Conan's Exit Confirmed

gldstwmn · #1 01-15-2010, 02:52 PM

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-a...ast:mainpromo1
The late-night nightmare is almost over. Conan O’Brien is leaving NBC and receiving a payout—and he’ll be free to appear on another network before his contract expires, Kim Masters reports.

The NBC-Leno-Conan war is close to ending, according to a knowledgeable source. According to the outlines of a settlement, Conan O'Brien will leave NBC and the network will make an as-yet unspecified payment. The comedian will be free to appear elsewhere on television well before his contract expires, despite earlier threats from NBC that it would prevent him from working anywhere else.

There is still opportunity for the negotiation to fall apart, but clearly, at this point it is in NBC's interest to put an end to this dismal episode.

It seems that Ron Meyer, the affable chief of the Universal film studio, played a key role in bringing the parties together when they were at an impasse and talks had broken down. Meyer is a former agent whose industry relationships run deep and wide. And of course, he has lots of negotiating experience.

According to the source, the resolution to the epic and highly public battle came down primarily to the size of the check that NBC would write to O'Brien. That amount remains shrouded in mystery for now, and no doubt the parties will have to agree to confidentiality as part of the deal.

According to a knowledgeable insider, NBC Universal started out sincerely hoping that it would be able to keep O'Brien on NBC in a 12:05 a.m. slot behind Leno, who is to be reinstated at 11:35 p.m. Part of the resolution was getting executives there to understand that the plan simply was unrealistic.

At that point, with late-night comics across the television landscape piling on night after night—and with Leno being increasingly vilified and undoubtedly chafing at the public lashing he was getting—it was obvious that the situation had to be resolved.
It remains unclear where O'Brien might go next. The most obvious place is Fox, but top executives at the company have been scrupulous about avoiding any appearance that they tried to lure O'Brien there while his relationship with NBC remained unresolved. Should Fox go forward with a late-night show with O'Brien now, it will take months before he would be ready to go on the air.

HejiraNYC · #2 01-15-2010, 03:12 PM

What I wonder... is what the heck is NBC going to plug into the 10PM weeknight timeslot now? That's five hours of programming that they're going to have to create in no time flat. I think they need to put Chris Hanson to work and do five nights/week of "Dateline NBC - To Catch a Predator."

I swear... I could watch that stuff all day and never get bored.

FMlex · #3 01-15-2010, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

What I wonder... is what the heck is NBC going to plug into the 10PM weeknight timeslot now? That's five hours of programming that they're going to have to create in no time flat. I think they need to put Chris Hanson to work and do five nights/week of "Dateline NBC - To Catch a Predator."

I swear... I could watch that stuff all day and never get bored.

NBC has already announced the lineup.

New drama "Parenthood"
Relocated "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: SVU"
"The Marriage Ref" (produced by Jerry Seinfeld)
"Dateline NBC"

The new lineup is going to debut after the coverage of the Olympics.

skcin · #4 01-15-2010, 03:38 PM

NBC really f*cked up, IMO. They should have just let Leno go in the first place. Your contract is up? Thanks for the memories, good luck. So is he going to be back as host of the Tonight Show now?

Whatever.

I love Conan, hope someone picks him up soon (although I can't see CBS dumping Fergusson or ABC dumping Kimmel, nor do I think they should.) Maybe Fox wants a late night show again?

trackaghost · #5 01-15-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skcin

NBC really f*cked up, IMO. They should have just let Leno go in the first place. Your contract is up? Thanks for the memories, good luck. So is he going to be back as host of the Tonight Show now?

Whatever.

I love Conan, hope someone picks him up soon (although I can't see CBS dumping Fergusson or ABC dumping Kimmel, nor do I think they should.) Maybe Fox wants a late night show again?

I totally agree! But you know who I think is the real bastard in all this? Leno. He retired from The Tonight Show, he gave it up, he passed it on to Conan. When his own show did poorly and he was offered this new time slot, this "new" Tonight Show, he should have just said no but he really f*cked Conan over, imo.

HejiraNYC · #6 01-15-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I totally agree! But you know who I think is the real bastard in all this? Leno. He retired from The Tonight Show, he gave it up, he passed it on to Conan. When his own show did poorly and he was offered this new time slot, this "new" Tonight Show, he should have just said no but he really f*cked Conan over, imo.

