Conan O’Brien and Fox Still in Early Courtship Phase

Posted on Mar 18, 2010

AP / Kevork Djansezian

Conan O’Brien hosts the Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles in September 2002.

Nobody’s signing anything at the moment, but Fox might be with Coco yet. Executives at the Murdochian network haven’t worked out a deal with departed “Tonight Show” host Conan O’Brien, and in fact, The Hollywood Reporter noted Wednesday that the two parties haven’t been in touch in two weeks, but all is not lost—the interest is still there, and even Rupert Murdoch is on board with the O’Brien plan, “if it makes money,” THR reported. No kidding.  —KA

The Hollywood Reporter:

O’Brien’s talks with Fox are not in an exclusive stage, and he continues to entertain offers from other suitors.

“(The issues) at Fox require you to look at other alternatives,” a person close to the host said.
O’Brien has been pitched about two dozen ideas for his next TV gig, including five or six legitimate enough for consideration.

He is said to be comfortable in the traditional talk format in which he has worked for 17 years, but O’Brien also is said to be open to shaking things up. He reportedly is sticking with doing a daily show, as opposed segueing to a weekly series a la Bill Maher, and essentially is choosing among a late-night show on Fox, a syndicated series—possibly in a pre-primetime slot—and a cable show.

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