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Ex-'Tonight Show' Host Conan O'Brien Vents On '60 Minutes'
by Allison Waldman, posted May 2nd 2010 8:55PM
For the first time since the end of his tenure on 'The Tonight Show,' Conan O'Brien had a chance to appear on camera and share his thoughts on the whole long, drawn out civil war between him and Jay Leno and NBC and GE and the late night industry at large. For the record, Conan O'Brien's sit down with Steve Kroft on '60 Minutes' on May 2, 2010 -- the first date he was contractually allowed to discuss what happened -- clearly established that while he's disappointed about what happened, Conan O'Brien is not defeated. To paraphrase 'Evita,' "Don't cry for him, America."
From Conan's point of view, he's doing just fine. He walked away from NBC's tepid offer of a post-midnight 'Tonight Show' hybrid with his honor intact, as well as $32 million. He also landed a new gig with TBS, and is currently making fun of the entire episode in a stage show that's giving him something to do to pass the time and stay sharp -- the "Legally Prohibited to be Funny on Television" Tour.
While probed and prodded by Kroft, Conan admitted that it was a hurtful experience. "I got very depressed at times. It was like a marriage breaking up suddenly, violently, quickly." According to his wife, Liza, who had a ring-side seat while everything was going down, Conan had a rough time. "It was watching someone's heart get broken," she said. Here's a sample of Conan with Kroft:
Knowing what we know about the lure of 'The Tonight Show,' how David Letterman still feels burned that he never got to replace Johnny Carson, it's not surprising that O'Brien feels short-changed by NBC's actions. He contends that if he had been given more than six months, his 'Tonight Show' would have succeeded. "I have no regrets," he told Kroft. "I'm happy with my decision. I sleep well at night."
When the subject of honor was brought up, in regards to Jay Leno taking back a show he had handed off to Conan in a very public way, it was clear that O'Brien didn't have much respect for Leno's decision. He cackled at the notion that Jay Leno got screwed. "I'm laughing because crying would be sad."
O'Brien agreed that NBC's choice to dump him and keep Leno was a business decision. While the network had to give Conan $32 million, they would have had to cough up as much as $150 million to part with Jay. Conan just resents that now NBC is claiming that they were losing money with his 'Tonight Show.' O'Brien said that is simply not a possibility.
Ultimately, '60 Minutes' did a good job in presenting O'Brien as he is today, and from my perspective, he's a resilient and philosophical guy. If he's bitter and angry, he's covering it very well.
He said, "I think things happen for a reason," and right now, the reason seems to be a new opportunity for Conan O'Brien on TBS at 11 PM starting in November.
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