David Letterman and Conan O'Brien, Part 1: 1993-2009

[@chrisfenwick5376]

It really is amazingly nice and generous how letterman saved conan’s late night show by appearing the first time. Ratings were so bad for him those first couple months, letterman was still bitter at nbc for how he was treated. He didn’t need to do it but he loved conan so much that he went out of his way to sit down at a show that replaced him at a company that he still had hard feelings for and gave it a stamp of approval. Just an amazingly kind gesture. Letterman will always have my respect for that and he was already a legend.

[@ilovebrandnewcarpets]

I think it was more a 🖕🏻 to NBC, but not 100%. He did like Conan, and I think he wanted him to succeed.

[@Spaced92]

He didn't actually save the show, e got a very brief bump. It wasn't until the 3rd season that the ratings recovered unless I remember wrong.

[@03Man11]

“But he loved Conan so much”. I swear you people make up narratives to make yourselves feel better.

[@rancidcrawfish]

​@@03Man11yup that's the pathetic world we live in

[@markyncole]

I swear you @@03Man11 make up negative narratives to make yourself feel better.

[@chrisreid7758]

Dave made the “Conan killed a guy” joke in the very first clip…and then once more in the very last clip….16 years apart. Incredible.

[@squareversesine]

What a call back

[@jkap34]

Well, conan has killed a man before.

[@Lauracita1980]

The ultimate call-back 🩵🩵🩵

[@jondavis2790]

You can see Conan getting more and more confident.

[@siniaura]

more hard in the pants

[@sliceserve234]

I noticed the same! And, the confidence made him funnier.

[@93Jubilee]

He was always funnier than Letterman, much warmer.

[@triluna0]

@@93Jubileel actually love Letterman’s sardonic humor!

[@alexandregoncalves6066]

he has a pull up chart ...my aunt is a secretary at nbc on botom flor.....

[@tommylakindasorta3068]

I really sense how relieved Dave was that his Late Night show was in good hands with Conan. Like a proud father.

[@andyb1653]

My "Mt. Rushmore" of talk-show greatness would be Letterman, Conan, Craig Ferguson and Jon Stewart.

[@GokulOnFire]

Lol. All you people have not lived through that era and at believing one sided stories.. Letterman not only funded Conan's competition ie, Craig Ferguson, Conan was losing to him. Usually when you're on the rise you're given the promotion, but NBC gave Conan the tonight show despite him losing out to Ferguson. And this was the time when Kimmel also started out so the Late Late (CBS), Late Night (NBC) had a new competiton in Kimmel. People who watched Leno, didn't stay to watch Conan, they switched to Kimmel. But somehow Conan was given Tonight show. And it was rough, he not only didn't match Letterman's numbers he didn't even reach Leno's number. And btw the comedy circle never thought Conan earned it. They thought Garry Shandling should've gotten it. Conan complains about network politics that got him fired but the same network politics landed him the gift. Another factor was the move to California. A significant budget was given to move Conan's show to California because they believed California was the new HQ (turned out to be true) & his comic sense matched the west coast better (turned out to be true). The biggest problem was guest booking and the Hollywood stars were in LA, so moving there was a benefit. And with ABC's rise in 21st century thanks to new owners Disney, it was mandatory for NBC to make moves. Conan was given loads of conveniences. The biggest schemer was Letterman. Coz he basically controlled 3 shows in 2 different network. In comedy clubs if a pro is followed by an up & comer, the pro doesn't take credit, if he does its looked down upon. But that's exactly what Letterman did. He made a deal with CBS taking control over production & profit not just for his show but Ferguson's show. The very thing Conan complains about Leno, when Leno didn't even did anything remotely close to that. And Letterman had Conan in NBC as his proxy. Another thing is Letterman was a liberal & Leno was a conservative, while that had a level playing field in audience category, celebs were as a whole liberals. So from booking to preferences to exclusives, Leno was shorted in everything. It became political. Conan couldn't book anyone because his show had low ratings and Letterman made his guests go to Ferguson, because Letterman profitted that way as the profits went to him. Oh btw the contract that gave him profits of Ferguson's show also had stayed Ferguson as his replacement, a promise which Letterman didn't keep. I mean I can go on, but I'll digress. No one's as cunning as Letterman. He became famous because the media & the celebs loved him, right around when politics of a person started to matter.

