What are your thoughts on Conan O'Brien?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His “Harvard education” is his entire brand and why people think he’s soooooooo smart. Reality is he’s just a goofy rich nepo baby who got in because he’s a rich nepo baby from Boston. Trying to muscle a 59 year old Jay Leno into retirement proves he’s an entitled elitist a-hole weasel brat like every other Harvard alum.

How on earth is the child of a doctor and a lawyer in Boston a Hollywood nepo baby? Neither of his parents were in show business.

His dad was powerful Harvard faculty, his mom was a rich powerful white shoe firm lawyer. That’s why he got into Harvard. Take away Harvard from his CV and what is he? A dime a dozen writer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me try that again (and maybe ask Jeff to delete my messed up post above. I am sorry, Jeff!).

O'Brien gave a commencement speech about 25 years ago that I still refer to now. The speech was about failing and how important it can be, and that it often led to better things.

Major excerpts of the speech are here (https://academyatthelakes.org/wp-content/uplo...vard2000Excerpts.pdf ), but here is the end if you don't want to follow the link:

"And then, an insane, inexplicable opportunity came my way. A chance to audition for host of the new Late Night Show. I took the opportunity seriously but, at the same time, I had the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he had no real shot…a week later I got the job.

"So, this was undeniably it: the truly life-altering break I had always dreamed of. And, I went to work. … We debuted on September 13, 1993 and I was happy with our effort. I felt like I had seized the moment and put my very best foot forward. And this is what the most respected and widely read television critic, Tom Shales, wrote in the Washington Post: “O’Brien is a living collage of annoying nervous habits. He giggles and titters, jiggles about and fiddles with his cuffs. He had dark, beady little eyes like a rabbit. … O’Brien is a switch on the guest who won’t leave: he’s the host who should never have come….

"There’s more but it gets kind of mean.

"Needless to say, I took a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it excessive. And it hurt like you wouldn’t believe. But I’m telling you all this for a reason. I’ve had a lot of success and I’ve had a lot of failure. I’ve looked good and I’ve looked bad. I’ve been praised and I’ve been criticized. But my mistakes have been necessary. [...]

"I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way. I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good. So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."

So I have always loved him as a comedian and this makes him really like him as a person. A lot of people, not just successful/showbiz people, they don't get this. This is something only someone with a soul would say. And to say it to a grad class at Harvard and not to just say something funny/charming/witty/cool/easy that sounds good - that's someone who actually cares about others. Not sure how you would not like someone who would make a speech like this?

A pampered silver spoon ego maniac with all the connections you’d ever need in life and a Harvard degree waxing on about failure and taking risks. What a rebel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His “Harvard education” is his entire brand and why people think he’s soooooooo smart. Reality is he’s just a goofy rich nepo baby who got in because he’s a rich nepo baby from Boston. Trying to muscle a 59 year old Jay Leno into retirement proves he’s an entitled elitist a-hole weasel brat like every other Harvard alum.

How on earth is the child of a doctor and a lawyer in Boston a Hollywood nepo baby? Neither of his parents were in show business.

His dad was powerful Harvard faculty, his mom was a rich powerful white shoe firm lawyer. That’s why he got into Harvard. Take away Harvard from his CV and what is he? A dime a dozen writer.

Totally disagree

He is highly creative, quirky and original - not generic at all. Harvard was lucky to have him

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me try that again (and maybe ask Jeff to delete my messed up post above. I am sorry, Jeff!).

O'Brien gave a commencement speech about 25 years ago that I still refer to now. The speech was about failing and how important it can be, and that it often led to better things.

Major excerpts of the speech are here (https://academyatthelakes.org/wp-content/uplo...vard2000Excerpts.pdf ), but here is the end if you don't want to follow the link:

"And then, an insane, inexplicable opportunity came my way. A chance to audition for host of the new Late Night Show. I took the opportunity seriously but, at the same time, I had the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he had no real shot…a week later I got the job.

