Conan Thinks The Richard Gere Gerbil Story Is “Completely Untrue” | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

[@KevyNova]

It’s neither confirmed or denied until we hear it from the gerbil.

[@ok9908]

"NYNIRYGYT NYINIRY NJIYIKIRIY" -Gerbil

[@augusthavince8909]

_The_ gerbil. The gerbil that was a sex worker in the 90s. Let's see the gerbil's rolodex.

[@philpeterson7182]

@@augusthavince8909 The gerbil was allegedly employed by Jeffery Epstein

[@madarab37]

Dead gerbils tell no tales

[@QueenArielViolet]

That gerbil is a liar and a scoundrel.

[@PopeLando]

Someone was shouting "There was talk of gerbils!" because Conan is the only person in New York who can be effortlessly picked out on a crowded Fifth Avenue from two hundred yards away.

[@LindaC616]

😅

[@MurCurieux]

Gold!

[@shanebargy1732]

"I didn't resuscitate it. It was Mickey Rooney...God rest his soul." Absolute belly laugh moment. So damn funny.

[@Samael767]

"He provides sanctuary," got me good 😂

[@theplourde]

That’s the line that got me in trouble for listening to this podcast at work. I laughed too hard.

[@PraxisPeabody]

Poor Gere. He probably thought people must have forgotten about this by now. Oh...😂

[@gpc_4279]

"...by gerbils." Another winning zinger from Gourlz.

[@neko_samurai]

I can’t believe Conan outted Richard Gere’s kink to a new generation.

[@redheadredemption1573]

"The rumors are completely untrue, I've never even met Mr Gere." Dammit, we booked the wrong gerbil!

[@Synthetic-Rabbit]

Conan has to keep telling the origin story of "There was talk of gerbils" every time the conversation comes up and I kind of love it. He still doesn't really get that people are in on the joke and if they're not, this is the "internet", it's podcasts. People go and find the origin through earlier videos. And the best thing? It keeps resuscitating the Gerbil rumor. My Mom, honest to God the other day somehow Richard Gere came up and she couldn't remember his name and then she shouted "the Gerbil!"I then asked her if she thought it was true, and she said "yes".

[@sizzlinshizzle]

It's wild how long the Richard Gere gerbil rumor has been around, I first heard it from a classmate in the second or third grade and that was in the mid 80's.

[@ticoangelo]

I was feeling the same way as Sona... A "poor Richard Gere" vibe emanating from both of us

[@folarinosibodu]

4:11 Conan has always had this little arm nudge tick whenever he's reading a cue card. I've seen him do this for decades.

[@kmsleyang1980]

I’ve been watching him since 1993 and you are absolutely correct!!!!! He’s done it the entire 31 years!!!

[@hyperspeed_心猿]

That's a heck of a question for one man to ask another. "Do you feel...inflated when you hear of gerbils?"

[@ernestwinata7908]

Conan is definitely NOT perpetuating the gerbil rumour.

[@noticiasinmundicias]

I def searched for that rumor right after he said it, but I also had to search who tf Richard Gere was. I don't know why Conan would be so sure it didn't happen though, we've known of celebrities doing way worse by now.

[@AttilatheThrilla]

Of course not.. It was the dead people’s fault!

[@georgegraham9822]

"You know what they say. Speak ill of the dead." - Norm Macdonald

[@fdsfsdfsd1552]

@@noticiasinmundicias - It's not that it's too evil and wicked to be believed. It's that it's exactly the sort of thing a high schooler tells a gullible middle schooler.

[@brenobacci]

@@fdsfsdfsd1552 I was thinking that, after 30 years being annoyed by that rumor, Richard Gere must have, at some point, decided to give it a try. Poor gerbil.

[@BeardedGaming96]

I for one (27 years old) have never heard of this until Conan shed light on this atrocity. Richard Gere is a monster.

[@Drnaynay]

If it's true. I'm old enough to remember the rumour, waaaayy pre-internet. That's all it ever was - a rumour. So calling him a monster is a bit much.

[@graysonzweber5455]

A close family member of mine was Gere's nurse when he came into the ER with the gerbil in his ass.

[@Drnaynay]

@@graysonzweber5455 For reals? That's the first time in all these years I've heard actual support for it. Whoa!!

[@Char-kd6bl]

“Monster” Do you always hear a baseless rumor about someone and immediately jump to conclusions? Don’t serve a jury please. It didn’t happen. Calm down.

[@BeardedGaming96]

@@Char-kd6bl Do you really think im 100% serious about this lmao sarcasm clearly doesn't travel via text

[@RJHart1214]

I like how the closed captions translate Sona's name: Sonoma Obsession.

