29 votes

Conan O’Brien’s wild first year: An oral history - In 1993, NBC made a historic decision—and gave Late Night to a nobody. O’Brien, Letterman, Lorne Michaels, Lisa Kudrow, and more tell all.

7 comments

  1. [2]
    brandt
    Link
    An excerpt from the Late Night with Conan O'Brien 10th Anniversary Special (2003): It took them a few years to get their stride, but eventually it got really damn funny.

    An excerpt from the Late Night with Conan O'Brien 10th Anniversary Special (2003):

    Conan: Thank you for being here, T, on this very special night.

    Mr. T: Good. Listen up, Conan: I brought you a special anniversary gift.

    Conan: That's very nice of you. Thank you. Yeah, that's great.

    Mr. T: Here's your anniversary gift.

    [hands Conan a gold necklace with the number "7" hanging from it]

    Conan: That's beautiful, it's, uh... that is so weird. Uh, seven, I- I've been on for TEN years.

    Mr. T: I know that, foo', but you only been funny for SEVEN!

    [Mr. T salutes and walks off-stage]

    It took them a few years to get their stride, but eventually it got really damn funny.

    12 votes
    1. cfabbro
      Link Parent
      It makes me sad that younger generations won't know who Mr. T is. :( His insults were equally as savage as they were funny, but he was also a damn fine role model too.

      It makes me sad that younger generations won't know who Mr. T is. :(
      His insults were equally as savage as they were funny, but he was also a damn fine role model too.

      4 votes
  2. stellar_plexus
    Link
    When they were talking about having David Letterman on the show for the first time, after all the drama: Classic Conan, right there.

    When they were talking about having David Letterman on the show for the first time, after all the drama:

    LETTERMAN: I remember I said to Conan, “How exactly did you get this job? Was it a theme writing contest?” Big laugh. And I’m Mr. Big Shot.
    O’BRIEN: And I said, “Yes. It was a ‘What would you do with a talk show’ contest, and I came in fourth.”

    Classic Conan, right there.

    5 votes
  3. jmpavlec
    Link
    Great read! Thanks for sharing. Been a Conan fan my whole life. Very interesting to read about the early days of the show.

    Great read! Thanks for sharing. Been a Conan fan my whole life. Very interesting to read about the early days of the show.

    4 votes
  4. [3]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. [2]
      cfabbro
      Link Parent
      Video, for those who want to watch it: Conan goes apple picking with Mr. T | Late Night with Conan O’Brien
      6 votes
      1. clem
        Link Parent
        Thanks--I remember watching that when it first aired; I loved the silly song at the end. I pretty much always think of it when I think of Mr. T, so it's fun to see it again!

        Thanks--I remember watching that when it first aired; I loved the silly song at the end. I pretty much always think of it when I think of Mr. T, so it's fun to see it again!

        3 votes