"So, this was undeniably it: the truly life-altering break I had always dreamed of. And, I went to work. … We debuted on September 13, 1993 and I was happy with our effort. I felt like I had seized the moment and put my very best foot forward. And this is what the most respected and widely read television critic, Tom Shales, wrote in the Washington Post: “O’Brien is a living collage of annoying nervous habits. He giggles and titters, jiggles about and fiddles with his cuffs. He had dark, beady little eyes like a rabbit. … O’Brien is a switch on the guest who won’t leave: he’s the host who should never have come….

"There’s more but it gets kind of mean.

"Needless to say, I took a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it excessive. And it hurt like you wouldn’t believe. But I’m telling you all this for a reason. I’ve had a lot of success and I’ve had a lot of failure. I’ve looked good and I’ve looked bad. I’ve been praised and I’ve been criticized. But my mistakes have been necessary. [...]

"I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way. I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good. So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."

So I have always loved him as a comedian and this makes him really like him as a person. A lot of people, not just successful/showbiz people, they don't get this. This is something only someone with a soul would say. And to say it to a grad class at Harvard and not to just say something funny/charming/witty/cool/easy that sounds good - that's someone who actually cares about others. Not sure how you would not like someone who would make a speech like this?

A pampered silver spoon ego maniac with all the connections you’d ever need in life and a Harvard degree waxing on about failure and taking risks. What a rebel.

Actually coming from wealth, medical doctor and law partner - it is highly commendable that he stayed true to his creative comic self,

There would be so much pressure to be successful in more conventional ways .

I often feel like I am being transported to places that I have never heard of when listening to Conan. He definitely lives in a way more interesting head space than most of us.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me try that again (and maybe ask Jeff to delete my messed up post above. I am sorry, Jeff!).

O'Brien gave a commencement speech about 25 years ago that I still refer to now. The speech was about failing and how important it can be, and that it often led to better things.

Major excerpts of the speech are here (https://academyatthelakes.org/wp-content/uplo...vard2000Excerpts.pdf ), but here is the end if you don't want to follow the link:

"And then, an insane, inexplicable opportunity came my way. A chance to audition for host of the new Late Night Show. I took the opportunity seriously but, at the same time, I had the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he had no real shot…a week later I got the job.

"So, this was undeniably it: the truly life-altering break I had always dreamed of. And, I went to work. … We debuted on September 13, 1993 and I was happy with our effort. I felt like I had seized the moment and put my very best foot forward. And this is what the most respected and widely read television critic, Tom Shales, wrote in the Washington Post: “O’Brien is a living collage of annoying nervous habits. He giggles and titters, jiggles about and fiddles with his cuffs. He had dark, beady little eyes like a rabbit. … O’Brien is a switch on the guest who won’t leave: he’s the host who should never have come….

"There’s more but it gets kind of mean.

"Needless to say, I took a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it excessive. And it hurt like you wouldn’t believe. But I’m telling you all this for a reason. I’ve had a lot of success and I’ve had a lot of failure. I’ve looked good and I’ve looked bad. I’ve been praised and I’ve been criticized. But my mistakes have been necessary. [...]

"I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way. I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good. So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."

So I have always loved him as a comedian and this makes him really like him as a person. A lot of people, not just successful/showbiz people, they don't get this. This is something only someone with a soul would say. And to say it to a grad class at Harvard and not to just say something funny/charming/witty/cool/easy that sounds good - that's someone who actually cares about others. Not sure how you would not like someone who would make a speech like this?

A pampered silver spoon ego maniac with all the connections you’d ever need in life and a Harvard degree waxing on about failure and taking risks. What a rebel.

Actually coming from wealth, medical doctor and law partner - it is highly commendable that he stayed true to his creative comic self,

There would be so much pressure to be successful in more conventional ways .

I often feel like I am being transported to places that I have never heard of when listening to Conan. He definitely lives in a way more interesting head space than most of us.

Yes he's awesome and so much smarter than me. He and his guests make me laugh so much, and always have - I love good smart comedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His “Harvard education” is his entire brand and why people think he’s soooooooo smart. Reality is he’s just a goofy rich nepo baby who got in because he’s a rich nepo baby from Boston. Trying to muscle a 59 year old Jay Leno into retirement proves he’s an entitled elitist a-hole weasel brat like every other Harvard alum.

