Conan O’Brien is nearing a deal to split with NBC’s Tonight Show for a $40 million payout, according to The Wall Street Journal. Read the full post.
Jan 19
2010
09:12 AM ET
Report: Conan getting $40 million to walk from NBC
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I hope he will donate a large portion of these unearned proceeds to charity.
NBC must have money to burn. 40 million to flush one of the most UN-funny people in show business. That hack is laughing all the way to the bank.
Shaddup Jay
$40 million… celebrities and sports stars throw around millions as if it were $10 bills. To put this all in perspective, $40 million equates to $109,589 per day over the course of 1 year. I wonder if Conan can live on that for just a bit?
Most of us get paid for getting a job, and Conan’s getting paid for quitting. Wow, that’s power!
Can I get an “AMEN” for the fact that Leno is, in NO way, funny!!? I dont understand the hype over this guy. Conan is in a whole other league when it comes to entertainment.
AMEN, brother. Leno sucks.
AMEN!
Conan was really unfunny anyway. Looking at all the late-night on NBC, it all needed changing, with fresh talent (that being the keyword). They should have hired Craig Ferguson, since he has some (talent). Letterman is just as bad as Leno has become, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel/Fallon, and to give $40M severence in this time of economic failure, well, does no one else think it’s “criminal?” How many Haitians (for instance) could be saved/helped? How many homeless on the streets of NY? LA? Miami?
Conan isn’t putting people out of work…NBC isn’t putting people out of work… viewers are putting people out of work by choosing to watch Letterman instead. Take a hike Conan, welcome back Jay, retire already Letterman (with an assistant of course…).
I’m guessing you’re a Leno fan?
I only blame Leno for being unfunny. Leno is to humor is Velveeta is to cheese. (a bland, plastic wrapped, not very sharp, tasteless imitation)
Nah, as bad as it is, velveeta has some microscopic redeeming quality. Jay is more like the plastic used to wrap american cheese, colorless, tasteless and destined for a landfill.
No doubt NBC is to blame for this fiasco with their misguided agreement years ago with Conan. Someone thought that Conan had more than fringe appeal – not so. The bottom line is that Conan tanked in the ratings, so he has to go. Leno isn’t exactly brilliant, but at least he was able to draw the biggest audience night after night.
It has nothing to do with lead-in. We watch the NBC evening news, and then turn the TV off quickly so we don’t have to listen to that stupid Conan O’Brien announcement at the beginning of the show. Recently we took another look and after a few nights it’s clearly not for us. May he go to Fox and take his audience with him.
I’ve been watching late night television since Jack Paar, Johnny Carson etc. Conan and his lowbrow “in your face” style and dumb jokes just don’t sit well with the audience – or with me.
We are all saddened by the untimely riches than are going to shower Conan; unlike the millions of rest of us who keep the ratings up!
There is no sorrow for Conan! $40MM to leave a job. These guys are in a world not shared by the rest of us. When Kimmel said; ” Jay leave our shows alone. We have children to feed, you have $800MM.” Poor Jimmy Kimmel and Conan. No pity here for these multi millionaires. BTW: I have been laid off for 9 months, and no immediate prospects. Maybe there is a show I can host!!
Good riddance to that unfunny hack. At least Leno is occasionally funny.
Jay is occasionally funning? Really? When was the last time? More like a cure for insomnia but people didn’t want to fall asleep at 10 PM.
does anyone think they even promoted the conan show? i feel like i couldn’t turn around without seeing a “jay at 10″ billboard or commercial.
You’re exactly right. NBC knew this wasn’t going to work from the get go. Conan’s humor just isn’t understood by a majority of Leno fans. When Comcast takes over NBC, all of these longtime NBC execs will be axed.
with high unemployment,forclosures,bankruptcies and loss of health care..why do we care what happens to mutli-millionaires ? Jay and Conan are set for life…I don’t really care what NBC does to either one of them
I switched to letterman after carson….yeah, I’m old. I never cared for Leno and even less for conan. When NBC announced Conan was gonna take over the 11:30 slot, I knew it would be a disaster.
Bottom line is RATINGS
Nothing personal here, it’s all business. Conan’s ratings tanked in the 11:30 slot, so they want Leno back. Simple as that.