On Final 'Tonight Show,' Conan O'Brien Says He's Done a 'Decade Too Early'

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 22nd 2010 10:33PM

On his final 'Tonight Show' appearance, and certainly his final appearance hosting a show for the next seven months, Conan O'Brien joked that he had another ten years to give.

"We've a had a lot of fun being here these last seven months, but like everything in life, the fun has to come to an end a decade too early," the comedian joked during his opening monologue (via PEOPLE). "As I set off for exciting new career opportunities, I just want to make one thing clear to everyone listening out there ... I will do nudity."

"We have exactly one hour to steal everything in this studio," he joked before launching into various sketches. More Details on His Heartfelt Goodbye After the Jump!

Conan joked that his settlement doesn't allow him to host a show for seven months, but volunteered to be loyal sidekick Andy Richter's wingman on a future program. He also listed possibilities for what could happen to his new studio. Our favorite: Magician David Blaine will attempt the impossble by trying to remain in the studio for more than seven months.

A parade of celebrities followed including Will Ferrell and Tom Hanks, who led the crowd in a CoCo chant before heading off to appear at the Hope for Haiti Now Telethon. Coverage of the Star Studded Event Here >>> NBC employee Steve Carell performed an "official" exit interview. "Would you consider working for NBC in the future," he asked.

Longtime supporter Neil Young also appeared to sing a 1976 Stills-Young oldie, 'Long May You Run.'

O'Brien turned emotional towards the end of the show -- a rare site in weeks that have involved bitter words and hard-hitting jokes between Conan, Jay Leno and David Letterman.

Before They Were Fighting: See Yearbook Photos of Late Night Stars >>>

"There has been a lot of speculation in the press about what I legally can and can't say about NBC. To set the record straight, tonight I am allowed to say anything I want. And what I want to say is this: between my time at Saturday Night Live, The Late Night Show, and my brief run here on the Tonight Show, I have worked with NBC for over 20 years. Yes, we have our differences right now and yes, we're going to go our separate ways, but this company has been my home for most of my adult life. I am enormously proud of the work we have done together, and I want to thank NBC for making it all possible."

See Conan's Thoughts on His Dreams of Hosting Tonight on PEOPLE.com >>>

"Finally, I have to say something to our fans," O'Brien said during his wrap-up, fighting off tears. "The massive outpouring of support and passion from so many people has been overwhelming. The rallies, the signs, all the goofy, outrageous creativity on the Internet, and the fact that people have traveled long distances and camped out all night in the pouring rain to be in our audience, made a sad situation joyous and inspirational. To all the people watching, I can never thank you enough for your kindness to me and I'll think about it for the rest of my life."

Conan turned to his younger viewers last. "Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality. It's doesn't lead anywhere. No one in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen."

O'Brien has been the center of a late night firestorm. It was announced earlier this week that NBC inked a deal with Conan to end the host's short tenure on 'The Tonight Show,' NBC has confirmed. This paved the way for officially allowing Jay Leno to return to late night from his unsuccessful run at 10 p.m.

According to the network, O'Brien will receive $33 million and his staff another $12 million. The sticking point in O'Brien's complex exit negotiations with NBC had involved his employees. More Details on Conan's New Deal and His Final Monologue Below:

Tags: conan obrien

Comments

(449)

Friday 22 January

By mrsshortybear

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i feel so sorry for Conan he is really getting treated unfairly. it is like (with no disrespect for jay) he is being punished for something he had nothing to do with. jay's show did not work out and they are getting rid of Conan? um... that sounds a bit backwards to me.. it is also like favoring one child over another. i wish him, his staff and his family the very best of luck. Take care Mr. Conan and God Bless. See you on the air very soon! love, janice

By King David

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Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, I guess we will NOT be hearing this stupid noise (see above) that the IDIOT MAKES EVERYTIME HE PAUSES BETWEEN SENTENCES!!!! September is TOO SOON FOR THIS WASTE to return.