He was upper middle class, but not rich. That doesn't get you very far at Harvard. Also, you are aware that Jay Leno's manager muscled Johnny Carson into retirement, and Jay wasn't very nice to David Letterman, the man who helped him get noticed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His “Harvard education” is his entire brand and why people think he’s soooooooo smart. Reality is he’s just a goofy rich nepo baby who got in because he’s a rich nepo baby from Boston. Trying to muscle a 59 year old Jay Leno into retirement proves he’s an entitled elitist a-hole weasel brat like every other Harvard alum.

He was upper middle class, but not rich. That doesn't get you very far at Harvard. Also, you are aware that Jay Leno's manager muscled Johnny Carson into retirement, and Jay wasn't very nice to David Letterman, the man who helped him get noticed.

PP again. Just also pointing out that comedians of that era would all have sold their souls to be hosts of the Tonight Show. However, times change and the reality is that shows like the Tonight Show are completely irrelevant to anyone under approximately 60. Conan has maintained his relevance by embracing new forms of entertainment. Kids today barely know who Fallon is. They know Conan though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me try that again (and maybe ask Jeff to delete my messed up post above. I am sorry, Jeff!).

O'Brien gave a commencement speech about 25 years ago that I still refer to now. The speech was about failing and how important it can be, and that it often led to better things.

Major excerpts of the speech are here (https://academyatthelakes.org/wp-content/uplo...vard2000Excerpts.pdf ), but here is the end if you don't want to follow the link:

"And then, an insane, inexplicable opportunity came my way. A chance to audition for host of the new Late Night Show. I took the opportunity seriously but, at the same time, I had the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he had no real shot…a week later I got the job.

"So, this was undeniably it: the truly life-altering break I had always dreamed of. And, I went to work. … We debuted on September 13, 1993 and I was happy with our effort. I felt like I had seized the moment and put my very best foot forward. And this is what the most respected and widely read television critic, Tom Shales, wrote in the Washington Post: “O’Brien is a living collage of annoying nervous habits. He giggles and titters, jiggles about and fiddles with his cuffs. He had dark, beady little eyes like a rabbit. … O’Brien is a switch on the guest who won’t leave: he’s the host who should never have come….

"There’s more but it gets kind of mean.

"Needless to say, I took a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it excessive. And it hurt like you wouldn’t believe. But I’m telling you all this for a reason. I’ve had a lot of success and I’ve had a lot of failure. I’ve looked good and I’ve looked bad. I’ve been praised and I’ve been criticized. But my mistakes have been necessary. [...]

"I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way. I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good. So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."

So I have always loved him as a comedian and this makes him really like him as a person. A lot of people, not just successful/showbiz people, they don't get this. This is something only someone with a soul would say. And to say it to a grad class at Harvard and not to just say something funny/charming/witty/cool/easy that sounds good - that's someone who actually cares about others. Not sure how you would not like someone who would make a speech like this?

A pampered silver spoon ego maniac with all the connections you’d ever need in life and a Harvard degree waxing on about failure and taking risks. What a rebel.

Actually coming from wealth, medical doctor and law partner - it is highly commendable that he stayed true to his creative comic self,

There would be so much pressure to be successful in more conventional ways .

I often feel like I am being transported to places that I have never heard of when listening to Conan. He definitely lives in a way more interesting head space than most of us.

Yes he's awesome and so much smarter than me. He and his guests make me laugh so much, and always have - I love good smart comedy.

He's so smart because he went to HARVARD. If he went to UMass like any of regular Boston kid nobody would trip over themselves to assert how sharp he is. Then you learn the real reason he went to Harvard is because he's a rich nepo baby whose dad was faculty. It's like calling Jared Kushner a genius because he went to Harvard... never mind that Jared only got in because he dad pledged $2.5 million bucks to get him in in the late 90s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me try that again (and maybe ask Jeff to delete my messed up post above. I am sorry, Jeff!).

O'Brien gave a commencement speech about 25 years ago that I still refer to now. The speech was about failing and how important it can be, and that it often led to better things.

