Conan O'Brien Talks About Jay Leno | Letterman

[@redheadgoeshealthy9505]

I was lucky enough to be an intern on his Tonight Show. Best 3 months of my life.

[@dataconduit]

Very awesome!

[@herrqwertz3567]

Wow. That's super cool! How was your experience? Did you meet big C?

[@raulcitraro]

If Conan O'Brien returned to The Tonight Show, the ratings would go through the roof.

[@redheadgoeshealthy9505]

@@herrqwertz3567 I did!! He is exactly the same as what he presents on tv!

[@herrqwertz3567]

@@redheadgoeshealthy9505 That is wonderful to hear🤗

[@LNSLateNightSaturday]

This period of Conan's life is a lesson in taking a humiliating setback and using it as a springboard to personal growth. I've always loved him and always will...

[@alanvallazza9781]

Would he still be at The Tonight Show? He left TBS after a decade. 2011 to 2021. He seems done with it. You have to recall he did late night for so long...93 to 2009 and TBS a decade plus his time on Tonight Show. Nearly 28 years, almost 30. 30 was the length of time Johnny did Tonight Show.

[@SakSuper17]

It’s got to be easier when millions of people are rooting for you

[@alZiiHardstylez]

Don't forget he made an absolute fortune from their incompetency.

[@willkittwk]

Hard to feel sorry for a guy who got millions out of the contract buyout.

[@rocknative70]

@@dabearcub A huge amount of money / compensation *can* be an enticement and it can be a reward, it’s **NOT** always a motivator, for certain.

[@r3hcook]

It’s absolutely criminal Conan is not on television anymore. He still makes me laugh far more than anyone else ever could.

[@draxxthemsclounts2478]

Tbs' Conan is no longer??

[@xploration1437]

@@draxxthemsclounts2478 where have you been?

[@Composer.Eivind]

His podcast is way cooler though

[@madtitan0825]

@@Composer.Eivind honestly the podcast platform really showcases Conan’s limitless potential

[@notyourboy8572]

He's got an upcoming HBO Max show

[@ChristopherDazey]

This is a monumental conversation in the history of late night talk.

[@ArielGonzalez1]

it would have been perfect if johnny was there too, but this is a great moment for late night

[@SNESdrunk]

It's a monumental conversation in the history of suits. Dave is not wearing his usual double-breasted suit coat, what the hell is going on

[@4seeableTV]

Conan was nervously drinking that water like he'd been in the Sahara for a week.

[@AntonQvarfordt]

Ya... I just read the book about the Leno-Letterman thing.. I'm presuming there will be one about this new thing?

[@gallery7596]

@@AntonQvarfordt There already is. "The War For Late Night: When Leno Went Early & Television Went Insane" by Bill Carter. Excellently researched, unbiased look at what happened during "The Tonight Show debacle."

[@khaotix64]

The fact that this entire mess led to Jimmy Fallon hosting The Tonight Show in the end is the worst thing to happen 😂

[@selftrue670]

Exactly

[@jasoncinema]

True. I can’t stand Leno but at least he’s engaged when interviewing guests and has a rapport with them, rather than just repeating what they’ve just said, fake laughing, and slapping the desk, like Fallon does, night in and night out. 🙄

[@belltolls1984]

Fallon is the absolute worst of all of them

[@benzamg32m68]

@@belltolls1984 it's like he never grew up and matured. Fallon is like watching a kid show with a kid running it

[@belltolls1984]

@@benzamg32m68 It really is, his fake laughter and overreacting is just so cringeworthy. The only thing I ever knew Fallon from was that "idiot boyfriend" music video that was on TRL all the time in the early 2000s; it had Zooey Deschanel in it and really summed up his "comedy" in a nutshell. He hasn't matured since like you said.

[@nii_amart]

The fact that he mentions the name of his employees anytime he talks about them just shows what kind of boss he is. Most celebs don't even respect their assistants but Conan has made Sona & some of his other employees big stars. His staff will do anything for him 'cos he values & respects them.

[@nothingissimplewithlloyd]

He has to know their names so that he can call them out while choking them for sexual pleasure.

[@alittlecreepywhenyou]

Nope, I can't say I'm a fan of that cackling skin tag.

[@mixmasterfestus8096]

asswipe@@alittlecreepywhenyou

[@ZachofPotatoes732]

He even brought one of them to his episode on hot ones

[@spaghettisaucer8870]

Letterman did it too

[@memento81]

I still have the recordings of Conan's last three weeks at NBC. Letterman is not wrong. That was an golden age. Conan and Andy just constantly roasting the network with no fucks left to give was amazing.

