After seven months, Conan says farewell

01/23/2010 (1 d 7 h ago)

'Like everything in life, the fun has to come to an end a decade too early,' the comic tells his 'Tonight Show' audience. His negotiated -- and expensive -- exit clears the way for Jay Leno's return.



After two weeks of frantic backroom maneuvers and withering on-air broadsides, NBC's struggle with Conan O'Brien came to a close Friday evening. The comic signed off after less than eight months as host of "The Tonight Show," leaving a once-venerable late-night franchise hobbled by corporate missteps and changing audience dynamics.

The contents of this article belong to the individual publisher.