NBC Picks Up Conan's Pilot

Less than one week after Conan O’Brien and NBC reached a settlement over the “Tonight Show”, NBC picked up a pilot from O’Brien’s production company, Conaco.

After weeks of trash-talking and uncertainty of O’Briens future at NBC, the two finally came to an agreement. The “Tonight Show” host of only 7 months agreed to leave the network for a settlement of $32.5 million.

It comes as quite a surprise that NBC would pick up Conaco’s pilot after all the jabs it took during O’Brien’s final days as host. The pilot is reportedly an hour-long show featuring a former Supreme Court justice who launches his own legal firm. O'Brien is executive producer along with John Eisendrath. According to The Huffington Post, the pick-up came as a complete surprise to Team Conan - as well to the rest of us!

Conan and NBC Settlement Now $45 Million

Conan O'Brien and NBC have officially reached a settlement. Conan is getting an even better deal than originally reported. According to TMZ, the settlement has reached $45 million and the mitigation clause has been removed. Conan will get $32.5 million severance pay, regardless if he takes another job or not.

Another $7.5 million will go to the "Tonight Show" employees, and a staggering $4.5 million to the executive producer.

Conan's farewell show will be Friday. Guests will include Tom Hanks and Will Ferrell, with a musical performance by Niel Young. Don't miss it!

Conan's Not Joking With NBC

Conan O’Brien will not be accepting NBC’s proposal to move him and “The Tonight Show,” from the 11:35 p.m. to the 12:05 a.m. time slot. O’Brien started hosting “The Tonight Show,” about seven months ago after Jay Leno left it to host his own show called “The Jay Leno Show.”

On Sunday NBC announced that they were going to take “The Jay Leno Show” out of its prime-time position. The show was doing poorly in the ratings at the 10 p.m. time slot and was not meeting the affiliates’ needs. They plan to have Leno host a new half-hour show at the 11:35 p.m. slot. However, this move will have a domino effect.

This pushes O’Brien’s “The Tonight Show,” and Jimmy Fallon’s “Late Night,” into later time slots. A main reason why O’Brien is not accepting NBC’s proposal is due to the survival of the show. “The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show,” says O’Brien.

He not only makes this decision for himself but for his fellow competitors, which brings some humanity into the business world. “Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot,” says O’Brien. “That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.”

Now these talk shows hosts are doing what they do best—talking. Leno spends some time on his show bashing the way NBC handled the situation. “They don't have a lot of tact,” says Leno. “After they canceled the show, they told me if I gained 10 pounds I could join 'The Biggest Loser.'”

O’Brien is upset because he and his staff have worked very hard to get where they are, and it is very disappointing for him. However, no matter how upset he may be, he never fails to shed some light with his own Conan style. He ended his statement by saying, “Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.”

Jay Leno Responds to Cancellation Rumors!

Not sure how NBC feels about this, but in a clip from last's nights episode of The Jay Leno Show, Jay reponds to the rumors that have been spreading like wild fire around the net!

Salma Hayek Signs Up for More "Rock"

Salma Hayek is sticking around "30 Rock."

NBC announced on Friday that the actress, who plays Jack Donaghy's (Alec Baldwin) love interest Elisa, will be a recurring character on the series.

"I am so excited to be part of such an intelligent, funny show, as well as working with the brilliant Alec Baldwin and the rest of the cast of '30 Rock,'" Salma said in a statement released to Access Hollywood.

"30 Rock" premieres on October 30 (Thursday, 9:30-10 p.m. ET).

Olympics Make TV History!

Through 16 days of coverage, 211 million viewers tuned in to the Olympics on NBC Universal’s broadcast and cable outlets, making it the most-watched US television event of all time. They should be thanking that Michael Phelps (we think!) ...

NBC notes that 211 million Americans have watched the Beijing coverage! Beijing has topped the previous "most-viewed event" in U.S. TV history: the 209 million total viewers for NBC's 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Good news for all you swim fans! With Phelps' Beijing swimming success, TV reports are hoping it will translate into a lasting boost for swimming's TV appeal. Who was your favorite Olympian at this summer's games?