[@oosthakker]

They payed him so much though

[@stvartak7164]

@@oosthakker I was kind of thinking the same thing. I think Conan was wronged, but I don’t feel *too* bad for him. I’d be very happy to be the host of the Tonight Show and then fired. $$$

[@JonathanSchmallippe]

@@stvartak7164Point taken, but hosting the Tonight Show had been his dream since he was a kid. He worked his way up in broadcast for almost twenty years to put himself in the running to host that show. And then, a mere three months after they gave it to him, they took it back and gave it to Jay. No amount of money can buy the dream that Conan lost when Jay strong-armed him out of that gig

[@lou.geemusic]

I saw an article that he used the that check to pay for his whole staff for a year ​@stvartak7164

[@wilfreddale764]

Well, not very much because he used a lot of that money to relocate all his stuff to CBS. Also, the last opportunity he had he could’ve got paid much more if he went to other networks during his prime time, but he’s decided to stick around at NBC because he wanted to be the host of the tonight night show

[@mrsjr78]

I love how Dave gets really honest when talking about Jay Leno

[@taekwondotime]

Jay Leno buys cars so you don't have to!

[@merricat3025]

@@taekwondotime big deal

[@taekwondotime]

@@merricat3025 Bill Gates buys land so you don't have to!

[@merricat3025]

@@taekwondotime I have few acres. That's plenty for me, thanks.

[@taekwondotime]

@@merricat3025 For now... until Bill Gates forces you to sell.

[@jessedampolo]

The way Dave came out to support Norm and Conan was so huge, you can tell how important it was to both of them that someone they admired so much would support them.

[@michaelgiovani2600]

Support Conan? he got 60 MILLION to go away is everybody nuts? He is the last person to feel sorry for a 7' crybaby with 60 Mil give me a break.

[@lydiaboll2872]

@@michaelgiovani2600Conan has built a cult of a fanbase that’ll survive long after he’s gone, what have you done with your life?

[@michaelgiovani2600]

@@lydiaboll2872 Let's see I Went to Cornell on a football scholarship graduated 3rd in my class then attended Oxford to get my masters in economics and worked for the UN for the next 35 yrs married a surgeon and raised two medical doctors and a professor of economics who teaches at Duke U. Retired at 52 yrs old and purchased an 1100 acre horse farm where we currently live and raise show horses for sale in 32 countries. Have lived in Italy Spain and Monaco for 9 yrs. Was voted man of the yr twice and have 4 grandchildren who are homeschooled by their professor Mom and Dad. Will be going back to Florence for the next 3 yrs as a consultant to Italian Equestrian Team. Then come home and relax and play with my GC. How bout you?

[@walkerstarling534]

@@lydiaboll2872you are replying to Jay Leno himself buddy. Watch out

[@deathscythe6682]

@@michaelgiovani2600what a massive tool you must be

[@Jt7166]

The first 5 minutes of this interview are exactly what make both Dave and Conan so great at their jobs. Just beautiful timing and being honest yet funny. Honest and funny isn’t a vibe I’ve ever gotten from Jay

[@Thiccjimbobway]

@@itsmebran3805 and none agree with you

[@orlaspring363]

because Jay is neither

[@Heartbeat1991]

Laughable.

[@soavemusica]

Did Conan ask Jay, if he wanted to retire? Did Jay ask Johnny Carson? Or are you just all...well...

[@gallery7596]

RE: "Did Conan ask Jay, if he wanted to retire?" Nope, just said yes to *NBC's* proposal and let them tell Jay what they'd decided. RE: "Did Jay ask Johnny Carson?" It was Johnny's decision to retire. He shocked *NBC* when he announced it, too. It was the right decision, though, because at that point Johnny was 65 and only working 3 nights a week.

[@redskins5926]

One of my all-time favorite Letterman interviews! I loved that Letterman backed Conan throughout that whole debacle with Leno.

[@773SleepyHollow]

@@bechtoea Damn you to hell! LOL... I'm actually probably going to watch this whole long interview, or at least as much of it while they're still talking about the old days... what are you doing to me?

[@773SleepyHollow]

I just watched the whole thing... it was pretty good, although Howie should calm down a little bit, and let his guest speak more. It pretty effectively made the case that neither Dave nor Conan can claim that Jay wronged them in any way.

[@zapkvr]

Me too

[@bechtoea]

The issue with Cohan was he wasn't consistent. The issue with Letterman was his cynicism, which admittedly is the same issue with Kimmel a good part of the time. I think Fallon does a modern version of Leno, fairly vanilla, doesn't play political sides or favorites, a good reliable show. Of course, I'd trade them all for Craig Ferguson. He had my side splitting about 90% of the time.

[@gallery7596]

@@bechtoea And with regard to Ferguson: for his last show he chose as his only guest, *Jay Leno.* Kind of amazing considering Ferguson's show was produced by Letterman's company, but he and Jay actually became friends and appeared elsewhere together after they left late night.