[@dorothygale1104]

⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠@@GokulOnFire You are trying to do the impossible,…you’re trying to sell crazy. There is nothing “cunning” about Dave owning his show and The Late Late Show as it was simply the business deal he negotiate when he moved to CBS to give them a late night presence that CBS didn’t have prior to Dave moving to CBS. It’s the kind of business deal that stars negotiate with a network that needs them. Carson negotiated ownership of The Tonight Show starting when he moved the show from NYC to Burbank, as well as ownership of a new show to be created to follow The Tonight Show (which turned out to be The Late Show with Letterman). Your claim that Dave didn’t honor a promise to Craig Ferguson that he would take over as host of Dave’s CBS show whenever Dave retired is pure bunk, as Dave’s contract only gave him ownership of the two CBS shows during the time Dave actually hosted his CBS show and ownership of both CBS shows reverted to CBS once Dave retired. So, Dave could not have promised that Ferguson would take over Dave’s CBS show because Dave didn’t own his CBS show after he retired and, therefore, would have no authority or control over any aspect of a show he no longer owned. This situation exactly mirrored Carson’s ownership deal of The Tonight Show, which he wouldn’t own after his retirement and , likewise, had no say in who would follow him as host of the Tonight Show. Everyone knows that Carson wanted Dave to follow him as host of the Tonight Show, but Carson didn’t have the authority to designate who would suceed him because he would no longer own the Tonight show post-retirement. Your comment about Shandling hosting The Tonight Show demonstrates that you have no understanding of the events related to Tonight Show hosts post-Carson. If you recall, Shandling and Joan Rivers were under contract as exclusive guest hosts of The Tonight Show and filled in when Carson was off and it was presumed that Shandling or Rivers would succeed Carson. However, NBC couldn’t give Shandling or Rivers any sense of timing about when The Tonight Show gig would become available because Carson would not give NBC any idea of when he would retire. So, Shandling and Rivers (who were both highly sought after) were effectively waiting for the Tonight Show host opportunity with no idea when that opportunity would become a reality. Shandling ultimately walked from the The Tonight Show guest host gig to sign with HBO to start his own show (which he also owned, btw) and Rivers subsequently also left to start her own show on Fox. NBC had grown frustrated with Carson’s unwillingness to give any idea of when he would retire, which made succession planning a problem, as asking potential successors to get into a waiting line for an opportunity when nobody had any idea how long that wait would be. Fast forward to Leno having been host of the Tonight Show for a while, as well as Conan hosting the Late Show and Conan’s contract soon to expire and Conan getting offers from other networks. Leno’s contract was also coming up for renewal. NBC & Conan both wanted to renew his contract, but Conan didn’t want to continue passing on other offers for the opportunity to succeed Leno with no idea when that opportunity would become reality. NBC didn’t want succession planning for the Tonight Show to become the same waiting game problem under Leno that it was with Carson. NBC extended Leno’s contract, but required that Leno commit to a date that he would leave as Tonight Show host, which Leno & NBC would be 5 years from the date of that contract extension. NBC then extended Conan’s contract with the guaranty in that contract that Conan would become host of the Tonight Show in 5 years when Leno stepped away as host, which Leno’s contract extension required him to do. NBC’s deals with Leno & Conan regarding Tonight Show host succession was unusual and drew much attention and many jokes when NBC announced that Conan would take over as Tonight Show host….in 5 years. So, your whole spiel about Conan manipulating his way into the Tonight Show gig and the comedy community thinking Shandling should have been the better host is total garbage. Conan became host of the Tonight Show because NBC had contractually guaranteed that Conan would become Tonight Show host on a date certain and NBC announced that date that Conan would take over the tonight Show 5 