Conan bids farewell to THE TONIGHT SHOW

From the Associated Press

It has been all over the Internet that Conan’s last show will be tonight. After days of negotiations with NBC, the network has decided to reinstate Leno as the host of The Tonight Show at the beginning of March.

The associated press reports that within the settlement, Conan will be getting more then $33 million for leaving, while his staff will get $12 million to divide between themselves. Most of his staff uprooted their families from New York to continue working on the show.

Gavin Polone, Conan’s Manager, said, "In the end, Conan was appreciative of the steps NBC made to take care of his staff and crew, and decided to supplement the severance they were getting out of his own pocket." He also added that, “He (Conan O’Brien) just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible."

That may be sooner than many people believe as NBC told the AP that his agreement allows him to go to another network starting September of 2010. Many fans have hopes that Fox will jump on this opportunity. But while executives from that network have expressed interest in talking to O’Brien, nothing has been publicly stated about any future plans.

It’s believed among media analysts that Conan leaving NBC will make it difficult for Leno to regain his number one position in the Late night ratings right away because he has been painted to be the villain in this whole operatic like story.

However, with time, the torrent of animosity that has flooded the general airwaves and online media against Jay Leno will recede, and it will be back to business as usual. People will find solace in the mundane and safe approach Leno has been using for years only to remember a faint hint of what happened in the past to our beloved Coco.

Bob Dylan once said,

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do."

This is why on a somewhat personal note I hope to see Conan on Fox this fall. I hope he rises above Leno. I hope these things because Conan deserves success.