In an article via The Hollywood Reporter, it looks like Conan O'Brien has been forbidden to talk trash about his former employer, NBC, during the Emmy Awards, which air on Sunday.
Conan's former show, "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," is among the Emmy nominees in the Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series category.
Per O'Brien's exit contract from NBC, he's prohibited from making false, derogatory and insulting comments about his former employer.
If he wins, I still look for Conan to get his digs in. Somehow.
Look for O'Brien's new show, which will pop up on the TBS network, this November.
Conan O'Brien was offered the opportunity to return to TV -- even if it was for only 15 seconds. According to Entertainment Tonight, the former Tonight Show host was asked by David Letterman's team to appear in a Super Bowl commercial with Dave, Jay Leno and Oprah Winfrey. However, Conan chose to politely decline.
I'm thinking this was because one of the stipulations by NBC for letting Conan out of his contract prohibits Conan from making any television appearances until September, which includes television commercials.
Then again, maybe he just didn't want to do it, and if that's the case, I can't say I blame him.
While at Sundance this week, actress Tilda Swinton joked that she'd be more than happy to step in for Conan O'Brien, should the powers that be over at HBO ever decide to make a film based on NBC's firing of The Tonight Show host.
On his last episode of The Tonight Show, O'Brien joked that he would love to be portrayed by none other than the Oscar-winning actress.
When asked if she would consider playing Conan, Swinton quipped to Movieline.com:
"I've heard about Conan! I'm so thrilled. ... I would just be only too happy. ... Yes, yes, yes, absolutely."
In fact, Swinton went one step further, saying she thinks the two should switch places for at least a day:
"What I really would love to do is get him to do some of the things I get to do. It would be nice if he were here at Sundance maybe, wearing this coat, talking about (my film) 'I Am Love.' ... Every girl should have a doppleganger."
According to a source who snitched to the New York Post, talks between FOX and Conan O'Brien concerning a new late-night talk fest could begin as early as this week.
"Chances like this don't come around very often. If Fox wants to be in late night, now's the time."
The Post also reports that in recent days, execs at FOX may have spoken with affiliates to see if the 11:00 PM time slot - which shows mostly reruns of comedies - can be cleared for Conan.
Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien ended his seven-month stint behind the late night desk in Los Angeles Friday night, and while he did appear to be somewhat teary-eyed as he addressed the studio audience, viewers at home and fans, the show ended with a joyful noise - and with a little help from his friends.
O'Brien's final episode included an appearance by actor Steve Carell, who attempted to conduct a mock NBC "exit interview" with O'Brien. Carell also shredded O'Brien's NBC identification badge in a portable office shredder.
Also on deck for the final show were Tom Hanks, who got the audience fired up with a "Co-Co" chant. Will Ferrell donned a blond wig and cowboy hat, and while striking a cowbell to keep time, he and the house band jammed out to a rendition of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Free Bird, with a little help from Ben Harper, Beck and ZZ Top's own Billy Gibbons. Conan joined in on guitar, having fun in what can only be described as a bittersweet moment.
Neil Young was the musical guest and performed the song, Long May You Run.
Last night, O'Brien addressed viewers:
"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."
O'Brien continued to say he was leaving what he called "the best job in the world" and doing so was "enormously difficult," however, he also pointed out that he hoped the final show would be a "happy moment."
"Every comedian dreams of hosting 'The Tonight Show' and, for seven months, I got to,. I did it my way, with people I love, and I do not regret a second."
A source close to NBC took to Twitter to say that when Hanks made his enterance onto the stage, the band played The Beatles song, Lovely Rita, which reportedlyset NBC back half a million dollars.
Questlove, who is the drummer for The Roots on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, took to his twitter:
yo i hate spoiling but i will have you know that walk on song we just heard was half a milli. i know cause i got the list rate at nbc
tom's walkon music on conan is on my "restricted" list---wow a $500,000 walkon song lol.
The song was in honor of Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson.
On Thursday, NBC stated that O'Brien would leave the network but would not be free to start any new show on any competing network until September.
