It seems Fox is still itching to sign Conan O’Brien to a late-night talk show following his controversial departure from NBC’s The Tonight Show.
The network and the flame-haired comedian have amped up their talks, which have been in progress since he left Tonight Jan. 22, says The Los Angeles Times.
Apparently, the chair of Fox’s parent company, News Corp., Rupert Murdoch, has given the go-ahead for the negotiations and the network is aiming to announce a talker at its upfront presentation in May.
So what’s holding things up? Fox’s affiliates still need to OK a late-night show. But as a source tells the Times, “We’ll get there.”
Should the deal between O'Brien and Fox fall though, the host could still end up on TV – though at a much earlier time.
There is serious interest from at least two major syndication companies that want to air a syndicated version of O'Brien's show at 7 p.m.
CBS Television Distribution has discussed the idea of syndication with O'Brien’s people, sources told the TheWrap.com.
And, Debmar-Mercury, the company behind TBS's Tyler Perry sitcoms and the upcoming Will Ferrell project with Comedy Central, has already started discussions.
In the meantime, O’Brien is taking his show on the road. His stand-up comedy extravaganza, The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour, kicks off on April 12. It’s scheduled for three Canadian stops – Vancouver (April 13), Enoch, Alta. (April 17), and Toronto (May 22).
The comedian is also in talks with Media Rights Capital to have it filmed for a documentary, reports Deadline.com. Rodman Flender (TV's 10 Things I Hate About You, Ugly Betty) is reportedly in discussions to direct.
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