Conan (talk show)

Conan initially followed the established six-piece late-night format popularized by evening talk show hosts such as Johnny Carson and David Letterman, and previously executed during O'Brien's tenures as host of NBC's Late Night and The Tonight Show. Each episode of Conan from its first eight years runs 60 minutes in length, including commercials,{{cite web|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/11/conan-obrien-grabs-42-million-viewers-in-tbs-premiere.html|title=Conan O'Brien grabs 4.2 million viewers in TBS premiere|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 20, 2010|date=November 9, 2010|last=Collins|first=Scott|archive-date=April 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402014742/https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2010/11/conan-obrien-grabs-42-million-viewers-in-tbs-premiere.html|url-status=live}} and typically consists of:

• Act 1: Monologue
• Act 2: Comedy Bit(s)
• Act 3: Celebrity Interview 1
• Act 4: Celebrity Interview 1 continued
• Act 5: Celebrity Interview 2
• Act 6: Musical or Stand-Up Comedy Guest, Signoff

The original hour-long show opened with Richter proclaiming "Coming to you from Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, it's Conan!", and introducing O'Brien, The Basic Cable Band, as well as the episode's guests. For the first several seasons, each episode had a title, which Richter would announce at the end of the opening sequence. The titles were in the style of old-fashioned murder-mystery radio shows, television sitcoms, or other assorted jokes. The episode titles were dropped in early 2014.{{cite web |title=Conan (2010–2021) Episode List |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1637574/episodes?year=2014 |website=IMDb |access-date=5 April 2023}}

The original title sequence was designed by Rob Ashe, Dan Dome and Eric McGilloway.{{cite web|url=http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/designing-conan|title=Designing Conan|last=Ashe|first=Rob|work=Creative COW|page=1|access-date=June 11, 2011|archive-date=May 30, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530135314/http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/designing-conan|url-status=live}} There were several different variations of the opening credits, with the final product being inspired by graphic designer Saul Bass. The opening design process was described by Ashe as utilizing "organic-looking textures made of construction paper, soak them in soda, and light them in Photoshop."

O'Brien opened each episode with a monologue drawing from current news stories and issues. The monologue was sometimes accompanied by clips and brief comedy skits,{{cite web|url=http://www.comcast.net/articles/entertainment/20101111/ENTERTAINMENT-US-CONAN-FORMAT/|title=Conan plays safe, gives viewers trusted TV routine|publisher=Comcast|agency=Reuters|access-date=November 19, 2010|date=November 11, 2010|last=Egan|first=Mark}}{{Dead link|date=February 2011}} in addition to occasional interactions between O'Brien and Richter, and the audience.

{{main|List of Conan sketches}}

One or more comedy bits followed the monologue. Following the monologue, some comedy bits (such as those based on video clips) were presented from the monologue stage. Following the first commercial break, additional comedy sketches were typically presented from the desk area. Some sketches were original and appeared only once. Occasionally an additional sketch would air between the first and second guest.

In May 2018, O'Brien and TBS announced the show would be reformatted into a 30-minute show, with a looser structure starting 2019.de Moraes, Lisa (May 3, 2018). [https://deadline.com/2018/05/conan-obrien-new-half-hour-format-tbs-late-night-tour-1202381555/ "‘Conan's New Half-Hour Format Means Fewer Celebrity Interviews, More Comedy"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401215445/https://deadline.com/2018/05/conan-obrien-new-half-hour-format-tbs-late-night-tour-1202381555/ |date=April 1, 2019 }}. Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 23, 2019.{{cite web|last=Chow|first=Andrew R.|title=Conan O'Brien's Talk Show Will Shrink to a Half-Hour|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/arts/television/conan-obrien-talk-show-half-hour.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 3, 2018|access-date=October 5, 2018|archive-date=October 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005113933/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/arts/television/conan-obrien-talk-show-half-hour.html|url-status=live}}