[@krisfinley6706]

Sounds like an alias for dark Sona. Evil Kermit Sona defiantly sneaking into Disneyland after hours with a big tote full of edibles they unfairly wouldn't let her bring in before😈

[@Tonyhouse1168]

If you work in the bar business, Sonoma Obsession is definitely a name a regular earns

[@masterofthefresh]

The gerbil story is in the first Scream movie. That movie finds a new generation of fans every year. So the story is always out there.

[@jeremyc9593]

Family Guy as well

[@gangoolie68]

I need to go back and revisit that movie. I was innocent of this rumour until I saw the Mickey Rooney interview while googling interviews either him about Judy Garland - it’s been quite the rabbit warren (no puns intended but here it is).

[@tomcias10]

Actually i'm 28 years old and i'm from Poland and i never heard about that rumor untill i listened to that episode. Now everyone in Poland knows.

[@ktktktktktktkt]

The story is so ridiculous, no one would make something up like that. Therefore, it must be true.

[@LindaC616]

That's the way most people see it

[@terri6854]

What world are you living in?People LOVE making up ridiculous stories.

[@zargtn]

@@terri6854 a world where humor and sarcasm exists

[@bloodsling]

Andy needs to be on the podcast,best sidekick ever. Some of the funniest quips during Conans tenure were from Andy. They go together like peanut butter and chocolate.

[@hyperspeed_心猿]

They go together like Richard Gere and gerbils.

[@brentulstad3275]

And he's NOT a homosexual. That's JUST RIDICULOUS

[@tkillcoin]

Don’t you think Peanut Butter gets a little sick of Chocolate from time to time? And don’t even get me started on that racist bastard, Jelly…

[@blackhawk-qy2rh]

@@brentulstad3275 exactly. If he was a homosexual, why would they need a man to hold him down.

[@nilesoien7867]

The sounds at 6:30 are being beamed out into the universe and the aliens think that's how earthlings talk. Alien super minds are looking at each other saying "Is this talk... of gerbils?"

[@kingman2332]

That story is right up there with the one about Rod Stewart going to the hospital to have his stomach pumped because he swallowed to much "man juice."

[@dewdew34]

He has said it's origin is from his support of a rival soccer club. He actually had a pretty good laugh over it. They take futbol very seriously...

[@Tonyhouse1168]

@DemsRpedosPervertsStewart’s a British guy from London you dummy

[@markb20]

Lol, there goes my post. Funny how both those stories continued on for decades even without the benefit of the internet.

[@jerseytomato100]

I’m 54 and I remember hearing that one in grade school 😂

[@NathanrHeld]

'He provides sanctuary' is a very close second, I'm keeping that one for later.

[@stevecarll]

"There was talk...of Kedakai! As the gerbil god made her." Do I have that right?

[@1571JohannesKepler]

I'm a Conan fan from Brussels. If I ever see him in Belgium, I would pretend to be on the phone with someone asking me if I remember the name of that actor from Pretty Women ... Then pause and say outloud... What do you mean "there was talks of gerbils" ???

[@fiosfios44]

‘Not if declaw them’ - Matt

[@destroyrebuild]

I miss the show. It was the only late night show I've ever loved. So many good skits and characters. "In the year 2000..."

[@blt4084]

I saw it last night as a Team Coco short!! The way the video is cut looks like Mickey Rooney volunteered that as a perfectly normal and considerate way to help you guess Richard Gere's name for him. Conan's reaction and response is perfect.

[@kendrakausau]

Conan is a comic genius and Icon. I’ve been watching him over twenty years and he never disappoints. ❤

[@cleverusername9369]

Ivón? Huh?

[@philpeterson7182]

Richard Gere just wants to put this gerbil behind him. Wait...gerbil rumors. He wants to put these gerbil rumors behind him.

[@AttilatheThrilla]

I’m in my 30’s and I totally remembered that rumour 😂

[@Sirala6]

The Sirius studio light makes Conan look like he has blue half moons under his eyes.

[@geekimusprime]

We need that Mickey Rooney clip!

[@dewdew34]

Rod Stewart has had a laugh about his famous rumor. He has explained the origin is his support of a rival futbol/soccer club and the rival clubs hatred to other clubs fans. He actually thought it was pretty funny yet many still believe the nonsense.

[@jamesdooling4139]

I saw Julianne Moore on the street yesterday, I made an error... I thought, "He's not six-four..." Then I said aloud, "There was talk of gerbils..." I'm now in the ICU from the beating which ensued.

