Watching the last “Tonight show with Conan O’Brien” today on DVR, made me melancholy.
I was really surprised how sad I felt! I think it was partly that I disliked how he was being treated. I never thought the network gave him a real shot at the time slot when they put him next to Leno. I think it confused people. And I didn’t like that Leno was willing to let Conan get axed so he could take back his old show. But I think I also was sad to see the end of Conan because in a way, saying goodbye to Conan was saying goodbye to my 20’s. For the record I just turned 32 last month, so I really said goodbye to my twenties 3 years ago. But I started watching Conan as a senior in high school, and my college years were filled with late nights with Conan on as I studied. How much Shakespeare did I read with skits like “In the year 2000” on in the background? So seeing Conan leave the air, felt like the close of a chapter.
My senior year of college I got an internship on the “Rosie O’ Donnell show.” The show taped at NBC Studios in NYC. Our studio was across the hall from where Saturday Night Live taped, and a floor away from where “The Conan O’Brien” show was shot. I was working 10 hours days, so most of my meals were at the NBC commissary. And nearly every time I went to lunch, or breakfast I’d see the “Max Weinberg Seven” hanging out, having some coffee. As I’d run through the halls, I’d pass Conan’s studio- and see camels, and clowns, and men in bear costumes – surreal stuff! And it would make me smile on even the most stressful day. The staff of “The Conan O’ Brien show” were always so friendly, and it was obvious from their shows – talented. It makes me sad for them, that they brought their lives, and families to L.A. , and that they are now jobless. I’m sure most of them will find work again soon- but I guess I just feel for them. Perhaps in some ways, Conan being fired gave a personal face to the many people that have lost their jobs in the current economy. Same story, corporations looking out for their bottom line- looking to stop the bleeding in any way they can. Of course most people can’t say that they got a million dollar severance package- so it’s not really the same. But a show like “Conan” has a lot of people working on it, props, union guys, assistants, writers, production assistants, producers, talent bookers, camera men etc… and not all of them I would guess are getting much from this deal.
I’ll be honest, I’m biased. I have never been a huge Leno fan, his humor isn’t really my speed. Letterman can make me laugh sometimes, but neither of them can make me laugh like Conan. Conan captured the humor of my generation. He had heart. He used sarcasm, he used his vulnerability, he used his nerd-iness, his ability to highlight the ridiculousness in life- he used it all to say “hey, I’m one of you.” And I believed it. He was a comic that “got” my generation and his special brand of humor punctuated my 20’s. I don’t know where this post is going, other than to say – I’m gonna miss Conan. I’m going to miss knowing he’s on the air. And I think NBC made a mistake putting their money on the guy that represented comedy in the past, instead of the guy that understood the humor of generations to come.
I’ll end this by letting Conan speak for himself. For those of you that didn’t see the last show, this is Conan saying goodbye… I hope we get to see him on the air waves again, sometime very soon.
About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
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I was not a long term follower, but I always felt like jokes aside he is a class act, and frankly his goodbye made me tear up and I was so impressed at his strength and positive response to his time at NBC. While the media and others will say there is angst, its amazing to see that angst aside from the mouth of the man himself that there is life and lessons and growth..
We should all be so wise
and funny!:)
D
Amen D! I agree!
Thanks so much for sharing your personal experience and perspective. Aside from the previous comments I really have nothing new to say. We know he'll be back in a positive spotlight and, hopefully, soon.
On another note, I just have to say that severance package ain't too shabby.
I had to hold back tears during his speech at the end of the show. Conan's show was one of the things that got me through a year long bout with insomnia when my husband was in Iraq. I hope we see him on television again in the fall!
I'm with CoCo!
I have to say that I was one of the folks saying how much I would miss Leno on the Tonight Show. But, and watched Leno faithfully at his 10 PM slot. But I fell in love with Conan at the 11:30 slot.
You are spot on, he gets our generation and we certainly could relate to his wackiness.
I hope he shows up soon. I'm already missing him.
Hey, and I'd love to hear more about your internship.
I never really watched either Leno or Conan, but I think that firing him is pretty crappy. Leno left, took the chance, it didn't work. If you want to dance you've got to pay the fiddler! I don't really know much about Conan, except that the Queen of Finland or whatever looks like him. : )He got a raw deal.
I am definitely on Team Coco, whole thing just sucks. I never did care for Leno, now here's just another reason. lol
awww I remember when you did those 10 hour days!!!! 🙂 I sadly didn't watch the last episode thanks for posting it. I feel sorry for him too, he was very funny in the time splot he started in and I think NBC really *&&&$#@ him by moving him to the Tonight Show.
I never liked or got Letterman or Leno either but Conan was my man…So sad but like you said he is walking away with a lot of money.
It wasn't until the last few years I started enjoying Conan. I was thrilled when he got late night. I thought he really deserved it after all his hard work. He will be greatly missed.
That's so cool you worked on Rosie's show and saw his staff around. 🙂 I bet we see him again. Maybe he'll get a movie deal out of it!
Shannon, that was really very beautifully put, and I agree with your sentiments. I DVR'd the last show, but haven't had the opportunity to watch it myself. You raised a really good point about the fact that it is more than just the host that is displaced when a show is cancelled. I imagine you must have some really good stories from your Rosie days. I used to work for the Candid Camera show, and when we went to LA for our studio shoots, we'd often work with people who had, at one time or another, worked for Rosie. They didn't paint a very pretty picture, but I hope your experiences were better.
Wanted to thank you for stopping by! And I love all my followers, especially the ones that comment! So thanks for commenting. Have a rockin evening.
Jennette
I agree, I'm sad to see him go. Love his sense of humor:) But we'll see more of him soon, I'm sure.