(New York, NY) — After much speculation and many late night TV jokes, the exact figures are in for the departure deal between Conan O’Brien and NBC. MSNBC reports the network will pay 45-million-dollars for the current host of the “Tonight Show” to move aside for Jay Leno, who will take control of the program once again. Some 33-million-dollars of the 45-million-dollar agreement will go to O’Brien. According to the “New York Times,” O’Brien, who ends his short stint on the “Tonight Show” tomorrow night, will be allowed to return to TV in eight months. The deal is expected to be formally announced later today.
O’Brien is leaving NBC after he refused to host a shortened, later version of “The Tonight Show” to accommodate Leno’s return to late night. O’Brien hosted the show for only seven months.
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Pandora Reynolds/Anne Levy/mwa
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01-21-2010 07:48:59
