NEW YORK — NBC says it has a deal with Conan O’Brien to produce a possible series, only days after his rancorous exit as host of the network’s “Tonight Show.”
NBC is picking up a pilot from O’Brien’s production company, Conaco. The drama, as yet untitled, focuses on a Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench to start his own practice.
Despite O’Brien’s recent split from NBC as an on-camera star, he retains a development deal with the network. Casting has yet to be announced for the pilot, which is bucking for a series slot on NBC’s fall schedule.
Meanwhile, Jay Leno tells Oprah Winfrey he hasn’t spoken to O’Brien throughout the recent contentious negotiations over “The Tonight Show.”
In quotes provided Wednesday by Harpo Productions, Leno tells Winfrey “it didn’t seem appropriate” to speak to O’Brien. But Leno says the two comedians might talk when “things cool down.”
NBC unseated O’Brien and moved Leno back to the program he had hosted for 17 years. Leno is scheduled to return to “Tonight” on March 1.
In a video previewing “The Oprah Winfrey Show” interview, Leno says: “This whole thing was a huge mess.” Leno’s interview is slated to air today.
Harpo Productions made an offer for O’Brien to appear on her show, but no agreement has been confirmed.
