Classic Late Night With Conan O'Brien
Classic Late Night With Conan O'Brien
Ever since I was an small, insomniac child of around 13 or so, I've been making it a point to stay up late to watch Conan O'Brien. It's been well over 10 years now and, although he's moved his show from Late Night, to The Tonight Show, and finally to its latest incarnation, Conan, I still wont miss an episode.
I've made this page to celebrate the good old days: Back before The Year 2000 had actually arrived, when staring contests were still in and before a potty-mouthed puppet dog was a superstar.
Although I couldn't get my hands on all of the old clips I would've liked, I have included a fair amount of old favorites that many of you may have forgotten or just plain missed.
The First Episode of Late Night With Conan O'Brien - The first cold open of Late Night with Conan O' Brien: September 13, 1993
A long, long time ago, back in a galaxy far, far away (New York, 1993), a fellow named Johnny Carson decided to retire as the popular host of the famous late night program, NBC's The Tonight Show. This departure left an opening in the slot for the much wanted position of Tonight Show host and the obvious forerunner for the position was Late Night host, David Letterman. Letterman's show aired directly after Johnny Carson's for many years and when news came Carson was leaving, Letterman's knew his time had come to sit in the big seat. He was ecstatic, to say the least.
Unfortunately for Letterman though, things didn't go quite as planned. Instead of being given the position himself, comedian (and popular guest host of The Tonight Show) Jay Leno was rewarded the position. This news upset David Letterman greatly. So much so that Letterman refused to continue his run on his own Late Night show and refused all further affiliation with the network NBC. The left the position of Late Night up for grabs.
Many well-known names were considered for the role of new Late Night host during that time, including Dana Carvey and Garry Shandling, but, after they turned down the offer, NBC made the bold decision to choose a relative nobody for the part. This nobody was Harvard alumni, former writer for The Simpsons and Saturday Night Live, Conan O'Brien. Conan first auditioned for the role of Late Night host after an urging from Saturday Night Live producer (and Conan's former boss) Lorne Michaels. Conan beat out such hopefuls as John Stewart and Drew Carey.
Since Conan was a complete unknown to the public, and Letterman had left such a high bar to live up to, the expectations of his success as the new King of Late Night were extremely low. The expectations were so low, in fact, that Conan was constantly at risk of being fired. NBC even had him renewing short-term contracts, thirteen weeks at a time, just in case he needed to be let go quickly because of low ratings.
There's more to the story, as I'm sure you all know, but that's really all you need to know to be brought up to speed for the following clip.
Here it is, the first cold open of Late Night with Conan O'Brien on September 13, 1993.
Staring Contest's - Andy and Conan battle it out in these classic Late Night staring contest's
This is one of my favorite old bits from when I was growing up and watching Late Night.
Here's how it works...
Okay, sometimes Conan and Andy get tired of the same old routine of opening monologue, followed by a silly bit, and then the first guest. So everyonce in a while they decided to change things up a bit. Instead of doing some random bit inbetween the monologue and the first guest they would just have an old fashioned staring contest.
He who breaks conscentration first loses...
Videos featured from :
1995
1999
2000 (Andys last show)
The Original Wardrobe Malfunction - Ashley MacIsaac surprises Late Night with an unexpected guest apparence in 1997
Desk Drive
The Original Wardrobe Malfunction - Ashley MacIsaac surprises Late Night with an unexpected guest apparence in 1997
Desk Drive
Public Service Announcements - ... the more you know.
Andy Richter Clips - Classic clips of Andy Richter On Late Night
Andy's Sister
On time to time Andy Richter's little sister, Stacy (Amy Poehler), makes a visit to Late Night.
Stacy's a real nice girl, sweet and full of spunk, and loves more than anything to watch her big brother and Conan in action... especially Conan, who she's had a little something of a crush on throughout the years.
... here are a few times that crush has gotten out of hand.
Andy on Celebrity Jeopardy
Okay, aside from the first clip of Andy prepairing for Celebrity Jeopardy, these video's are from Andy's first appearence on the show.
I put this here so that you can watch both the clip of Andy prepairing and see the outcome of that preparation.
Not only did our boy Andy win at Celebrity Jeopardy... but he set a new record!
... and here I thought Conan was the smart one...
Andy Richter's Last Show - *sigh*
Andy Richter was Conan's sidekick on Late Night from the very begining. He was the Robin to Conan's Batman, the McMahon to Conan's Carson, the Ace to Conan's Gary, the peanutbutter to Conan's jelly, the... well, you get it.
On September 11th, 1999 Andy announced that he would be ending his 7 year run with Late Night. 9 months later, May 2000, he left the show for good.
Here is Andy's farewell show.