[@elis__nbnb]

One of the greatest interviews in TV history. The way Letterman builds up the tension in the story, pauses, and hits us with "some kind of a mix-up", makes me crack up every time. Conan slowly being coaxed into roasting Leno and Letterman getting visibly giddy... I come back to this video all the time and crack up at the same jokes. Love both of these guys so much!

[@Eric-q1n1v]

Evidently...

[@_SoCalDude_]

Conan's impression of Jay never fails to make me laugh

[@MrRyan-wu4jx]

“Eeeehhhhh” (shakes head and sticks out chin)

[@Leonrey-ic1wh]

The Jay Leno fly - Craig Ferguson

[@chrispfeifer7628]

Conan came out better than all of them. He's still doing what he loves and, most importantly, he's doing it the way he wants to do it

[@Spo8]

He also looks wildly modern compared to every one of them. They’re stuck in the dying medium and he’s making some of the best stuff of his career.

[@Adiscretefirm]

Dave seems happy in his gig

[@fdrstan]

I can honestly say that Conan has made me laugh over the course of my life more than any other entertainer BY FAR.

[@bamadave83]

No doubt

[@charlesharper2357]

Robin Williams was the King

[@jirehpsalmpaule6077]

I can say the same. I never saw his show on air, but since I found out about him (i live in the Philippines) I’ve been watching all his sketches and remotes, and been listening to his podcast religiously.

[@micahclawrence]

I always loved how much Dave liked Conan

[@abhiu2398]

Conan was holding back tears at 1:50 . It meant so much to him to hear those words from Letterman.

[@gregh5061]

I love that man.

[@briandarby1214]

I’ve seen this a lot and never noticed that.

[@zackattack635]

“Tonight Show… did a great job there…” 😂! Leno was so much better and had such better ratings it’s comical to pretend like Conan was a victim. TV execs didn’t honor their word!!? Call the FBI!!! 😝 These late night dorks are a shameless bunch.

[@brianfitzsimmons6074]

@@zackattack635 Jay Leno is a complete hack lol I'd rather watch freakin Jimmy Fallon than Jay Leno.

[@mattmcmadden1933]

@@zackattack635 Leno certainly had a bigger following, but that's not necessarily a good indicator of quality. Think about some of the more popular stand-ups and musical artists. This is all subjective of course, but in my opinion, Conan is way funnier and more entertaining than Leno.

[@jasonbarnes7391]

Conan has always been so underrated as a comic but also as a genuine person.

[@joycemorrison8608]

conan's face subtly changed to being touched and almost teary-eyed at the part when dave said that he did a great job at the Late Night and The Tonight Show.

[@stellarwind1946]

Conan has consistently cited Letterman as one of his biggest comedic influences so it probably meant a lot to him to hear that from Dave.

[@nathanwolff6302]

Then....some kind of a mix up.

[@christinah864]

I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I’ve watched Conan since he started and the best version of Conan I’ve ever known was him on TBS. It was like he completely could just be himself and not care. Less restrictions and it was just amazing to watch. The remotes were hilarious. Conan without borders was iconic. That’s the Conan I like to see. And his podcast is fantastic! The tonight show was definitely made for a jimmy fallon type.

[@TheAbandonedAccount7]

Conan on tbs with all the Jordan Schlansky bits will always be top-tier Conan

[@Thor-Orion]

Fallon’ son Carson. I think the tonight show format will forever be in the shadow of Carson, which is why no one else measures up IN THAT FORMAT. All the great late night shows post-Carson did something different. Fallon does Carson’s format without Carson’s interview talent.

[@fehoobar]

Yeah, but on the other hand they had to kill off the masturbating bear when they changed shows. That guy was always being the best he could be...

[@Mynameistyshawn]

AGREED!!! It was like the show was LITERALLY created for him!

[@justarams4562]

But Jimmy Fallon is complete trash.

[@Gweb52]

That just “sitting there in silence “ when the interview starts is pure gold . They did NOTHING and it was one of the most captivating and hilarious things I’ve ever seen

[@mackstewart4203]

Conan and Dave both doing the Jay Leno impression at 10:16 is a legendary moment in talk show history.

[@iamfantastic.iamgreat3649]

🤑

[@iamfantastic.iamgreat3649]

🤑

[@iamfantastic.iamgreat3649]

🤑

[@carlfrye1566]

Leno is doing his thing as an auto enthusiast/successfull TV series and well respected auto historian while Dave and Conoan still call each other and tell "let's insult Jay" stories.....lofl. I give Letterman some props for being enthused about car racing and part owning an Indycar team.

[@mackstewart4203]

@@carlfrye1566 don’t think Jay and Dave have mentioned Leno in years

[@suprchickn7745]

"Like picking up anti-matter with chopsticks!" Conan is the perfect follow-up to the Letterman comedic legacy.

