Conan O’Brien Officiates Late-Night TV’s First-Ever Gay Wedding
- Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:39am by
Billy Hallowell
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On Thursday evening, comedian Conan O’Brien went where no television host has gone before. The talk show host made history by officiating what was late-night television’s first-ever gay wedding.
The ceremony, which brought together O‘Brien’s costume designer Scott Cronick and his partner David Gorshein, took place at New York City’s Beacon Theatre. The L.A. Times has more about the couple’s vows:
Onstage, the couple exchanged heartfelt vows. “Anyone in the world would be happy to wear one of your designs, but no one is possibly happier than I am to wear your ring,” Gorshein said.
“I have only one vow for you. I vow to fill your every day with so much love. Cameras or no cameras, I am here today and I am yours forever,” Cronick promised his partner.
At the end of the nuptials, Conan — who, based on his words, seemed to be legitimately and legally marrying the couple — said, “By the power invested in me by the state of New York and the Universal Life Church, I now pronounce you husband and husband. You can kiss the groom.”
Watch the ceremony, below:
While producers have insisted that this wasn’t a ratings plot, commentators have questioned the motives behind airing the wedding event. Best Week Ever’s Dan Hopper writes:
All I could think about during this entire ceremony — and this isn’t a judgment, just literally what popped into my head and stayed there — was the Larry Sanders Show episode when Larry and his producer Artie convince Hank to marry his new fiancee on the air to boost ratings. It’s not entirely a linear comparison, because Hank’s wedding itself was a sham whereas Scott and David are actual partners who clearly were going to get married with or without the show, but I just can’t shake the fact that the ‘onscreen talk show wedding’ had already been established as a known, go-to example of a blatant ratings grab back in 1993. Now 18 years after the joke about onscreen weddings, our best talk show host is unironically doing one? That’s a little bit sad, no?
It is important to note that Conan has been taping in New York this week and that this show is a portion of his week-long stint in the Big Apple. Considering his obvious support for same-sex marriage, perhaps this was an opportunity to highlight the newfound legality of gay matrimonies via a televised ceremony.
Either way, the ratings allegations aren’t going to dissipate, especially considering that news about the marriage leaked prior to the Thursday night event.
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Comments (104)
ZAP
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:08pmhoneymoon,fecal matter will be flying
Report Post »Rightsofman
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:32pmI mean WTF? (pardon the French)
Report Post »TexasHunter
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:51pmWon’t watch Conan again. He lost my view when I saw the commercial for it. Same as Racist George Lopez.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:40pmWow.
Anyway, I don‘t care for O’Brien’s comedy, especially since he lost his last job. He’s been really bitter and nasty, even toward his own audience. I wouldn’t have watched this even if he was funny.
O‘Brien’s a Progressive with a T.V. show. So what else is new?
Report Post »fblair
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:26pmI am sure the wedding will be as official as the idea of Conan being a Minister. This is really a low for a guy that has been getting lower each year.
Report Post »db321
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:41pmLeviticus 20:13 – “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
Don’t get mad at me – I’m in sales, God’s in Management.
Report Post »Faith1029
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:26pmDB321: “Leviticus 20:13 – “If a man lies with a man as one lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must be put to death; their blood will be on their own heads.”
This scripture is the first thing that came to mind when I read the article. Then I watched the video. I had a very hard time watching it and it actually brought tears to my eyes to watch the degradation of these people, along with the cheering audience. They are deceived and given over to a reprobate mind as is stated in the Bible. How very sad.
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads, for your redemption draws near. Luke 21:28
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 3:34pmand…O‘Brien’s ratings tumble….
Report Post »Hayabusa
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:34pmRomans 1
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 8:22pmHere we go with the Bible b.s. again. Keep letting people who have been dead for thousands of years tell you how to live your life and keep convincing yourself that it‘s God’s word. lol. You only think that because you were raised to think it, same as your parents. Small minds breed small minds.
Report Post »Hayabusa
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 12:15am@Quotin’
Funny how those who think they understand the Bible and the way people developed their beliefs are ignorant of both.