Costumes and Props from Daytime Drama “Passions” Available In Public Auction

NBC Universal Television DVD, Music and Consumer Products Group in partnership with Premiere Props and presenting sponsor Soap Opera Digest, is holding a farewell auction featuring over 750 costumes and key hero props from Universal Media Studios' 2007 Daytime Emmy and Image Award-winning daytime drama, "Passions.”

A wide variety of costumes and props will be made available to the public, including; Sheridan Crane Boothe’s teal silk dress, Theresa Lopez-Fitzgerald’s "Milly of New York" halter gown, Kay Bennett Crane’s "Arden B." button-up yellow dress, Tabitha Lenox’s magic wands, a paperbound photo album of Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald and Sheridan Crane, Sheridan Crane's Locket and Rebecca Hotchkiss's "Wonder Woman" costume. The auction will also include high-end props such as a juke box and a Yamaha 1400cm3 motorcycle.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Universal Media Studios and Premiere Props for the last ‘Passions’ auction,” said Susan Severance, Publisher for Soap Opera Digest and Soap Opera Weekly. “Soap Opera collectors will be amazed with the unique ‘Passions’ items that will be up for bid.”

This marks the third collaboration between Universal Media Studios and Premiere Props. A portion of the proceeds from the auction will benefit the Entertainment Industry Foundation, one of the leading charitable organizations of the entertainment industry, harnessing the collective power of the entertainment industry to raise awareness and funds for critical health, educational and social issues to make a positive impact in local communities and throughout the nation.

The auction is taking place at the Premiere Props warehouse, 128 Sierra Street in El Segundo, CA on Saturday, August 9th at Noon PST with a preview from 9am-11am PST. Fans can also place live bids online at http://www.icollector.com/ or http://www.ebay.com/. For more information, please visit http://www.premiereprops.com/ or call (310) 322-PROP.

Adam Carolla to host 'Top Gear'

He's no Jay Leno...

... but funnyman Adam Carolla has just signed on as the host of NBC's version of the popular BBC show 'Top Gear,' the network announced today.

Carolla agreed to the gig after Jay Leno, a noted car enthusiast, declined the job in April. Leno wrote an op-ed to Britain's Sunday Times that said, "it would be impossible to re-create or live up to the standards of the British show."

The BBC version, hosted by Jeremy Clarkson, has expanded from a cult hit to a worldwide sensation. It covers new cars, car races, assessments of antique and novelty cars, crash footage and auto-centric challenges by its cast members.

"This is fantastic news—but how on earth you lot are going to do it on the wrong side of the road I've no idea," Clarkson said. He will be an executive producer of the U.S. version., and the cast members of the British version will also make appearances on the NBC show.

Carolla will be joined by champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust and Eric Stromer, a TV personality and carpenter on TLC's 'Clean Sweep.' Carolla currently hosts the syndicated radio show, 'The Adam Carolla Show.'

Production for the pilot will begin this week.

Tim Russert remembered, honored

NBC journalist Tim Russert's life and legacy was celebrated on The Today Show.

Colleagues and politicians have also expressed their sorrow and gave tribute to the newscaster.

"Tim had become an important part of our political process. He will be especially missed in this historic presidential election year," Dan Rather said. "Tim Russert was a beacon of quality journalism. At a time when quality journalism is in increasingly short supply, Tim Russert was a leader for what is best in American journalism. He was tough but fair, pulled no punches, played no favorites. As an interviewer, he had few, if any, peers."

Katie Couric called Russert a "big teddy bear of a guy" and a "pit bull of an interviewer."

"Laura and I are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Tim Russert. Those of us who knew and worked with Tim, his many friends, and the millions of Americans who loyally followed his career on the air will all miss him," said President George W. Bush. "As the longest-serving host of the longest-running program in the history of television, he was an institution in both news and politics for more than two decades."

Both candidates for Election 2008 also paid their respects.

