How convenient that NBC late-night's upcoming Olympic hiatus allows the network to make such a clean break.

(See, we can be just as funny as these guys were before this whole situation kicked them into overdrive.)

Here are Thursday's statements from NBC:

Regarding Conan O'Brien's release from his Tonight Show contract --

"NBC and Conan O'Brien have reached a resolution of the issues surrounding O'Brien's contract to host The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

"Under terms of an agreement that was signed earlier today, NBC and O'Brien will settle their contractual obligations and the network will release O'Brien from his contract, freeing him to pursue other opportunities after Sept. 1, 2010.

"O'Brien will make his final appearance as host of The Tonight Show on Jan. 22."

(That's the statement in its entirety. NBC is scheduling Conan Tonight repeats until the Olympics in mid-February.)

Regarding Jay Leno's return to The Tonight Show --

"NBC confirmed today that popular late-night host Jay Leno will return to host The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from 11:35 p.m.-12:35 a.m. ET beginning March 1, 2010 and that Late Night with Jimmy Fallon will continue to be broadcast from 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET. The announcements were made by Jeff Gaspin, Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment.

"'We're pleased that Jay is returning to host the franchise that he helmed brilliantly and successfully for many years,' said Gaspin. 'He is an enormous talent, a consummate professional and one of the hardest-working performers on television.'

"Leno previously hosted The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from May 1992-May 2009. The program will continue to showcase many of the features that made Leno America's late-night leader for more than a dozen years."