Major excerpts of the speech are here (https://academyatthelakes.org/wp-content/uplo...vard2000Excerpts.pdf ), but here is the end if you don't want to follow the link:

"And then, an insane, inexplicable opportunity came my way. A chance to audition for host of the new Late Night Show. I took the opportunity seriously but, at the same time, I had the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he had no real shot…a week later I got the job.

"So, this was undeniably it: the truly life-altering break I had always dreamed of. And, I went to work. … We debuted on September 13, 1993 and I was happy with our effort. I felt like I had seized the moment and put my very best foot forward. And this is what the most respected and widely read television critic, Tom Shales, wrote in the Washington Post: “O’Brien is a living collage of annoying nervous habits. He giggles and titters, jiggles about and fiddles with his cuffs. He had dark, beady little eyes like a rabbit. … O’Brien is a switch on the guest who won’t leave: he’s the host who should never have come….

"There’s more but it gets kind of mean.

"Needless to say, I took a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it excessive. And it hurt like you wouldn’t believe. But I’m telling you all this for a reason. I’ve had a lot of success and I’ve had a lot of failure. I’ve looked good and I’ve looked bad. I’ve been praised and I’ve been criticized. But my mistakes have been necessary. [...]

"I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way. I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good. So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."

So I have always loved him as a comedian and this makes him really like him as a person. A lot of people, not just successful/showbiz people, they don't get this. This is something only someone with a soul would say. And to say it to a grad class at Harvard and not to just say something funny/charming/witty/cool/easy that sounds good - that's someone who actually cares about others. Not sure how you would not like someone who would make a speech like this?

A pampered silver spoon ego maniac with all the connections you’d ever need in life and a Harvard degree waxing on about failure and taking risks. What a rebel.

Actually coming from wealth, medical doctor and law partner - it is highly commendable that he stayed true to his creative comic self,

There would be so much pressure to be successful in more conventional ways .

I often feel like I am being transported to places that I have never heard of when listening to Conan. He definitely lives in a way more interesting head space than most of us.

Yes he's awesome and so much smarter than me. He and his guests make me laugh so much, and always have - I love good smart comedy.

He's so smart because he went to HARVARD. If he went to UMass like any of regular Boston kid nobody would trip over themselves to assert how sharp he is. Then you learn the real reason he went to Harvard is because he's a rich nepo baby whose dad was faculty. It's like calling Jared Kushner a genius because he went to Harvard... never mind that Jared only got in because he dad pledged $2.5 million bucks to get him in in the late 90s.

You may generally be correct, but I think in Conan's case, he is one of the people who genuinely deserved to go there. For example, he wrote a thesis on a very difficult topic - "Literary Progeria in the Works of William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor". Also, even for rich people, getting in is never guaranteed...there just isn't enough space for everyone. And his parents had some money, but they also had six kids and female lawyers back in the day weren't paid the big bucks like men were. I just listened to the podcast this morning, and his assistant Sona was making the point that Conan's mom was not allowed in the men's only dining area of the law firm - as a partner!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me try that again (and maybe ask Jeff to delete my messed up post above. I am sorry, Jeff!).

O'Brien gave a commencement speech about 25 years ago that I still refer to now. The speech was about failing and how important it can be, and that it often led to better things.

Major excerpts of the speech are here (https://academyatthelakes.org/wp-content/uplo...vard2000Excerpts.pdf ), but here is the end if you don't want to follow the link:

"And then, an insane, inexplicable opportunity came my way. A chance to audition for host of the new Late Night Show. I took the opportunity seriously but, at the same time, I had the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he had no real shot…a week later I got the job.

"So, this was undeniably it: the truly life-altering break I had always dreamed of. And, I went to work. … We debuted on September 13, 1993 and I was happy with our effort. I felt like I had seized the moment and put my very best foot forward. And this is what the most respected and widely read television critic, Tom Shales, wrote in the Washington Post: “O’Brien is a living collage of annoying nervous habits. He giggles and titters, jiggles about and fiddles with his cuffs. He had dark, beady little eyes like a rabbit. … O’Brien is a switch on the guest who won’t leave: he’s the host who should never have come….

"There’s more but it gets kind of mean.

