Conan O’Brien Triumphantly Returns to The Tonight Show
Conan O’Brien, the legendary comedian and former host of The Tonight Show, made an extraordinary return to the program on Tuesday, April 9th. Appearing as a guest on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the 60-year-old comic icon promoted his upcoming Max series Conan O’Brien Must Go, while reminiscing about his controversial tenure on the iconic late-night show and jokingly discussing his remarkable height and imposing presence.
Fans may recall that O’Brien hosted The Tonight Show for a brief period from 2009 to 2010, before being unceremoniously replaced when predecessor Jay Leno decided to return. Fallon then assumed the hosting mantle in 2014 and has remained a television staple ever since.
During the Fallon interview, O’Brien discussed his reluctant departure from the program, stating that moving the show to a 12:05 a.m. slot would have been “an enormous personal disappointment.” He further asserted that time slots matter, especially when it comes to a cultural institution like The Tonight Show.
Despite his firing, the endlessly resourceful O’Brien soon launched Conan, an acclaimed TBS talk show that lasted for an impressive 11 seasons from 2010 to 2021. O’Brien’s new project, Conan O’Brien Must Go, is a highly anticipated streaming travel series set to premiere on Max on April 14th, drawing inspiration from the comedian’s popular travel specials on Conan.
During his Tonight Show appearance, O’Brien humorously opened up about his adventures in podcasting with the highly successful Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, which debuted in 2018. Although he considers late-night hosting to be “the best job in the world,” O’Brien appreciates the podcast medium for providing him with opportunities for in-depth interviews that transcend the traditional seven-minute guest appearances found on nightly talk shows.
Amidst discussions about his interviews with celebrities like Barack Obama, Paul McCartney, Prince, and Carol Burnett, The Tonight Show also addressed former host Jay Leno’s recent refutation of claims that he “deliberately sabotaged” O’Brien’s gig. Leno denied the allegations on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, stating: “You try and do the best you can and it didn’t work.”
As O’Brien candidly expressed his mixed emotions about returning to the show after over a decade, fans delighted in witnessing the prodigal comedian’s homecoming. Though his departure from The Tonight Show was fraught with controversy and disappointment, Conan O’Brien continues to prove that he is an unstoppable force in the world of comedy and entertainment. His triumphant return reminds us all of his profound impact on the late-night television landscape, and serves as a powerful testament to the indomitable spirit of this beloved comedic titan.
