I agreed that O’Brien was wronged, that he’d patiently waited five years for the position, only to be squeezed out in  seven months when NBC decided to return Jay Leno to his time slot.   Yet $40 million seemed more than fair to me, most especially when compared not with inflated Hollywood paychecks, but the average salary in America.  I factored in the family move to the West Coast and myriad other details that left me thinking that an $8 million dollar a year reparation for each year that he was a comic in waiting seemed not only fair, but generous.  Don’t get me wrong, I think the situation is deplorable, I just can’t imagine arguing that a $40 million pay off seems paltry.  S on the other hand, could not be swayed by my logic.

Neither apparently can the new movement of O’Brien fans who stand outside NBC studios nightly demanding justice for ‘Coco’.   O’Brien is a pleasant enough, funny enough guy (and of course a redhead which tips the scales in his favor as far as I’m concerned), but what is driving the intensity to see justice done for one Conan O’Brien?

Then it occurred to me- it’s the economy stupid.  In the past year, we’ve seen millions of hard working people in Conan’s demographic lose their jobs and along with it their job security if not their homes, health insurance and peace of mind.  We’ve seen banks bailed out after they abused our trust (and trust funds).  We’ve seen guys and gals a lot like O’Brien, who believed that if they worked hard and followed the rules they could achieve and sustain the level of success promised them.  Only they got screwed and so did Conan O’Brien.
But there’s more, because in a world of Madoffs and Arbizus, O’Brien seems to be doing the one thing that the others did not- he’s trying to take care of his own and not just his own interests. Rumor has it that he hasn’t yet accepted NBC’s deal, because he’s adamant about negotiating proper compensation for his staff of 200, most of whom made the East Coast to West Coast transition along with him.

Rachel, who’s on Team Coco.

Madonna‘s changed her hair color myriad times, changed her sound from uber pop to poppy electronica, kissed some pop tarts and even worn a cowboy hat a time or two. That’s our Madge (or Esther depending on your kabbalistic inclinations) taking equally visible turns appearing in a book about sex and a musical about Eva Peron. But overall, she’s mostly the same- a prolific if not incredibly talented pop singer in search of the next big gimmick.  Be that as it may, she’s been celebrated for decades as an innovator, musical chameleon and pop culture mistress of reinvention.

William Shatner, on the other hand, has had an ongoing and enviably evolving career (except for this of course). He’s had three separate and celebrated prime time roles including Captain Kirk of Star Trek fame; acting as the eponymous T.J. Hooker in the ’80s; as well as a lead role as Denny Crane on Boston Legal.  He’s dabbled in pop music and collaborated with Ben Folds and serves as The Negotiator for Priceline.  Earlier this week, Shatner appeared on the Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien during which time he interpreted Alaska Governor Sarah Palin‘s farewell speech as a jazzy bit of syncopated Beat flavored poetry.  Not bad for a man who recently celebrated his 78th birthday.

So what sets Madonna and Shatner apart? For one thing, Shatner seems to posess a sense of humor and the ongoing ability to laugh at both himself and his career choices.  A close heir to that throne might be Alec Baldwin in his most recent incarnation on 30 Rock.  Madonna seems to take herself way too seriously these days and it makes her less fun and a lot less interesting.

While some performers can rely on consistent talent to keep them in the forefront of the entertainment world, the love affair with Madonna has always been based on her ability to make her fans have fun and feel relevant. Take away the fun factor, and the lyrics and music feel hollow and incredibly dated.

I never thought I’d say it, but Madonna should be taking notes on the ongoing evolution of the pop culture phenom formerly known as Captain Kirk.

Rachel, who still counts Into The Groove as one of my all time favorite dance songs