[@Norvo82]

Heh 🙂 "Recently, I was in New York City" said Conan, sitting in the Sirius XM studios in downtown Manhattan. Interesting that on the podcast you really get the idea these introductions were only recorded days ago and that everyone is in the same room together. But when you see the video, it's suddenly clear they did a ton of these weeks ago in separate locations. Nice to get a peek behind the curtain, even if it destroys the magic a little.

[@jaysonspann8042]

The pure joy on Conan's face in the thumbnail shows he wishes it was true 😂

[@iamhectorperez]

I felt personally attacked by that opening 😂

[@GameCatcher89]

lmao same

[@hyperspeed_心猿]

That's what Richard Gere said!

[@florete2310]

"He provides sanctuary" - I am LMAO😂😂😂

[@madarab37]

Nostalgia trip....I was beginning to think I was the only person who remembered that ridiculous rumor. Q: What did the brown gerbil say to the white gerbil? A: New in town?

[@kennetho2499]

Thanks Conan and Matt! I can't erase the sound and image of Mr. Gerbil traveling through tubes to wonderland 😂

[@IM1deadMONEY]

"Of course gerbils like him. He provides sanctuary" I'm going to be laughing about this all day lol

[@mhz90718]

I definitely never heard of this about Richard Gere till you brought it up.

[@MAFion]

This was an urban legend before the internet.

[@Kelticfury]

Top recommended next video: Conan Finally Got "Gerbiled". Sometimes the algorithm gets it right.

[@noahweber5606]

Proudly among those who first learned this gerbil ~fact~ from conan

[@byronic-heroine]

I've always wondered why Gere ended up with that rumor. It's so random. XD

[@anotherjewishsharpnicholas9425]

Hollywood people play dirty politics A LOT. Someone decided to target him.

[@hyperspeed_心猿]

Not random if it's true! 😂

[@SirVic42]

Jealous boyfriends. When the story started, Gere was one of Hollywood's "It" men that women swooned over. Too many guys are just too insecure to listen to their girlfriend talk glowingly about another man, so they make up some absurd libel about him to knock him down.

[@kevinkuenn5733]

I read somewhere that Sylvester Stallone started the rumor after they butted heads on the set of the Lords of Flatbush.

[@tedsheridan8725]

Gourley's sound FX at the end was the best.

[@storytellerjack22]

Google and reddit told me that this rumor, revitalized by Conan, was from the Javier Bardem episode of their podcast during the opening banter. Talk of hamsters begins at 6:35, and talk of gerbils starts at 7:40.

[@myvhslife]

Saw your show in 2001 at NBC. Your comedy before the show was better than 99.9% of comedians out there. You really got the crowd going! I want to apologize because I snuck my video camera into the studio and recorded some of the show. All these years later... I'm sorry. 😭

[@iGaveLiaHIV]

post it

[@zargtn]

Definitely consider posting! I think it’d be interesting for people to see what the show was like from the perspective of the studio audience

[@TheCandiceWang]

I saw his old show when he brought the show to sf

[@mugentuner]

I think Richard Gere needs to come on the podcast to set the record straight on gerbils

[@alexandercampbell7903]

If Richard Gere is ever on the Podcast; Coco-fans will shout "There is talk of gerbils" at him if they are not already.

[@darthgon146]

8:15 Matt's sound effect is amazing here

[@afconnelly]

It's nice Conan dressed for his 8th grade graduation.

[@foreverowlcity22]

Mr Gere, Needs A Gerbil 🎶 Lol 🎶🎶..

[@destroyrebuild]

"He provides sanctuary." 😂🤣😭🤣

[@winsalot84]

"He provides sanctuary" Tears 😂

[@dulynoted2427]

Can't believe this. I just got done telling my gf the story, while watching a Richard Gere movie 2 days ago. I don't believe it either.

[@BenJalil]

we need u guys to find and post that video! pronto!

[@babubabu1406]

"He provides sanctuary" 😂😂😂😂

[@chosenArchitec]

Conan is wearing a tie, I knew something looked odd ;D

[@alexandercampbell7903]

And when the Gerbil is talking about Richard Gere; he or she is smoking a cigarette! 😂

[@Miranda_Ghost]

What if the gerbil they talk of ...is named Kedakai!

[@LexingtonB09]

I’m a millennial and I had never heard this rumor until i heard it on the podcast haha then i went and did a poll of all my friends and none of them had ever heard it ethers so….it did open the door to some lively discussions though haha

[@mr.rogers251]

That rumor was said on the original SCREAM movie.