My recollection is that Leno wanted to continue doing the Tonight Show, but was pushed out of the slot in order for NBC to appease Coco. I don't think Leno effed anyone over. Rather, NBC effed them both.

HejiraNYC · #7 01-15-2010, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FMlex

NBC has already announced the lineup.

New drama "Parenthood"
Relocated "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: SVU"
"The Marriage Ref" (produced by Jerry Seinfeld)
"Dateline NBC"

The new lineup is going to debut after the coverage of the Olympics.

Sounds like NBC 10PM is going from bad to worse. At least in NY we have the option of catching a re-airing of "The Wendy Williams Show" at 10 on WOR.

Who doesn't like some trashy, mindless, tranny-licious fun before bedtime?

trackaghost · #8 01-15-2010, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

My recollection is that Leno wanted to continue doing the Tonight Show, but was pushed out of the slot in order for NBC to appease Coco. I don't think Leno effed anyone over. Rather, NBC effed them both.

To be fair though, Leno gets to go back to what he always wanted to do then. I still think he should have passed on it and moved on, I really do.

HejiraNYC · #9 01-15-2010, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

To be fair though, Leno gets to go back to what he always wanted to do then. I still think he should have passed on it and moved on, I really do.

Yes, Leno gets to go back to where he wants to be. However, the whole fiasco was handled so poorly by NBC. It's only been seven months; I don't think they gave this situation enough time to work. Also, I think the Leno show should have been completely gutted and rebuilt from the ground up. Personally I think it should have been more of a Variety Hour than yet another vanilla chat show. And make it edgier. Make it more interactive. Feature some new unknown acts and interesting performers. I think that is what made talent shows like X Factor or AI such huge hits- the possibility of the unknown. The chat show format works fine if you're competing with nothing but chat shows. But in primetime, you gotta bring ya A-game.

Zombie · #10 01-15-2010, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

What I wonder... is what the heck is NBC going to plug into the 10PM weeknight timeslot now? That's five hours of programming that they're going to have to create in no time flat. I think they need to put Chris Hanson to work and do five nights/week of "Dateline NBC - To Catch a Predator."

I swear... I could watch that stuff all day and never get bored.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

trackaghost · #11 01-15-2010, 06:32 PM

Pretty funny, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks Leno should have said no. It's amusing to watch him squirm.

Ghost_Tracker · #12 01-15-2010, 06:46 PM

i.m.o. the "Conan Leaving" story should be taken with a grain of salt.

I think it's just a rumor at this point. I just did a pretty thorough google search for it, and there's NOTHING saying he's leaving; including under the "News" links.

Don't get me wrong, I think there's very high possibility that he WILL leave, but i.m.o. these are still just ......

Ghost_Tracker · #13 01-15-2010, 07:00 PM

By the way, I've been starting to wonder if the networks need to really be thinking about Letterman retiring, as far as their long-term plans. After all, he started dropping hints about it years ago...

I remember not so long ago, Letterman asked Paul Reiser how he spent his weekend and Reiser told him. And then Letterman goes, "Oh yeah? . . . I spent my weekend all alone in my kitchen starting at the floor tiles, contemplating the sheer vacuity and emptiness of my existence and trying to figure out what the hell to do with the rest of my life and how to find a way to make myself actually useful to humanity..."

(Something along those general lines.) He was making a joke, of course, but then again . . . .

HejiraNYC · #14 01-15-2010, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

By the way, I've been starting to wonder if the networks need to really be thinking about Letterman retiring, as far as their long-term plans. After all, he started dropping hints about it years ago...

I remember not so long ago, Letterman asked Paul Reiser how he spent his weekend and Reiser told him. And then Letterman goes, "Oh yeah? . . . I spent my weekend all alone in my kitchen starting at the floor tiles, contemplating the sheer vacuity and emptiness of my existence and trying to figure out what the hell to do with the rest of my life and how to find a way to make myself actually useful to humanity..."

(Something along those general lines.) He was making a joke, of course, but then again . . . .

I think the end of Letterman was when he had to shut down his upstairs p^$$^ palace.

Without that, why bother going to work?

LukeA · #15 01-15-2010, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ghost_Tracker

i.m.o. the "Conan Leaving" story should be taken with a grain of salt.

I think it's just a rumor at this point. I just did a pretty thorough google search for it, and there's NOTHING saying he's leaving; including under the "News" links.

He's gone. He accepted a $30M buyout today.