What are your thoughts on Conan O'Brien?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

[phone]

[Anonymous]

Good God is he googling himself and posting on here? Who in the hell is this passionate about a washed up late show hack who was never funny?

[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.

lol. Comedy and journalism is full of rich nepo babies with prestige degrees. They can afford to slum it in their 20s and take “risks” because they can always look forward to millions via inheritance and tap their parents connections to get a serious job later on in life. If comedy didn’t work out, Conan could have gone to an Ivy law school in his late 20s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

He’s made Harvard his entire personality because he’s not actually funny and has convinced a niche audience of midwit pseuds he’s some genius Harvard Man and they “get it.” He’s a typical arrogant smug egomaniac brat and it’s astonishing he has any fans. I know, I know he’s totally self deprecating and totally isn’t an elitist money grabbing POS. Riiiiight.

[Anonymous]

His family is incredibly well thought of up here in Boston. A close friend grew up with them and is tight with his youngest brother (Justin) and has nothing but glowing things to say.
Conan deserved Harvard. He was the valedictorian of his HS class. He isn't some rich, dumb nepotism kid. And his parents were working-class originally - both had scrappy childhoods and were entirely self-made. I don't particularly love his comedy, but I do think he is legitimately smart and got where he is based on talent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t find him at all funny, and has a very punchable face. Jimmy Fallon is no better though.

This.

Because I’ve never found a single thing he’s done very funny or even chuckle worthy - he is wooden as hell - I’m convinced he must have been a very funny writer. The pedigree is impressive: lampoon followed by the Simpsons. (But that’s only because he’s lasted so long in the public eye! Only a grand narcissist like this would have endured. I give him backhanded credit for lasting this long on no stage presence.

Lorne Michaels in those years he turned on Jay Leno - needed an alternative. He turned to Conan as the alternative. Probably, Lorne was family friends with one of Conan’s folks. No fault in that - it’s how the biz works but very unfunny Xer.

Found the Jay Leno fan!

I find Jay Leno completely unfunny.

The masses do share PP's preference.

[Anonymous]

The only AH in the late night wars was Leno, and he totally screwed everyone over he is a terrible person.

It’s one thing to say you don’t like his humor, but enough people do that he’s been extremely successful.

The entitled nepo stuff is bs. He’s the opposite of that. During the 2007 writers’ strike he paid his writers and 75 staffers out of his own pocket. When he got the big settlement for the tonight show contract, he gave 1/3 to his staff so they had money to live and could wait to join his next venture if they wanted. If you think he didn’t have the academic chops to be at Harvard you’re off your rocker. That said, he’s acutely aware of both the luck and privilege he’s benefited from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The only AH in the late night wars was Leno, and he totally screwed everyone over he is a terrible person.

It’s one thing to say you don’t like his humor, but enough people do that he’s been extremely successful.

The entitled nepo stuff is bs. He’s the opposite of that. During the 2007 writers’ strike he paid his writers and 75 staffers out of his own pocket. When he got the big settlement for the tonight show contract, he gave 1/3 to his staff so they had money to live and could wait to join his next venture if they wanted. If you think he didn’t have the academic chops to be at Harvard you’re off your rocker. That said, he’s acutely aware of both the luck and privilege he’s benefited from.

Leno beat Conan ratings at 10pm and again back at 11:30 when he got his show back. Conan’s 11:30pm show was a compete failure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only AH in the late night wars was Leno, and he totally screwed everyone over he is a terrible person.

It’s one thing to say you don’t like his humor, but enough people do that he’s been extremely successful.

The entitled nepo stuff is bs. He’s the opposite of that. During the 2007 writers’ strike he paid his writers and 75 staffers out of his own pocket. When he got the big settlement for the tonight show contract, he gave 1/3 to his staff so they had money to live and could wait to join his next venture if they wanted. If you think he didn’t have the academic chops to be at Harvard you’re off your rocker. That said, he’s acutely aware of both the luck and privilege he’s benefited from.

Leno beat Conan ratings at 10pm and again back at 11:30 when he got his show back. Conan’s 11:30pm show was a compete failure.

Amassing over 200$M, working in the industry for decades, and being a very decent human > Leno’s ratings. What is Jay doing now? He muscled into Letterman’s spot and that was the sweet spot. That was the habit. It was still the time when people wanted to tune into the network show that looked the same way it did before. Leno has been a trash human being to everyone except his wife. Letterman probably would have slayed, his style was the most adaptable to that audience. Leno appeals to the lowest common denominator. Staged wrestling gets high ratings too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The only AH in the late night wars was Leno, and he totally screwed everyone over he is a terrible person.

It’s one thing to say you don’t like his humor, but enough people do that he’s been extremely successful.

The entitled nepo stuff is bs. He’s the opposite of that. During the 2007 writers’ strike he paid his writers and 75 staffers out of his own pocket. When he got the big settlement for the tonight show contract, he gave 1/3 to his staff so they had money to live and could wait to join his next venture if they wanted. If you think he didn’t have the academic chops to be at Harvard you’re off your rocker. That said, he’s acutely aware of both the luck and privilege he’s benefited from.

Leno beat Conan ratings at 10pm and again back at 11:30 when he got his show back. Conan’s 11:30pm show was a compete failure.

A Leno stan- now the idiocy makes sense.

[Anonymous]

He seem like a super kind, self deprecating(as well smart & funny). I’d love to know him.

[Anonymous]

Leno cucked him. Leno outwitted him. Leno is probably a billionaire, while the Harvard elitist dweeb is worth $200 million.

[Anonymous]

Some of the best Simpsons episodes were his

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Leno cucked him. Leno outwitted him. Leno is probably a billionaire, while the Harvard elitist dweeb is worth $200 million.

Who invited the Leno disciple? You must be old, pp.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Leno cucked him. Leno outwitted him. Leno is probably a billionaire, while the Harvard elitist dweeb is worth $200 million.

Who invited the Leno disciple? You must be old, pp.

Leno is a very nice and humble man. Conan is a corny limousine liberal who milks his pseudo intellect fan base.