Conan Slams 'Incompetent Morons' at NBC

Conan O’Brien came out swinging on last night’s Tonight Show, saying that while it's rumored he's “legally prohibited” from saying anything negative about NBC, "luckily they're not saying I can't sing anything." He then, naturally, took to song, crooning about the network’s “incompetent morons” during his monologue...and he didn't stop there (watch clips, including a bit on the Craigslist offers that have been pouring in for the show, and David Letterman's take, in the gallery).

Despite O’Brien’s anger, a deal appears to be close—TMZ reports the host will receive $32.5 million from NBC and can’t host another show until at least September. Conan’s Tonight Show employees will also receive severance packages, bringing NBC’s total payout to around $40 million—but any money O’Brien makes during the remainder of his contractual period from, say, Fox, will be deducted from his $32.5 million. Meanwhile, Jay Leno’s Las Vegas comedy show was forced to offer buy-one-get-one-free ticket prices—none of the other Mirage Hotel headliners have had to do so, Gawker notes. (More Jay Leno stories.)