Media

Conan Returns to Late Night, Jabs NBC With Epic Opener

NEW YORK (AP) — Conan O’Brien relaunched his TV career on Monday night with a stylishly back-to-basics hour that radiated hard-won lessons from his brief stay hosting “The Tonight Show.”

With his new TBS show titled simply “Conan,” O’Brien seemed appealingly stoked yet comfortable in his new home at 11 p.m. ET and on basic cable.

Conan Returns to Late Night, Jabs NBC With Epic OpenerIf there were very few surprises, well, how could there have been after the incessant online hype and all the press attention showered on his much-anticipated return? Besides, O’Brien was back with his longtime sidekick Andy Richter and most of his trusty house band members, now led by Jimmy Vivino (and renamed The Basic Cable Band).

Even O‘Brien’s post-“Tonight Show” beard seems familiar by now.

But what’s important is, the show lived up to its promises. As promised, it was looser, quirkier, more like “Late Night,” where O’Brien thrived for nearly 17 years, than “The Tonight Show,” where he didn’t.

“Conan” opened with a funny look back at his tumultuous year after he refused NBC’s bid to move “Tonight” to 12:05 a.m.

Conan Returns to Late Night, Jabs NBC With Epic OpenerHe was mowed down by machine-gun-toting NBC hit men at a security booth, a la Sonny Corleone in “The Godfather.” He applied for a job in advertising and was turned down by Don Draper (“Mad Men” star Jon Hamm), who brusquely reminded him, “It’s 1965 — and you’re 2 years old.” From behind the counter at a Burger King, he reminisced to an impatient customer about his talk-show past.

Likewise, his monologue mined laughs from recent history, which found him leaving “Tonight” in January after just eight months, with Jay Leno reclaiming the host chair.

Conan Returns to Late Night, Jabs NBC With Epic OpenerO’Brien welcomed viewers to his “second annual first show” and explained why he named the new show “Conan”: “So I’d be harder to replace.”

He acknowledged that “it’s not easy doing a late-night show on a channel without a lot of money and that viewers have trouble finding. So that’s why I left NBC.”

He boasted that his new show is already scoring “in TBS’ key demographic: people who can’t afford HBO.”

And he insisted, “I’ve dreamed of being a talk-show host on basic cable ever since I was 46.” He’s now 47.

O’Brien rocked out, singing and playing guitar alongside his musical guest, Jack White.

Conan Returns to Late Night, Jabs NBC With Epic OpenerBefore that, his first couch guest was Seth Rogen, who had a lot to say about marijuana and could have used some to calm down.

Then O’Brien greeted “Glee” star Lea Michele, who made a slightly more engaging appearance.

He asked her about GQ magazine’s racy photo layout of “Glee” cast members. Then, for “Glee” fans who were offended by the high school-themed photos, the ever-self-deprecating O’Brien offered a way to make the steamy photo of Michele seem less hot: Insert a vintage image of him from high school beside her in the photo.

But as they chatted, a thud interrupted them from backstage.

“Basic cable,” O’Brien explained with a shrug. “There’s a Meineke muffler shop right behind us.”

Conan Returns to Late Night, Jabs NBC With Epic OpenerThe audience applauded.

“He’s making the best of it,” O’Brien said of himself.

Conan was back. How he will fare — and how long he relies on basic-cable jokes — remains to be seen.

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TBS is owned by Time Warner.

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Online:

http://www.teamcoco.com

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EDITOR’S NOTE — Frazier Moore is a national television columnist for The Associated Press. He can be reached at fmoore(at)ap.org.

Comments (43)

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  • hbhobby
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 5:05pm

    With Letterman, Leno and now Conan on the air, this mean only one thing…. I’m going to bed right after the news.

    Report Post »  
  • common everyday citizen
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 4:59pm

    Well, in times like these, it may be a good thing to laugh at some crazy stuff that this guy comes up with 8-)

    Report Post »  
  • southrnbygrace
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 3:37pm

    I wouldn’t walk out my back door to see this idiot. NBC was crazy to give him The Tonight Show to begin with, so I had no problem when he was sent packing. I’m not a huge Leno fan either, but at least he is funny on occasion. Conan is just stupid.