Here’s a little suggestion for you: troll less and understand the basis for someone’s belief before you denigrate them. You might actually learn something, though I understand folks like you prefer ignorance so, perhaps, my words are wasted on you.
Report Post »Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 12:20amWhatever. I was raised as a southern baptist and it wasn’t until around 20 that I ever dared question the validity of it all. So I can completely understand the mentality. But someone my age still not questioning it, especially if they are educated, I do not understand. No, Virginia, there is no Santa Claus.
Report Post »carbonyes
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 4:32amConan O’Brien is an a$$!
Report Post »Hayabusa
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 10:47am@Quotin
I see that you are quite the intelligent person. Since YOU were exposed to religion a certain way, everyone else must have shared the same belief. There’s obviously never been a person who was raised in a home independent of faith, attended college and spending much of his adult life without faith and internally laughing at those of faith, and only after careful thought and study found God.
You say someone your age. I am solid in my faith but in my 40s I still put it to the question almost daily. With bachelors and masters degrees in science I have to work to reconcile what I know in science with the faith I know to also be true that science can nowhere come close to explaining.
Just because you fall short in reconciling your ignorance of the Bible, science’s ignorance of the universe, and those burning questions of life you’ve never been able to answer, that does not mean others are equally in the dark.
It’s quite an arrogant and ignorant attitude “someone your age” should have grown out of by now.
Report Post »fdmike
Posted on November 6, 2011 at 8:32pmThis has nothing to do with anyone’s racist views. It’s just that George Lopez is the most unfunniest person I have ever heard. Not to mention tough to look at.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:07pm.
Report Post »Conan was the Wedding Gift……….
republic2011
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:05pmI’m a libertarian. Let them do what they want. I just don’t think it needs to be blown up on national TV. In any case, marriage is between two individuals and God. The State, the Nation, the United States of America should not have any say in whether someone gets married or not, or whether a marriage is recognized. The only thing that gives government that power is things like taxation and the IRS. We are all being oppressed by this government. If homosexuals want real freedom, they need to stop voting for liberals and progressives and cut government’s influence on our everyday lives. But, so many get their news from the Main Steam Media, they’ll never see the forest for the tress. The very liberal pukes they elect to office are the greatest threat to their rights. Just like Margaret Sanger, who is heralded by the left, was a racist pig. Just like LBJ, who created more entitlements and the Great Society to secure black votes (although, he didn’t refer to them as blacks – he used that more endearing term that starts with an ‘N’). Wake up, useful idiots, you are bing played.. played for over 100 years.
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:02pmHe is the most tolerant man in the USA. But in doing this, it seems there is an agenda. Maybe to say that we should all just accept this lifestyle as good and equal to what God has already set forward for us to follow.
Report Post »encinom
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:29pmGod has no place in American Law. Keep God in church.
Report Post »SamIamTwo
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:01pmI now pronounce you man and man??…just isn’t right…doesn’t fit. Two tab As, is simple wrong.
Report Post »dantom
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:00pmNever have or ever watch that POS
Report Post »tree hugger
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:52amSadly, because societies SO feared homosexuality that gay folks went into the closet and either chose or were forced to marry unsuspecting partners. I innocently married someone who had major sexual issues. While dating, he never ‘tried anything’ and I thought he was respecting me. I was a virgin and very unprepared. I didn’t know there was such a thing as gender confusion. I was very disappointed on my wedding night and was frustrated during that marriage. I was raised a Catholic if that explains it.
I divorced him and looked like the bad one because I didn’t want to ‘out’ him. It has ruined my life.
Gay marriages are not hurting anything. It is just allowing gays to live their lives – like we all want to live. It will also save someone, like me, from a life of confusion, hurt and being forced to start her life all over again.
Start accepting homosexuality – it isn’t going away. It will never go away. Shame is not the answer. Until we accept this sad truth, many more will suffer than only the homosexuals.
Report Post »ZAP
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 12:21pmGay marriages are not hurting anything? They are hurting GOD.He didn`t create us to be an abomination.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:53pmTree Hugger,
Most of your comment doesn’t make much sense. It’s not his fault that he messed up your marriage?
