Tangled Up In Wires

Well, what we knew was coming has finally happened. This morning on Today, host Meredith Vieira announced that NBC and Conan O’Brien have reached a deal to part ways. From the Wall Street Journal:

While details on the final agreement were unclear, the deal was expected to include a payout of about $32 million for Mr. O’Brien and about $12 million for his staff. It is also believed to include a nondisparagement clause, both for the 46-year-old comedian and NBC. The deal has been said to include a provision that would bar or limit Mr. OBrien from appearing on other shows or hosting his own show for a period of time, according to people familiar with the negotiations.

Among the terms of the deal, which NBC will be confirming in more detail later in the day, Conan will not be able to appear on television until September 1, when he’s free to sign someplace new. Additionally, he will not be able to take some of his intellectual property, including Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, with him when he leaves NBC. Conan’s final Tonight Show will this Friday, January 22, with guests Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell, both of whom appeared in his first week, with musical guest Neil Young. Jay Leno will return to hosting the show on March 1 after the Olympics. We’ll update you when NBC makes their announcement with new details.

While it’s not set in stone yet that Conan may head to Fox this fall, it is a definite that he will have a little time away from the TV in the coming months. What can Conan do with that time? We have a few ideas.

Do Stand-up
The most obvious thing for Conan to start with is by doing stand-up. Fans will turn out in droves to see CoCo. Not only could it keep him and his writing team sharp as they head towards a new show, it will help make his already fervent following even more fervent. This could lead to a stand-up album/DVD or a special on Comedy Central. Andy Richter could go along for the ride in what could be a live, guest-less version of Conan’s show.

Host an Online/Satellite Radio Show and/or Podcast
He could keep his writers and Andy Richter around by doing a radio show, either online or on Sirius or XM. It may not have the biggest listening audience, and for all I know, may not pay him enough, but, like doing stand-up, could keep him fresh. He could similarly go the Ricky Gervais route and create a podcast with content similar to a radio show. Either option would allow him to continue interviewing celebrity guests and, again, keep his fan base in tow.

Write a Book
Now, I’m not talking about an autobiography or an expose, but something funny. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert each generated a lot of buzz by putting out books of their own based on the humor of their shows, so why not Conan? David Cross did a book of short stories, lists, and ramblings, which might be a format Conan could do well too. Putting unused bits and jokes into book form could definitely be a big hit.

Blog
Just doing a daily blog with jokes and commentary could be enough to keep his followers satisfied. A well publicized web site could make him an internet phenomenon and create a completely uncensored, self-controlled forum for him. We’d like to formally offer him the opportunity to blog here at Tangled Up In Wires, where we think he would be an excellent addition.