Conan O'Brien contract renewed for 4 more years....
03-02-02, 08:45 AM
#1
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Conan O'Brien contract renewed for 4 more years....
I know this was mentioned in another thread, but here's the full story. 
to NBC for recognizing his talent!
http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,9583,00.html
Poop on this, Triumph: Late Night host Conan O'Brien is sticking with NBC for four more years, in a deal that will double his salary to more than $8 million a year, the network has confirmed.
"I'm very excited to be staying at NBC," the red-headed goofball said in a statement. "By my 13th year, we should really know if this thing works or not."
Tuesday's news confirmed early reports that O'Brien was headed for a massive payday. The $8 million paycheck will make him the highest-paid host ever to hold the 12:35 a.m. timeslot.
Under terms of the agreement, NBC also will continue to fund O'Brien's production company, Conaco, which was responsible for last fall's NBC reality series Lost and is developing pilots for both NBC and Fox. All told, the additional perks could bring O'Brien's annual take to as much as $9 million, according to Hollywood trade reports.
Now, NBC just needs to figure out how it's going to afford the paycheck.
The network also said Tuesday that it has begun talks to give a cable network the rights to O'Brien's Late Night reruns--much like it did when it sold same-day repeats of Last Call with Carson Daly to E! (Those reruns begin airing on E! March 4.)
NBC did not say where Late Night reruns would be appearing.
O'Brien, a Harvard grad and former writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, was initially skewered by critics when Late Night debuted in September 1993. NBC initially refused to sign him to a contract that lasted longer than 13 weeks.
Gradually, the show turned into a hit--especially scoring points with drunken college kids and insomniacs with twisted senses of humor. In 1996, the network finally committed for a full year. And in 1997, NBC signed O'Brien to a five-year contract.
It's already been a banner year for O'Brien. Just last month, the 38-year-old host tied the knot in Seattle with advertising executive Liz Powel, whom he met when she appeared on a Late Night skit.
to NBC for recognizing his talent! http://www.eonline.com/News/Items/0,1,9583,00.html
Poop on this, Triumph: Late Night host Conan O'Brien is sticking with NBC for four more years, in a deal that will double his salary to more than $8 million a year, the network has confirmed.
"I'm very excited to be staying at NBC," the red-headed goofball said in a statement. "By my 13th year, we should really know if this thing works or not."
Tuesday's news confirmed early reports that O'Brien was headed for a massive payday. The $8 million paycheck will make him the highest-paid host ever to hold the 12:35 a.m. timeslot.
Under terms of the agreement, NBC also will continue to fund O'Brien's production company, Conaco, which was responsible for last fall's NBC reality series Lost and is developing pilots for both NBC and Fox. All told, the additional perks could bring O'Brien's annual take to as much as $9 million, according to Hollywood trade reports.
Now, NBC just needs to figure out how it's going to afford the paycheck.
The network also said Tuesday that it has begun talks to give a cable network the rights to O'Brien's Late Night reruns--much like it did when it sold same-day repeats of Last Call with Carson Daly to E! (Those reruns begin airing on E! March 4.)
NBC did not say where Late Night reruns would be appearing.
O'Brien, a Harvard grad and former writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, was initially skewered by critics when Late Night debuted in September 1993. NBC initially refused to sign him to a contract that lasted longer than 13 weeks.
Gradually, the show turned into a hit--especially scoring points with drunken college kids and insomniacs with twisted senses of humor. In 1996, the network finally committed for a full year. And in 1997, NBC signed O'Brien to a five-year contract.
It's already been a banner year for O'Brien. Just last month, the 38-year-old host tied the knot in Seattle with advertising executive Liz Powel, whom he met when she appeared on a Late Night skit.
03-02-02, 05:20 PM
#3
DVD Talk God
Thread Starter
Originally posted by Snake Plissken
Stupid move. Conan could've been offered a primetime contract with a different channel. If Dave goes to ABC then Conan wouldve been great on CBS.
Stupid move. Conan could've been offered a primetime contract with a different channel. If Dave goes to ABC then Conan wouldve been great on CBS.
on every thread? 
03-02-02, 07:39 PM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
Conan following Leno has always been the most uncomfortable pairing of two shows, but NBC kind of gets the best of both worlds. Not taking Dave for The Tonight Show was the worst thing to happen to late night television, but they've done a good job recovering. It's very smart of them to hang on to Conan for that 12:30 block.
I also think it's a pretty good deal for Conan. Dave was born to be the host of The Tonight Show (ask Johnny), but I don't think Conan is an 11:30 man or particularly wants to be, and the only place he could go is CBS, and seriously ... who wants a show on CBS? I don't think they'd like The Masturbating Bear too much either.
With Dave being ruined by CBS and Leno doing nothing but stealing Dave's material and dumbing it down, I'm not in favor of any changes where Conan's concerned. I can count on him every night for the same level of quality, just like Dave pre-CBS. And at $8 Million a year ... yowzers! Way to go, Conan.
das
I also think it's a pretty good deal for Conan. Dave was born to be the host of The Tonight Show (ask Johnny), but I don't think Conan is an 11:30 man or particularly wants to be, and the only place he could go is CBS, and seriously ... who wants a show on CBS? I don't think they'd like The Masturbating Bear too much either.
With Dave being ruined by CBS and Leno doing nothing but stealing Dave's material and dumbing it down, I'm not in favor of any changes where Conan's concerned. I can count on him every night for the same level of quality, just like Dave pre-CBS. And at $8 Million a year ... yowzers! Way to go, Conan.
das
03-02-02, 07:59 PM
#5
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Wow, four more years of Conan, possible re-runs on cable, I'm in heaven! Thank God he didn't go to CBS (AKA, the old fogey station). People older than 30 rarely appreciate Conan's crazy (and brilliant) humor.