In January 2019, O'Brien gave a more detailed description of the new format of his show. It would not feature a band or a desk area, and for the first time as host of a talk show, O'Brien would not be wearing a suit. He commented, "I really don't miss the desk. It started to feel like I'm doing someone's taxes." The last hour-long regular episode aired on October 4, 2018. The new reformatted version premiered on January 22, 2019, on TBS. O'Brien's first guest for the new-look show was Tom Hanks.Wright, Megh (January 14, 2019). [https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/conan-obrien-half-hour-show-premiere-guest-lineup.html "Conan Returns Next Week With Tom Hanks and the Cast of The Good Place"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050019/https://www.vulture.com/2019/01/conan-obrien-half-hour-show-premiere-guest-lineup.html|date=January 16, 2019}}. Vulture. Retrieved January 23, 2019.Itzkoff, Dave (January 14, 2019). [https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/arts/television/conan-obrien-tbs-show-reboot-half-hour.html "Conan O'Brien Wants to Scare Himself With the New, Shorter 'Conan'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050350/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/14/arts/television/conan-obrien-tbs-show-reboot-half-hour.html|date=January 16, 2019}}. The New York Times. Retrieved January 23, 2019.Martin, Montana (January 14, 2019). [https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/01/conan-returns-to-tbs-with-revamped-format.html "Conan to Return to TBS Next Week with Revamped Format, First Guest Star Tom Hanks"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116050212/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/01/conan-returns-to-tbs-with-revamped-format.html|date=January 16, 2019}}. Paste. Retrieved January 23, 2019.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program switched to a remotely-produced format from O'Brien's home beginning March 30, 2020.{{cite web|last=Wright|first=Megh|title=How the Late-Night Shows Are Handling Coronavirus Quarantine|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/late-night-shows-nyc-coronavirus.html|work=Vulture|date=April 8, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2020|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117205238/https://www.vulture.com/amp/2020/04/late-night-shows-nyc-coronavirus.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Lafayette|first=Jon|title=Conan O'Brien to Produce New Shows From Home|url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/conan-obrien-to-produce-new-shows-from-home|date=March 19, 2020|access-date=May 20, 2020|work=NextTV|language=en|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801213143/https://www.nexttv.com/news/conan-obrien-to-produce-new-shows-from-home|url-status=live}} In July 2020, it was announced that Conan would continue with this format, but would now be filmed with limited on-site staff from the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles and no studio audience — making it the first American late-night talk show to return to filming outside of the host's residence (albeit still not from its main studio). O'Brien explained that "I got started doing improv at the Coronet in 1986 and I'm glad we've figured out a way to safely keep that theater going during this lockdown."{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=July 2, 2020|title=Conan O'Brien To Film TBS Show At Largo, Observing Health & Safety Protocols, Becomes First Late-Night Host To Make Move|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/conan-obrien-film-tbs-late-night-show-largo-1202974533/|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en|archive-date=July 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702173404/https://deadline.com/2020/07/conan-obrien-film-tbs-late-night-show-largo-1202974533/|url-status=live}}