years prior to Conan becoming the host. It was public knowledge about why & when Conan would host the Tonight Show and there was no chatter in the comedy community about Shandling being a better choice, as: (1) Shandling had his own show at HBO that was very successful snd very profitable for Gary and (2) who may have been a better host of the Tonight Show was a discusssion that was irrelevant because NBC had made & announced their decision 5 years earlier and there was no chance Shandling would ever give up his HBO show that he created and owned. Because of NBC’s contractual obligation, Conan had no need to engage in manipulation to get the Tonight Show gig because he had a contract that guaranteed he would get that gig. Regarding Conan’s ratings at the Tonight Show, his ratings suffered from NBC’s idiotic idea to pacify Leno after his Tonight Show hosting ended by giving him a new show at 10pm, which stunk with horrible ratings. Viewership of the 11pm News is a lead-in and drives the ratings of 11:30 late night programming and viewership of 10-11pm programming drives viewership of the 11pm News. If NBC 11pm News has weak viewership, the 11:30pm Tonight Show will suffer, as it is less likely that those watching News on CBS, ABC or other channel will switch channels to watch The Tonight Show on NBC. Likewise, if 10-11pm programming is weak, viewership of the 11pm News as the lead-in to 11:30pm programming will be weak. Conan’s Tonight Show ratings were OK when he started as host and were improving steadily. Leno’s 10pm show started after Conan took over the Tonight Show and Leno’s show was an immediate disaster and it had an immediate negative effect on Tonight Show ratings, which is easily seen from the ratings once Leno’s 10pm show started. Nobody was watching Leno’s new show, which led to NBC 11pm News having weak viewership and led to a hit to the Tonight Show ratings, as Leno’s 10pm disaster killed the lead in chain to the Tonight Show hit their ratingsRatings for Leno’s new show were so bad that NBC affiliates across the country were threatening to air alternative programming at 10pm instead of Leno’s new show. NBC execs knew Leno’s 10pm show had to be cancelled, which it was cancelled. But NBC’s brilliant idea of solving the Tonight Show ratings decline was to give Leno a show at 11:35 and move the Tonight Show (with Conan remaining as host) to 12:05am, which technically would have had the Tonight Show airing tomorrow. Conan wouldn’t agree to moving to 12:05 because he believed that would damage the Tonight Show by moving it from its king-time time slot and wasn!5 fair to him by miving him to a less desireavke start time. NBC was effectiveky trying to make Conan pay the price for Leno’s 10pm show failure and its negative effect on Conan’s Tonight Show ratings. NBC and Leno created the whole problem by giving Leno athe 10pm show after yanking him from the Tonight Show and then Leno producing an absolutely horrible show which damaged Tonight Show ratings. Yet, NBC was bending over to please Leno despite having ended his tenure as Tonight Show host and then his failure with his 10pm new show and the damage that caused to Conan’s Tonight Show ratings. Rather, Conan was set up as the sole cause of the Tonight Show’s ratings decline, which nobody at NBC did nor sid anything to dispel, which led Conan to conclude that Leno was working his voodoo behind the scenes just like he did with Letterman after Carson retired. When Leno made comments that Conan’s ratings decline is what was damaging the Tonight Show Conan knew Leno was throwing him under the bus behind the scenes. NBC had the opportunity to cut Conan loose when his contract was extended 5 years prior. When Conan told NBC that he would be s team player and agree to an extension if he knew how long the wait for the Tonight Show gig would be because he was turning down offers for other gigs. NBC never remotely told Conan that Leno was their guy for as long as Leno wanted the job, but rather, NBC told Leno he would have the Tonight Show gig for 5 years and then Conan would step in. Conan waited 5 years to step in the Tonight Show gig and took himself off the market other potential gigs only to be thrown under the bus due to bad decisions by NBC and Leno’s 10pm failure. In the end, Conan negotiated a $45M exit settlement with NBC, of which $15M went to the staff & production team working on Conan’s Tonight Show.

