Celebrity News

Conan O’Brien eyeing stage strategy

Conan O’Brien can’t appear on TV until September, but he has a plan that would keep him in front of audiences: putting on a series of live theatrical shows. The late-night host, whose $33 million NBC payoff deal signed a month ago includes a clause forbidding him to appear on TV until Sept. 1, is eager to keep his name in lights, sources tell us. One insider said, “There’s nothing to stop him doing his show in front of an audience at venues like Radio City. It will build more buzz for him as he negotiates his next television contract. It will also keep Conan happy because he doesn’t want to be out of the public consciousness for too long.” O’Brien is keen on moving to Fox, but no official negotiations have yet taken place, the source added. A rep for O’Brien, who’s vacationing in Hawaii, declined to comment on the theater buzz. Fox also declined to comment.