NBC orders pilot from O'Brien's company

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- NBC has ordered a U.S. drama television pilot from Conan O'Brien's Conaco production company, Variety reported.

Word of the deal comes shortly after the network paid O'Brien $33 million to leave his post as host of "The Tonight Show." The exit agreement also allowed for about $12 million in severance pay for O'Brien's staff.

O'Brien taped his last edition of "Tonight" last Friday after NBC attempted to move the chat show 30 minutes later and O'Brien refused. Former "Tonight" host Jay Leno is expected to take over the show again March 1.

Variety said the as-yet-untitled Conaco pilot is about a former Supreme Court Justice who leaves the high court to start his own legal practice.

Conaco is to stay at Universal Media Studios until its contract expires in a year and a half, the entertainment industry trade newspaper said.