While Conan O'Brien plans exit, shows try to woo him to their couch to spill more beans

While Conan O'Brien prepares for his last show on NBC and lines up his final guests and parting shots (no, Howard Stern apparently isn't making the trip to Burbank), other TV shows are lining up trying to book O'Brien for themselves.

"Virtually every outlet known to God and man is offering Conan the opportunity to talk," said O'Brien's spokeswoman, Leslee Dart.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the morning shows -- ABC's "Good Morning America" and CBS' "Early Show" -- are leading the charge. Also likely working the phones and sending the fruit baskets are the bookers at CNN's "Larry King" and CBS' "60 Minutes." Maybe Charlie Rose has a shot now too, since he showed some heft in his tough questioning of NBC Universal chief executive Jeff Zucker on Monday night. We're pretty sure we can rule out NBC's "Today Show" as a potential stop for O'Brien.

For now, O'Brien will keep his remarks limited to NBC's own airwaves. Even there, he is starting to dial down the vitriol just a little bit. That might be a good idea. As more information emerges about the roughly $40 million NBC is going to pony up to make his exit all the smoother, it might be harder to maintain the high level of support. That's why the message Team Conan is trying to get out is that the talk-show host is focusing on taking care of his staff first. That is "the only thing Conan is interested in doing right now," Dart said.

Odds are that if O'Brien does decide to sit down anywhere, it'll be with David Letterman on CBS. Letterman has been the most ardent of NBC- and Jay Leno-bashers (outside of O'Brien, of course) and is worshiped by O'Brien, ABC's Jimmy Kimmel and most television critics. The most fun would be if O'Brien stopped in at Howard Stern's satellite radio show; then he could let it all out.

Of course, if O'Brien wants to show there's no hard feelings, maybe he'll go on Leno's show.

-- Joe Flint

Photo: Conan O'Brien. Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha / Los Angeles Times. 

Comments

[Mooncake]

He should be a guest on Letterman on the exact day Leno comes back on the Tonight Show. That'll show those NBC morons.

[Curtis]

Why the heck doesn't NBC/UNIVERSAL just syndicate Conan? He can be on in just about every market on the FOX or CW affiliate and on USA as well. Then, if Conan attracts enough of an 11:00 PM crowd, and Jay finally wants to quit/starts losing his time slot, Conan's still in house. Jay can be the network guy, Conan and his staff can keep their jobs and Fox DOESN'T get Conan. In fact, those Fox and CW affiliates will be paying NBC.

I'm sure there's some logical reason why this won't work, but damned if I can figure it out.

[Dirk]

Good points, Chris. He could stay in that new studio too.

[kb]

curtis the reason nbc would never go for that is that you actually put some thought into that solution. it would require someone with some manner of intelligence to come up with that kind of plan. nbc wouldnt understand it :).

[Mary]

Conan MUST go on Letterman the day Jay Leno starts back on The Tonight Show. Because even if Conan is under a gag order from NBC, Letterman isn't. Letterman will be more than happy to air every piece of dirty laundry there is about NBC/Leno, while Conan says nothing but "I wish I were legally allowed to agree with you."

[Roland]

I wouldn't rule out a Colbert or Daily Show appearance. They are all much closer friends, and Conan could sorta just ham it up.

[iPooOnJay]

I HATE JAY LENO!! I will never watch his show again, I will tell everyone I know never to watch his stupid, dry, phohy show too. Jay's not even funny! NBC is going to regret this move. I can't believe they did this to CoCo and his staff. Sorry everyone, you don't deserve this.

[Mrwirez]

The key to Conan's success would be to march on over to Fox, and beat Leno back to late night television. Leno has to wait until the Olympics are over. In my opinion and most public opinion, Leno is damaged, and Conan is the fall guy for NBC's missteps. If Conan gets out first, he just might beat Leno.. Overall, the BIG winner is Letterman... The jokes are endless.

[Edwin]

Conan can move to Fox right away with a $10 contract deal. This could make his staff employed immediately.

[Veronika]

Ah well... If Conan goes on Leno that'd be about the only reason I'd watch Leno again... For that one night. :)

[Vern]

I wouldn't watch Leno again even IF Conan appeared on the show to clear things up! I'm no big Letterman fan, but I think Conan appearing on his show the very night Leno returns is a brilliant idea!

[Phil]

Hell, I want a Conan O'brien week of Letterman. First night do the interview, but then incorporate him into bits the rest of the week. Have him in a tent behind Dave's desk saying he has nowhere else to go. Have him and his band attempt to hijack the Late Show in various ways. Have him be a McMahon/Richter type side kick for a show.

[Curtis]

Tonight's Top Ten List - 10 things Conan O'Brien won't miss about NBC. And here to deliver our list tonight......

[Randy]

"...Letterman will be more than happy to air every piece of dirty laundry there is about NBC/Leno..."

Letterman is one of the last people on Earth that should be so quick and vociferous in airing someone else's dirty laundry.

[Glenn]

Conan should just stop talking about NBC. Forget about them. Move on and focus on making a better show. Complaining about your ex-employer makes you look weak and insecure.

[Justin]

The idea about skits featuring Conan on Letterman would be absolutely brilliant - and that is exactly the type of humor that Dave and his writers use in their skits anyway, so it would fit perfectly.

The only issue is that CBS probably would never go for it - even if Dave and Conan did anything like that in the first place. CBS probably would fear it would only add to Conan's name recognition and/or popularity, which would at least somewhat hurt them if Conan is back in the 11:35ET time slot when he returns on another network.

But having said that, it could be just about the funniest concept ever for a late night show. I laughed my ass off just visualizing it.

[Rambling Johnny]

I don't agree with Justin CBS would love to get the ratting hike that this kind of "event" would produce event if it boost Conan name recognition. It also a good way for CBS to open the door to sign Conan at a later date to replace Letterman when he decide to leave.

[Richard]

Conan needs to keep on moving, don't look back, let NBC sift through the debris when Leno flops "again". Leno should know what it feels like, he wormed his way in to the Carson exit years ago. He is arrogant, burned out, not funny, should take his millions and be amazed he ever was paid for his talentless run on television. Who ever watched the tonight show to see Leno anyway? It's always been about the guests. Conan had humor, personality and interacted with his guests. Like Kimmel, Falon and Ferguson, he had something special, he is an entertainer. Leno reads stale jokes, repeats them over and over, and has this stupid "buddy-pal" thing with Kevin. BORING!