porno

Last night Conan O’Brien hosted his final episode of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien just about 7 months after he was hired to replace Jay Leno as host. As we are all well aware by now, NBC decided to move Leno back to his old gig, giving O’Brien the shaft (and a hefty severance check) much to his fans’ bitter dismay. As you might expect from Conan O’Brien, he issued a heartfelt thank you and goodbye not only to his legion of fans but to the network that treated him so badly … Conan went out with the utmost class and integrity:

An emotional Conan O’Brien has bid adieu to NBC, saying that walking away from US television’s long-running “The Tonight Show” was the most difficult decision of his life. At times fighting back tears, O’Brien thanked his legions of fans Friday night for making “a sad situation joyous and inspirational,” urging them to fight cynicism over the ugly public feud that ended his seven-month tenure at the legendary late-night comedy show. The audience at Universal Studios in Burbank, California replied in kind, giving him a standing ovation and chanting “Conan! Conan! Conan!” repeatedly. After an experiment placing the funnyman’s predecessor in prime time garnered meager ratings and frustrated the network’s affiliates, NBC television announced it would bring Jay Leno back to the show he hosted for 17 years. The settlement landed O’Brien a reported 45-million-dollar buyout — with the red-haired comedian pocketing around 32 million and the balance going to his staff — in a bid by NBC to end what has been a public relations disaster once and for all. But during his last monologue for the show, the embattled host even found time to thank NBC, a network he has called home for over 20 years. “Yes, we have our differences right now and yes, we’re going to go our separate ways,” he went on. “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.” He also delivered a few last jabs to his NBC paymasters, a practice that had become a nightly staple of his opening monologues ever since the saga broke out into public view. “Ladies and gentlemen,” he announced, “we have exactly one hour to steal every single item in this studio.” Leno and other comedians at other networks had also used their shows to joke about NBC’s controversial move. Never one to pass an opportunity for self-deprecating humor, O’Brien told his audience: “I just want to make one thing clear to everyone listening out there right now. I will do nudity.” Among his guests were actor Tom Hanks, rocker Neil Young, comedian Will Ferrell and Steve Carell, star of the hit television series “The Office.” Carell gave O’Brien, 46, an “exit interview.” Asked if we would consider working for NBC again in the future, O’Brien replied: “I don’t know. I can’t say at this time.” Although he was calling it quits with a show he loved and admired, O’Brien told his fans that “I really feel this should be a happy moment.”

One thing’s for sure, Conan O’Brien is a gentleman’s gentleman. NBC was lucky to have him in their employ and they will suffer for his loss. I’ve never been particularly fond of late night television talk shows but I have always been a fan of Conan O’Brien the man. I know his words were not hollow when he graciously thanked NBC for all the opportunities they gave him, including his short stint as Tonight Show host. The man is classy beyond belief … no question. After the jump, watch video of Conan giving his personal thanks to his fans last night and read the prepared text (which is a bit different than his adlibbed speech on the show last night) of his final, goodbye message …

Welp, it’s official … Conan O’Brien and NBC have finally reached a deal wherein NBC will play O’Brien for essentially firing him from his contract to host The Tonight Show. As you may recall, O’Brien issued a letter last week that informed NBC that he would NOT be staying with the network in breach of his contract with them (ie. doing The Tonight Show at 12:05AM) and the matter fell to NBC to figure out a way to pay him accordingly for their eff up. After much negotiation, a deal was finally agreed upon … and Conan O’Brien will get at least $32 million (and up to $45 million) for his trouble:

Conan O’Brien and NBC worked out their final conflict hours ago and have reached a $45 million settlement … and we’ve learned it’s a sweeter deal for Conan than anyone thought. Network sources tell TMZ the “mitigation” clause was taken off the table. Translation — Conan will get a severance of $32.5 million, regardless of whether he gets another hosting gig. Not bad for seven months work. As we first reported, NBC will pay $7.5 million to Conan’s “Tonight Show” staff — and our sources believe the network added several thousand more to the pot at the last minute. In addition, NBC will pay a whopping $4.5 million to the executive producer. Conan’s last show is Friday. We’re told NBC hasn’t decided who will replace Conan for the period between Monday and the Winter Olympics.

As crappy as ALL of this is all around, at least Conan will be gettin’ a nice chunk of change for all the trouble he’s been thru. If he so desires, he could retire with his $45 million and live a nice, long life of workless leisure. I wouldn’t be surprised if he took some time off for a while after this fiasco before he even entertains a new gig … but Conan is a pro and if the right offer comes along, I’m guessing he’ll take it and will be back on TV soon. None of this is ideal but I’m happy to know that Conan and his staff aren’t gettin’ royally screwed by NBC‘s eff-up. The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien is dunzo, y’all. Let’s wish it a hearty Peace the Spork Out, officially.

[Source]

Countless fans all over the country rallied to show their support for embattled late night talk show host Conan O’Brien yesterday in an attempt to send the message to NBC, the network which owns The Tonight Show, that they are NOT happy with the way O’Brien has been treated in the past few weeks. As you may recall, Conan O’Brien himself issued an open letter to NBC expressing his dissatisfaction with the way the network has been treating him and yesterday it was the fans turn. Rallies were held in NYC, in Chicago and right here in the very rainy Los Angeles. LAist provides some great

After making the biggest mistake in Late Night TV Programming history by giving Jay Leno a daily talk show at 10pm, NBC decided to move The Jay Leno Show back to 11:35pm and push back The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien to 12:05am (which would be the next day). Conan O’Brien has just issued an official statement announcing that he will have no part of the Tonight Show move and will, instead, do something else … even tho he claims he has no offers from any other networks. Here is the full text of O’Brien‘s just released official statement:

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

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. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

O’Brien‘s statement continues after the jump …

Conan O’Brien finally caught wind that the Internet has been buzzing that the background created for his new set on The Tonight Show bears a striking resemblance to the video game Super Mario Brothers and decided to talk about it on last night’s episode:

While it has been revealed that the set backdrop may not have been taken directly from the video game, I still contend that the similarities between the set design and the Super Mario Brothers video game look way too similar to be a mere coincidence. After the jump, check out video of Conan talking about the similarities himself on last night’s ep of The Tonight Show …

CONTINUED »

So … Conan O’Brien started his new gig as host of The Tonight Show this week and a few folks noticed something … familiar about the backdrop background of his newly designed set. After careful consideration (and genius side-by-side comparison), it seems pretty obvious that Conan‘s new background came straight from the Mushroom Kingdom of the Super Mario Brothers video game:

From Gizmodo: Conan’s new Tonight Show set sure is nice, but the guys at Serious Lunch noticed that his new monologue backdrop looks pretty familiar. As in Mushroom Kingdom familiar. Chen and I are in disagreement as to whether or not this is intentional. I say it’s a coincidence, but he’s convinced that Mario was a definite inspiration for this background.

OMG … of course this background was inspired (to say the least) from the Super Mario Brothers video game. There is no way in hell that the indenticalness of the background to the layout of the video game can be mere coincidence:

LMAO! I bet Conan had no idea … but, yep, seem pretty clear to me. What do y’all think?

[Source via Source]

Last night Conan O’Brien officially took the reigns and became the 5th host (after Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Jay Leno) of NBC‘s long-running late night TV program The Tonight Show (in the wake of Leno‘s departure from the show last Friday night). Here are a few screencaps from the cold open of Conan‘s first show as host of The Tonight Show:

The video gag (showing Conan‘s move from NYC to LA) was very cute, very Conan … in case you missed it, you can watch it online HERE. After 17 years as host of Late Night, now is the time for O’Brien to take his place in the earlier timeslot … and he got things off to a hilarious start:

Conan O’Brien debuted as host of “The Tonight Show” with a jog across the country to Los Angeles and other comedy bits on his entry into a strange new West Coast culture. He joined a line of predecessors — Steve Allen, Jack Paar, Johnny Carson and Jay Leno — on television’s most historic late-night franchise. “I think I’ve timed this move perfectly,” he said in his opening monologue aired Monday night. “I’m on a last-place network, I moved to a state that’s bankrupt and ‘The Tonight Show’ is sponsored by General Motors.” O’Brien spent 17 years as host of NBC’s “Late Night” in New York, and the move up one hour has been in the works for five years. Leno, his immediate predecessor, will do a weeknight prime-time show on NBC. The workaholic Leno will start “in two days, three days tops,” O’Brien joked. Actually, it’s in September. O’Brien christened a new studio on the Universal City lot with a handsome art-deco look. The stage has a blue glass background for the opening monologue, before O’Brien retreats to a desk in front of a sparkling backdrop of Los Angeles. From the top, O’Brien showed the silly comic style that sets him apart from Leno, with more comedy skits filmed earlier and less reliance on jokes in front of the studio audience. The first one showed O’Brien marking off a to-do list for his new show. “Move to L.A.” was the last item, as a camera panned a New York skyline outside his window. A frantic O’Brien went out in the street to find a cab. When he couldn’t, he began running. He ran out of New York, and sprinted across the country — across Wrigley Field in Chicago, past the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, by the Rockies and through the desert to Las Vegas. Finally he arrived at the locked door to his new studio, only to realize he’d left his keys behind. In other segments, O’Brien commandeered a tram filled with tourists on a Universal Studios lot tour and took his used green Ford Taurus for a ride into Los Angeles’ car-obsessed culture. Fabio complimented him on his ride. O’Brien appeared nervous at the long-awaited opening night, pacing onstage during his monologue and mugging with his red pompadour. “I remember watching Johnny Carson when I was a kid and thinking: That’s what I want to be when I grow up,” O’Brien said. “I’m sure right now in America there is likely a kid watching me, thinking: ‘What is wrong with that man’s hair?’” Longtime sidekick Andy Richter slid smoothly into the role Ed McMahon once played for Carson, standing at a podium to the side of the stage and loudly laughing at his boss’ jokes … Comic Will Ferrell was O’Brien’s first guest, his appearance less manic than some of his memorable “Late Night” visits. He offered O’Brien some “tips” for L.A. living, including a good burger joint in Pasadena “called Burger King.” Pearl Jam was the musical guest, debuting a song off an upcoming album. Ferrell sang his own song in tribute to O’Brien, a version of “Never Can Say Goodbye” that “bewildered” the host. Why sing a goodbye song on the first night? “Don’t get me wrong,” Ferrell said. “I’m pulling for you. But this little thing is a crapshoot at best.”

I think Conan taking over for Leno is a genius move. O’Brien is ridiculously funny and absolutely lovable. I’ve always felt that he deserved to be on TV at an earlier time (when people are still awake) to enjoy his hilarity. He’s waited a long time for this opportunity … I’m certain he’s going to be an amazing Tonight Show host. Congrats on your new gig, Conan … and Welcome to LA!! Oh — and don’t eff it up, OK?

[Source]