[@demitasse22]

Weren’t you so validated as a fan?! Like…this is why I love you Conan

[@SouthernSpirit222]

Conan is better. the quickest witted of them all.

[@ArtVandelayOfficial]

He had my rolling 😂

[@WiseandVegan]

Urgent attention! ✌👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖✌

[@a_plus]

Seriously. The two best to ever do a show at 12:30. Johnny's the only comp for them at the earlier hour.

[@Samlol23_drrich]

There's a reason why conan is so successful. Brilliant mind and great story teller. I could listen to him for hours

[@ryanbanister838]

I just love that Conan isn't just another late night host....we don't debate about which show he is. Late show? Tonight show? Daily show? Conan is on Conan because he is Conan. He was so prolific that people saw his talent and just said no, you can't drop him, and actually, we are just going to name an entire show after him. What a gem.

[@hankkingsley9183]

Dave, Conan and Ferguson are the only guys who did this job properly in their era.

[@Dayvit78]

Especially when they had Norm MacDonald on :)

[@Kenobi_Cowboy]

Facts.

[@Dayvit78]

@@sugarcookiecube They're all retired...

[@Dayvit78]

@@sugarcookiecube Why do you keep saying "both"? The OP was talking about all 3... now which two of those are you talking about and what years?

[@Shibansh]

Graham Norton is so good though. Not american but better than any american talk show right now.

[@sabraena]

Conan’s a class act and such a great storyteller

[@HardPen-jj5nl]

A raconteur we called 'em back in the Day.

[@TheSteveBoyd]

The way Dave just hangs back like a great rhythm section and lets Conan be his extraordinarily funny self is yet another testament to the fact that Letterman is the GOAT!

[@ZacBLive]

Yep. It’s so tough for Conan’s side of it too. Hosts are rarely good on other talk shows. Watch Howard when he’s a guest elsewhere. He can’t handle it and overcompensates the entire time. Talks wayyyy too much.

[@Peace2Umans]

Johnny Carson is the GOAT. You had to be there.

[@CJT49]

​@Peace2Umans he's great, but Conan is my favorite

[@EACru2002]

It's nice to see how both Dave and Conan can make each other legitimately laugh. That's how you know Dave respects Conan and Conan obviously has always looked up to Dave.

[@RF-iv9vw]

Extremely classy individual. Sad he isn’t on tv. He would bring the whole scene up.

[@LoddyDah]

These two legends doing simultaneous Leno impressions is and always will be a moment of television gold. 🏆👌😌

[@jasonezzell6901]

I’ve watched this probably 100 times over the years. Thanks guys for uploading it officially and in HD at long last. Two of my all time favorites and what a great conversation.

[@bluhevenlyII]

So have I. It's a funny interview, so I have been re-watching it. So excited to see the better quality as well.

[@Ohhimark100]

OMG!! Same here!

[@QuasiELVIS]

How many times did you watch it?

[@WiseandVegan]

Urgent attention! ✌👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖✌

[@RoadRallyLife]

Same! Thank you!

[@tiffanymoore1795]

Been watching Conan since 1996. I was 10 and still I am amused till this day at 36..

[@katiez688]

I love that this was genuinely difficult and Conan prevailed through it all…

[@hootiehootheblowphish4109]

If you've never seen "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop", it's a great documentary about the time period right after Conan left The Tonight Show and went on his live tour. Conan even let them leave in some parts that made himself look bad, which he called himself out on in the DVD commentary, of course.

[@apelpinoy]

thanks for this, I looked it up, and it's leaving Prime in about 10 days!

[@thesprawl2361]

Conan is just one of my favourite people, full stop.

[@daveharttify]

I watched it when it came out. I just remember thinking, damn, this guy was not built for the road. Never heard the commentary, but it's obvious what happened. Guy sat at a desk for almost 20 years then all of a sudden, he's deep into a tour. It was probably crazy stressful.

[@hootiehootheblowphish4109]

@@daveharttify good point. That and touring while being away from his family during an already stressful situation was probably rough. There was a scene, I think where he says "I don't wanna have to go meet 100 people" or something like that. In the commentary he starts criticizing himself and calling himself a whiner and saying "shut up Conan". lol

[@007Julie]

@@apelpinoy thank you for pointing this out, I’m watching it right now before it goes away.

[@Lizzie-ve7kt]

Aww I love Sona! Some of the best things about Conan at TBS were his behind the scenes skits with his staff, particularly the ones featuring Sona playing up the long-suffering, yet sassy, assistant role perfectly. I especially loved the special they did, “Conan in Armenia” where Conan accompanied her on a trip there to help her connect with her Armenian heritage. Love the relationship those two have.