{{Main|List of Conan episodes}}

File:Chicago Theater (7398044596).jpg

• October 31 – November 3, 2011: taped at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Guests included Jimmy Fallon, Hugh Jackman, Matthew Broderick and Louis C.K.{{cite web|url=http://teamcoco.com/conannyc|title=Conan NYC|website=TeamCoco|date=November 3, 2011|access-date=February 10, 2014|archive-date=February 7, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207131040/http://teamcoco.com/conannyc|url-status=live}}
• June 11–14, 2012: taped at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, as part of the TBS Just for Laughs Festival. Guests included Jack McBrayer, Andy Samberg, Johnny Galecki and Adam Sandler.{{cite web|url=http://teamcoco.com/Chicago|title=CONAN Chicago|website=TeamCoco|access-date=February 10, 2014|archive-date=February 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208014155/http://teamcoco.com/chicago|url-status=live}}
• April 1–4, 2013: taped at The Tabernacle in Atlanta, Georgia, to coincide with the NCAA Final Four being held a few blocks away at the Georgia Dome. Guests included Seth Rogen, Paul Rudd, Steven Yeun and Charles Barkley.{{cite web|url=http://teamcoco.com/Atlanta|title=CONAN Live From Atlanta|website=TeamCoco|access-date=February 10, 2014|archive-date=February 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140208021225/http://teamcoco.com/atlanta|url-status=live}}
• March 31 – April 3, 2014: taped at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas, to coincide with the NCAA Final Four. Guests included Dirk Nowitzki, Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Simon Helberg and Charles Barkley.{{cite web|url=http://teamcoco.com/dallas|title=CONAN in Dallas Texas|website=TeamCoco|access-date=February 14, 2014|archive-date=February 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221103542/http://teamcoco.com/dallas|url-status=live}}
• July 8–11, 2015: taped at the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego, California to coincide with Comic-Con. Guests included Elijah Wood, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson and Peter Capaldi.{{cite web|url=http://teamcoco.com/comiccon|title=CONAN at Comic-Con®|website=TeamCoco|access-date=June 24, 2015|archive-date=June 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622212405/http://teamcoco.com/comiccon|url-status=live}}
• July 20–24, 2016: returned to the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego to coincide with Comic-Con. Guests included the cast of Arrowverse shows, Will Arnett and the cast of Game of Thrones.
• October 31 – November 3, 2016: taped at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
• July 19–23, 2017: had live shows from the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego to coincide with Comic-Con for the third year in a row. Guests included the casts of Bright, Supernatural, Kingsman: The Golden Circle, The Lego Ninjago Movie and Game of Thrones.{{Cite web|title=Conan Is Returning To Comic-Con® July 19–23 – CONAN on TBS|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21UtRym8DRE&index=16&list=PLVL8S3lUHf0Tutq52SEMCOXOA922Zr7LT|publisher=Team Coco|via=YouTube|date=June 22, 2017|access-date=July 20, 2017|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117205246/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21UtRym8DRE&index=16&list=PLVL8S3lUHf0Tutq52SEMCOXOA922Zr7LT|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Coming Soon: The CONAN360° LIVE Pre-Show – CONAN on TBS|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na99TbCMT0k&list=PLVL8S3lUHf0Tutq52SEMCOXOA922Zr7LT&index=12|publisher=Team Coco|via=YouTube|date=July 13, 2017|access-date=July 20, 2017|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117205208/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na99TbCMT0k&list=PLVL8S3lUHf0Tutq52SEMCOXOA922Zr7LT&index=12|url-status=live}}
• November 6–9, 2017: taped at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
• July 18–22, 2018: had live shows from the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego to coincide with Comic-Con for the fourth year in a row. Guests included the casts of Breaking Bad, The Predator, Glass, and Aquaman.
• July 17–20, 2019: returned to the Spreckels Theatre in San Diego to coincide with Comic-Con for the fifth year in a row. Guests included the cast of It: Chapter Two, Tom Cruise,{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tom-cruise-resurrects-tropic-thunder-character-conan-at-comic-con-1225546|title=Tom Cruise Resurrects 'Tropic Thunder' Character With Conan at Comic-Con|last=Beresford|first=Trilby|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=July 27, 2019|archive-date=July 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719051704/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tom-cruise-resurrects-tropic-thunder-character-conan-at-comic-con-1225546|url-status=live}} the cast of Veronica Mars and Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne from Carnival Row.{{Cite web|url=http://eclipsemagazine.com/conan-comic-con-tapings-guest-list-announced/|title=Conan Comic-Con Tapings Guest List Announced|last=Alexandria|first=Michelle|date=July 9, 2019|website=EclipseMagazine|language=en-US|access-date=July 27, 2019|archive-date=July 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710051117/http://eclipsemagazine.com/conan-comic-con-tapings-guest-list-announced/|url-status=live}} Mark Hamill, Thomas Middleditch, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Norman Reedus, Kristen Schaal, Ben Schwartz and Isaac Hempstead Wright appeared in sketches.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mark-hamill-puts-conan-o-042314125.html|title=Mark Hamill Puts Conan O'Brien's Comic Book Cred to the Test (Video)|website=Yahoo!|language=en-US|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=July 27, 2019|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727155812/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/mark-hamill-puts-conan-o-042314125.html|url-status=live}} The Basic Cable Band also returned for these episodes.

