Conan apologizes to Kimmel

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Conan O'Brien has apologized to fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel for doing a bit on his New York show about Sarah Palin resembling Kimmel's own earlier gag.

The New York Daily News reported Friday O'Brien offered an apology aimed at his audience and at Kimmel in a clip posted on the Internet.

"Last night on our show, we aired a piece that our staffers put together and it showed Sarah Palin shooting Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer," he explained. "Well, we come in this morning and find out that Jimmy Kimmel did the same idea two weeks ago and, so of course, we apologize for that," O'Brien said in the clip before going on to offer a couple performance pieces.

The News reported at the end of the jokes, the clip showed O'Brien closing: "Anyway, hope this clears things up. Bye!"