[@varun_knife_sympathy]

@@geoffok Lol but it still takes her being funny and charismatic to even be so prominent.

[@nannerz1994]

When Sona got him through this, she secured her job for life.

[@FINNlSH]

Hah yup! She can have all the Friends binges at work that she wants. Honestly though those two are a perfect together!

[@ericdykann2018]

💯💯 they are the best

[@Ace-v6r]

Rack city

[@MajinEvan86]

Conan was still clearly hurt by all that drama. He will always be a legend in my books.

[@Mike-cv9rr]

Went to tbs and done to Lopez what he said was done to him

[@jlouis4407]

Yup he rivals Letterman may yet surpass him

[@lydiaboll2872]

@@Mike-cv9rrConan was actually afraid that he’d repeat the cycle with Lopez, who ended calling the former and saying it was ok.

[@tiffsaver]

You can tell Letterman has total respect for O'Brien just by how much quality time he's giving him. I can't remember a single guest that gotten this kind of airtime. I met Conan once in my apartment building in NYC (why he was in my apartment building I have no idea), and I can only say that he was a nice and "real" as you see him here, not any of that "I'm a big star" BS that you expect from anyone else.

[@timothysztaba437]

He did the same thing for Norm when Norm was fired from the weekend update

[@cnadeau71]

"The Triple A doesn't bring a photographer." Classic!

[@terrellcarey6178]

As a long time Conan fan, that final week and a half of Conan blistering Jay and NBC was the golden age of TV.

[@NellieKAdaba]

👍🏿

[@dorothygale1104]

The idea of Consn making his last Tonight Shows cost NBC as nuch as possible was simple, juvilile, petty, and brilliant. The comedy of that idea wouldn’t have worked for anybody else, but it was perfection for Conan because the audience felt for Conan and was rigt there with him as though they were sticking it to NBC themselves.

[@austinjohnson2797]

Indeed it was, plus the birth of Team Coco with the fans camping outside of the Tonight Show studios to cheer him on.

[@RetroRuss]

The awkward silence, and Conan & Dave both doing the Leno head waggle are priceless moments in late night.

[@ELMS]

One of the best talk show conversations ever. Great to see Dave genuinely enjoying it.

[@RandomNoiseMusic]

I'm so happy to see this being uploaded in HD quality - this is a moment in television that should be preserved forever! Love COCO!

[@williammalloy5314]

Two of the greatest late night personalities of all time. My two favorites. Fantastic interview.

[@EricSega-pe8fl]

Perfectly said.

[@mirekbns]

I wanted to comment above but saw yours and realized I would just be copying; could not agree more.

[@christiankarlkarganilla2763]

2a and 2b below Johnny Carson.

[@gkeeney123]

Only thing that matters is the ratings. Johnny is first and Jay is second. Jay not as smart as Conan or Dave, but out works both of them and wins. Two sore losers crying in each others soup.

[@robmarchese]

Conan is so clearly a wonderful dude: funny, humble, self-deprecating, and oh so proud of his sister! So sweet and sincere in every way.

[@PhotonSieve]

@@derekprospero Nah you're delusional.

[@LtJackboot]

And look at the way he prospered after taking it on the chin with grace! THAT is a professional and THAT is why he gets Dave's respect which, if you're paying attention , is no small thing.

[@iluvpets]

this reminds me of chris rock. taking it on the chin.

[@georgeakishbaia6965]

Conan is simply the best, witty and smart as hell.

[@MayLily]

Wow, this was a really good interview. Letterman and Conan did not hold back on Leno, and talked about almost everything about the debacle, hahaha. It was great to see everyone support Conan back then. There will never be another comedian like Conan.

[@anulkaaw]

Wait, did he die?

[@MayLily]

@@anulkaaw No, lol. I was referring to how he left network TV for the past 11 years, and last year he decided to retire from his late night TBS show for good.

[@dyates6380]

Um, I think you're going a little overboard with the lavish praise here. His show tanked and that's why NBC replaced him. It was nothing personal, he got a show with the number one spot and it went to number three within months. So, you sort of have to take the personality out of it and take a look at the bottom line which is advertising dollars and kind of figure out that was the whole reason he lost the show. He didn't have it.

[@gallery7596]

Not everyone saw it Conan's way. Bill Maher thought Conan and Letterman were acting like kids. Jerry Seinfeld sure didn't agree with Conan's decision to walk away from "The Tonight Show," either.

[@palmerlp]

“Picking up antimatter with chopsticks,” “like seeing a vision of Christ on toast,” “spinning like they’re at a Phish concert…” Conan had *jokes* this night

[@JayTee503]

M

[@xGuitarInFlamesx]

@@jire9831 his intelligence is clearly superior to any average human being, and he uses it all to make himself look stupid or goofy just to make people laugh, and for me it always work. He was born for comedy and you can tell by how naturaly funny he is

[@scubarojo]

Conan made me laugh almost to tears with story about his kid, maybe his best bit ever.

