VIDEO: Conan O'Brien Delights In Blowing NBC's Money
Jan. 21 2010, Published 6:00 a.m. ET
Conan O'Brien, prior to signing a $44 million deal to split with the NBC Thursday, fed The Peacock Network a $1.5 million money-wasting appetizer on The Tonight Show Wednesday in a minute-long sketch featuring "the most expensive car in the world dressed up like a mouse.”
The red-headed comedian proclaimed that for the next couple of nights, he would do comedy bits "that aren't so much funny, as they are crazy expensive!"
BREAKING NEWS: Conan O'Brien Signs $44 Million Deal To Leave Tonight Show
O'Brien lived up to his word, introducing his first prop of the night -- a $1.5 million Bugatti Veyron Mouse, decked out with mouse ears and whiskers. O'Brien, to add costly insult to injury, unveiled the car to the tune of the Rolling Stones classic, Satisfaction, which he proudly announced came with "crazy expensive” licensing fees.
DAILY. BREAKING. CELEBRITY NEWS. ALL FREE.
VIDEO: Conan O'Brien Expresses Contempt For Leno, NBC In Monologue
O'Brien's new contract includes a "non-disparagement clause," meaning O'Brien's days of hammering NBC execs -- and spending ridiculous sums of money on bits -- are likely through. O'Brien, according to the contract, will not be able to sign with a competing network until this fall.
“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," Gavin Polone, O'Brien's manager, told The Wall Street Journal about the deal, which was mutually agreed upon at at 1 a.m. PST Thursday. “Now he just wants to get back on the air as quickly as possible.”