Friday, Jan. 22, 2010
On the Company's Dime
With his brief, star-crossed tenure as host of the Tonight Show winding down, Conan O'Brien adopted a new mission for his late-night program: doing "comedy bits that aren't so much funny as they are crazy expensive." During his penultimate episode, Conan introduced a guest that truly fit the bill: 2009 Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird, sporting a mink Snuggie. After parking the pricey thoroughbred in front of a TV to watch "restricted Super Bowl coverage," Conan told the assembled crowd that the acquisition had cost NBC $4.8 million — a fraction of his exit package, which is said to be as high as $45 million, but certainly enough to make Jeff Zucker & Co. squirm. At least the horse comes with stud rights.