[@LucasNauan]

My two favorite late night hosts of all time. Long time overdue for Conan to get his Mark Twain too!

[@cisium1184]

Giving awards to comics is the height of stupidity. Absolutely wrong in every way.

[@WiseandVegan]

Urgent attention! ✌👉 The Connections (2021) [short documentary] 💖✌

[@yusufarifin6988]

@@WiseandVegan by y. By. By y y. By. By y. MY

[@kellypickard5509]

I like that when Conan first glances over at Dave and then nods, it's like you can see him deciding to wait and defer to whatever bit or tangent Dave appears to have in mind. XD Conan has always been very respectful of Dave as a predecessor and as someone who went to bat for him back in the day.

[@Exius-Zero]

Conan's just so next level he transports to his chair instantly at 0:19

[@UserSomeOne]

😄😄😄😄 He is amazing, isn't he?

[@saurabhsonic]

Cannot express to you how much I love these two giants of entertainment.

[@tjewett1967]

Well, one giant and one wannabe.

[@EtoCobra]

@@tjewett1967 For his run, I think he achieved that "giant" status,. Both by his work and his influence on the people and the media.

[@DarknessIsThePath]

​@@tjewett1967Conan is the last titan of television.

[@PitchforkStudios]

Apart from all the obvious stuff what I love about Conan is that he made SO MUCH money from the settlement, enough to never need to work again. Yet he didn't sit around. Toured everywhere during the non-compete clause and made history with his own show at TBS. LEGEND.

[@cc1k435]

He had enough money BEFORE the Tonight Show to never need to work again. This was about pride and in a strange way, dignity. I mean, for it being a comedy show matter. 😆

[@Controldenied0]

He used that money to pay his staff who all just moved from NY to CA for TTS.

[@gallery7596]

@@Controldenied0 It was Conan's decision to resign from "The Tonight Show" that put them out of work, so he owed them some of that buy out money.

[@davidleary4524]

@@gallery7596 They wanted him to go on at 12:05 after Leno. They knew he wasn't going to accept that. It was insulting.

[@gallery7596]

@@davidleary4524 RE: "They wanted him to go on at 12:05 after Leno." Yes, but he was still going to be the host of his dream job. RE: "They knew he wasn't going to accept that." The network wanted Conan to stay so they could still have both guys working for them. They even offered Conan more money to remain as host of "TTS." RE: "It was insulting." As jerry Seinfeld said of the situation: "if you're still on television then you're winning. Give it a try." But Conan wouldn't, and a lot of people lost their jobs. He owed them.

[@badtanline]

i think the freedom of TBS led to the freedom of the travels and the freedom of the podcast and how so many were soothed by it during and beyond the pandemic. So thankful Conan and team endured the difficult times so well.

[@Choirboy2013]

It’s the correction of Dave “you forgot the head bobble” and the relentless mockery there after that has me rolling every time .

[@beachcracker]

Two things I love about Letterman.. His love for Norm Macdonald and Conan O'Brien.. two of my favorite comedians. Hands down there will never be talent like that on late night ever again.

[@russell2890]

Conan loves Norm too. He even said that Norm is his favorite guest.

[@tylermelton7490]

Imagine self deprecating and using it to your advantage, Conan is and has always been a class act.

[@mibeatleman6767]

David and Conan were the funniest late night hosts along with Johnny Carson and Craig Ferguson, in my opinion.

[@supernautzero]

You are correct.

[@edsnotgod]

@@HAL_9000__ commie

[@Toya2529]

Craig was really good!!

[@lilrocky2640]

@@edsnotgod "everything I don't like is communism."

[@edsnotgod]

@@lilrocky2640 "duhTrump colluded with Putin the right wing kgb fascist and every anti vaxxer is a Trumper and Russia fan and make Trumpers all wear a Star of Covid in public and seize their bank accounts like comrade Trudeau did in Canada and cancel them all lol"

[@sarsattacks]

This is the second time I've watched this interview. I don't know how Conan does it. Not only is he super intelligent but he's taking this situation which most people would not wish on their worst enemies, and he made it funny.

[@chicagosusieq8548]

Conan will always have my heart and the joy Dave got from Leno's true nature being revealed to the world was absolutely priceless!😄👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@No1_Inpa_Ticular]

Way to upload this Dave! Thank you! Conan is an amazing guy and didn’t deserve what happened to him.

[@atro-city]

The color of Conan's shirt perfectly matches the sky in the background its insane

[@Sbannmarie]

Omg 😳 you’re right

[@gregargo1898]

Fantastic ! Might be the best interview I have ever seen Dave do. The caliber of Conan as an entertainer is and will be forever legendary! T.Y. for that . I have never seen it.

