NBC and Conan O'Brien Reach $45 Million Exit Deal

NBC has reached a $45 million agreement with Conan O'Brien to end his short run as host of "The Tonight Show" so that Jay Leno can return as the face of the late-night comedy show.

Of the total amount, about $33 million will go to O'Brien and $12 million will go to his staff.

Under the deal, he will be allowed to return to television in September. ABC has said they are not interested in Conan while Fox may be a possibility depending on whether local affiliates would clear such a deal.

O'Brien's last episode of "The Tonight Show" will be on Friday. "The Tonight Show" will then run repeats until February 11th, when it's pre-empted for the Winter Olympics. Leno will return to the program on Monday, March 1st.

Here is the official statement by NBC and Conan O'Brien:

NBC and Conan O'Brien have reached a resolution of the issues surrounding O'Brien's contract to host "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."

Under terms of an agreement that was signed earlier today, NBC and O'Brien will settle their contractual obligations and the network will release O'Brien from his contract, freeing him to pursue other opportunities after September 1, 2010.

O'Brien will make his final appearance as host of "The Tonight Show" on January 22.
Via Comingsoon

Parks & Recreation peek.

Parks and Recreation (Premieres 4/9 at 8:30pm on NBC)

"Friday Night Lights" renewed for two more seasons.

NBC and DirecTV have renewed "Friday Night Lights" for two seasons. The new deal covers the show's fourth and fifth seasons, which will consist of 13 episodes each.

It continues the innovative partnership between the NBC and the DirectTV that saved "FNL" from cancellation this season, the third for the Peabody-winning series revolving around a high school football team in a small Texas town. Series hails from Brian Grazer's Imagine TV, Peter Berg's Film 44 shingle and Universal Media Studios.

DirecTV will get the first window on the episodes, to run commercial-free as the marquee property on its 101 Network channel.

The additional two seasons will bring "FNL's" episode tally to 76. Universal and Imagine were eager to continue producing episodes to enhance the prospects for a syndication sale. via Comingsoon

"The Office" Olympic Promos for NBC

Shout to AZ for putting me on to these promos.