The ‘Tonight Show’ With Conan O’Brien Said Goodbye Four Years Ago Today

The 'Tonight Show' was hosted by Jay Leno from 1993-2009 and then again hosted by Jay Leno from 2010 until late next month. In that short void between Leno’s two runs was Conan O’Brien. He had the iconic spot for a total of seven months. After less than stellar ratings, O’Brien was offered a secondary deal by NBC, to come on again after Leno's proposed 30 minute show at midnight. O’Brien declined the offer.  More or less O’Brien made a non-compete exit deal with NBC worth 45 million dollars.

After the exit agreement with NBC had been fulfilled he ended up on TBS at 11 pm, where he is now. Conan O’Brien’s last episode of the ‘Tonight Show’ was four years ago tonight.

I remember the finale. He had most of his real friends on, including Neil Young and Will Ferrell both along with O'Brien himself all sung, “Long May You Run”

After the Olympics this year, once again Jay Leno is retiring from the ‘Tonight Show’ and once again, NBC is handing it off to the host of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” Jimmy Fallon.

Here is the cold open to the first episode of the 'Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien', one of my favorite slices of late night talk on TV.

Rob Ashe Jr.