You have sexual problems, but it’s the fault of the Catholic Church? Are you insinuating abuse, or a misunderstanding of the religion in general?
Finally, homosexuality isn’t a great life-style. It’s not emotionally healthy, it’s not physically healthy. I have yet to meet a homosexual who didn’t have some major emotional or psychological problem. Perhaps some exist, but I’ve never met one.
Obviously, in nature homosexuality makes no sense, short of allowing someone to get his/her rocks off without going through the effort of dealing with someone of the opposite sex. If homosexuality were really an in-born trait, it would have naturally died out thousands of years ago, if you believe in evolution. That fact that it rises and falls in popularity tells you it’s a life-style choice.
If you consider ancient Rome, where we know homosexuality became extremely popular in the declining years of the empire, that should be a warning sign. Hitler’s Brown Shirts were often homosexuals and he had most of them killed or imprisoned (look up the Night of Long Knives).
The Communist movement to dismantle American society push homosexuality as a way to confuse children and break down the nuclear family. That’s enough reason for me to distrust and shun it.
Report Post »ReynMansson
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 10:36amWhy not try something new today, read up on marriage and it’s supposed sanctity,
While I am fairly sure that that AlertNet is not a news source regularly visited by many of you, I think you might want to read an article currently posted there on the History of Marriage. We atheist liberals read your stuff, why not read our? Open your mind to some information from other sources, maybe you don’t have all the facts yet and you are basing your opposition on a vision of marriage that is not accurate.
http://tinyurl.com/marriagehistory
I think the real problem is that our 21st Century Christian Traditionalists have an idealized concept of marriage and that has fostered a myth about what matrimony has really meant over the course of history. Maybe it’s time to do a little more research on the subject.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 9:24pmZap
Report Post »God is a big boy, he can take it.
heavyduty
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:48amHe has to do stupid stuff like this. His ratings are lower than Obama’s.
Report Post »Wurlitzer28
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:48amThe liberal propagandists and wordsmiths continue to redefine normal as rational people know this is not normal nor does it contribute to society.
I don’t care if the man on man thing is genetic, environmental, societal or caused by phases of the moon. People have free will to ignore feelings which are detrimental to society yet the rainbow crowd seeks to change deviant destructive behavior into a social norm. Well if that is the case, how long before the same freaks of nature make CSAD (Cross Species Attraction Disorder)a normal behavior with all the normal protections given to a man and a woman in marriage.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 2:02pmVery well said.
Report Post »ReynMansson
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 10:47amCSAD lacks the possibility of both parties asserting an informed consent to the act and thus is not a comparable scenario to human same sex relations.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 9:28pmReynMansson
Report Post »I don’t know about that. I asked my dog “how would you like to have sex with me?” He said “rough!” That sure sounded like consent to me.
dirtydog1776
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:46amNever understood the appeal of late night talk shows and never listened to them. Now I know why I didn’t like them, the hosts are overpaid, narcissistic, untalented morons and goatpunchers.
Report Post »dirtydog1776
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:42amNever understood the appeal of late night talk shows and never watched them. Now I know why I didn’t, all those overpaid, under talented hosts are a bunch of idiots and douche bags.
Report Post »Carolyn608
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:42amThis is disgusting. The Bible speaks about the evils of sex between individuals of the same gender and that marriage is between a man and a woman only.Please start reading the Bible. It is full of VALUES and MORALS that we should be adhering to today and everyday.
Stop watching all these disgusting shows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will soon disappear. Ladies, the reason there is some much sexual crime against women and children is because that is all that is shown on TV and the movies. Women have been manipulated into claiming equal rights, feminism etc. STAND up against these crimes against yourself and children.
Report Post »bloptop
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:01pmYou diluted fool GOD DOESN’T EXIST. You‘re going to judge someone else that doesn’t effect your liberties when you believe in an invisible man in the sky who ascribes bronze age morality? Wake up you brain washed sheep
Report Post »bloptop
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:06pmThe bible is the least moral book ever created. It condones murder, genocide etc. It was written by a bunch or peasants in a desert who didn’t have the scientific knowledge we have now. Nobody cares about your intolerant, homophobic ignorance so why don’t you crawl back into your hole with your bible and fill the hole back up with dirt. The world doesn’t need your backwards logic.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:28amGag!