"Needless to say, I took a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it excessive. And it hurt like you wouldn’t believe. But I’m telling you all this for a reason. I’ve had a lot of success and I’ve had a lot of failure. I’ve looked good and I’ve looked bad. I’ve been praised and I’ve been criticized. But my mistakes have been necessary. [...]

"I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way. I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good. So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."

So I have always loved him as a comedian and this makes him really like him as a person. A lot of people, not just successful/showbiz people, they don't get this. This is something only someone with a soul would say. And to say it to a grad class at Harvard and not to just say something funny/charming/witty/cool/easy that sounds good - that's someone who actually cares about others. Not sure how you would not like someone who would make a speech like this?

A pampered silver spoon ego maniac with all the connections you’d ever need in life and a Harvard degree waxing on about failure and taking risks. What a rebel.

Actually coming from wealth, medical doctor and law partner - it is highly commendable that he stayed true to his creative comic self,

There would be so much pressure to be successful in more conventional ways .

I often feel like I am being transported to places that I have never heard of when listening to Conan. He definitely lives in a way more interesting head space than most of us.

Yes he's awesome and so much smarter than me. He and his guests make me laugh so much, and always have - I love good smart comedy.

He's so smart because he went to HARVARD. If he went to UMass like any of regular Boston kid nobody would trip over themselves to assert how sharp he is. Then you learn the real reason he went to Harvard is because he's a rich nepo baby whose dad was faculty. It's like calling Jared Kushner a genius because he went to Harvard... never mind that Jared only got in because he dad pledged $2.5 million bucks to get him in in the late 90s.

You may generally be correct, but I think in Conan's case, he is one of the people who genuinely deserved to go there. For example, he wrote a thesis on a very difficult topic - "Literary Progeria in the Works of William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor". Also, even for rich people, getting in is never guaranteed...there just isn't enough space for everyone. And his parents had some money, but they also had six kids and female lawyers back in the day weren't paid the big bucks like men were. I just listened to the podcast this morning, and his assistant Sona was making the point that Conan's mom was not allowed in the men's only dining area of the law firm - as a partner!

Why do you know his thesis? Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let me try that again (and maybe ask Jeff to delete my messed up post above. I am sorry, Jeff!).

O'Brien gave a commencement speech about 25 years ago that I still refer to now. The speech was about failing and how important it can be, and that it often led to better things.

Major excerpts of the speech are here (https://academyatthelakes.org/wp-content/uplo...vard2000Excerpts.pdf ), but here is the end if you don't want to follow the link:

"And then, an insane, inexplicable opportunity came my way. A chance to audition for host of the new Late Night Show. I took the opportunity seriously but, at the same time, I had the relaxed confidence of someone who knew he had no real shot…a week later I got the job.

"So, this was undeniably it: the truly life-altering break I had always dreamed of. And, I went to work. … We debuted on September 13, 1993 and I was happy with our effort. I felt like I had seized the moment and put my very best foot forward. And this is what the most respected and widely read television critic, Tom Shales, wrote in the Washington Post: “O’Brien is a living collage of annoying nervous habits. He giggles and titters, jiggles about and fiddles with his cuffs. He had dark, beady little eyes like a rabbit. … O’Brien is a switch on the guest who won’t leave: he’s the host who should never have come….

"There’s more but it gets kind of mean.

"Needless to say, I took a lot of criticism, some of it deserved, some of it excessive. And it hurt like you wouldn’t believe. But I’m telling you all this for a reason. I’ve had a lot of success and I’ve had a lot of failure. I’ve looked good and I’ve looked bad. I’ve been praised and I’ve been criticized. But my mistakes have been necessary. [...]

"I’ve dwelled on my failures today because, as graduates of Harvard, your biggest liability is your need to succeed. Your need to always find yourself on the sweet side of the bell curve. Because success is a lot like a bright, white tuxedo. You feel terrific when you get it, but then you’re desperately afraid of getting it dirty, of spoiling it in any way. I left the cocoon of Harvard, I left the cocoon of Saturday Night Live, I left the cocoon of The Simpsons. And each time it was bruising and tumultuous. And yet, every failure was freeing, and today I’m as nostalgic for the bad as I am for the good. So, that’s what I wish for all of you: the bad as well as the good. Fall down, make a mess, break something occasionally. And remember that the story is never over."

