by Shannonn Kelly
00:35PM EST, January 22, 2010
Confirmed in the wee hours of Thursday morning, NBC and Conan O’Brien reached a settlement agreement – $33 Million 
providing Conan does not show up on TV before September 2010.
The deal also includes severance of another $12 million for his staff, many of whom relocated with Conan from New York.
Saying goodbye to his $15 million studio used only for 7 months is now a fate that NBC wishes they never tempted, considering what this distasteful snub will also cost them for O’Brien’s last 3 shows.
The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien ushers out it’s final show tonight, Friday January 22, 2010.
The contract hammered out has terms from NBC, some of which Conan mocked in his own list of “The general terms of the contract you may not know about”. My favorite being: “I must stop my exposé documentary about NBC called “Inside The Cock.”
Aside from the money, NBC is forced to relive other embarrassing moments. On Wednesday night, Adam Sandler shared the once quite story of NBC also firing him.
According to New York Daily News Writer, Joe Dziemianowicz
Adam Sandler, sporting jeans and a New York Jets T-shirt, told the almost-ex-host O’Brien that he’s not the only one who’s gotten walking walking papers at NBC.
Sandler confessed that he and Chris Farley got booted by brass at the peacock network in 1995. It wasn’t a nice case of being released from contracts.
“I got fired,” Sandler said.
He added that his insightful manager hinted before the ax fell that he should look “for something else to do.”
Sandler told his manager: “I like it here. Then Farley ran into my office, saying ‘We’re getting fired.’”
Aside from listing the Tonight show set on Craigslist (since removed) to trade for crazy things like a guitar hero match-up in a dimly lit room, also on Wednesday, Conan showed his legions of fans why we love his red-headed, mischievous nature. O’Brien explained:
“The good news is until NBC yanks us off the air, we can pretty much do whatever we want and, this is the best part, we can do whatever we want and they have to pay for it. So for the rest of the week we’re going to introduce new comedy bits that aren’t so much funny as they are crazy expensive.”
After that explanation, O’Brien gleefully presented a brand new Bugati Veyron with plushy Mouse Ears and complimented that extravagance with playing the original soundtrack of the Rolling Stones, “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction” – cost to NBC – $1.5 million.
On his Thursday night show, O’Brien said he knew the split was official when NBC picked up all of their CDs and lava lamp. He also apologized to next week’s guests, President Barack Obama, The Pope and Elvis Presley.
O’Brien said leaving the Tonight Show was not his “first choice or his 8th choice”. Thursday O’Brien also told his audience “we’re gonna have a lot of fun.” And they did.
Thursday’s show had the Conan crew trot out 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mind That Bird on stage wearing a mink snuggie to watch restricted NFL footage. Total cost to NBC $4.8 million. Amount of laughs – Priceless. I can’t wait to see what happens in the finale. It’s going to be outrageous-
Thursday’s show had Robin Williams screaming, “You did the wrong thing! You did the wrong thing!”, while attempting to take a piss on the backdrop behind Conan’s desk.
Friday’s show will host Tom Hanks and a myriad of special drop in guests. Tune one last time and bask in all that is CoCo…
Annual SAG Awards® with a ‘Red Carpet Toast’ courtesy of their sponsor Taittinger Champagne. The SAG Awards will broadcast tonight, Saturday January 22, on TBT and TNT at 8PM, EST.
