Conan O'Brien Says No to Oprah and Letterman

By Rob Shuter Posted May 5th 2010 02:25AM

Conan O'Brien showed the world what's been going through his mind (and beard) since his ouster from 'The Tonight Show' and NBC during his '60 Minutes' interview this past week. Everyone wants a piece of the red-headed comic now that his speaking embargo is up, but CoCo isn't in the mood to keep on talking -- even if it's with Oprah Winfrey or Jay Leno's nemesis, David Letterman. And judging from what people are telling me, that's a good move.

Conan Says No to Oprah, Letterman

Over 13 million viewers tuned in to watch Conan O'Brien tell '60 Minutes' that NBC "broke his heart," however, TV insiders tell me that Conan now needs to shut up and focus on his future if he doesn't always want to be known as the guy that hosted 'The Tonight Show' for a few months.

"Conan doing one big sit down interview was a good idea -- only if he never talks about 'The Tonight Show' again," one TV insiders tells me. "Conan came across well, but if he doesn't shut up, it's going to seem as if he's whining. The best thing he could do is focus on his new show. Look forward instead of looking back. After all, it's hard to feel sorry for a guy who got paid over $30 million to NOT work."

Conan seems to be taking this advice to heart. Sources tell me he has been offered many more interviews -- with Larry King, Oprah and even David Letterman -- all of which he has turned down.

Hopefully, the next time we hear from Conan, he will be doing his monologue on TBS! (And no 'Tonight' jokes. You are better than that.)

Halle's Custody Battle

Someone who knows how to keep her mouth shut is Halle Berry. Following her split from model Gabriel Aubry, with whom Halle has a 2-year-old daughter, the actress has remained silent.

However, behind the scenes, I hear the couple, who had been together for four years, are in non-stop negotiations over daughter Nahla.

"Gabriel is determined to be part of his daughter's life. He loves Nahla a great deal, and even though he has split with Halle, he has no intention of letting Nahla go," a friend of the model tells me. "It's still early and they are both behaving like great parents, but if things do turn nasty, Halle can expect a fight."

Let's hope things keep moving forward. Make little Nahla proud.

'SATC' vs. Michael Douglas

Michael Douglas is getting ready to go head-to-head with Sarah Jessica Parker and the ladies of 'Sex and The City 2' on May 24 when they both roll out their red carpets on the same night in New York City.

"Foolishly, the Lincoln Center Film Society has planned a tribute to Michael Douglas on the same night as the 'Sex and The City 2' premiere in New York," laughed one event planner.

"It's a total disaster and Michael's event cannot be moved. I hope Michael is planning on having a very small red carpet, because, let's face it, all the press are going to be with the 'Sex' girls."

Michael, we love you, but this is not a fair fight. I just hope Catherine goes with you instead of going to see the movie!

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Tags: conan obrien, jay leno

Comments

(78)

Wednesday 05 May

By dvdfrnzwbr

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Conan screwed George Lopez out of his 11 pm time slot.

By Caroline

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No he didn't, George Lopez called Conan directly and offered it to him when he said no to the offer from the studio because he didn't want to do what Leno did to him. It was all over the news and George Lopez was totally excited about it, don't you read before you say thinks like that???

By Barb

How naive...........of course Lopez agreed with the story, he would have lost his show otherwise.....Conan screwed him over good!

By mesaman

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If any of you dopey, slow-witted viewers have ever watched Lopez, you would know he should be shown at cinco de AM, when everyone is asleep. After 15 seconds I rated his loud-mouthed, low-brow show as a true loser. Conan, you get knighthood for turning down Ms Piggy, and appearing on Letterman is like appearing in the want ads.

By mickey

Conan still isn't funny. Maybe this whole situation is funny. Hey Conan, maybe you accidentally did something funny.

By JOE

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Conan is funny to the child like mind and Lopez is a racists.

By dave

CONAN SUCKS,HE GOT 40 MILLION FOR LEAVING,WHAT ELSE DOES HE WANT,
HE SHOULD BE A STREET VENDOR,F#&KEN LOOOSER

By butcher

Dave said:
CONAN SUCKS,HE GOT 40 MILLION FOR LEAVING,WHAT ELSE DOES HE WANT,
HE SHOULD BE A STREET VENDOR,F#&KEN LOOOSER

First it was 30 not 40 million. The point is he didnt want to leave. Have you no pride, man. He wanted to do the show he was hired to do. Its like getting a promotion, and then having it taken away, and your boss says, here's your money, we dont want you anymore.

As for a the street vendor thing, how many millions of dollars do you get for being fired?

You dont get 30 million for being a loser, thats for sure.

By Dan

Dave, your last name wouldn't be LETTERMAN, would it?

Ugh, that was supposed to be "things," too early in the AM for me.

By Enough Already

Good for you, Conan!

By Julie

When watching conan on 60 minutes and he was saying how depressed he was and how the network did him wrong. Then he says that he received 30-40 million, but he was still down and out! Well boo &*&*&*in hoo I wish I could get that much leaving a job. Ridiculous!

By karen sather

Exactly. The ratings were so high for 60 mintues for one reason. People wanted some real juicy gossip. Moral is, there isn't any. Unless you like hearing a greedy baby cry.

By Nancy

Having been paid that kind of money for doing nothing, should make a man happy. I guess maybe it's the fact that he failed as a person that makes him depressed. There are some who have the money to whatever they want in life, won't have to worry about putting food on the table and pay the bills, yet very unhappy. I personally don't get it, but I as I sit here writing this, my life is full, I am happy, I don't have the millions, in fact not even half a million or quater, but I have a life full of love and happiness. Is love and happiness missing in so many people have millions, that they are depressed?

By Kasey

Conan O failed as a person??? As a PERSON???? Who are you to say such a thing? How nasty! He hasn't failed as a person. That is such a judgmental statement - and, imo, just plain bullsh*t. Failed as a person. LMBO @ Nancy.

By gatz

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i guess if being one of the funniest men on television , hosting your own show for close to 15 years , helping charities , and loving your family is failure, i cant wait to fail. this is just a guess but im willing to bet 90% of these twits are right wing conservative . i would like to invite you to go and make love to your mothers.

By JB

The more he talks the less I like him

By andrew

You couldnt have said it better. 30 million and depressed right

By Gee

People are loosing their jobs left and right in this country and they don't get 40 million dollars to move on with....So Conan really should shut up, move on and be grateful,,,,,,People get screwed from their employers everyday with much much less to show for it!!! If he were bringing in viewers he would still have his job..

By J

Agree. Many people are getting screwed over by their employers right now. Conan is no different from the rest of us millions. He got money for his screw over. My employer wanted me to pay them to work for them. I got the he!! out of there. Wish I had the money to lay back and enjoy some time off.

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