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The long goodbye is over. Conan O’Brien said goodbye to The Tonight Show Friday night with a farewell that was mostly maudlin, party defiant and still, uniquely Conan.

Reports AFP:

Conan O'Brien (AP Photo)

An emotional Conan O’Brien has bid adieu to NBC, saying that walking away from US television’s long-running “The Tonight Show” was the most difficult decision of his life.

At times fighting back tears, O’Brien thanked his legions of fans Friday night for making “a sad situation joyous and inspirational,” urging them to fight cynicism over the ugly public feud that ended his seven-month tenure at the legendary late-night comedy show.

The audience at Universal Studios in Burbank, California replied in kind, giving him a standing ovation and chanting “Conan! Conan! Conan!” repeatedly.

After an experiment placing the funnyman’s predecessor in prime time garnered meager ratings and frustrated the network’s affiliates, NBC television announced it would bring Jay Leno back to the show he hosted for 17 years.

The settlement landed O’Brien a reported 45-million-dollar buyout — with the red-haired comedian pocketing around 32 million and the balance going to his staff — in a bid by NBC to end what has been a public relations disaster once and for all.

But during his last monologue for the show, the embattled host even found time to thank NBC, a network he has called home for over 20 years.

“Yes, we have our differences right now and yes, we’re going to go our separate ways,” he went on.

“But this company has been my home for most of my adult life. I am enormously proud of the work we have done together, and I want to thank NBC for making it all possible.”