{{main article|Conan Without Borders}}

File:Conan-without-borders-logo.png]]

O'Brien has filmed several specials abroad. These episodes do not follow the traditional talk-show format, instead following O'Brien as he attempts to engage the locals and experience the unique cultural aspects of the area.

The series began in February 2015, following the onset of the Cuban thaw, with O'Brien becoming the first American television personality to film in Cuba for more than half a century.{{cite news |last=France |first=Lisa Respers |date=February 16, 2015 |title=Conan O'Brien Takes Show to Cuba |publisher=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/16/entertainment/feat-conan-obrien-show-cuba/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211021153421/https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/16/entertainment/feat-conan-obrien-show-cuba/ |archive-date=October 21, 2021}} Conan O'Brien then visited Armenia, accompanied by his assistant Sona Movsesian.{{cite magazine |last1=Snierson |first1=Dan |date=October 12, 2015 |title=Conan O'Brien is taking his late-night talk show to Armenia |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2015/10/12/conan-obrien-armenia |url-status=dead |access-date=May 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428065355/https://ew.com/article/2015/10/12/conan-obrien-armenia/ |archive-date=April 28, 2022}} The series became some of his most popular work, winning an Emmy in 2018.{{cite news |last1=Hipes |first1=Patrick |title=TBS' Revamped 'Conan' Gets A Premiere Date |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/conan-premiere-date-2019-half-hour-show-tbs-1202522271/ |access-date=September 6, 2022 |work=Deadline |date=December 18, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Goldstein |first1=Ian |title=Every Conan Without Borders International Special, Ranked |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/best-conan-without-borders-foreign-specials-ranked.html |access-date=September 6, 2022 |work=Vulture |date=November 8, 2019 |language=en-us}} The international shows became available on Netflix{{cite news |title=10 travel shows on Netflix that offer a virtual escape |url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/entertainment/tv/2020/03/18/10-best-travel-shows-netflix-stream-right-now/2865275001/ |access-date=September 6, 2022 |work=USA Today |date=April 10, 2020 |language=en}} before moving to HBO Max.{{cite news |last1=Tedder |first1=Michael |title=CNN And HBO Have Very Public Breakup Over Streaming War |url=https://www.thestreet.com/investing/cnn-and-hbo-have-very-public-breakup-over-streaming-war |access-date=September 6, 2022 |work=TheStreet |date=December 20, 2021 |language=en-us}}

File:Conan O'Brien speaking at TBS rally.jpg in June 2010]]

Following the 2010 Tonight Show conflict, O'Brien announced on the first day of The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour that he had signed a deal with cable network TBS to host a talk show on their late-night lineup, beginning in November 2010. Before the deal was announced, O'Brien initially had reservations about the move, as it would place comedian George Lopez's show, Lopez Tonight, one hour later to midnight, effectively doing to Lopez what NBC had wanted to do with O'Brien. However, Lopez reportedly called O'Brien and expressed his excitement about the move.{{cite news|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/how-the-conan-obrien-tbs-deal-happened/?src=busln|first=Bill|last=Carter|title=How the Conan O'Brien-TBS Deal Happened|date=April 12, 2010|access-date=April 12, 2010|work=The New York Times|archive-date=April 16, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100416151318/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/how-the-conan-obrien-tbs-deal-happened/?src=busln|url-status=live}} Lopez went on to state, "I can't think of anything better than doing my show with Conan as my lead-in {{interp|...}} It's the beginning of a new era in late-night comedy."{{cite web|url=http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5075|title=Conan Picks a Home – And It's TBS|date=April 12, 2010|access-date=November 8, 2010|website=Turner Newsroom|archive-date=April 17, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417044214/http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5075|url-status=live}} Lopez Tonight would be canceled less than nine months later.{{cite web|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/tbs-cancels-lopez-tonight/|title=TBS Cancels 'Lopez Tonight' - NYTimes.com|work=The New York Times|date=August 10, 2011|access-date=August 10, 2011|archive-date=August 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811004918/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/tbs-cancels-lopez-tonight/|url-status=live}} In an official press release by Turner Broadcasting, it stated that O'Brien had only begun negotiations a week prior to the official announcement of the show. Steve Koonin, President of Turner Entertainment Networks, went on to comment of the announcement, "Conan has been the comedic voice for a generation. TBS already has a huge audience of young comedy lovers, and Conan's show will give these fans even more reasons to watch our network."

