Big Money at Stake If Conan O'Brien, NBC Divorce

By Marc Schneider Posted Jan 13th 2010 11:20AM

Conan O'Brien's days at NBC are numbered, that much appears likely. His bombshell letter to the world Tuesday argued that 'The Tonight Show' belongs at 11:35 p.m. and not a minute later. To him, the 'Tonight' franchise would be destroyed if it is moved to 12:05 a.m., as the network proposed in order to accommodate for Jay Leno's return. In other words, move the show and I'm out. In other other words, Conan is toast, and he stands to lose bank.

NBC said Tuesday that the proposed shuffling would not be a breach of O'Brien's contract, because: A) They promised to keep him on as the show's host regardless of ratings, and B) His deal does not include language that guarantees an 11:35 p.m. start. To that, O'Brien says contract shmontract. "The 'Tonight Show' at 12:05 simply isn't the 'Tonight Show,'" he wrote in his manifesto.

O'Brien makes between $10 million to $20 million a year and is owed about two and a half years on his contract. He is reportedly working with NBC execs to hammer out a financial settlement and clear exit strategy. If things get bumpy, the host could stand to lose a huge chunk of money in the divorce.

TMZ reports that O'Brien never sought such a time-slot clause, while Leno did for his now-canceled 10 p.m. show.

According to the NY Times, the network is getting increasingly impatient with O'Brien over his one-man PR campaign -- which includes the scathing letter and nightly monologues -- to cast blame on the network for the wrecked situation.

O'Brien "sat up all night drafting the statement" that he released Tuesday, a rep said. He reportedly teared up when he read to statement to his staff.

"He broke up. He began to cry," and insider tells Deadline.com. "Because for 17 years he was working towards 'The Tonight Show,' and now he says he's prepared to walk away from it. That's an amazing thing. But he takes very seriously the fact that 'The Tonight Show' baton was passed to him."

There were no tears Tuesday night though when he started his monologue: "My name is Conan O'Brien, and I may soon be available for children's parties," he said.

Tags: conan obrien

Comments

(124)

Friday 15 January

By roni123

Vote down Vote up Report this

Who are you? My 6th grade English teacher? Who really cares?

Thursday 14 January

By pawco1ltd

Here's one person's opinion: Letterman is naturally funny but is lazy. Jay Leno is less naturally funny, but works hard and therefore makes his show funnier. Conan is not funny. NBC made a big mistake in promising the Tonight Show to Conan: effectively forcing Jay out. To correct the mistake they should reinstate Jay, who kicked Letterman's butt for years, and put Conan back where he was. If that is not acceptable to Conan he should pursue other options. It's nothing personal, it's just business. Crying and playing victim does no one any good.

By Tom

From my perspective, Conan doesn't have a large enough chin for the Tonight Show.

By linda

Leno's chin is on the top of Conan's head.

By liguyusa

Both Conan and Leno aren't pretty to look at any hour! The only good thing about Leno's show is when he shows how stupid a large segment of the U.S. population is. Try some of the great shows on Cable networks that air at 10PM, it's a refreshing change.

By Joe

Jay was #1 for a reason folks, whether you like him or not. Ashleigh (above)on 1/14 got the stroy right. NBC panicked when Conan said he might leave to get an earlier spot because they thought he was the answer to a particular age group demographic - so we see how that turned out. So let's see his rating in a straight up rating war against Jay and Craig and even Dave as poor as he is. I don't watch Dave anymore and especially after his sexual antics. He's like John Edwards to his wife. Conan is #3 or #4 on the list. Jay is a professional and Craig may be creeping into the #2 spot of who's the best.

By elin

Instead of suing, maybe Conan should insist the network send money to Haiti to help with the disaster. It's horrible to watch.

By JD

Goodbye Conan, you haven't got the class for the tonight show.

And Leno does?

By mr. leo

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Bottom line, Letterman made the transition and Conan did not. I found it very strange that they moved the Tonight Show to Universal Studios giving the show a different feel, in addition to the new host. It truly felt like NBC never really intended to fully back their choices. The Tonight Show Band followed Jay as did most of his old bits. What was the whole point????

By terry

the tonight show died with the retirement of johnny carson and ed mcmahon. jay leno postponed the burial and conan o'brian put it to rest. time to move on NBC!

By gordie

These guys are not even funny.

By Maricia12

The network is the boss and if the boss is losing money and wants to change Conan's hour by 30 min and still pay him the same, what is the big deal? It sounds like he is "cutting his nose off to spite his face". How silly all this is when these people are making way more money than they are worth. Maybe that is why they are so full of themselves with their giant egos. I think Conan should have just kept his mouth shut and followed the old adadge. "The boss is always right".

By tmj

I never thought COB was that funny - he tried to be funny and studied others - but he was never funny to me. It was a bad decision to make him a host of ANY show in the first place. He looks like a rich yuppy that is trying to appeal to a group of college students but never gets there.

By krbyshep

People who believe this was some how Leno's fault that Conan's time slot would have been moving had Conan agreed to stay on NBC are simply idiots, and not surprisingly, are fans of Conan's childish humour. While Conan has every right to be angry with NBC, so does Leno for being cancelled by NBC. This was clearly NBC's doing, and it is NBC who deserves the blame, not Leno or Conan. Truth be told though, NBC clearly overestimated Conan's appeal to a wide demographic. He had seven months to build a strong ratings base and failed to do so. Thus, treating Conan as somehow the only victim in this debacle is ludicrous.

By BigJohn

Advertisers don't want the college crowd. They don't have any money!!!

By Lawrence

I saw one of his first shows! Watched for 20 minutes. He really sucks! Never watched again, See Ya!

By barb

conan got the shaft, NBC knew what their plans might be and conan wasent, Leno isnt even funny , his Clinton jokes are as old as the hills and boring to hear. and hes getting mean and the questlist show a catering to the black population

he deserves to flop

By steve

if jay leno has any character at all, he'll bow out of this stink and let conan have the show he's worked for and deserves. how 'bout it jay ? you gonna "man up?"

By Cynthia J

Jay Leno is one of those people who can never get enough. He was ruthless during the Leno/Letterman fiasco a few years back. I don't find Leno funny anymore. He is so rich why doesn't he step aside (retire) and do HBO Specials, stand-up, whatever. The way he clings to the Tonight Show is pathetic. The Glory days are gone boys. Carson was the Tonight Show and now it's over. And, the kind of money they make a year is shameful. Grab, grab, stuff those pockets full. Yet, sadly, this is all about EGO.

Page 5 of 7