Source: O'Brien's staff is sticking point in talks (O'Brien wants severance deals for his staff)

[Kadie]

Source: O'Brien's staff is sticking point in talks

By LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer Lynn Elber, Ap Television Writer – Wed Jan 20, 6:21 am ET

LOS ANGELES – The sticking point in Conan O'Brien's complex exit negotiations with NBC involves his TV staff, not Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, a person familiar with the talks said Tuesday.

Although discussions also focused on whether NBC would keep the rights to familiar O'Brien comedy bits including Triumph, O'Brien's focus was ensuring severance deals for his "Tonight" staff and crew, the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the talks were intended to be private.

O'Brien is "dug in on that," the person said.

NBC fired back in a statement, saying "it was Conan's decision to leave NBC that resulted in nearly 200 of his staffers being out of work."

"We have already agreed to pay millions of dollars to compensate every one of them. This latest posturing is nothing more than a PR ploy," the network said.

A spokesman for O'Brien declined to comment.

snip...
The proposal also would allow O'Brien, who would exit "Tonight" less than a year after taking over from Leno, to start work on a competing network as early as fall. But he would be barred from making NBC the butt of jokes.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100120/ap_on_en_tv/us_tv_leno_o_brien

[alsame]

1. Good for him! nt

[DebbieCDC]

2. He doesn't need to make NBC the butt of his jokes

They already are the ass-end network