Report Post »Gunonesis
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:18amOne more reason not to watch Conan!
Report Post »BHOMustFail
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:17am“Comedian” performs ceremony as prank/joke = Ceremony is prank/joke. Proves what The Right (as in Correct) have been saying all along…Gay “marriage” is a joke. Not clear why anyone would really choose to be married anyway, straight or gay???!!!
Report Post »teddyc73
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:07amOh Conan, I always found you funny and entertaining but this is going to far. Two men getting married and pretending to play house is going to far and something no one wants to see.
Report Post »Infidelephant
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:33amhmmm – how many people have you asked? Do you have access to the opinions (homophobic and otherwise) of any and all people that may, or may not tune into Conan? Do you think that YOUR opinion is the end-all be-all opinion that reflects the general attitude of all humanity?
What you MEANT to say was that YOU don’t want to see it. And what’s nice is, YOU DON’T HAVE TO! Change the channel if YOU don’t want to see such things. But don’t assume (as so many of your type does) that YOUR individualized sense of morality represents the whole.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:55amDon’t assume (as so many of your type does) that your lack of morality represents even the majority Infidelephant.
Report Post »Infidelephant
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 1:14pmWho are YOU to make mention of ANY lack of morality on my part? You don’t know me. You don’t know how I live, who I love, how I live my life.
Quit making ignorant assumptions about things you know NOTHING about.
Report Post »Offensive Bias
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 12:48amInfidelephant,
You are by what you believe. And if you believe that wretched homosexuality is normal then your “evolved sensibility” is at the bottom of the pond still.
Wake up to reality…this isn’t “playing house” there are laws of nature and biological sciences needed to make the human race move on. Homosexuality is a serious speed bump to that.
Report Post »hammer71
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:06amThis guy hasn’t been funny since he left New York. Oh well, another prog ******* to boycott. My list is getting longer by the day.
Report Post »DimmuBorgir
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:09amalways been a fan of conan. still am. not a big deal
Report Post »hammer71
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 12:58amHe’s lost his edge. Game over.
Report Post »Bakko Bomma
Posted on November 7, 2011 at 11:42pmMost losers are, Dimmwit.
Report Post »SimpleTruths
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:05amWhy don’t all you haters of American just pack up and leave, I’m sure there is some dark corner of the world that would welcome you. Maybe Iran?
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 9:19pmIran is a country where religious fanatics dictate how other people can live their lives. We love America because it is becoming less of one one. Perhaps you would be more comfortable somewhere else.
Report Post »fastgen1
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:59amJust another TV (personality) dredging the bottom to get his ratings up. And to think people actually watch…..I call it the Matt Lauer syndrome…..
Report Post »GayDem4Beck
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:58amWho’s Conan O’Brien and why is this even news ?
Report Post »GeorgeWashingtonslept here
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:57amWhat a joke.
Report Post »YoungBloodNews
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:55amJump the Shark? Oh wait that was Conan months ago
Report Post »LiberalMarine
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:50amOH NO! Now every marriage has been cheapened! Save your kids!
Report Post »teddyc73
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 11:06amActually it does ruin the tradition of marriage. No need to save the kids just teach them this is not normal..
Report Post »Californiasodbuster
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 5:37pmNothing worse than a turd burglar rump ranger, the decline of the western civilization.
Report Post »Chet Hempstead
Posted on November 5, 2011 at 9:34pmYeah, if marriage is supposed to be so sacred, how come you can do it in Vegas with somebody you just met, while you’re both still drunk, as long as you’re not the same sex? How come all these people who spend so much time worrying that letting a same sex couple get married will ruin marriage for everybody never said boo about that?
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:45amWell Conan, you’re ratings just dropped by one anyway. You’re off my DVR schedule.
Report Post »JLGunner
Posted on November 4, 2011 at 10:44amAnything to pull his ratings out of the toilet.
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