CONANGATE
Conan O'Brien Agrees To $44 Million Payout From NBC
After two weeks worth of hasty negotiations, Conan O’Brien has signed a deal with NBC to exit the Tonight Show, allowing Jay Leno to return as host of the legendary late night program. Radar Online reports that Coco signed the paperwork at 1 A.M. PST Thursday, agreeing to a $32 million payout for himself and an additional $12 million to take care of his staff.
O’Brien’s manager Gavin Polone released a statement early this morning saying, “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.”
Yesterday, the network announced Conan’s guest schedule for the rest of the week and revealed that they would not offer tickets for the Tonight Show studio audience next week, hinting that Conan’s last Tonight Show will be Friday.
An official statement, hopefully clearing up who will get custody of the Masturbating Bear, is expected later today.
Developing…
· Conan O’Brien Signs $44 Million Deal To Leave Tonight Show [Radar]
More interviews
- UCB Cofounder Matt Walsh on Amy Poehler's Ascent, Improv, and His New Show Players
- One Life to Live's Brett Claywell: 'We Told a Story in a World Where Most People Are Afraid to Tell It'
- Michael Shannon on The Runaways, Kristen Stewart's Sophistication, and Getting Picked Up By James Franco
- Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart: The Movieline Interview
- Emilie de Ravin on Remember Me and the Learning Curve of Lost
Lost
American Idol
Oscars
Lists
Obsessive compulsive: all topics, one link!
Lost American Idol Oscars Lists
Past Virtual Newsstands
More in TVLine
About | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Information | mail.com | Hollywood Life | Deadline Hollywood
Copyright © 2009 Movieline LLC All rights reserved.
Posted 21 Jan 2010, 9:51 AM
Is $60,000-ish per staffer a lot of severance in LA?
Then again, I guess if it just has to hold 'em until September ....
Posted 21 Jan 2010, 10:11 AM
And so NBC ends another enjoyable, high-rated drama...
Posted 21 Jan 2010, 10:48 AM
In LA, $6,000 would be considered a generous severance. Most of the time, if your show is cancelled, you get nothing.
Posted 27 Jan 2010, 7:39 PM
I am saddened to hear that NBC had to waste $44 million to rid itself of tv's poorest excuse for a comedian.... I purposely missed every Tonite Show that this guy ever hosted and was always puzzled as to why he was ever there in the first place.