In his own statement about the deal, O'Brien stated, "In three months I've gone from network television to Twitter to performing live in theaters, and now I'm headed to basic cable. My plan is working perfectly."{{cite news|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-will-do-a-late-night-show-on-tbs/|title=Conan O'Brien Will Do a Late-Night Show on TBS|work=The New York Times|last=Carter|first=Bill|access-date=July 12, 2010|date=April 12, 2010|archive-date=April 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100418062635/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/12/conan-obrien-will-do-a-late-night-show-on-tbs/|url-status=live}} O'Brien's production company, Conaco, reportedly owns all rights to the show.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2010/04/conan-obrien-makes-tbs-deal-31178/|title=Conan O'Brien makes TBS deal! How it all went down, and how Team Conan thought out of the network box all along|last=Finke|first=Nikki|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=April 12, 2010|date=April 12, 2010|archive-date=April 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414192053/http://www.deadline.com/2010/04/conan-obrien-makes-tbs-deal/|url-status=live}} In addition to the announcement of the television series, TBS also announced a one-hour TBS Special, featuring several writers for Conan, as well as comedian Reggie Watts, who participated in O'Brien's Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour.{{cite web|url=http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5177|title=Andy Richter and Conan O'Brien Writers Team Up for One-Hour TBS Special|website=Turner Newsroom|date=May 26, 2010|access-date=November 11, 2010|archive-date=November 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117205250/https://pressroom.warnermedia.com/us|url-status=live}} The show was broadcast on June 27, 2010, leading up to the beginning of Conan in early-November. Additionally, in preparation for the show, a 24-hour "Live-Coco Cam" was set up on October 20, 2010,{{cite web|url=http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5414|title="Live Coco Cam" Gives Conan O'Brien Fans Live 24-Hour Peephole into Team Coco Offices on Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET|website=Turner Newsroom|access-date=November 14, 2010|date=October 18, 2010|archive-date=July 24, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724212004/http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5414|url-status=live}} and featured various characters and staff members of Conan, including Richie Rosenberg, otherwise known as "LaBamba,"{{cite web|url=http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/celebrity/NATL-Conan-Launches-24-Hour-Live-Coco-Cam-Online-105393298.html|title=Conan Launches 24-Hour Live "Coco Cam"|website=KNBC|publisher=NBC News|last=Macht|first=Dan|access-date=November 14, 2010|date=October 21, 2010|archive-date=March 18, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318084647/http://www.nbclosangeles.com/entertainment/celebrity/NATL-Conan-Launches-24-Hour-Live-Coco-Cam-Online-105393298.html|url-status=live}} as well as a short online broadcast from O'Brien's office entitled "Show Zero" on November 1, 2010. The show featured O'Brien as host, and was accompanied by Andy Richter, as well as Jerry Vivino, a member of the Basic Cable Band. The broadcast hosted several guests, including actor Jim Parsons and indie rock band Steel Train, and lasted a total of four minutes, and 51 seconds.{{cite magazine|url=http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/11/01/conan-obrien-show-zero-online/|title=Conan O'Brien online 'Show Zero' review: Gee, that was fast...|last=Tucker|first=Ken|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=November 1, 2010|access-date=November 14, 2010 |archive-date=November 5, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105043831/http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/11/01/conan-obrien-show-zero-online/|url-status=live}}

