• This is the greatest image we’ve ever seen. Good show, @studionashvegas, good show. This should be their logo until the end of time or at least until Jeff Zucker quits.

• This clip cost NBC $1.5 million to produce. It’s the kind of thing Conan can get away with because 1) He’s a genius 2) He doesn’t care about NBC and 3) He’s smarter than the people getting rid of him. NBC’s reaction? They pulled the clip from Hulu and NBC.com. But strangely, it’s on YouTube. We can’t wait for tonight’s show. source

• In the end, Conan was appreciative of the steps NBC made to take care of his staff and crew, and decided to supplement the severance they were getting out of his own pocket. Now he just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible.
• Gavin Polone • Conan O’Brien’s manager, regarding the deal NBC reportedly struck with the comedian last night. Details are kinda sketchy at the moment, but they likely include $32 million for Conan, $12 million for his staff, a non-disparagement clause, and an agreement to stay off the air or other shows until the fall. Pretty much everything that was expected from the press. source

• Updated: Big money for Conan. Others, not so much. Conan’s reportedly close to a $40 million deal to get out of his contract, but he wants more than the $12 million in severance being offered for his employees (reportedly $600,000 more). Before you think that severance is a ton of money, we just did some math:

How many employees does he have?:

• 200the number of employees Conan has, roughly source

The way that splits up:

• $4.5
  million the amount that would go to executive producer Jeff Ross
• $7.5
  million the amount that would go to everybody else. Jesus.

How this breaks down for Conan’s people:

• split Based on the number given by MTV today, that’s exactly $37,500 a piece per employee. Not too huge at all, guys.
• seniority Our number doesn’t account for salaries of sidekicks like Andy Richter and Max Weinberg, nor seniority.
• taxes It’s also before the 40% or whatever they take out of severance before they give it to you. It’s kind of a raw deal. source

The silver lining:

• In the end, Conan was appreciative of the steps NBC made to take care of his staff and crew, and decided to supplement the severance they were getting out of his own pocket. Now he just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible.
• Gavin Polone • Conan O’Brien’s manager, regarding the deal NBC reportedly struck with the comedian last night. Conan’s not only a rich man, but apparently he’s a prince, because he’s taking care of his workers when he doesn’t have to! Good show, old red-headed chap! source

• The second they turn into superheroes is when it starts getting good. Jeff Zucker is portrayed exactly like the kind of jerk he should be, and Coco is shown with a gaggle of supporters. Awesome.

• Jay’s side of the story: Pretty honest, not douchebaggy, not trashing on NBC, not trashing on Conan, respectful. Why do we hate him again? Oh, it’s because he’s not funny.

• Dick Ebersol is the kind of flamboyant exec with strong opinions about things — some of which, including comedy, he knows little about. This is the guy who, when he took over “Saturday Night Live” in the early ’80s, thought that then-‘SNL’-writer Larry David was talent-less.
• Entertainment Weekly TV columnist Ken Tucker • Working to neuter the folklore of the “Conan failed because he sucked” story perpetuated by NBC Sports exec Dick Ebersol. Ebersol ran “Saturday Night Live” back in the early ’80s, an era noted by the brand’s pure suckitude. It was only after Lorne Michaels returned to the throne that the show’s comedy started to improve again. Ebersol’s trying hard to sully Conan’s image, but it won’t wash. It’s too late for the backlash. Tucker makes an even better point – Ebersol is perfectly happy that the Olympics are going to lose money, despite the fact that he chided Conan for being a huge failure almost immediately after he started. Double-standard? source

• $30 million in golden parachute money for the redhead source