Conan O’Brien

American television show host and comedian

Conan O’Brien is an acclaimed American television host, comedian, writer, and producer best known for his long-running late-night talk shows on NBC and TBS. From his early days as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons to his current podcast and travel show ventures, O’Brien has had a diverse and successful entertainment career spanning over three decades.

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About the Conan O’Brien

Conan Christopher O’Brienis an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for having hosted late-night talk shows, beginning with Late Night with Conan O’Brienand The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brienon the NBC television network, and Conanon the cable channel TBS. Before his hosting career, O’Brien was a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1988 to 1991, and the Fox animated sitcom The Simpsons from 1991 to 1993. He has also been host of the podcast series Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend since 2018 and starred in the 2024 travel show Conan O’Brien Must Go on Max.

Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, O’Brien was raised in an Irish Catholic family. He served as president of The Harvard Lampoon while attending Harvard University, and was a writer for the sketch comedy series Not Necessarily the News. After writing for several comedy shows in Los Angeles, he joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live. O’Brien was a writer and producer for The Simpsons for two seasons until he was selected by Lorne Michaels and NBC to take over David Letterman’s position as host of Late Night in 1993. Despite unfavorable reviews and threats of cancellation in the show’s first years, O’Brien and the show developed and became highly regarded, earning a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series. He hosted Late Night for 16 years, and as of 2023 is still the longest-serving host in the history of the franchise.

In 2009, O’Brien moved from New York to Los Angeles to host his own incarnation of The Tonight Show for seven months until highly publicized network politics prompted a host change in 2010. After this departure, O’Brien hosted a 32-city live comedy tour titled The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour, which was the subject of the documentary Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop (2011). He then hosted Conan from 2010 to 2021. Throughout his career, he has also hosted a number of awards shows and television specials, including the Emmy Awards in 2002 and 2006 and the White House Correspondents’ dinner in 1995 and 2013. Conan was named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People in 2010.

Known for his spontaneous hosting style, which has been characterized by The New York Times as “awkward, self-deprecating humor”, O’Brien’s late-night programs combine the “lewd and wacky with more elegant, narrative-driven short films”. His remotes have also become some of his best-received work, including the international travel series Conan Without Borders. With the retirement of David Letterman on May 20, 2015, O’Brien became the longest-working late-night talk show host active in the United States. This active streak ended with O’Brien’s retirement from late-night television in June 2021, with his entire run as a late-night host lasting nearly 30 years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conan O’Brien was born on April 18, 1963 in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Conan O’Brien has hosted several late-night talk shows, including Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993-2009), The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (2009-2010), and Conan (2010-2021).

In addition to his late-night hosting duties, Conan O’Brien has also been a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, hosted awards shows and specials, and started a podcast series called Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.

Conan O’Brien hosted Late Night for 16 years, making him the longest-serving host in the history of the franchise.

After leaving The Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien embarked on a 32-city live comedy tour titled The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour.

Conan O’Brien retired from late-night television in June 2021, capping off a nearly 30-year career as a late-night talk show host.

Conan O’Brien’s current travel show on Max is titled Conan O’Brien Must Go.

29 Quotes by Conan O’Brien

  1. 1.

    The U.S. army confirmed that it gave a lucrative fire fighting contract in Iraq to the firm once run by the Vice President Dick Cheney without any competitive bidding. When asked if this could be conceived as Cheney’s friends profiting from the war, the spokesman said ‘Yes.’

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  2. 2.

    CBS news anchor Dan Rather has interviewed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. When asked what it was like to talk to a crazy man, Saddam said, ‘It’s not so bad.’

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  3. 3.

    Earlier today, Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized the California school system, calling it disastrous. Arnold says California’s schools are so bad that its graduates are willing to vote for me.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  4. 4.

    In a prime-time address, President Bush said he backed limited federal funding for stem cell research. That’s right, the President said, this is a quote, the research could help cure brain diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and whatever it is I have.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  5. 5.

    Officials at the White House are saying that President Bush hasn’t changed his schedule much since the war started. The main difference, they say, is that he’s started watching the news and taping Sponge Bob.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  6. 6.

    Several hard-core Star Wars fans who had tickets for the first showing actually said that when the movie finally began, they started crying. Mainly because they realized that it’s 22 years later, and they still haven’t lost their virginity.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  7. 7.

    The Canadian government continues to say they will not help us if we go to war with Iraq. However, the prime minister of Canada said he’d like to help, but he’s pretty sure that last time he checked, Canada had no army.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  8. 8.

    A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: ‘Duh.’

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  9. 9.

    Michael Jackson was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It caused quite a controversy, because his nose isn’t eligible for another fifteen years.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  10. 10.

    Apparently the new high-tech Star Wars toys will be in stores any day now. The toys can talk and are interactive, so they can be easily distinguished from Star Wars fans.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  11. 11.

    If life gives you lemons, make some kind of fruity juice.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  12. 12.

    In New York, we had primary elections for mayor. To improve their chances, all five candidates changed their name to Rudy Giuliani.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  13. 13.

    During last night’s debate, John Kerry and John Edwards were so friendly to each other some political experts think that they may end up running together. In fact Kerry and Edwards were so friendly, President Bush accused them of planning a gay marriage.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  14. 14.

    Starbucks says they are going to start putting religious quotes on cups. The very first one will say, ‘Jesus! This cup is expensive!’

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  15. 15.

    This Halloween, the most popular mask is the Arnold Schwarzenegger mask. And the best part? With a mouth full of candy you will sound just like him.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  16. 16.

    Tom Cruise’s attorney said he is going to sue anyone who claims he is gay. In a related story, Ricky Martin’s attorney has been hospitalized for exhaustion.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  17. 17.

    Pamela Anderson Lee released a statement confirming that she has had her breast implants removed. Doctors say that Pamela is doing fine and that her old implants are now dating Charlie Sheen.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  18. 18.

    Scientists announced that they have located the gene for alcoholism. Scientists say they found it at a party, talking way too loudly.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  19. 19.

    In Cleveland there is legislation moving forward to ban people from wearing pants that fit too low. However, there is lots of opposition from the plumber’ union.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  20. 20.

    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.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  21. 21.

    Apparently Arnold was inspired by President Bush, who proved you can be a successful politician in this country even if English is your second language.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  22. 22.

    John Travolta said he sometimes lets his friends take control of his airplane even though they don’t know what they’re doing. Then Travolta said he often does the same thing with his career.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  23. 23.

    President Bush left for Canada today to attend a trade summit. Reportedly, the trade summit got off to an awkward start when the president pulled out his baseball cards.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  24. 24.

    Fish recognize a bad leader.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  25. 25.

    Republicans have called for a National African-American Museum. The plan is being held up by finding a location that isn’t in their neighborhood.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  26. 26.

    President Clinton signed a $10 million deal to write a book by 2003. Isn’t that amazing? Yes, and get this, not only that, President Bush signed a $10 million deal to read a book by 2003.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  27. 27.

    Early on, they were timing my contract with an egg timer.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  28. 28.

    Yesterday, the Pentagon warned U.S. reporters that they should get out of Baghdad as soon as possible because the U.S. could attack at any time. Then the Pentagon added, ‘Whatever you do, don’t tell Geraldo.’

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian

  29. 29.

    In West Virginia yesterday, a man was arrested for stealing several blow-up dolls. Reportedly, police didn’t have any trouble catching the man because he was completely out of breath.

    Conan O’Brien

    American television show host and comedian