[@iurilangmeira]

​​aww poor leno, never did anything wrong at all!! the sweetest guy in town @@GokulOnFire

[@GokulOnFire]

@@iurilangmeira Leno isn't, point is Conan isn't & wasn't either. Especially not Letterman. Conan literally was pampered and ushered into the positions by Lorne. He's shedding crocodile tears for decades. He's the goat talk show host but he's petty & whiny when it comes to this. Hed have disappeared into oblivion of he wasn't fired. They were right to fire him, TBS was the perfect home for him. If you're a boxer don't whine when wwe fires you, they were right. Go and dominate more pure but less popular boxing.

[@240p_is_enough]

I love seeing Dave genuinely laugh at Conan's stuff. Wholesome.

[@johnking5174]

Through all of this you can see the affection and respect David Letterman had for Conan O'Brien, and indeed vice versa.

[@blanchardwill]

One of my favorite Giller joints. Letterman was meaningfully supportive of Conan and treated him as a peer and honorable successor on the Late Night show. It’s exactly the opposite of what Leno did, who passively demeaned Conan during his TV debut. It’s a testament to how real and passionate about broadcasting Letterman was. A lot of people were not into Conan in the 90s especially at NBC, but Letterman supported him every step of the way before Conan blew up. That’s class, man.

[@Surreal469]

Dave's wish for Conan to end up the same as Dave was VERY prophetic

[@KJ-je9pm]

Both were connected to Leno too

[@franklubbock8400]

Lmao damn

[@jaimemichelle8602]

I forgot how great the original/first cartoon opening was. ;)

[@nicholasmoose6574]

I feel bad that the cartoon guy could never afford a bed sheet that fit his bed. classic opening though.

[@bijibadness]

1:50 was _it,_ man. not even "sink or swim" for Conan O'Brien, more like "we're sinking already and we're probably going to be off the air in a few weeks. if there's a shot to survive as show and as an entertainer, it's right this second. let's start this thing." gosh, I admire Conan. because he's funny and the best, true, but look at that. if anyone doesn't know, Conan O'Brien's show was a giant flop for the first however many months. it was this episode he's said on many occasions that was the last chance. and David did this as a favor. Dave didn't really DO interviews. this was the show it very literally all turned around for Conan O'Brien. we get to watch a man's career get made after being told it wasn't going to happen. how amazing. thanks for this, Don. I've thanked you before. thanks, man.

[@patmccrotch7645]

Thank you so much for posting these videos... there's something about watching these that takes me to a calm, relaxing place when my anxiety goes up. I really really appreciate all of your compilations you've posted of the late night shows.

[@dongiller]

Thanks!!

[@AEM479]

❤ Yes- Me too! & I assume thousands of others…. Conan & Dave are wonderful on their own, & together the best. It is their intelligence, & humor yes- But their class, wonderful hearts & the fact that they truly seem to make each other laugh and that they seem to have a sincere affection for each other that make the entire mix so comforting!!! ❤😄

[@patmccrotch7645]

There's something that makes me so happy seeing these two together talking and doing interviews with one another.

[@TadashiNazuka]

The two best hosts in history. Living Legends.

[@mzwandilemdlela6847]

Letterman really loves Conan

[@MrNemoYo]

Dave, Conan and Craig... The trinity of late night.

[@lough1959]

Totally! What the hell’s happening? Fallon?! OMG, shoot me now!

[@MrNemoYo]

@@lough1959 Heard, loud and clear, buddy... "What's happening"?... Controlled SOCIAL demolition... The only silver lining I hold dear, is the fact that I got to live through the good times. That term is not a cliche anymore, it's a historical term. Late night has become more believable than MSMBCNN News, to the sheep. Shocking how nobody from the masses clicks to such an obvious headfunk project, that switched so quick it was non-disputable.

[@HOTD108_]

​@@lough1959More of a Corden fan?

[@aaronsmith4806]

If you never heard of the 80s I suppose

[@adamdesanti6713]

Two beloved men from 2 different generations. Dave's stuff from the 80's was very avant-garde and Conan in the 90's was my generation.

[@mr.mountvillain362]

I love how Dave knew NBC screwed him over, but he knew it wasn't Conan's fault and never blamed him at all, just gave him his blessing and tried to help him as much as he could for many many years

[@Novastar6]

Conan looked defeated on that Letterman episode. Dave came in at the exact right time.

[@norakay9302]

Letterman is an absolute Legend

[@johnsheldon7716]

He is. He and Conan were the creme de la creme of 90s late night

[@Onlythatfunkyshit]

@@johnsheldon7716Let us not forget how influential and great the Arsenio Hall show was.

[@HiddenGhost00]

Conan around the 1:24 "Thanks for having me, I appreciate it" Always grateful and respectful to Dave, just anither example why I love Conan! Dave supporting Conan throughout the years shows how amazing he is as well!!!

[@Football__Junkie]

Dave was for Team Coco from the beginning. Coming on and giving a seal of approval and laughing at all of Conan’s jokes.

[@VenomKitetsu]

This era of talk shows is missed and will continue to be missed.

