O'Brien not allowed to slam NBC at Emmys

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Talk-show host Conan O'Brien is restricted from bad-mouthing NBC, his former employer, at this weekend's Emmy Awards show, sources told The Hollywood Reporter.

O'Brien is a nominee in the outstanding variety, music or comedy series category for NBC's "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien," which lasted less than a year before the flame-haired comedian was ousted by the network and his predecessor, Jay Leno, was reinstated as host.

As part of his exit contract from NBC, O'Brien is legally prohibited from making disparaging remarks -- which are defined as false, insulting or defamatory comments -- during an acceptance speech should he win an Emmy Sunday, the entertainment trade newspaper said.

"He can still have a field day," Hollywood attorney Pierce O'Donnell, who was not involved in the O'Brien deal, told the publication. "He can make fun of NBC's ratings, its shows, as long as he's not saying anything false."

O'Brien is scheduled to start up a new chat show on TBS.