So I have always loved him as a comedian and this makes him really like him as a person. A lot of people, not just successful/showbiz people, they don't get this. This is something only someone with a soul would say. And to say it to a grad class at Harvard and not to just say something funny/charming/witty/cool/easy that sounds good - that's someone who actually cares about others. Not sure how you would not like someone who would make a speech like this?

A pampered silver spoon ego maniac with all the connections you’d ever need in life and a Harvard degree waxing on about failure and taking risks. What a rebel.

Actually coming from wealth, medical doctor and law partner - it is highly commendable that he stayed true to his creative comic self,

There would be so much pressure to be successful in more conventional ways .

I often feel like I am being transported to places that I have never heard of when listening to Conan. He definitely lives in a way more interesting head space than most of us.

Yes he's awesome and so much smarter than me. He and his guests make me laugh so much, and always have - I love good smart comedy.

He's so smart because he went to HARVARD. If he went to UMass like any of regular Boston kid nobody would trip over themselves to assert how sharp he is. Then you learn the real reason he went to Harvard is because he's a rich nepo baby whose dad was faculty. It's like calling Jared Kushner a genius because he went to Harvard... never mind that Jared only got in because he dad pledged $2.5 million bucks to get him in in the late 90s.

You may generally be correct, but I think in Conan's case, he is one of the people who genuinely deserved to go there. For example, he wrote a thesis on a very difficult topic - "Literary Progeria in the Works of William Faulkner and Flannery O'Connor". Also, even for rich people, getting in is never guaranteed...there just isn't enough space for everyone. And his parents had some money, but they also had six kids and female lawyers back in the day weren't paid the big bucks like men were. I just listened to the podcast this morning, and his assistant Sona was making the point that Conan's mom was not allowed in the men's only dining area of the law firm - as a partner!

Why do you know his thesis? Weird.

He's mentioned it a lot, and it's well known.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He grew up rough in Brookline per his show.

The son of a doctor and a lawyer??

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:He grew up rough in Brookline per his show.

The son of a doctor and a lawyer??

Conan Christopher O'Brien was born on April 18, 1963, in Brookline, Massachusetts.[6] His father, Thomas Francis O'Brien (1929–2024), was a physician and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, specializing in epidemiology.[7][8] His mother, Ruth O'Brien (née Reardon; 1931–2024), was an attorney and partner at the Boston firm Ropes & Gray.[9][10]

That "rough" has to be a bit...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His “Harvard education” is his entire brand and why people think he’s soooooooo smart. Reality is he’s just a goofy rich nepo baby who got in because he’s a rich nepo baby from Boston. Trying to muscle a 59 year old Jay Leno into retirement proves he’s an entitled elitist a-hole weasel brat like every other Harvard alum.

How on earth is the child of a doctor and a lawyer in Boston a Hollywood nepo baby? Neither of his parents were in show business.

He's a HARVARD LEGACY nepo baby. If his brand is HARVARD basically, thats a big leg up

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:His “Harvard education” is his entire brand and why people think he’s soooooooo smart. Reality is he’s just a goofy rich nepo baby who got in because he’s a rich nepo baby from Boston. Trying to muscle a 59 year old Jay Leno into retirement proves he’s an entitled elitist a-hole weasel brat like every other Harvard alum.

How on earth is the child of a doctor and a lawyer in Boston a Hollywood nepo baby? Neither of his parents were in show business.

He's a HARVARD LEGACY nepo baby. If his brand is HARVARD basically, thats a big leg up

You’re bitter and that only damages you. He got his degree with honors and no, that wasn’t granted to him. And admissions have been blind since before he got in - or all 6 kids would have gone to Harvard. They didn’t.

You’re wrong about ivies in general. You’re wrong about the power of nepotism in terms of his career - he grew up protected and loved and upper middle class, each huge advantages, so there’s no need to lie. His line about a rough childhood is a joke that anyone with a functional brain and soul would see for what it is.

Lady. Put down your acidic personality, it’s got to be a burden to you. Yes you’re free to hate his comedy, his looks, and all else, but your repeated drooling fact-free ranting is a lot more “weird” than anyone else’s replies here.