[@bleepiestofbloops]

Wow, seeing Conan on Letterman right after Dave was on his show really highlights how green Conan was at hosting. He seems much more like himself just a few months later, as a guest.

[@matthewrock4725]

Well it's a completely different role between host and guest

[@bleepiestofbloops]

@@matthewrock4725 Yes, but Conan typically acted more like he did as a guest even as a host than he did in that first clip, right? I never watched him religiously, but from what I've seen and known of him, that first clip was out of character. He was understandably uncomfortable.

[@matthewrock4725]

@@bleepiestofbloops well, I won't say you're wrong. He knew his ratings were down. The pressure was on. And all of a sudden his predecessor wants to come on. He was probably trying to just let Dave do his thing and stay out of the way. Conan absolutely found his groove as time went on. Not disagreeing. Think we were just saying the same thing in different terms.

[@danneilson7768]

Dave did for Conan like Carson did for dave

[@user-ri3vg6kf4p]

They all did what they were told to do

[@HookedonChronics]

​@@user-ri3vg6kf4p Dave didnt have to do anything for Conan, they were on different networks for all these clips.

[@FlowHeavy]

Great video. Awesome to see Conan develop as a host.

[@mattnorcia5593]

He had the hypest intro ever

[@Lindsyll]

At this point conan is already very good at interviewing people. He keeps the slightly nerdy "i don't know what im doing vibe" but is still laid back and cool. He lets dave talk whenever he wants. He tries to give dave the pencil and ask him if he will try it cus his window sucks but Dave had literally just begun to tell a story almost simultaneously. Conan immediately stops talking and lets Dave continue and just rested the pencil there on the table for Dave to pick it up after he finished while Conan then says "come on show us how its done." He has a great understanding of just letting things flow and if you have someone on like Dave you just fill the gaps and you fill them well with good questions and bits. The streaker was hilarious.

[@urabusxrw04]

The ball busting between the two is on another level.

[@daboys1215]

Letterman going on Conan's show is the one thing that saved it. It made no sense for him to do that but he did it anyway. From what i have been able to gather, he called them about being a guest on the show. They thought it was some joke until they realized it wasn't. Dave saved Conan's career that night.

[@stefanmarraccini8646]

There would be no possible way I could calculate the laughs, joy, and healing from the daily grind that these 2 gentlemen provided me and my family. Respect and adoration for them and all the hard working talented folks that were a part of both of their late night decades. 🤜🤛

[@ineedausernamenow999]

So stoked to hear Max WB7 version of the LS Letterman theme, very fun, would like to hear the full thing. Same on the reverse, CBSO played a great version of the Conan theme, just fun stuff

[@USALeonHeart]

I’m also a big fan of the very fusion-y take on the Carson theme when Carson showed up on Late Night

[@MrFlob85]

Conan says, “Thank you, sir,” at the end of so many visits. I believe Dave lifted him up on purpose and Conan showed him the respect Dave showed Carson. Leno might’ve had the ratings, but these guys had the integrity.

[@jasondorn4566]

That was definitely Bob Odenkirk as the Streaker at 2:58.

[@andythefork]

I love the bookending of this video with Letterman saying he doesn't know much about Conan except he heard he killed a guy. 16 years for it to come full-circle.

[@RobynDavis-sj9tc]

The BEST!!!!!!

[@stephencarter6392]

Letterman should have had the Tonight Show, followed by Conan. That would have been unbeatable. Leno was always expendable to me. Not funny. I have no idea why he was on any of those shows. Letterman and Conan were great.

[@HipHopSlam]

100% in agreement with you Stephen Carter - and never ever understood the appeal of Leno or Jimmy Fallon who IMO is totally unwatchable

[@LandonStevens]

It’s amazing how a single J can screw late night for 18 years

[@brandonbrook9664]

Conan became great...... eventually. But man, those first few years of Conan were pathetic and unwatchable.

[@mjlink777]

Yes! YES!! A thousand times yes!!!

[@brandonbrook9664]

@@mjlink777 Wow, what are you watching??? Don't forget to wash your 'socks' after you've finished your smoke.

[@hillarylarson4780]

What a supporter, Letterman was. And is. Always loved that dude. Took me awhile to really get to know Conan’s persona but I love him, too.

