After 16 years, Conan O’Brien concluded his Late Night run last night. Will Ferrell-as-George Bush strolled on to thank O’Brien for years of “humortastical wonderment,” and the host’s former sidekick Andy Richter crowed, “I told you you’d never last without me!” Together, O’Brien and Richter showed us a lengthy number of skits, most memorably Richter’s nude appearance on The Today Show.
There was music: John Mayer wrote an original song that included the lyric, “LA’s gonna eat you alive,” while the White Stripes did a lovely version of “We’re Going To Be Friends.”
Fascinatingly, O’Brien went through a long, gracious list of people he wanted to thank, including producer Lorne Michaels for taking a guy “with no television experience and bad skin” and giving him a show. He spoke fondly and respectfully of Jay Leno, who, Conan said, would “continue to be my lead-in.” But it was David Letterman upon whom he lavished his greatest praise, saying that Letterman “invented this late-night show… it all started with David Letterman.” Clearly, from the cascade of clips, it was Letterman’s sense of the absurd that O’Brien has always keyed into most keenly.
Finally, his voice cracking, Conan assured his audience he would “never grow up” in taking over The Tonight Show. His audience cheered O’Brien’s perpetual adolescence. He’s the cool-cat Peter Pan of late-night.
Did you watch? What did you think?
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I have always been a fan of Conan since his late night debut 16 years ago. He is my favorite late night talk show host, although Jimmy Kimmel and Craig Ferguson are funny as well. I have enjoyed the clips Conan has been showing for the last two weeks. The baseball skit he showed today was hilarious, mainly because his character comes off as rude and arrogant but completely dorky at the same time. I don’t mean that as an insult, because it was pure comic genius to balance those seemingly opposite reactions. I look forward to seeing him take over the Tonight show in June from the tired and lame Jay Leno. Thank you Conan for 16 years of entertainment, and I look forward to at least 16 more years on the Tonight show.
Conan is so wonderful and unique, I hope he remains just as he is when he moves to LA. So glad he loves Dave Letterman as much as the rest of us!
Conan O’Brien photos http://themapicus.com/conan-o-brien/1.html
I loved it. As someone who grew up on Conan O’Brien over the years (he was always the last thing I watched before I headed to bed every night), it’s nice to see that his zany humor is as intact as it’s ever been. I also appreciated how, at the end, he took all his thank-yous seriously and even showed a little emotion. It was honesty and humiliation that you don’t often see with him, and it was refreshing. I have no idea where he will take the Tonight Show, but I will definitely be tuning in. And the clip they showed with him kissing Rebecca Ro..something…however you spell her name…the one was married to John Stamos…was hilarious.
I remember watching the old time baseball game when it originally aired. i forgot how funny that was. When he saw the airplane, I lost it, lol. I was very happy Andy was there. Those 2 are still great together. I still don’t get why he has to go to LA though.
Good luck to Conan and company. I used to watch it constantly until the anti gay writers took over. Esp with the horrible Canada debacle.
I thought it was brilliant–the show, not your summary, unfortunately. The Stripes’ set wasn’t acoustic–Meg’s guitar was clearly electric. Not to pick nits or anything. Anyway, I’m glad he’s promised not to grow up–if he flattened his wacko charm into something that more closely resembled Leno’s monotony to shoehorn himself into the Tonight Show, I couldn’t bear to watch.
That was a very funny, very sweet finale. I love Conan and hope he really doesn’t change on The Tonight Show. What are we going to do without the [word I probably shouldn't type]-ing Bear?
I have never seen a more sincere gracious ending of a show. Conan is a claas act that many of us will look up to and respect and admire. We need his special kind of Humor with the immaturity that all of us men have in us. You ROCK CONAN!!!!!!!!
It is funny how many of us feel like we grew up with Conana. What I will always remember are the chances they always seemed to be taking on the show and how consistently funny Late Night was. Does anyone remeber Amy Poehler coming on the show (pre-SNL) as Andy Richter’s sister who was obsessed with Conan? I wish I could watch those again. I really hope Conan does not water down the show too much with a new, different demographic watching him on the Tonigh Show. I will be watching, but I will be hoping this is still Late Night — just at a different time.
Also, I am really looking forward to watching Jimmy Fallon.