Features:
Conan auctioning Andy's stuff (different episode)
Andy's last staring contest
Andy's last Public Service Announcement (The More You Know)
A ton of classic clips that you won't find any place else
And the tearful goodbye (yes... crying on Late Night)
[Sorry, I can't find Part 3]
We first met Triumph The Insult Comic Dog in 1997 after he covered the Westminster Dog Show for Late Night With Conan O'Brien. And although Triumph was subsequently banned from Westminster after this, he immediately became a Late Night favorite.
Throughout the years, Triumphs popularity has grown enormous; he's pooped on both celebrities and civilians, poloticians and commentators, the old and the young, and so on and so on. He's been sued by Pets.com, assaulted by Eminem, humped the likes of Al Roker and Heather Locklear... he's even been nominated for a Grammy!
Yes, Triumph has done it all. And here are some of his most memorable moments.
Triumph goes to a Bon Jovi concert
Triumph goes on Hollywood Squares
Triumph checks out the Michael Jackson trial
Triumph at the American Idol auditions : PART 1
The music of "Come Poop With Me" by Triumph The Insult Comic Dog - Get only your favorites, get them all, or just listen to them here!
Why learn new tricks when you can still get big laughs milking the old ones? Everyone's favorite foul-mouthed canine puppet simply takes the same material he's been using since Don Rickles was in short pants, and stretches it over a series of musical pastiches, from calypso ("Underage Bichon") to, um, Yiddish musical theater ("My Mama"). With contributions from Adam Sandler, Conan O'Brien, Jack Black, and SNL vets Maya Rudolph and Horatio Sanz, this disc features more guests than a Jerry Lewis telethon (alas, no Eminem--though he gets name-checked on the hip-hop jam "I Keed"). The Jerky Boys-style crank calls quickly wear thin, and the bonus DVD is a hodgepodge of static performance footage of the best bits on the CD, plus some agonizing filler (who invited that Dell computer dork?), but on the strength of the hilarious songs alone, Come Poop With Me is nothing to turn your nose up at. --Kurt B. Reighley
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is now available in a pocket-sized package! Entertain and offend your friends and family with six hilarious, ego-crushing comments from the only dog who has confronted Karl Rove, humped members of N'Sync, and sniffed J. Lo's butt on live television. It's a great toy... to poop on! Includes the sayings... "I've Got News For You, You Suck", "Please, May I Sniff Your Butt", "Oh Yes, Oh Yes, Ohhhh...Yes", "You're A Great Friend, For Me To Poop On", "I Like You, But Then Again I Eat My Own Crap", "I Keed, I Keed".
Late Night In Other Countries
Here a few few of Conan's trip out of the USA
1997 - Conan goes to Cologna, Germany
1997 - Conan goes to Amsterdam
Conan goes to Ireland
Adventures with Conan
Conan and Billy Crystal visit Yankee Stadium
Seeeeeeecrets - Late Night learns secrets from some of the most popular figures in popular culture
Frankenstein Wastes A Minute of Our Time...
The Interrupter!!!
The interrupter comes in on occasio---
David Arquette
I know what you're thinking... David Arquette? The guy from Scream? Why would THIS be on here?!
Well, don't be fooled. The David Arquette interviews are some of the best that Late Night has to offer.
I was so amused by these interviews myself growing up, that when in 5th grade and working on my English project, "Celebrity Trash" (where you write letters to various people, and hope they send you some random crap -- aka their trash), I wrote to David Arquette. And the reason was soley because of these interviews and how funny I found him to be.
To this day the episodes still don't fail at cracking me up, but word to the wise... don't write David Arquette, not unless you're looking for a homoerotic autographed photograph sent back to you with a bunch creepy x's and o's scribbled on the bottom... sheesh.
Dave Chappelle
Dave Chappelle was always one of Late Night's funniest guest, and one of Conan's personal favorites.
MR. T!!! - I pitty da foo who don't watch this interview!
Martha Stewart - I really wish I coulda found more of these...
MR. T!!! - I pitty da foo who don't watch this interview!
Other Interviews - A variety of interviews throughout Late Night With Conan O'Briens past (in no particular order)
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The infamous NYC and Eastern Seaboard power failure of 2003
Random Bits
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Yes, you know it. You love it. THE HORNY MANATEE!
One of Late Nights most popular accidental bits of all time also happens to come in a vast variety of different merchandise.
... any of which make wonderful Christmas presents for your family, birthday presents for your friend, and Valentines day gifts for that special person in your life.
For more on the Horny Manatee, visit www.hornymanatee.com
Conan and Finland
Conan Gives a Tour of the Late Night studio
Conan Gives a Tour of the Late Night studio
Well that's it for now. I may come back eventually, drop in a little Masterbating Bear, some Pimpbot possibly, or maybe even an Abe Vigoda clip or two. But for now... I think I should leave it as is (it was getting a bit full).
So I hope everyone dug these old clips as much as I did and had fun reminiscing with me.
... and keep an eye out for updates.