"I am very saddened by Tim Russert's sudden death," Senator John McCain said. "Cindy and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the Russert family as they cope with this shocking loss and remember the life and legacy of a loving father, husband and the preeminent political journalist of his generation."

Senator Barack Obama said he first met Russert at the 2004 convention.

"He’s somebody who, over time, I came to consider not only a journalist but a friend," he added. "There wasn’t a better interviewer in TV, not a more thoughtful analyst of our politics, and he was also one of the finest men I knew."

Tim Russert autopsy findings

Newscaster Tim Russert's sudden death has been explained via a statement of autopsy findings from Dr. Michael Newman.

Russert, age 58, was known to have asymptomatic coronary artery disease which resulted in hardening of his coronary arteries," Newman said. "The autopsy revealed an enlarged heart and significant atherosclerosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery with [a] fresh clot which caused a heart attack resulting in a fatal ventricular arrhythmia."

In layman terms, the "Meet the Press" newsman had a heart attack and could not be resuscitated. Newman said lifesaving measures were taken immediately after Russert's collapse, and a full code was initiated after the D.C. paramedics arrived. Newman added that there is only a 4 to 5 percent survival rate in cases of sudden cardiac arrest such as Russert's.

Tim Russert passes away

Tim Russert passed away Friday after suffering a heart attack at the Washington Bureau, NBC News reported. The 58-year-old was the NBC News Washington bureau chief and the moderator of 'Meet the Press.'

According to the network, Russert was recording voiceovers for Sunday's episode of "Meet the Press" at the time of his collapse. He had just returned from a family vacation to Italy to celebrate his son's college graduation.

He was "one of the premier political journalists and analysts of his time," said Tom Brokaw, former longtime anchor of 'NBC Nightly News,' when he announced Russert's death. "This news division will not be the same without his strong, clear voice."

Russert joined NBC News in 1984 and has hosted 'Meet the Press' since December 1991. The show is in its 60th year, making it the longest-running program in TV history. Russert has also held the positions of vice president of NBC News and head of its Washington operations.

In 2008, Russert was named one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world.

He received an Emmy Award in 2004 for his coverage of President Ronald Reagan's funeral, and his 2000 "Meet the Press" interviews with George W. Bush and Al Gore earned him the Radio and Television Correspondent's Joan S. Barone Award and the Annenberg Center's Walker Cronkite Award. Other accolades included the Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television Journalism, the John Peter Zenger Award, the American Legion Journalism Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars News Media Award, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society Journalism Award and the Allen H. Neuharth Award for Excellence in Journalism.

A member of the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame, Russert also penned two New York Times bestselling books, 2004's Big Russ and Me and 2006's Wisdom of Our Fathers.

Russert is survived by his wife, Vanity Fair writer Maureen Orth, and his son, Luke.

Scrubs moving to ABC

Perez Hilton has posted a MySpace bulletin from 'Scrubs' star Zach Braff, that confirms the show will be moving from NBC to ABC, a move Variety called "one of the worst-kept secrets in town."

"Many of you have been understandably confused by the Fairy Tale episode of Scrubs serving as the series finale. It was not. I was not allowed to say it until today, but Scrubs will be moving to ABC for its final season," Braff confirmed on MySpace. "We are currently filming the 8th and final season. The true finale of the show will air on ABC in the fall. NBC merely promoted the Fairy Tale episode as the finale, as it was the last episode they owned."

The offbeat comedy has aired on NBC since 2001. It stars Braff, Sarah Chalke and Donald Faison. ABC has not yet announced when it plans to air it.

Jimmy Fallon to Replace Conan O’Brien

Several reports have claimed that Jimmy Fallon signed a deal with NBC on Thursday to replace Conan O’Brien as the host of their “Late Night” program.

O’Brien is supposed to take over Jay Leno’s time-slot on the “Tonight Show” at 11:30 PM, and Fallon’s program would follow at 12:30am.

The idea that Fallon, the former Saturday Night Live regular, would succeed O’Brien has been circulating for months, but the network is keeping it under wraps. NBC is expected to officially announce their new host by the end of May.