Conan’s Goodbye: “I Do Not Regret One Second”

by Rachel Sklar | 1:46 am, January 23rd, 2010

» 10 comments

“Walking away from the Tonight Show is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do,” said Conan at the close of his run of the Tonight Show, for seven months of zaniness and fun. It was not a moment of punchlines — it was his last to address his staff, his fans, and the company where he spent his career: NBC.

“Tonight, I’m allowed to say anything I want,” said Conan, in earnest. “And what I want to say is this: Between my time at Saturday Night Live, the late night show and my brief run here at the Tonight Show, I’ve worked with NBC for over 20 years. Yes, we have our differences right now, yes we’re going our separate ways. But this company has been my home for most of my adult life. I am enormously proud of the work we’ve done together and I want to thank NBC for making it all possible.” Tepid applause. But still.

He went on to thank “the best staff in the history of the medium” and talk about how lucky he was to have hosted the Tonight Show, with that group of people. “I did it my way, with people I love – I do not regret one second,” he said. Then he thanked the show’s fans, whose above and beyond support over the past few weeks “made a sad situation joyous and inspirational.” That was the part where he got choked up, and said he would remember that gift for the rest of his life.

All he asked, he said — especially of the show’s younger fans, was this: “Please do not be cynical.”

“I hate cynicism, for the record it’s my least favorite quality, it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen.”

This, surely, was one of them. And now it’s Leno who’s got something to measure up to. Watch it below.

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http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Matthews/671485677 Chris Matthews

Its amazing, after all the crap Conan’s put up with the past two weeks, that he could say something this heartfelt and classy. As you put it, Leno’s got a lot to measure up to followiing this. I, for one, am not rooting for him to accomplish that.

This clip reaffirms my support of Conan. I’ll be watching him whereever he ends up. And I hope he kicks Leno’s tail.
lynnevere

He left with amazing grace and class. His remarks were clearly heartfelt and sincere, and the outpouring of support from fans seemed to have made the losing of his dream job more bearable.

I wish you well Conan, and you’ve set a new standard for a class act.
timzank

For a $45 million parting gift, I could be really heartfelt and classy too. I wish him well, but that $45 million is coming out of GE coffers, recently filled with OUR tax dollars (via tarp) which makes me a little less sympathetic to his unemployment.
Johnny M

2nd least favorite quality, timzank…is jealousy about others successes in life.
Facebook User

Here’s the video of the epic “Free Bird” finale, not available on NBC.com or Hulu:
http://www.gotchamediablog.com/2010/01/conan-will-ferrell-leads-epic-free-bird.html
puck30

45 million? Give me 45 million and I’ll kiss the butt of everybody on my staff.

But really, dude should take the summer off, hang with the wife & kids. While his agent works on a deal for the fall. Then come back and rip!
dianabug

Conan is a classy guy.
http://trickletown.vox.com/ Trickletown

Hurry back to TV, COCO, I will miss you until you do!
Who set this all up as a “Conan VS Leno” scenario? David Letterman is who. In reality it was the NBC chieftans , Jeff Zucker in particular, who created the mess we’ve all seen unfold. Creepy Letterman has enjoyed the highest ratings he’s had in years, but it won’t be long until Leno gets back into the groove and reclaims #1.
tigerprez

That show will forever be known as the night that Conan had everyone waiting for one final withering blow to cap a week of intellectual dominance over NBC, and he chose to do something infinitely more memorable (and in some ways more devastating), taking the high road and proving that he realizes that there are bigger things in life than a television show. Cheers to you, Coco.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Commentbug-Here/100000846533692 Commentbug Here

Coco pulled a Leno to Lopez.

http://www.commentbug.com