[@dlxmarks]

Since Carson retired, _The Tonight Show_ hasn't been a career crowning glory for any host with integrity. Instead it's been a creative dead weight held down by its audience's lowest common denominator expectations and NBC's market share obsession. As painful as it was at the time, not getting the show was the best thing that happened to Letterman and Conan. Both were free to create their own distinct artistic legacies as opposed to Leno and Fallon who were perfectly happy to keep serving up bland predictable content for years.

[@Rnyargd]

IMHO, The spirit of the “Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” was given to David Letterman who took it to CBS and gave us the “Late Show”. Now that Letterman has retired I believe that spirit went to Jimmy Kimmel.

[@suprchickn7745]

@@Rnyargd Kimmel can't even shine Dave's creative shoes!

[@louaug27]

@@suprchickn7745 Dave would probably disagree with you

[@gallery7596]

RE: "Since Carson retired, The Tonight Show hasn't been a career crowning glory for any host with integrity." But what did Jimmy Fallon ever do to anyone that shows a lack of integrity? RE: "...not getting the show was the best thing that happened to Letterman and Conan." There we agree, because *CBS* turned out to be a much better home for Dave than *NBC* was likely to ever be. Had Dave accepted *NBC's* last minute "Tonight Show" offer, it likely would've been him eventually getting the boot in favour of a younger host, and probably a lot sooner than they did it to Jay. As for Conan, he made the right decision, but too late. If he'd originally accepted one of the major offers he was getting for a show of his own at *ABC* or *FOX,* he might still be hosting a network talk show, and the entire "Tonight Show debacle" would've been averted. But he just didn't recognize that what *NBC* could do to Dave and Jay, they could just as easily do to him.

[@edsnotgod]

@@Rnyargd smarmy eyeless Ted Cruz look alike

[@jamesgreer3201]

That Conan. He is basically a national treasure.

[@mrdaym]

Letterman is really good at interviewing Conan. He knows his energy perfectly.

[@jo8242]

That silence at the start always makes me laugh

[@iancharlespilch]

This is such an amazing interview. Two comedic geniuses who headline late night television practically hosting a late night show together. They could pull funny out of a hat and I feel lucky to have witnessed them together. I would stay up to watch these two as a child and teenager. Late night just isn't the same with Craig Ferguson, Conan O'Brien and David Letterman off the air. It feels like late night television has regressed to an era pre Smothers Brothers. Our last bastion of comedic late night television is Seth Meyers and I feel too old to stay up late now, but at least I can enjoy all of them here on KZbin.

[@TheGodYouWishYouKnew]

Dave Letterman is NOT a genius.

[@iancharlespilch]

@@TheGodYouWishYouKnew "Comedic genius" - better than all of MENSA.

[@TheGodYouWishYouKnew]

@@iancharlespilch Letterman is not a comedic genius. He brought nothing to this interview. He wasn’t all that good after leaving NBC.

[@iancharlespilch]

@@TheGodYouWishYouKnew Did you even watch this? Just do a quick search for "David Letterman genius", write a 40 page research paper on how you disagree with all the others, and talk to someone else about it who cares.

[@TheGodYouWishYouKnew]

@@iancharlespilch What did he bring to this interview?

[@byrdt6528]

Conan is such a great story teller.

[@CapnSlipp]

Conan’s such a good interviewer, he gets Letterman telling stories on his own show.

[@mynameispiaivy8549]

these two gave the most hilarious and smartest comedic bits i’ve ever seen on late night tv

[@thatepicwizardguy]

Conan still crushing it and Leno still hated. What a great time to be alive lol

[@gallery7596]

Not everybody's a Leno loather, though. If they were, "The Tonight Show" wouldn't have gone back to it's #1 status when Jay returned.

[@sebastiankramer7810]

I always come and see this clip on youtube because all matters aside, this is pure gold. They're being so funny so effortless and there is genuine respect and admiration from both sides here

[@diehardskins4109]

This is ten years old now and I've seen it so many times, and still laugh myself to tears watching it.

[@Satanhadapoint]

The fact that this whole experience made Conan more lovable and relatable ❤ it only made him stronger

[@ryanhie2829]

I have been a fan of everything Conan was involved in even before I knew who he was. Conan is brilliant.

[@wddub9075]

Was a very talented writer for nbc long before he got a show

[@filmneye]

@@wddub9075 And he wrote for The Simpsons early on.

[@Grymgar]

It is so hard to believe this has been 10 years. Also hard to believe that Colbert has been in power on CBS Late Night for almost 7 years already. We miss you, Dave and Conan!

