I almost didn't comment on the Conan/Leno battle because I don't watch either of them*, but recent news has made me start thinking Conan O'Brien is a world class asshole.
Who among us has ever been fired with a $32 million severance award, and another $13 for our displaced staff?
Conan could and should have had a little dignity in his exit, because frankly if his stint as the Tonight Show host had been a ratings bonanza for NBC, they would have never let him go.
But no, during his last week he pulled stunts like buying (or renting, it doesn't matter) a zillion dollar Bugatti and playing high-royalty Rolling Stones music just to stick NBC with a huge bill.
I am all for screwing former employers who done me wrong, but if anyone waved even a $50,000 severance award for canning me, I'd be the picture of grace and dignity upon my departure.
What really did it for me was when a friend of mine who works in NYC for NBC told me he'd see Conan in the building all the time and he couldn't be bothered to even say hello. How hard is it to say hello to someone who works for the same company as you?
What a turd.
I reiterate, if Conan had taken over The Tonight Show and grabbed some decent ratings, or even ratings equal to Jay Leno's before he left the show, NBC would have never canned him and given the show back to Leno.
I watched The Tonight Show with Conan hosting a few times, and I thought he was just a silly jerk who might appeal to high school boys, but not many others.
Even his interviews were marred by him interrupting, going for laughs and continuously calling attention to himself rather than the guest. He's a buffoon.
Rumor has it that Conan will be offered a late night spot at Fox in September when NBC releases him once and for all. Good. I'll know which channel to avoid.
*I watch Chelsea Lately or The Daily Show at that time slot. Both are funnier than Leno or O'Brien.
