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Conan's Free As A Bird Now
By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 23, 2010
Modified Jan 23, 2010
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Jan 23, 2010
Modified Jan 23, 2010
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Last night Conan O'Brien bid his final farewell to The Tonight Show, with some help from guests Tom Hanks, Steve Carell and Neil Young. We laughed, we cried, then we were treated to an All-Star performance of "Free Bird" as performed by Will Ferrell, his wife Viveca Paulin, Billy Gibbons, Beck, Max Weinberg & the Tonight Show Band, Ben Harper, and Conan himself!
Before picking up his axe, Conan took a moment to take the high road during the final episode, saying: "Tonight I am allowed to say anything I want. And what I want to say is this: Between my time at Saturday Night Live, The Late Night Show and my brief run here on The Tonight Show, I have worked with NBC for over 20 years. Yes, we have our differences right now and, yes, we're going to go our separate ways. But this company has been my home for most of my adult life. I am enormously proud of the work we have done together, and I want to thank NBC for making it all possible." And here's where the host became a little emotional, saying, "Every comedian dreams of hosting The Tonight Show and, for seven months, I got to. I did it my way, with people I love, and I do not regret a second."
Now we won't see Conan for seven months, as part of his departure deal states that he isn't allowed back on the air until September 1st — and in the interim, is allegedly not even allowed to appear for interviews. This gives him some time to work out his next move, however — think it'll be back to New York?
Tagged
conan o'brien
final episode
late night
nbc
television
the tonight show
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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