Conan O'Brien Will Break His Silence on "60 Minutes" This Sunday
April 27, 2010 | By: Chris Harnick


Conan O'Brien is giving his first interview since the whole NBC late night fiasco and it's going to be on CBS' "60 Minutes" this Sun., May 2 at 7PM ET.



The New York Times is reporting that O'Brien's deal with NBC did not allow for him to give any print or broadcast interviews until after May 1. The segment on Sunday will mention O'Brien's current stage show, but focus on the "Tonight Show" scandal.

O'Brien is still under restrictions not to disparage NBC or Jay Leno. Steve Kroft, the "60 Minutes" correspondent who did the interview told the NY Times that O'Brien "flirts with the restrictions."

However, O'Brien is able to talk about his new TBS show.



The limitations NBC imposed prevents "60 Minutes" from showing O'Brien's face in previews since he's not able to appear on television until after May 1.

http://insidetv.aol.com/2010/04/27/conan-obrien-will-break-his-silence-on-60-minutes-this-sunday/

It should be interesting to hear what he's actually allowed to say!!!

Ex-"Tonight Show" Host Conan O'Brien Vents on "60 Minutes"
Posted May 2nd 2010
by Allison Waldman


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:


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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.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/05/02/ex-tonight-show-host-conan-obrien-vents-on-60-minutes/

This was a good interview. I just wish it ran longer (I'm speaking of the full interview, which I saw). I can't wait until he comes to TBS!

NBC sabotaged him by keeping Leno on the network. He never really had a chance.

...and the way he talked about it, I understand it even more. How would YOU like it if someone promised you THE most "fabulous job in the world"- after the person who currently occupied it is due to retire in five years, and you patiently have to wait for it...and, after you DO "take over", five years later, something happens within seven months that forces your predecessor to RETURN to his old position, and you find yourself "forced out", due to "economic reasons"? That's what happened to Conan, pure and simple. I'd be disappointed, too.

:tv:

..he took a first-rate network like NBC, and turned it into a sixth-rate one simply because he didn't know how to operate a broadcast network. However, because of the "smoke screen" he managed to erect [more advertising revenue than NBC could count, through 2007], he not only remained, he was promoted to CHIEF EXECUTIVE of the parent company. And HE was the one who bartered both deals with Jay and Conan, only to have them "boomerang" on him with his "brilliant" idea of scheduling Jay at 10pm(et), "across-the-board", then scrambling to undo it all because of bad ratings and affiliate complaints. So, now what? Jay is back at 11:35pm(et) on "TONIGHT", apparently stronger than ever in terms of audience and revenue...Conan goes on to TBS, late this fall....and I'm waiting for "the other shoe" to drop on Zucker's head!!



:livid:

Conan (and his wife) were a class act all the way. They made their point without raising their voices and not slamming anyone.

I would advise anyone who hasn't seen it to watch the full segment -- it's online:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6453980n&tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel