Bill Carter is ready to write again. The New York Times TV industry writer is hard at work on a sequel of sorts to The Late Shift, the behind-the-scenes look at the dirty pool involved to succeed Johnny Carson as host of The Tonight Show. Of course, the recent late night shake-up will be the subject of his new book."I'm reaching out to everyone I possibly can to get every side of the story. I don't just pick one and stick with that guy."Carter is still writing but is said to be rushing to get the book on Kindles as soon as possible. I really couldn't care about the book. I'm more excited for the inevitable HBO adaptation that will be aired repeatedly for 15 years.  Maybe Jimmy Kimmel could play Leno if Arzt from Lost isn't available to do it again. (Gawker)

UNIVERSAL CITY – The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, spin-off of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, born June 1st, 2009. The show lowered the curtain and ended its run January 22nd, 2010, just seven months after its debut.O'Brien's Tonight Show proudly graced the airwaves until its ownership was recalled by hacky comedian Jay Leno, the show's slippery former host, much to the chagrin of many fans. The show found its groove and ratings-gold when the long-hectored host stood up to network brass and refused to move to a worse timeslot. O'Brien's monologues and sketches leading up to his final episode took NBC apart in spectacular fashion both sardonically and financially. The entire saga has been a PR nightmare for NBC, whose out-of-touch business tactics have redefined the term "screwing the pooch."The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien is survived by Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and house band Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7, and remembered fondly by comedy fans below the age of 79. In lieu of flowers, please send a steaming pile to Jay Leno's offices.

NBC and Conan are working out the details now for his exit from the network and The Tonight Show. It's now believed that NBC will not enforce the no-compete clause in his contract and allow him to set up shop at another network, but he won't be taking his recurring characters and sketches with him. Inside sources say that NBC is keeping trademarked elements of Conan's shows as part of the exit deal. Characters like Masturbating Bear, Pimpbot 5000, Vomiting Kermit, Coked-Up Werewolf, and Horny Manatee (why didn't he connect with old people?!) will never appear again nor will sketches such as If They Mated, In the Year 3000, and Desk-Driving. It's unclear if Robert Smigel's Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is effected in this deal. I'm certainly looking forward to when Conan sets up elsewhere with a new slew of characters like Masturbating Deer, Pimpbot 6000, Sharting Kermit, and Coked-Up Werewolf Wearing Groucho Glasses. (THR)

"Aaaahhhh!!!! Jay's way better at this sucking up thing than I am!!!!"Elderly Americans may have a reason to celebrate and pound together their leathery, wrinkled, gnarled palms today. TMZ reported this afternoon that the ink is drying on a contract between NBC and Jay Leno for him to take back The Tonight Show. They report that Jay is in and the increasingly-disgruntled Conan O'Brien is out.HOWEVS, The Hollywood Reporter is Hollywood reporting that NBC denies any such contract exists. But what does NBC know and will there be a Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien much longer? Right now, that all depends on which news outlet you trust more; the one that carries an esteemed reputation or the one that posts pictures of dead celebrities. And if Conan is deposed, where will he go? Everyone's saying FOX and they do have an opening since The Magic Johnson Show was canceled, but Nikke Finke reports that Jeff Zucker has plans to "ice" O'Brien with a no-compete clause that would keep him off of any rival network "for 3 1/2 years."Story is developing and I will personally let all the old people in my family know what shakes out. For the meantime, they are to sit in their favorite chair and wear the Snuggie I sent them for Christmas. I'll alert you when it's time to assemble and do the wave.