Conan Loses Characters (and More) to NBC

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 18th 2010 08:04AM

When Conan O'Brien parts ways with NBC, he won't simply lose the keys to his long-awaited 'Tonight Show' hosting gig, according to The Hollywood Reporter. NBC owns the intellectual property from the lanky red-head's tenure in late night television, including the characters and recurring comedy sketches featured on both 'The Tonight Show' and 'Late Night With Conan O'Brien.' Wherever life takes Conan next, he'll go without his old friend Pimpbot 5000.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog

In the Year 2000

There's some good news for fans of O'Brien - his most popular character, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, might remain safe from NBC's grasp. The dog puppet with a bad attitude was created by Rob Smigel - the same Smigel behind 'SNL TV Funhouse' and the voice of Triumph - and it's still unclear whether NBC or Smigel owns the rights to the character.

David Letterman paved the way for a network departure with his 1993 move from NBC to CBS. NBC made the same effort to block use of Letterman's established bits; The comic responded by changing the names of existing segments and characters. 'Viewer Mail' became 'CBS Mailbag', while frequent guest Larry "Bud" Melman began using his real name, Calvert DeForest.

Sources close to O'Brien told THR that he comedian was comfortable starting fresh - he was not interested in taking his NBC characters with him. O'Brien will make his last 'Tonight Show' appearance, less than eight months after his debut, on January 22.

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Conan O'Brien Snapshots

Conan O'Brien is seen here in December at Disney's Imagination Movers in Los Angeles. Click for More Pics of Conan and His Show >>>

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Amy Adams Snapshots

Actress Amy Adams (Right) and actor Darren Le Gallo attends the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Directors Guild Theatre on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - Outside Arrivals Directors Guild Theatre New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (59235392), contact WireImage.com

Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

Actress Amy Adams attends the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Directors Guild Theatre on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - Outside Arrivals Directors Guild Theatre New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage.com To license this image (59235381), contact WireImage.com

Jim Spellman/WireImage.com

NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actress Amy Adams attends the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Amy Adams

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NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matthew Goode;Amy Adams

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NEW YORK - JANUARY 06: Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams attend the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Matthew Goode;Amy Adams

Getty Images

Actor Matthew Goode and actress Amy Adams attend the after party for the premiere of "Leap Year" at the Rouge Tomate on January 6, 2010 in New York City. "Leap Year" New York Premiere - After Party Rouge Tomate New York, NY United States January 6, 2010 Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com To license this image (17093661), contact WireImage.com

Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage.com

Comments

(66)

Monday 18 January

By Darin

Vote down Vote up Report this

Let all feel sorry for Conan who's going to walk away with 30-40 Million Dollars...Don't know what's wrong with this country. Where does any Entertainer, Actor, Actress or Sport Professional constitute such absorbant amount of money. What about the poor schleps like myself who work 40 hours a week and make less than 50k a year? Can't feel sorry for those who have so much when there are millions that have so little.

By Lou

Waiting for Jay to return to 11:30. But if he doesn't return to his former format and keeps the 10 o'clock one,he will never get the other fans back. It wasn't the time slot, it was the changing of the format and replacing with untalented people. Ross the Intern was great, but of course he went to bigger things. And bring back Kip and Kim, they were always great. Why would anyone miss Conan? He seems to be very juvenile to me.

By Dean

Why can`t people just read these post and not worry about how someone spells.Are you that hard up for attention?

By Carl

If you really want to know what the tonight show was, at one time, get tapes of back when Johnny Carson was there. Now those were the times.

By Renie

Coanan is great and he will pave the way for others!

Tuesday 19 January

By j1l8c27

I fit the Leno demographjic, and most of my retired friends prefer Colbert to either.

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