The thing I love about Conan is how much he owns and is his material. His show is who he is.
I’m not as down on Leno as some but watching his show, you feel that he’s pretty interchangeable. There are a number of people (not anyone, Leno does have a natural stage presence) who could walk in and seamlessly deliver his material without anyone knowing it wasn’t written for them personally.
I look forward to the new Tonight Show – keep your promise Conan and don’t change!
Never saw one funny thing come from this guy
Get off the stage, Conan. Enough already. You just took a lateral move with the same employer. It’s not time for the testimonials, the chicken and the gold watch yet. Frankly, I’m sick of you right now.
Nobody can ever compare in the combination of entertainment, class, comedy, and revealing interviews as Johnny Carson… but when it comes to off-the-cuff, really funny interviews and comedy, the boat was really misssed by not bringing in Craig Ferguson.
The fact that Conan got the opportunity to do this show in the first place (due to Lorne Michaels) and that NBC stuck with it when, as Conan put it, it wasn’t cool to watch or like the show, is something for which I’m thankful. I agree with what Conan was saying, that Letterman created the mold which Conan followed, but Conan followed his leading in the proper way, namely by being himself (hilariously). It was great seeing Andy Richter last night, I was bummed when he left the show. I too appreciated Conan getting emotional and honest at the end, though it wasn’t unexpected. I am most bummed that Conan won’t be in New York anymore. As he was saying, being in New York does imprint itself into the DNA of the show. We love you Conan, keep up the good work.
To Ron-
Really!?
It was so hard seeing Conan get choked up, it definitely made me emotional.
A wonderful final show! I’m just sad I never got to see him in NYC. I can’t wait to see how he does in LA.
I hope all the TV critics who are busy sharpening their knives to dig into Jimmy Fallon will take note of Conan. The media expected him to fail and tried to make him do so his first few years but, in the end, it’s the audience who gets to decide. As I’m reading all the critics rip Jimmy a new one in the next few months, I’ll keep that in mind!
I love Conan and Jay Leno’s sense of humour, both great men. I don’t why Conan has to move even though NBC is keeping Leno. Conan is a class act and intellegent, I regret not watching in NYC when I was there, but I’ll be glad to watch him in L.A. . L.A. won’t eat him alive lol
I started watching Conan in High School, felt a sense of recognition when he did his SAT analogies, and now, I am about to graduate college, and Conan is graduating with me!
I sure hope he does not grow up, and the earlier time slot with go better with my future lifestyle, only bummer is that NYC>LA.
I would’ve loved to see him live in NYC, but now I guess LA will have to do
Loved the show, love Conan. Still think Jay is the biggest *bleep* in show business. I guess Jay didn’t have to say “keep tuned for Conan” all those years, but he was a NBC whore so maybe he did it for them. Either way, nobody watched Conan because Jay directed them to…Conan you were must see TV. As far as the “lovely” White Stripes song, maybe there was some significance to the song choice, but I actually turned the channel because it was so painful to watch and listen to.
I love Conan. He is so intelligent and good at what he does. Watching his show everyday makes my day perfect. I don’t know what I’m going to do until June without him. His final show was sweet, sincere, and gracious.
I love Conan very dearly and I can’t wait to watch him on The Tonight Show. Too bad the White Stripes messed everything up! They were so horrible I couldn’t watch it. It was a very very very awful performance!
I love you Conan! You are simply the best.
Conan kept me company on a lonely spring break st patty’s day in 2005. Love the show. glad you are going to stay true to yourself. now a whole new audience will experience the “magic”.
Awesome show – but I have to say the White Stripes were _terrible_!
the show was a real treat….
Conan…will miss ya. Saw you when the show first got started and tickets were easily available to the show just walking off the street. You were hilarious, much taller and ganglier in person but just as funny.
BTW, anyone seen the Will’s Broadway show? Any shoes pelted?
http://www.squidoo.com/bush-shoe-video
CONAN IS NOT A FUNNY GUY. I WILL NOT BE WATCHING THE TONIGHT SHOW.
THANK GOD NBC SIGNED JAY LENO ON AN EARLIER TIME. HE IS THE KING OF LATE NIGHT.
YEAH FOR JAY.
I guess I’m the only one who thought The White Stripes were the only good part. The rest of the show sort of sucked.