Saturday 23 January

By nancy

Those are my thoughts exactly

By Dave

I wish I could be treated that unfairly with 33 million dollars!!!

By dvdfrnzwbr

Nobody cares O'brian. You have the same backbone of Twitter Quitter Sara Palin.

By vcrozas

Why in the world do you feel sorry for him? Millionaire who grew up privlidged ...Daddy is a Doctor. Sarcastic, silly always wanting to have .....fun? Seems like he has not matured one iota in his life time because he has no need to and IMO he could use a little hunilty....gee I guess it does hurt your feelings when you are the one cut but the millions would make it more than better for us ordinary people cause the economy has shown we get the shaft and NOTHING TO GO WITH IT. So feel sorry for the ungrateful jerk.

By bgs

The man is getting 33 MILLION DOLLARS, how can you feel sorry for him??? He is laughing all the way to the bank!

By Katie

The fact that Jay's show didn't work at 10 is not the reason Conan was let go. It's because his own ratings were down. Now that could have been because Jay's show didn't work at 10 and people tuned into other stations.

But with that said, NBC is to blame for this whole mess. I like both Conan and Jay. I think they are both class acts, and I think they were both put in a bad situation that was made 10 times worse by the media. While I like Conan as a person, his show was just not as good as Jays. He is a much quirkier entertainer, and that's not a bad thing. I just don't think he appeals to everyone.

NBC should have left well enough alone. They had a winning lineup and they screwed around with it.

Sunday 24 January

By wayne

i should get millions from nbc. how could they not know ,conan sucks.he's desperate,regardless of what time he's on tv.i can't stand him.jay is a natural

By Dumbasdon

You can bet Conan WILL be laughing All the way to Bank and Back on this one. He's had his 15 minutes and will be blessed enough to get 15 to 30 more minutes if he plays his cards right in the next few years which I'm SURE he will. O'Brien is FAR more talented and Funny than Leno could ever wish to be!!! Conan is a Stand Up Guy that I enjoy to watch, Not like Leno's STAGNANT Humor that is so predictable and boring.

Conan was NOT getting the ratings. That was the bottom line.

By CK

You hit it right on the head. Jay's show tanked so they get rid of Conan ???? I have been watching the Tonight Show since Johnny started and have to say goodbye to it now. Jay will not have me to count on anymore.

By steinfam

Conan seems like a really great guy. And his show was never funnier than when this firestorm hit. But show business is called a "business" for a reason. His ratings were poor and not going up. Take Leno out of the picture for a moment and assume he simply retired into the sunsent. The reality simply is that Conan would have been replaced by someone else.

By Dr. J

You're right, shorty. Conan is getting the same short shrift that NBC gave Jay back in the spring. I can't say I'm a fan of Conan, and I do think Jay should never have been taken off The Tonight Show, but this is a correction to a mistake that NBC never should have made. From what I have read and seen, Jay has been a gentleman throughout the mess, and Conan has shown more class in the last few weeks than he ever did hosting Late Night. Once this is all over, good luck to both of them!

By god72father

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Why are you being so moronic? It was simply a business decision and nothing personal. Conan was getting clobbered by Letterman in the 11:30 time slot and Leno"s show was not workin out in it"s 10:00 time slot. What is the big deal with all this bruhaha for a guy walking away with millions for not working when most of the country is just scrapping to get by.

By susie

This is for King David ...What a A-S

By Eileen

I totally agree.

By tony

hey king david!!you are the real idiot.

By THE RIGHT

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I LIKE TO WARCH CONAN ONCE IN AWHILE...JAY LENO IS JUST TOO RAUNCHY FOR ME.

By SHELL

conan should be on after leno so he can be more risky the masterbating bear wont fly at late night time slot the suits are making a big mistake like with startreck, but i feel real bad 4 andy rictor did he miss the boat or what

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