[@derekanderson5429]

Omg Letterman is my age in this first appearance on Conan’s show, 46. Weird because now he’s over seventy. Don’t let a moment pass you bye.

[@Just.Kidding]

50:12 - For those who remember the woman who sued McDonald's because she was burned by the hot coffee, it was reported and joked about like it was a ridiculous and frivolous lawsuit, or at worst being greedy, wasteful, etc. It wasn't. She needed skin grafts from having suffered third-degree burns. The coffee was so hot, it literally melted her groin and thighs together. After the hospital stay, she had fallen to 83 lbs. and was left disabled for years and permanently disfigured. She was 79 years old. All she wanted was $20k to cover medical expenses and the wages her daughter lost from having to care for her. McDonald's offered to settle for _$800._

[@LickMyMusketBallsYankee]

Im lovin it

[@ryrygoogoo]

All you need is for the press to be on the wrong side of the story and everyone turns against you

[@emerjensea]

@Just.Kidding Whether or not what you say is true, the joke wasn’t making fun of that one woman. It was pointing out the string of lawsuits (for the same way too hot coffee burning ppl who would then sue McD’s for millions). It wasn’t insulting any single woman of whom you speak (i believe he said “a man” in this case, actually). I don’t remember any of the jokes on the subject being aimed at anyone like her. It was always about the preposterous trend that emerged wherein ppl would misuse/mishandle products in the most ridiculous ways - what would be obvious to 99% of ppl as what not to do - so that now we have paragraphs of product warnings that should not need to be stated, but ppl en masse discovered they could (&will) do stupid things for money and/or stupid ppl get money for the consequences of their unsupervised actions that *should* only cause them to be remanded to the care of a responsible guardian. Instead, being reckless and even trying to injure oneself is rewarded instead of discouraged. The innocent ppl who legitimately suffer(ed) as a result of a product used as intended are not what someone like Dave is making jokes about. The warning on McD’s coffee cups wasn’t around yet, and ppl took advantage after the success of legit claims became public knowledge. McD’s had complaints ab coffee being too cold by the time drive-thru customers could drink their coffee so (to make more $) new policy made sure it was served hotter in order to allow for cooling through avg delay / commute. Turns out, it was dangerously hot in many cases, and customers were not advised they would be receiving anything different, so there were legit injuries that garnered media attention as plaintiffs demanded higher dollars from the huge restaurant chain over the same issue. McD’s evaded liability until they were put in the spotlight for this specific offense and could no longer bully ppl into minimal settlements bc it became common knowledge in legal sense that McD’s was continuing to expose customers to known danger w/o disclosure (so they assumed all liability until consumer warnings added to containers of their mutilating liquid that made most ppl happier / sold more bc it was still hot when you got where you were going and could sip it while eating your not-hot-enough-anymore egg mcmuffin 🙄 ).

[@triluna0]

The first video was a blessing to Conan for his show! ❤

[@bedminstereric]

Dave and Conan were the best!

[@wayne_paulo]

You gotta love Dave, this man reallly knows how to enjoy himself

[@mz5458]

9:00 The pencil-through-the-window bit is a perfect example of the different styles/spirit of the hosts/shows: Where Carson's show was funny (very), but in a conventional sort of way ("why would you throw pencils through windows?"), Dave's show by contrast was funny in an unconventional absurdist way ("It's funny because it breaks even though there's no glass,"). Contrasting yet again is Conan, where things are funny because it (seems to be) hapless and out of control.

[@angelpipessd]

Huge thank you to the person that put all of these clips together, I’m sure that was a ton of work to comb through and find all of these clips. Watching these has been so fun to go back in time and see how much interaction Dave and Conan had between their shows - it really shows how much Dave enjoyed Conan, and how much he wanted to do to support someone he thought was talented. And sure, maaaaybe a little part of it was Dave promoting someone other than Jay as a bit of a FU 😂

[@dongiller]

You’re welcome!

