Conan O'Brien: A Man-Child-Genius among men
A rare show biz icon who can be a legit role model to the next generation
Conan O'Brien the coif haired charismatic enigma; a sore thumb in the otherwise imperfect world of show business.
As a life-long humorist wannabe, getting introduced to Conan for the first time was like looking into a giant mirror that showed back your most intimate desires you want out of life.
Conan is whimsical, funny, and spontaneous as you'd expect from anyone who carries late night television in the US. But he is also incredibly smart, kind, and grounded; traits you'd far less identify with someone in show business.
The simple fact that someone in an obscure suburb in a remote corner in India in their early 20's could relate to a television personality who first made waves in 1993 speaks volumes about his breath-taking talents as a comedian.
But better men than me have written everything there is to write about the legacy Conan will have left behind as a comedian. So here I am, taking a shot at articulating the impact he has had on me just being the amazing human being he is.
Somewhere between his YouTube remotes, 200+ podcast episodes, and highlight reels of his television career, I look at not yet another television host but a man of honor and comic valor who would go to any lengths to evoke a laughter yet always treading the line of comedic integrity.
Over time, I’ve been able to piece together what makes Conan more than a typical show business star and worthy of being an inspiration to millions of young people, a truly rare feat in the world of show business; an otherwise glamorous but dark underbelly of the professional world.
#1 Conan O'Brien is incredibly self-aware of his style.
Loud, neurotic, narcissistic, too smart for his own good, self-deprecating; Conan's most natural tendencies is a classic example of "I am my own enemy". On paper, these traits should put him at a considerable disadvantage in any social setting at best and make him dangerously disruptive at its worst. If it were anyone else in his place, it would have been a lifelong battle of trying and failing against their instincts.
Yet somehow, he has managed to build an on-screen persona that not only mitigates his own shortcomings but thrives off the very qualities to a great degree.
Just 30 seconds into the video, you can see what I am talking about: Conan Gives Staff Performance Reviews | CONAN on TBS
#2 Conan O'Brien is on a life-long quest of smart meets silly.
Conan O'Brien is smart. Not just a run of the mill, 'I got a 1350 on my SATs smart' but 'I went to Harvard and was the president of The Harvard Lampoon in my time' smart.
“I’ve devoted all of my adult life to pursuing this strange phantom intersection between smart and stupid. There’s a lot of people who believe the two cannot coexist, but...I think when smart and stupid come together...it’s the most beautiful thing in the world.”
Conan O'Brien's humour is a wonderful blend of intelligence, wits, and godly timing. A legit genius at a time where outright relying on crass humour, drinking games, and scandalous questions is the repertoire for most modern-day entertainers.
While there are numerous examples of this, nowhere is it more prominent than his famous commencement address to Dartmouth's Class of 11':
Conan O'Brien's 2011 Dartmouth College Commencement Address | CONAN on TBS
Here is the transcript of the speech from 00:00 to 01:00 where this is on display:
"Before I begin, I must point out that behind me sits a highly admired President of the United States and decorated war hero while I, a cable television talk show host, has been chosen to stand here and impart wisdom. I pray I never witness a more damning example of what is wrong with America today.
Today, you have achieved something special, something only 92% of Americans your age will ever know: a college diploma. That’s right, with your college diploma you now have a crushing advantage over 8% of the workforce.
I’m talking about dropout losers like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Mark Zuckerberg. Incidentally, speaking of Mr. Zuckerberg, only at Harvard would someone have to invent a massive social network just to talk with someone in the next room."
#3 Conan O'Brien is an amazing boss.
On camera, you can see Conan throwing chairs at his staff, choking them, and even beating them up (Yet another example of the lengths he'd go to entertain a crowd).
But behind the scenes, there are so many stories of how well he treats his staff.
From the Instagram post above from his beloved assistant to this 4.1 Glassdoor ratings, it gives a window into the kind of boss he is off-screen. The 2007 writers' strike where he paid salaries to ~75 staff members out of his pocket or how he kept his entire staff on the payroll through the pandemic so none of them had to file for unemployment are just a few examples that are out there for us to see.
Conan O'Brien to pay strike-affected employees | Reuters
#4 Conan is a devout family man.
In almost every other podcast episode you would find him remarking how he got lucky with his wife and often speaks fondly of his two children. Here's a transcript from the most latest episode of his podcast:
Conan: "Oh you are from Seattle.. as I've often mentioned on the podcast, I visit Seattle frequently because that is where my wife is from and I go there to meet my in-laws and apologize... I always tell I married up"
#5 Conan is humble and grounded.
For someone of his caliber and accolades, it is easy to, nay it feels right to feel like they are the king of the world. Conan however, never misses an opportunity to acknowledge and remind himself that he got to this place not because of his talents but because throughout his journey, people have been kind and supportive giving him opportunities and a platform to succeed.
His classy attitude comes off best in a touching monologue in one of his late night shows when he literally asked viewers to stop watching his own show, switch channels and watch David Letterman instead as the veteran was bidding adieu to television.
"At one of the lowest points in my life, when I was a 30-year-old national punchline, Dave...for reasons that I still don't understand...completely rescued me."
"If you have ever liked any silly or stupid things I have done on television in the last 22 years, you must know, you must know none of it probably would have happened if it weren't for David Letterman. "
Make no mistake, at this point Conan was as big a star in television as anyone - imagine Quentin Tarantino asking his fans to catch Scorcese's 'Killers of the flower moon' instead of his own film that released over the same weekend.
It was not only a moment to celebrate Letterman's genius but to cherish Conan's generosity.
#6 Conan is a noble man who excelled even when exiled.
In 2009, Conan was hand picked to host The Tonight Show, the world's longest running television show and the ultimate brass ring for every comedian who had their eyes and heart on making it on television. In Conan's own words, it was his dream job.
He had spent the last two decades carrying the legacy of the legendary David Letterman with the Late Night Show, and it was now time for him to take over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno, who had been the host since 1992.
But just seven months in, Conan's dream turned into an absolute nightmare when he was unceremoniously and royally screwed over by NBC (the network behind The Tonight Show) and Jay Leno in the most inconceivable turn of events that still baffles millions of fans across the world.
The Tonight Show Conflict | Wikipedia
Forced to walk away from the dream gig, Conan was given absolute free reins to talk any smack he wanted about the network in his last episode of The Tonight Show.
Here's what Conan had to say:
"There's been a lot of speculation in the press about what I legally can and can't say about NBC. And this is true, tonight I am allowed to say anything I want. What I want to say is this.. between my time at Saturday Night Live, The Late Night Show, and my brief time here at The Tonight Show, I've worked with NBC for over 20 years. Yes we have our differences right now, yes we are going our separate ways. But this company has been my home for all my adult life and I am enormously proud of the work we have done together and I want to thank NBC for making it all possible. I really do."
"All I ask is one thing, particularly for young people. Please don't be cynical. Nobody gets everything they want. But if you work hard and be kind, amazing things will happen."
Respect.
It's been well over a decade since the Tonight Show debacle but it is amazing how Conan has reinvented himself for a young internet-first demographic with his YouTube channel and his podcast - just another proof of his brilliance.
Closing thoughts:
In all honesty, Conan's personality, his style of humor, and demeanor is not for everyone which always made him a square peg in a round hole and perhaps even held him back from the pinnacle of television show hosting which he so craved.
But there is no doubt he's surpassed the legacy of possibly every stalwart of show business when it comes to inspiring a generation of young people to follow their heart, fall in love with their craft, and handing out rose bouquets made out of kindness along the way.
Gratefully,
Kris | @krisbot
w