“All I ask is one thing, and I am asking this particularly of young people who watch: Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it’s my least favorite quality. It doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get, but if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you, amazing things will happen.”

And with that, Conan O’Brien signed off and ended his tenure at NBC.

Conan came out of this debacle smelling like a rose. He went out with a smile, with wit, with charm and — in the last moments — with heart. I couldn’t help but think of how badly NBC managed this entire thing as Conan leaves with the fans, the public and the media on his side. NBC has put all of their chips on Leno, on the status quo. They’re betting on looking backwards, instead of forward, and it’s possible their blunders will cast a very long shadow on their ratings and reputation.

I look forward to the September and Conan’s inevitable new project, at which time he will be on the cover of every magazine in the country and he will emerge doubly victorious.