NBC fixes their mistake by getting rid of Conan and putting Leno where he belongs.
Learn the business and look at your history before complaining.
Posted By: Guest#6714 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 04:01 PM
"Blaming Leno for Conan's poor ratings is plainly dumb. Only people responsible for Conan's poor ratings is Conan, and NBC. Blaming others for someone's failure is pathetic."
This is a ridiculously trite statement that has no basis in reality. People tuned out for Leno and never came back for the news and, therefore, never came back for Conan.
Posted By: J.D. Dunn (Registered) on January 21, 2010 at 04:25 PM
Leno=Undertaker (Very worthy of his place in history, very talented, but the "cool" fans hate on him for the sake of hating on him because he's been around so long.)
Conan=CM Punk (Very talented in his own right, but reaches a different kind of fanbase than the other guy. Doesn't draw the ratings the other guy does, but is still pretty successful. The internet is very high on him because he's the "hipper" choice.)
Posted By: MasterShake (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 04:32 PM
dont you ever put taker in the same category as that fag leno..
Posted By: Guest#9691 (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 07:38 PM
Leno=Hulk Hogan (Very unworthy of his place in history, very untalented, and the "cool" fans hate on him because he is a useless old hack who's ego ruins companies.)
Conan=CM Punk (Very talented in his own right, but reaches a different kind of fanbase than the other guy. Doesn't draw the ratings the other guy does, but is still pretty successful. The internet is very high on him because he's the "hipper" choice.)
Posted By: MasterShake (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 04:32 PM
Fixed it for you buddy. :)
Posted By: Some Random Dude (Guest) on January 21, 2010 at 07:54 PM
Conan was the least entertaining of all the night show hosts. I would turn the channel after leno. I doubt fox will try to compete in this time slot since they have 10 pm news. Leno really has the funnyest monologue and the best rock band. That Max weinburgh band is stupid for under 60 crowd and Letterman has that jazz band. I think people pick a "team" and seem to stick by it. However I was one of those that changed my mind about Leno over time. Conan, I left
Posted By: curtis (Guest) on January 22, 2010 at 12:11 AM
Conan was the least entertaining of all the night show hosts. I would turn the channel after leno. I doubt fox will try to compete in this time slot since they have 10 pm news. Leno really has the funnyest monologue and the best rock band. That Max weinburgh band is stupid for under 60 crowd and Letterman has that jazz band. I think people pick a "team" and seem to stick by it. However I was one of those that changed my mind about Leno over time. Conan, I left
Posted By: curtis (Guest) on January 22, 2010 at 12:11 AM
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