Reports via numerous onlne sources confirm that NBC paid O'Brien about $45 million, which also included severance pay and relocation expenses for his staff of approximately 200.
The network said Jay Leno would return to the Tonight Show beginning on March 1.
Sources tell The Wrap that NBC has agreed to pay Conan O'Brien a whopping $30 million to leave The Tonight Show.
So far, reps for O'Brien's aren't really saying much, however, publicist for O'Brien, Leslee Dart, said in an email that nothing has been signed, and the figure may be innacurate.
She told The Wrap:
"Nothing (is) signed yet. Those figures are not accurate."
Rumor has it that NBC and O'Brien had a dispute over whether O'Brien's contract guaranteed The Tonight Show must air at 11:35 p.m., however reportedly NBC disagrees, retorting that the show had no guaranteed time slot for Conan.
An insider spilled to People.com earlier in the week that O'Brien does not plan on doing any more new shows after next week, while TMZ has cited a few unnamed sources who claim that Jay Leno made a deal with NBC on Thursday to take over The Tonight Show as host in the 11:35 - 12:35 time slot.
Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports, says the only one to blame for the failure of The Tonight Show is the host itself, Conan O'Brien.
O'Brien said in a statement on Tuesday that he's chosen to leave The Tonight Show if it is moved to 12:05 a.m.
So far, NBC has not yet officially commented on his announcement.
Speaking out about the drop in ratings for The Tonight Show, Ebersol told the New York Times:
"What this is really all about is an astounding failure by Conan. I like Conan enormously personally. He was just stubborn about not being willing to broaden the appeal of his show."
Ebersol also told The Times that Jay Leno has not lobbied for any of the public changes that took place at NBC or have been proposed for the future, and noted of his fellow NBC executive, Jeff Zucker:
"Jeff (Zucker) and I are big boys. When we do something big in the public forum and it doesn't succeed, we know we'll be the butt of criticism. But you don't personally attack someone who hasn't done anything. ... We bet on the wrong guy."
Referring to jabs O'Brien and David Letterman have been making at Leno on their late-night chat shows, Ebsersol said it's "chicken-hearted and gutless to blame a guy you couldn't beat in the ratings. They're just striking out at Jay. It seems like professional jealousy."
Rumor has it that Conan O'Brien will leave The Tonight Show, after a source close tothe late night hosttold People.com that he plans to make his final exit at the end of next week - on Janaury 22.
O'Brien said Tuesday in a statement that he has no plans to remain on The Tonight Show if it gets moved to the early morning 12:05 time slot.
So far, NBC has not commented on his announcement.
People.com reports that the industry insider said that O'Brien does not intend on doing any more new shows after next week.
TMZ cited unnamed sources who said Leno made a deal with NBC on Thursday, which will allow Leno to take over The Tonight Show as host in the 11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. time slot.
However, O'Brien's publicist told TVGuide.com that O'Brien would stay on as host of The Tonight Show "until somebody tells him not to."
A rep for O'Brien told TVGuide.com:
"I know there's a rumor out there that next Friday is his last show, but we do not know that to be true. He is just moving ahead, day-to-day, doing the show, per his contract - still working."
Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien says he can't accept NBC's decision to boot The Tonight Show from its traditional 11:35 p.m. slot, saying it would destroy the franchise.
The comedian's statement Tuesday followed a decision by NBC to cancel its 4-month-old prime time series, The Jay Leno Show, and give Jay Leno a half-hour show immediately following local newscasts.
Said O'Brien in a statement released Tuesday:
' I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move 'The Tonight Show' to 12:05 to accommodate 'The Jay Leno Show' at 11:35. For 60 years 'The Tonight Show' has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying 'The Tonight Show' into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting."
NBC's decision to move Leno came on the heels of poor ratings and what is reported to be unhappiness among NBC affiliates.
In the statement, O'Brien said the new plan would also be unfair to Late Night host Jimmy Fallon, who took over the show from O'Brien, and which airs after The Tonight Show.
O'Brien addressed speculation he would move to another network, as well:
"I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work."
