We May Not Have Seen the Last Of Brian Williams

Multiple TV insiders say that while 62-year-old Brian Williams, 62 — who just announced he would be leaving NBC News after nearly 30 years at the end of December — is not supposed to be negotiating with others while still under contract, some informal discussions with rival networks and streaming services have taken place, reports The NY Post.

And those close to the tarnished former “Nightly News” anchor insist that he may even want to go back to the business that got him into hot water in the first place — entertainment and comedy.

One source said, “People forget that Brian is really funny, he’s always wanted to do an interview show that gives him room to have fun. He likes to do profiles and interviews — even though that is what got him into trouble.” He was a regular on the late-night chat shows over the years, showing off his comic chops, and telling his “misremembered” stories.

And even though “Lyin’ Brian” was given a soft landing at MSNBC with an 11 p.m. show after he was ousted by NBC News in 2015 for embellishing stories of his journalistic valor, sources said he felt underappreciated at MSNBC.

Williams announced on Tuesday that he had decided not to sign another contract, that he plans to take a few months off, but, “There are many things I want to do, and I’ll pop up again somewhere.”

The source added that his decision to leave MSNBC was partly because of a pay cut, and mostly, “Because he wasn’t being looked after at MSNBC. You’ve got to take care of the talent. He’ll probably go to a streaming service next, he wants to do his own thing.”

A second source confirmed that at MSNBC, “Brian saw the writing on the wall,” noting that Williams’ contract is up in a month and he feels he can get a better gig elsewhere. “He thinks he put MSNBC back on the map.  In his eyes, he has one more shot. He still views himself as a world-class, primetime anchor.”