I am loathe to spoil any part of it for anyone who did not see it, because I imagine Hulu will have it online soon anyway. But I will say this: fantastic first show. Not a disappointment to be found within the hour and now I cannot wait until I get to see a taping.
Welcome to Los Angeles, Conan.
Oooooooh, Ahhhhhh, Eeeeeee, Yaaaaaaaaa, Grrrrrrrrr, you son of a oh, eeeeeeee, and that's how we shave. -Homer Simpson
I thought it was great too. Though I have to say Andy seemed akward at times. Either his laughing was forced or he meant it to seem that way as a joke, but it was strange.
Otherwise great show and I need Pearl Jam to release that song soon please.
I was really happy to hear the same theme song as Late Night's, which is I guess officially the Conan O'Brien theme. It's basically the same show in a shinier, bigger set in LA. The impression I got was Conan, Andy and Max in the Big Time.
I still remember being in high school and gathering with a group of my friends watching the press conference where Lorne Michaels announced this weird looking redheaded guy named Conan O'Brien as the replacement for David Letterman. It's been a long, amazing road. I'm happy to say I've been there with Conan since the beginning. And he's from Brookline, which means the same to me as being from Boston. He's my Johnny Carson.
I started watching Conan during my teenage years because, frankly, living in a small town without cable there was nothing on but one local channel. I LOVED it, and it became a much watch for me. Over the years I have had to stop watching it, but every so often I wuld make sure to catch some episodes. Now he's on at 11:30, so I think I can watch more than I have been.
I agree with you about the theme song, John. And I think it set the tone for the show rather well with a "we're not changing too much....but there will be some subtle differences" vibe.
Conan was very Conan. The opening was steller, especially when he made a dig on California, NBC, and GM (a primary sponser, apparently).....AT THE SAME TIME. Brilliant. He was firing on all fronts. And of course, it wouldn't be Conan without the deadpan face (after the Hillary clip).
I love (LOVE LOVE) how the Max Weinberg 7 came over as well. The band is excellent and plays a variety of styles. Max always seems like he's enjoying himself, but it seemed last night from his face especially so.
Richter did seem a bit awkward, but it's a new role for him. He'll adjust I'm sure.
Homerun show for sure. I have one fanboy thing I would've LOVED to have seen;
"I think it's time, once again, that we look into the future:.
"The future, Conan?"
"That's right (insert random aweesome caemo here)! It's time to look all the way into the YEAR 2000!".
(Of course, Mr T would've been awesome too, becuase he is ALWAYS (always) a riot on Conan's show).
You know, I really don't know what to put here. Close your eyes and thank of something funny!
Semi related, Bruce Springsteen & the E street band played at a festival here, without Max. His son filled in for him!
They mentioned this on local tv, saying Max Weinberg had a tv appearance to do. I just cheered, because it wouldn't be a proper first show without Max Weinberg.
It seemed to me that Richter's microphone was a little hot. His laugh had a way of drowning out everything else - at least, that's how it sounded to me through the first commercial break (after which I fell asleep).
I think this a much stronger start than Leno or even Conan had when they first started out.
We all have ways of coping. I use sex and awesomeness.
I'm very surprised at all the love. To me, it was fine but nothing special. The opening was a cute idea with a couple of good moments (the doll museum especially) but went on too long. There were a few other laughs but nothing that was particularly memorable. I don't get what was so special.
It was Conan. A slightly flashier set, but still Conan. Him crying during the Tram tour flood was awesome, as was the crowd chanting Circle at the end of the video.
It seems to me that this wasn't going to change anyone's attitude towards Conan, and the reviewers seem to reflect that. Either you like his stylings or you don't. I haven't watched him regularly in years, but I've been a fan for quite some time.
Did Letterman change in his jump from Late Night to the Late Show?
It is weird to see him on against Letterman instead of Snyder/Kilborn/Ferguson. It feels a bit like daylight savings time, where my mind says its one time and the clock says another.
You believe me, don't you? Please believe what I just said...
I loved it because it was Late Night in a new studio. It wasn't the greatest episode ever - it wasn't the worst. But it was familiar, and that's what I want.
Andy seemed kind of tacked on last night - but they didn't really have anything for him to do, but they needed to make his presence felt at some point. He's always great in the pre-taped bits -- and I'm longing for a staring contest.
Originally posted by OlFuzzyBastardI loved it because it was Late Night in a new studio. It wasn't the greatest episode ever - it wasn't the worst. But it was familiar, and that's what I want.
Hearing that familiar opening theme again was awesome.
I take it back, Conan's going to be fine. Just got done watching the second episode on hulu, and it was awesome.
Spoiler Below: Highlight text to read
We got almost all the classics. We got news story leading to crazy video leading to La Bomba reaction shot. Andy wasn't as annoying, and both he and Max were involved in a segment. We got a great video of Conan going shopping on Rodeo Road, a great segment called twitterTracker that had the audience chanting Conan's new nickname (with encouragement from Tom Hanks), and finally, we got Tom Hanks getting hit by a large fake meteor!
This is all the humor I'm used to seeing on Late Night, and once again, it was awesome.
Originally posted by Mr. BoffoI take it back, Conan's going to be fine. Just got done watching the second episode on hulu, and it was awesome.
Spoiler Below: Highlight text to read
We got almost all the classics. We got news story leading to crazy video leading to La Bomba reaction shot. Andy wasn't as annoying, and both he and Max were involved in a segment. We got a great video of Conan going shopping on Rodeo Road, a great segment called twitterTracker that had the audience chanting Conan's new nickname (with encouragement from Tom Hanks), and finally, we got Tom Hanks getting hit by a large fake meteor!
This is all the humor I'm used to seeing on Late Night, and once again, it was awesome.
Agreed. I've watched all three shows, and I'm hooked. The earleir time slot makes me able to watch it now (no DVR at my place). The third show kept the ball rolling with....
>Spoiler Below: Highlight text to read
Jon and Kate Rant with little cut shots to Max. And of course.....the new spin on an old classic.
IN THE YEAR 3000!
You know, I really don't know what to put here. Close your eyes and thank of something funny!
The biggest adjustment from Jay-to-Conan for regular Tonight Show viewers will be the monologue. Jay's monologue basically took up half the show and was his bread and butter. In Conan's case, the monologue is only about five minutes long, and basically just a jumping off point for him to do funnier asides between the jokes (i.e. his intentionally bad impressions) or to comment about how the monologue is bombing. I'm glad to see they brought back the hilarious bit where Conan is ranting about some deviant pervert and they quick-cut to Max.
Man, Julia Louis-Dreyfus looks incredible. She's 48?!
If Jack McBrayer's acting career ever goes to hell, he might as well just actually get a job as an NBC page.
I'll admit, the year 2000 thing always struck me as strangely and unnecessarily anachronistic. How long do you think it'll be before La Bamba accidentally sings the old line?
Kirk, crackers are a family food. Happy families. Maybe single people eat crackers, we don't know. Frankly, we don't want to know. It's a market we can do without.