Newsmaker

7 million join O'Brien's last Tonight Show

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-01-25 09:52

Conan O'Brien ended his brief tenure on the Tonight show with a wide smile and a guitar in his arms - and 7 million of his closest friends watching.

7 million join O'Brien's last Tonight Show

Conan O'Brien (R) interviews actor Tom Hanks during the final "Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" at Universal City, California, in this handout photograph taken and released on January 22, 2010. [Agencies]

The red-haired comic joined a band led by blond-wigged comic Will Ferrell with Beck and ZZ Top guitarist Billy Gibbons for a raucous rendition of Free Bird. O'Brien is free to move on now himself, after accepting a $45 million buyout from NBC to leave the late night TV talk show he long dreamed of hosting after only seven months.

Despite the rancor that marked his final two weeks, O'Brien emotionally urged his fans not to be cynical and said their support made a sad situation "joyous and inspirational." He even thanked NBC for more than 20 years of employment but mixed in a few final jabs during the show.

Walking away instead of accepting a demotion is the hardest thing he's ever had to do, O'Brien said. "This is the best job in the world," he said.

O'Brien will be replaced March 1 by the man he took over for seven months ago - Jay Leno. In the interim, reruns and Winter Olympics programming will fill the slot.

"I've had more good fortune than anyone I know, and if our next gig is doing a show in a 7-Eleven parking lot, we'll find a way to make it fun".

AP-Reuters-Entertainment Weekly