NBC Executive Dick Ebersol Trashes Conan: 'Astounding Failure,' 'Chicken-Hearted And Gutless'

NBC Executive Dick Ebersol Trashes Conan: 'Astounding Failure,' 'Chicken-Hearted And Gutless':

"NBC executive Dick Ebersol trashed Conan O'Brien in a provocative interview with the New York Times' Bill Carter, calling Conan an 'astounding failure' and saying his jokes about Jay Leno have been 'chicken-hearted and gutless.'

Ebersol, the chairman of NBC Universal Sports and NBC's Olympics guru, lit up on Conan just after his boss, NBC Universal President Jeff Zucker, reportedly threatened to keep Conan off the air for 3.5 years.

Ebersol described Conan's jokes about Leno as 'chicken-hearted and gutless to blame a guy you couldn't beat in the ratings.'

He added, 'what this is really all about is an astounding failure by Conan."