[@macadelic2492]

Hey it's the 2 guys that interviewed Norm Macdonald

[@KusMoGX]

Watched Letterman on CBS as a kid in JHS, and then Conan years later, but watching the Letterman clips with Conan again as a adult really brings about a new perspective for me. Like, I never thought much about Letterman having recurring collaborations with talk show host/personalities from competing networks- Regis Philbin from ABC, and of course, Conan O'Brien from NBC. Now as an adult, I'm wondering how he was able to do it. Maybe non-compete clauses were as restrictive as they are now? Even so, he's the only one I can think of that did it regularly. Not just as a guest but as part of the show, like skits and cameos. It's also obvious to me now that he liked Conan from the start before he even left his show on NBC. Because we know how Dave can be bitter, and if wants to be, he will be, quality of his show be damned. He doesn't pull his punches with Leno. And some of the suits at NBC/GE (parent owner of NBC at the time; maybe still is?). Conan's ratings were terrible when it first started and Dave could've just used that for a routine on his show to spite NBC (like he did during the NBC late night scheduling shakeup with Jay at 10pm) but instead he came on his show and was very complimentary of him. And since Jay's Tonight Show was Conan's lead-in, it's potentially damaging to promote Conan cuz Dave competes with Jay's time slot directly, but he did it anyway. I think it's so cool that Conan and Dave had the Dave and Johnny relationship despite not only being on competing networks, but one taking over the other's show. It's a shame because NBC could've benefited from that if Dave had gotten the Tonight Show gig after Johnny.

[@judefernandez9234]

Also Letterman was a guest on the last episode of Jon Stewart's MTV show

[@bigmoose99]

The best KZbin channel hands down.

[@DanJanTube]

@1:17:27 and just like that, it's 2022 and Conan is 59yrs old

[@holotape]

Wow, that was great. These two shows were everything.

[@jameswilker1774]

As a Conan fan It is hard not to have all the respect in the world for Dave. This guy just battled it out with NBC, he was moving away as they made the mistake of going with Jay. Still, here is a guy that cared about something he had built on a different network, and network that spurned him but he still jumped in to do his part to help. That is a level of morality not seen often and certainly not by a television personality. Dave Letterman is my generations King of Late Night

[@sniffles8655]

Conan is the absolute Hero the world needs, but it certainly doesn't deserve it. Conan is too precious for this world.

[@Thulgore]

The most amazing thing is. I don't think even Letterman understood how sincerely Conan took that. No one could have imagined it and sad how few would even try. I'm commenting on the first few minutes. Also Conan famously took his staff everywhere with him if they were willing. He knows how to lead, in a way most "leaders" don't even come close to understanding.

[@Aceshigh777]

They really jam well together. I grew up on both these guys. It still really feels like home when I watch them..

[@Young.gorzki]

Thank you from Australia! 🇦🇺

[@LosingLincolns]

Wow we were so lucky back then to have funny entertaining late night talk shows. Now I have no interest in what passes for a late night talk show. I miss those days, thanks for sharing these classic shows 👍

[@AfricanDanceInternational]

Wow David, hats off for your accurate candid nobile comment on Conan

[@DeanHeuke]

Thank you for sharing this epic video!! Love Dave & the combination w/Conan is just always excellent. DOLE IS OLD !!! :D

[@troylowe814]

Both of these guys are the real deal. The Mt. Rushmore of late night hosts should be Tom Snyder, Johnny Carson, David Letterman and Conan O'Brien. No one did it better than these guys. What we have now is unwatchable.

[@The_RedVIII]

Man, watching this feels like it was just recorded yesterday, but then you hear Conan talk about just getting a dog and you realize that that dog is most likely not alive anymore.

[@johnsheldon7716]

I love how Dave will absolutely not say NBC

[@michaelmcnulty9324]

This is great. Thanks for sharing.

[@triluna0]

I loved old Letterman’s show! Especially the phone calls to random people!😂

[@tomservo4299]

Watching that conan intro was like smelling something that reminded me of camp........bonkers...true jolt

[@ScottIngram]

Thanks for this 🙏

[@pianosage]

THANK YOU!

[@Chippylapil]

Don Giller, thank you. You are a blessing.

[@MichaelKuchar]

The way Johnny cared for David, he did that for Conan. This is why Jay Leno is not part of that club.

[@milesahead69]

Thank you!

[@JustOrigins]

How the big wigs at NBC chose Leno over Letterman and Conan is beyond me. Heck, even Andy should have a talk show before Leno ever should.