Weeks before the premiere, an orange Conan blimp was introduced to further promote the show. Designed by Blue Sky, an Atlanta firm,{{cite web|url=http://boingboing.net/2010/10/12/the-birth-of-the-con.html|title=The Birth of the Conan Blimp|last=Barol|first=Bill|website=Boing Boing|date=October 12, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2010|archive-date=December 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201094657/http://boingboing.net/2010/10/12/the-birth-of-the-con.html|url-status=live}} the dirigible provided aerial footage for 2010 Major League Baseball postseason games airing on TBS. It was subsequently incorporated into sketches on Conan, including a running gag where the blimp would follow actor Gary Busey around southern California, much to his chagrin.{{cite web|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/video/item/conan-stalks-gary-busey|title=Conan Blimp Stalks Gary Busey|website=The Daily Beast|date=November 23, 2010|access-date=November 24, 2010|archive-date=November 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101125195605/http://www.thedailybeast.com/video/item/conan-stalks-gary-busey/|url-status=live}}

The first episode of Conan, titled "Baa Baa Blackmail", premiered on Monday, November 8, 2010, at 11 p.m. EST on TBS.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/15/conan-drives-car-off-cliff_n_764335.html|title=Conan Drives Explosives-Filled Car Off Cliff In Amazing New TBS Promo|work=HuffPost|access-date=October 22, 2010|date=October 15, 2010|archive-date=October 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018071519/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/10/15/conan-drives-car-off-cliff_n_764335.html|url-status=live}} The episode's first guest was Arlene Wagner, the curator of Leavenworth, Washington's Nutcracker Museum.{{cite web|url=http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=13465962|title=Conan's New Show Debuts Tonight With Woman From Leavenworth As His First Guest|website=KHQ-TV|publisher=KHQ News|date=November 8, 2010|access-date=November 9, 2010|archive-date=March 7, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307171344/http://www.khq.com/Global/story.asp?S=13465962|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://seattlest.com/2010/11/08/cracking_nuts_arlene_wagner_to_be_c.php|title=Cracking Nuts: Washington's Arlene Wagner To Be Conan's First Guest|website=Seattlest|access-date=November 9, 2010|date=November 8, 2010|last=Corsiglia|first=Gina|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109192415/http://seattlest.com/2010/11/08/cracking_nuts_arlene_wagner_to_be_c.php|archive-date=November 9, 2010|url-status=dead}} Wagner's position as Conan{{'}}s debut guest was chosen by fans through a "rigged" poll at Conan O'Brien's official website, TeamCoco.com. The poll also consisted of Pope Benedict XVI, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, performers Justin Bieber and Lady Gaga, and actor Jack Nicholson, among others. Wagner's brief appearance was followed by actor and comedian Seth Rogen and actress Lea Michele, along with musical guest Jack White, who performed "Twenty Flight Rock", along with O'Brien himself.{{cite magazine|url=https://entertainment.time.com/2010/11/09/conan-returns-stop-me-if-youve-heard-this-one-before/|title=Conan Returns: Stop Me If You've Heard This One Before|magazine=Time|access-date=November 9, 2010|date=November 9, 2010|last=Poniewozik|first=James|archive-date=November 11, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101111113041/http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2010/11/09/conan-returns-stop-me-if-youve-heard-this-one-before/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5425|title=Conan O'Brien Announces First Week of Guests for Conan|date=October 21, 2010|access-date=October 21, 2010|website=Turner Newsroom|archive-date=October 24, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024190557/http://news.turner.com/article_display.cfm?article_id=5425|url-status=live}} Actor Jon Hamm, appearing as his character Don Draper from the AMC series Mad Men, and talk show host Larry King, of CNN's Larry King Live, made cameo appearances in the show's cold open, with actor and comedian Ricky Gervais sending Conan a pre-taped message expressing his well wishes on the new series, then going on to express condolences for future job losses.

