Farewell, Conan

I found out just a few days ago that this week will mark the final week of Conan O Brien's tenure on Late Night. For those of you unfortunate souls who are not aware of this, Late Night w/ Conan O Brien is a late night talk shot that's been airing in the US for I think...13-15 years or so at 12:35am.

Now there are more famous talk shows, Leno (which comes on before Conan) and Letterman both do shows. And both shows, along with Jimmy Kimmel, could be found on Hong Kong television (Pearl, Star World, CNBC). However, Conan is not on HK TV at all. It's a fact that's devastated me for the past two years (Everything else I loved about the US, I could get in HK. NBA? Prime Rib? Rock shows? Yup. But Conan can't be found here. And they're not easily downloadable/streamable like scripted shows too).

Anyway, even though the 12:35 timeslot is considered minor league, Conan became a huge sensation because of one fact: THE MAN IS BRILLIANT AT COMEDY. He can do it all. When he interviews celebs, he's witty, humorous and spontaneous. His skits are so good that some of them have become legends on the internet (The Walker Texas Ranger Lever, Triumph the Insult comic Dog at the Star Wars convention, etc).

Some skits, such as this joke where Conan looks like the President of Finland (a woman), have gotten so popular that it actually AFFECTED politics in Finland. Conan actually flew over and met the President and the people there loved Conan and his impersonation.

What I'm saying is. Conan is the best. He's a legend. Now the reason this week is his last week on Late Night isnt because he's retiring. It's because NBC PROMOTED HIM TO THE MAIN EVENT SLOT. Starting in June, Conan will take over Jay Leno's spot on The Tonight Show.

Now Conan will be off air for a few months and be back in June. But I have a feeling once he hits that main event slot, he won't be the same. The Tonight Show has history and heritage behind it. Conan would have to naturally tone down the random gags and spontaneous dances a bit. He'd have to go "mainstream". He'd have to sit there and make small talk with Oprah and Obama.

He'd have to be a bit more serious.

Well I prefer him making gay jokes with The Rock. Throwing chairs because he's spazzing out from a kiss by Heidi Klum.

Another aspect that's gonna take a hit? The music. Conan oftentimes had smaller, indie-like rock acts perform. White Stripes when they was claiming to be siblings. The Soledad Brothers. Yeah Yeah Yeahs first TV performance. Now on the "main event" timeslot. They'd get the chart toppers, and that's not a good thing. Instead of introducing Jack White or Buddy Guy he'd be introducing Lil Wayne and shit.

I wish I could be in the US this Friday for the farewell show. And the White Stripes will even perform in the final moments of the show.

How fitting.