[@johnking5174]

Audience ratings talks - Leno pulled in the lucrative middle of the road American audience, thrashing Letterman from 1995 onward. NBC are there to make a profit and are not a public service broadcast station. They did not owe Conan a living.

[@AEM479]

❤ This is all so nice…. Thank you so much for putting it together!!! ❤😄

[@noelbromander4556]

Conan was better in 93 than Jimmy Fallon is today

[@theindyjt]

I haven't heard Conan's Late Night theme in so long.

[@jfpOne23]

Letterman..Conan. Top shelf. Period.

[@WarmandHardy]

Crazy to see how anxious Conan was to prove himself while sharing the spotlight with Dave.

[@ValmeRibay]

Conan was such a cutie

[@nick56677]

6:53 Dave putting Conan over. Good stuff

[@Ugapiku]

Could someone tell me the 34:25 Pre-Oscar Nightmare what is that?

[@wyldelf2685]

CBS and NBC were being very gracious allow access to both shows at their prospective building locations , , ,bravo for being good sports big network big wigs , , ,😋👍👍

[@johnking5174]

CBS and NBC had no input, it was up to the hosts whether they allowed any rival in their studio space. CBS and NBC management couldn't have cared less, promotion for their show is all they care about, and they got it - P.S. I know you are kidding.

[@markoberacher8191]

The opening slaps.

[@mrdaym]

That bit of them rummaging through archived cue cards for jokes was hilarious.

[@axeman6598]

Thanks D G

[@patmccrotch7645]

That lady got to meet Letterman ON HIS SHOW, got sent to Conan's show, and was complaining about having to go over to conan.. come on lady.

[@jamievackicev4905]

Carson Letterman Leno and O'Brien....I love them all ... Conan's patience and kindness... not exploiting others. My favorite.

[@bernlin2000]

Two legends of television!

[@RBweb24]

I'm really disappointed in myself for not appreciated Dave back then he was really great. I shouldn't have let my dislike of Paul get to me like it did. Johnny, Dave and Conan are the 3 kings of late night.

[@dspiffy]

How can anyone dislike Paul?

[@RBweb24]

@@dspiffy they listen to him talk

[@dspiffy]

@@RBweb24 He has a lot of brilliant things to say about music. Maybe they hate music?

[@dbsti3006]

Honestly, I like all 3 of them. Conan, Leno, and Letterman. Each one was different and when watching TV at night as a kid, I just watched whichever show my parents had the TV on. Sometimes Letterman, sometimes Leno, or Conan. I thought each host was funny in a different way.

[@nick56677]

1:42:48 Dave always did the best Leno impression 🤣

[@ClauCrissx]

I love conan and david letterman

[@caniican]

This is great, looks like he's an eleven-year-old boy. This is before his hair was popped up in the front. Classic should I love it and Dave was always such a good friend so supportive. No jealousy no rivalry just a good soul. Both of them

[@jerryhamer]

Conan has been on as long as Johnny was. He's surpassed them all in my eyes. The Goat

[@dongiller]

Dave currently has the crown for longest-running host on late night tv. Johnny was host of The Tonight Show for nearly 30 years. Conan was host of his three late night tv shows for 28. Dave for 33 1/3.

[@jerryhamer]

@@dongiller Yeay but what's a couple of years. Just my opinion

[@dongiller]

@@jerryhamer Just stating the facts.

[@KtotheL]

Conan voice so high sounded like a kid 😂

[@waynepayne9875]

Wow Dave is only 46 here

[@ryanwarren2970]

I miss seeing Letterman throwing pencils around.

[@hugopedersen8494]

Was that Odenkirk as the streaker? He looks like Saul Goodman in season 6 of BCS 😆

[@AxelFlame47]

yea bob was a writer on early Conan

[@sillygoose635]

Wow.. Just wow.

[@paulpolpiboon9535]

The coolest

[@harck1]

bring back david letterman

[@johnlillyblad5188]

What was the bit where he sends the people to Conan? So weird...

[@Shadowx011]

David Letterman has always looked the same age even now with the beard, lol…this is not a put down on Dave. I miss David Letterman more than ever now.

[@roxydzey]

why joan collins one with letterman is in this compilation of conan xd

[@dongiller]

Context.

[@geraldframinghammer2626]

Love the tie! I have one that is similar.