    Report Post » southrnbygrace  
  • Gruug
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:37pm

    I never found Conan that funny before and I still don’t.

    Report Post »  
  • sissykatz
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:33pm

    I am not a fan of Conan’s at all. I thought what NBC did was wrong for Leno and Conan, but I thought Jay got the raw end of the deal. He was number one in ratings and they moved him,,,,,stupid move.Can’t feel sorry for Conan since he got $42million as a buy out for his contract. boo hoo boo hoo. So the opening of his new show, seems stupid to me.I no longer watch late night shows I really think none are very funny. do occasionly watch monologue of Leno’s. I do hope Conan does well as I do everyone. Maybe I‘m just jealous because I didn’t have a show that was bombing and no one gave me $42 million to not work for a year..lol I’m not really as bitter as I sound but I liked Conan least of all and the “hollywood” people” trashed Leno so much when this happened and all he did was to accept his old position back when it was offered, I would have too, and they Conan out to look like he had been destroyed by Leno which was not true.Jeff Zuker of NBC made this decision as I said is just like NBC take a #1 show and move it to 10 put someone else in Night show spot and when it didn’t work mess up both lives.

    Report Post »  
  • Randyrocker
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 1:08pm

    The question is does being self effacing really work?

    Report Post »  
  • PoxZombie
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:55pm

    conan has been the man for as long as i can remember. and his six string skills are pretty good. LONG LIVE THE TRUE LATE NIGHT KING lol

    Report Post » PoxZombie  
  • Marine Recon Dad
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:50pm

    Not being a fan of Conan, I MUST admit it was one of the most hilarious pieces I’ve seen. I might set my Tivo to watch him…. as long as it doesn‘t conflict with any reruns of the Jefferson’s I’ve set for recording….

    Report Post »  
  • cruisemates
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:14pm

    Conan is hilarious. You didn’t like the thing about NBC henchmen shooting him with machine guns just for having a competitive show?

    It took me a while the first year he was on to warm up to him, but I will say I think he is not a liberal. I watched him stand up to Bill Maher on his previous show and not let him get away with saying the American public is stupid, etc. He said “You have your views and I have my own.”

    I wish him al the luck, Leno is a nice guy, but Letterman has become one of my most reviled TV personalities. He is as arrogant as Obama himself, which explains why he admires the prez. Can’t stand the guy.

    Report Post » cruisemates  
  • butler180
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:03pm

    Not a fan of late night. Rarely watch —-
    But Conan’s opening classic – funny and a great parody – Good Luck and I will try to catch every once and a while. But if he goes off the rails on Palin I will put him in the trash heap with the others.

    Report Post » butler180  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:41am

    Good luck Coco!

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • RobertChristian
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:25am

    As far as TBS/Time-Warner is concerned, as long as they just keep their corporate eyes on the revenue, Conan will be safe.

    Report Post » RobertChristian  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:12am

    I‘ve watched about ten minutes of Conan O’Brien over my entire life-time. That was more than enough to know that he just A’INT HAPPENING. The only two guys LESS FUNNY are Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert. Please God, save US all from those THREE insufferable JACKASSES!

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • Red Neckerson
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 1:27am

      Amen.

      Conan needs to have his coming out party on Oprah’s new network. Then they can all sink together.

      Report Post »  
  • Goohuman
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:54am

    Excellent opening, Conan. I look forward to watching you again, for the first time.

    Report Post » Goohuman  
  • rexolio
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:26am

    Glad to see Conan’s back. DVR’ed it last night – can’t wait to watch now. Good guy, truly funny, took care of his crew, stood his ground – we could really use more people like him.