[@RobCabreraCh]

I just googled it, and there is a wikipedia page about it! This is so ridiculous hahaha

[@LindaC616]

😅😅 I never knew that😅😅

[@jairo8746]

"He provides sanctuary" JAJAJAJAJAJA

[@zachlafond2652]

"There is no way that ever happened"..proceeds to touch his nose because he knows.

[@Syraks]

THERE WAS TALK OF GERBILS.

[@marionlayton929]

I don't know why, but I remember that episode in question & the episode that led to Conan exclaiming "Monkey bite Conan!" quite vividly.

[@nickmail7604]

Where do you think the band name Pet Shop Boys" comes from?

[@s1x6x1s]

i lived in the States in the mid 90s for 10 years and i didn't hear about Richard Gere and a gerbil. i had to google it just now. there was a contestant on Family Feud who answered "gerbil" on the question: things doctors remove from a person... it's a funny answer but now it makes sense why it's funny.

[@zoperxplex]

Clearly, the Gerbil rumor has captured Gourley's imagination because he has concocted ways this ridiculous story could possibly work out.

[@sy_the_slayer]

I listened to this on my way to work on my bike and I was howling laughing at the sound effect of the pneumatic tubes ...

[@lachauntiswashington231]

I want to hear more from the gerbil😂

[@savannahreina4426]

Yes, justice for the gerbil! 😂

[@treborretsnom6186]

Conan's gerbil voice is Jay Leno...

[@andrewfoster883]

The gerbil was covered in duct tape, for people that are concerned about the possibility of claw damage. People often forget this part of the legend

[@jammieweston2566]

30yrs later and today I decided to look up “did Richard here and a hamster..”

[@MartianInAHumansBody]

"Conan, you know he doesn't do that!” Conan Johnson replied, “I know. I just want to make him deny it!"

[@Berlynic]

I only know this rumor because Conan mentioned it on the podcast. After Conan mentioned it, I looked it up

[@srconrad]

It wasn't until half way through the video that I realized Conan was talking about Mickey Rooney and not Mickey Rourke that mentioned "talk of gerbils." I guess you hear what you want to hear. I didn't think Rourke was dead. He's not.

[@Cap610]

"There was talk of gerbils. God rest their souls."

[@fab.silva1119]

I read that Conan supplied Gere with the gerbils.

[@SmartVandelay]

7:54 "Butt!" Indeed.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

This will be a story that becomes a legend in time

[@jimmysgameclips]

I want Richard Gere to phone into the podcast and just tell a lie, one big prank before his journey on this planet ends. Just call in and say 'it's true' and hang up

[@MarcKloos]

Didn't South Park not once do an episode about a gerbil?

[@TXnine7nine]

oh they definitely did 😂

[@dsnitely]

Ohnh Jeezuth Chr*st

[@raquelb731]

Something behind you! 😂😂😂😂

[@chrisbredesen]

I'm waiting for a Lemmiwinks moment. Always waiting.

[@Senriam]

I scrolled too long for this reference

[@ThrillaWhale]

Uhh yeah Sona 💯 I was a baby when this whole thing originally was talked about on air and I never even heard of it until the podcast brought it up. Thank you Conan 🙏🏻

[@markzylstra2947]

I didn't hear about the rumor until Conan mentioned it lol

[@mbroussardnthaboot]

That could've been a great show bit where the gerbil (in Conan's voice) claims that it was strictly plutonic

[@Kitty8791]

Related to igneous rock?! Oh, did you mean "platonic" - as in a non-sexual relationship?

[@mbroussardnthaboot]

@@Kitty8791 that's right, didn't edit my voice command 😁

[@Tonyhouse1168]

He clearly meant plutonic, as in related to plutonium. The gerbil with Conan’s voice would drop EXPLOSIVE content!

[@Kitty8791]

@@Tonyhouse1168 There is that option as well, but given the recent Oppenheimer release & reminder of the horrific deaths secondary to nuclear radiation, I veered away from that. 😶 I went for the more obscure reference for increased comedic effect.

[@Michelle-tk9jq]

OMG I’m dying 😂😂😂

[@JoshYellowLedbetter]

Get him on the podcast! He has things to say. ;)

[@jerseytomato100]

If you’re from the Philly area it was newscaster Jerry Penacoli who had gerbil love 😂

[@lisas5211]

habit trail - havent heard that for decades LOL

[@pendragon6207]

Oh god I could barely breathe in the second half of the clip :D

[@tipitii7388]

When can we expect the to see a clip of that Andy Rooney interview?

[@TheCandiceWang]

Conina's Mickey Rooney impression 😂

[@-davidolivares]

There was talk of Matt’s Ibanez Musician guitar, ouch. No, I almost got one at a pawnshop, put down a hundred and never went back… if only.