[@rustyshackelford3371]

I saw Conan's late night show in person one time. It was the highlight of my NYC trip. It was a great show, and he was really funny.

[@angryCOMMguy]

Love that Dave is on KZbin now! Miss him so much. I wish he would start doing a weekly show on KZbin, that would be AWESOME! Our country needs Dave!

[@johnsjohnson448]

This moment is what made Dave's "Late Show" so epic! Cerebral, and laugh out loud hysterical funny. Thanks for sharing.

[@bass7842]

I've watched this interview so many times. I will watch it many more times. I will never tire of it.

[@vincewest8858]

these two are incredible by themselves but together it is magic

[@zirak93-2]

I love the chemistry between these two. They make a perfect combo.

[@roentgen822]

Man Conan kept it classy every time letterman tried to drama bait lmao David really hated Leno and still does 😂

[@gallery7596]

Letterman never got over being second choice to replace Carson.

[@Attmay]

Even with Joan Rivers out of consideration after the Fox thing and by being in daytime by that time, he was still the runner-up to a guy who played a guy in line for the free clinic on an episode of *Good Times.* That had to hurt more than the Oscar thing.

[@rebeccamccoy2346]

I’ve seen this a dozen times and I’m still laughing myself silly. It’s five a.m. and I have to get ready for work and what a way to go to work….on a high. Dave and Conan have deserted us but at least we have these great shows to turn to. I really love these two and no one is taking their place.

[@truthmonster3290]

what was so funny?

[@mysticmax9770]

This interview is the golden age of television

[@pavlohenrik]

One of the best interviews in talk show history, watched a couple of times, my two favorite talk show hosts

[@hamsandwichson]

My favorite part is the dueling Jay impressions! 😂

[@Starfals]

My god, Conan really is amazing, and he never gets boring

[@violetgriff2704]

Hearing the clips where Conan was on the brink of tearing up because he got the tonight show was so wholesome I love Conan he is such a great person and deserves all his success thank god he became the great success he is today

[@kowalski5599]

The 2010 Tonight Show Feud was an amazing (and brief) period in television. It sucks it ended with Conan getting axed, but the support for Conan was immeasurable, pretty much all the late night hosts sided with Conan (and were quite outspoken on their own shows at the time) Conan's final shows on NBC were some of his best, and in the end he thanked the network for employing him on the Late Night show and the brief run on the Tonight Show. A very gentlemanly thing to do. I could go on and on, what a run. #ImWithConan

[@JJ-nu8qi]

As much as I love Conan his show was never going to be as big as leno. It's about eyeballs not who Hollywood likes.

[@h3artands0uLL]

I love that Kimmel even ripped Leno a new one in his own show during that time lol. I still don’t watch anything with Leno to this day. Team coco for ever

[@gallery7596]

RE: ''pretty much all the late night hosts sided with Conan.'' Well, there was Letterman and Kimmel, of course, but who else with a late night show at that time sided with Conan?

[@ExileOnDaytonStreet]

The final episodes of Conan's Tonight Show were some astoundingly good televsion

[@Heartbeat1991]

If everyone was behind Conan he wouldn’t have been axed. He was axed because his ratings were lacking.

[@rwdplz1]

This is one of the greatest moments in the history of the show.

[@natedetailscars]

I love David's joy with this whole situation.

[@ilovecookiesization]

Conan is legitimately hilarious he should still have a show if it were up to me at least

[@carolynluckas1219]

And Conan is arguably one of the best talk show hosts ever!

[@hashbrownfob]

The King of late night, even now without a show

[@ludmillagutomo]

yay..team coco!

[@rokaanalzeer7148]

@@hashbrownfob hell be the king of streaming soon ;)

[@hashbrownfob]

@@rokaanalzeer7148 Sure hope so!

[@TheGodYouWishYouKnew]

It’s not arguable. He is one of the best.

[@wendymonette9958]

One of the best, funniest interviews I've seen. Conan is genuinely hilarious.

[@Lucilletoo]

For me Letterman is the best ever. But Conan is a very close second for sure! So many times in my life when I desperately needed to laugh I went straight to any Conan you tube video. Works everytime.

[@definitelynosebreather]

And for those who need a good laugh today: Conan and Jarod Miller (early 2000's), and Conan - Jordan's (obvious choice) videos never fail to make me laugh.

[@drewcarter3100]

Nah Carson man.. and im 29 hahaha then Letterman, then Conan. My favorite though is Conan. Hes a mix of Letterman & Carson in my opinion. Freaking Hilarious, but also extremely humble.

[@Arnsteel634]

It will always be johnny Carson for me.

[@a_plus]

Growing up it was Dave at 11:35 and Conan at 12:37. Had to use that clicker to achieve the goal.

[@TheGodYouWishYouKnew]

Never thought Letterman was funny.