    Report Post » rexolio  
  • starman70
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:19am

    Time Warner ownership of TBS? HUMMMMMMMM! have you read Time lately? The leftist bent to the reporting in that magazine is quite obvious. No, they will nor allow a right center viewpoint or even a centrist viewpoint. If he takes that position, he wont last long.

    Report Post »  
  • HillBillySam1
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:15am

    Conan the Contrarian!!
    “To crush your enemies, to drive them before you, and to hear the lamentation of the women!”.

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:10am

    you know, if he can go Center Right, a real appeal to US –we are the MAJORITY of America now, maybe he will do okay, he IS up against the mainstream morons, you know.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • SecretPolice
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:09am

    Conan > Letterman that’s for sure.

    Report Post » SecretPolice  
  • Knightofhopex
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:05am

    I like Conan cus he’s not an old hateful man banging all his interns. He may have never been wholesome but he’s a nice guy and he brings the funny. I don‘t watch television that much but it’s nice to see a nice guy do well now and then. He took really good care of his crew in their severence deal too. Something to be said for being a decent individual and a good business person. Congrats, Conan.

    Report Post »  
  • DonnyBeGood
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:03am

    If the show stays as fresh and funny as this opener, he will do fine. Letterman is an unfunny, bitter political hack. Jay never was funny, but a nice guy. Johnny Carson will always be the bench mark for late night as far as I’m concerned.

    Report Post »  
    • Sefton
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 12:43pm

      Agree. I’ve always thought Conan was much better than either Letterman or Leno. Last night’s show reminded me a lot of his Late Night years when they just cut loose with the zany satire and off-the-cuff exchanges.
      That opening to the show last night was classic Conan humor. And jamming with Jack White was awesome.

      Report Post » Sefton  
  • joseph Fawcett
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:02am

    Hope he does well and I am sure he will. If I had a tv, I would watch.

    http://www.josephfawcettart.com western artist

    joseph Fawcett  
    • callmeBAM
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 7:55am

      Apparently, you have the internets. Sure you can find his show somewhere…

      Report Post » callmeBAM  
  • White Devil
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:01am

    Welcome back Conan. You already made me laugh. It was a basic cable laugh but it still felt good.

    Report Post » White Devil  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:10pm

      Correct me if Im wrong, but isnt everything a minimum of basic cable now? For example… you can’t even get ABC or NBC without basic right? Since they switched over in 2009? You can’t use the rabbit ears to get free tv…so am I missing something?

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
    • Reverend
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 2:38pm

      @JJ actually, all they did was switch from an analog to a digital signal. All you need to do is buy a digital antenna and as long as there is a strong enough signal you can receive broadcast tv.

      Report Post » Reverend  
    • Matthew
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 8:51pm

      Actually, while rabbit ears no longer work, you can still receive free TV without cable. It is digital over-the-air.

      The reason the FCC wanted to get analog shut down is simple. Bandwidth. Analog takes why too much bandwidth, while a digital signal requires much less bandwidth but provides much more data. With analog gone, the FCC can relicense that particular set of freqs to other providers, doing different things.

      Report Post » NOTTHEAFLACDUCK  
    • JJ Coolay
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 12:19am

      Reverand, Matthew… thanks. Didn’t know that.

      Report Post » JJ Coolay  
  • MidAmerican
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 9:58am

    I like Conan. He will find his niche.

    Report Post »  
  • HouseNegro
    Posted on November 9, 2010 at 9:57am

    And we care why?

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Chris G
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 10:38am

      I love Conan! I‘m glad he’s back, & has had some hilarious stuff in the past. Will Triumph the Insult Comic Dog appear on his show again?

      Report Post » Chris G  
    • snowleopard3200 {mix art}
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 11:14am

      Agreed.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • dontbotherme
      Posted on November 9, 2010 at 5:28pm

      Don’t know about you, but I enjoyed it. Sometimes it’s ok to laugh.

      Report Post »  
    • TxGold
      Posted on November 10, 2010 at 3:58pm

      I could NOT care less. Never watched him, never intend to.

      Report Post » TxGold  
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