Reviews of the premiere episode by television critics were positive, calling it "a looser, quirkier take on a late-night talk show, but still a late-night talk show." James Poniewozik of Time found the episode to be enjoyable, and compared it to O'Brien's tenure during Late Night. Itzkoff went on to state, "The message, overall {{interp|...}} is that Conan the show is not so much about a reinvention of the talk show form as a restoration of Conan. He was doing something he wanted to do, a late-night talk show, and NBC made him stop doing it." He also praised the opening monologue, and Conan's performance with Jack White during the episode's conclusion. Frazier Moore of Associated Press went on to call the episode "a stylishly back-to-basics hour that radiated hard-won lessons from his brief stay hosting The Tonight Show," in addition to admiring O'Brien's "appealingly stoked yet comfortable" appearance on the show.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/11/09/AR2010110900862.html?tid=obinsite|title=Conan O'Brien returns to late-night TV with ease|newspaper=The Washington Post|agency=Associated Press|last=Moore|first=Frazier|access-date=November 9, 2010|date=November 9, 2010}}{{dead link|date=June 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly also appreciated the Masturbating Bear cameo, and went on to call the show "pleasant, if a bit underwhelming."{{cite magazine|url=http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/11/09/conan-obrien-review/|title='Conan' first-night review: Coco's so-so show|first=Ken|last=Tucker|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 9, 2010|date=November 9, 2010|archive-date=November 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110211812/http://watching-tv.ew.com/2010/11/09/conan-obrien-review/|url-status=live}} Less positive assessments of the show included Tom Gliatto of People, who accused the show of being a "modest, lowkey and slightly awkward affair."{{cite web|url=https://people.com/tv/conan-obrien-new-show-review/|title=People's TV Critic Picks Conan's Top 3 Moments|work=People|access-date=November 9, 2010|date=November 9, 2010|last=Gliatto|first=Tom|archive-date=November 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112003543/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20440527,00.html|url-status=live}}

Despite a promising start, Conan suffered from low viewership throughout its eleven year run. Its series premiere drew 4.1 million viewers according to Nielsen,{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/11/09/conan-premiere-averages-4-2-million-viewers-2-5-adults-18-49-rating/71374|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101114060231/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/11/09/conan-premiere-averages-4-2-million-viewers-2-5-adults-18-49-rating/71374|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 14, 2010|title='Conan' Premiere Averages 4.2 Million Viewers, 2.5 Adults 18–49 Rating|website=TV by the Numbers|last=Gorman|first=Bill|access-date=November 14, 2010|date=November 9, 2010}} though it dropped to 2.02 million viewers by its fourth episode.{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/11/12/conan-first-week-averages-2-9-million-viewers-1-6-adults-18-49-rating/71875|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101115200756/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2010/11/12/conan-first-week-averages-2-9-million-viewers-1-6-adults-18-49-rating/71875|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 15, 2010|title='Conan' First Week Averages 2.9 Million Viewers, 1.6 Adults 18–49 Rating|first=Bill|last=Gorman|website=TV by the Numbers|date=November 12, 2010|access-date=November 12, 2010}} By December 2010, Conan was lagging behind its broadcast competitors in overnight ratings, averaging 1.3 million tune-ins;{{cite press release|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2010/12/23/jay-leno-and-jimmy-fallon-deliver-season-highs-in-total-viewers-to-rule-the-late-night-ratings-week-of-dec-13-17-625212/20101223nbc01/|title=Jay Leno and Jimmy Fallon Deliver Season Highs in Total Viewers to Rule the Late-Night Ratings Week of Dec. 13–17|publisher=NBC|via=The Futon Critic|date=December 23, 2010|access-date=January 17, 2011}} by June 2011, it was fourth behind its cable competitors as well, averaging 743,000 total viewers.{{cite web|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/television/team-coco-losing-out-chelsea-lately-133138|title=Team Coco Losing Out to Chelsea Lately|date=July 1, 2011|first=Emma|last=Bazilian|work=Adweek|access-date=July 13, 2011|archive-date=July 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704185547/http://www.adweek.com/news/television/team-coco-losing-out-chelsea-lately-133138|url-status=live}} The drop was steep: one year after launching, the show had lost 60% of its total viewership.{{cite web | last=Updated | first=Last | title=Conan O'Brien's career flop: By the numbers | website=theweek | date=2011-08-19 | url=https://theweek.com/articles/482404/conan-obriens-career-flop-by-numbers | access-date=2024-02-01}} In August 2011, TBS secured the cable syndication rights to The Big Bang Theory at a reported $2 million per episode to serve as a lead-in to Conan three nights a week, in an effort to boost his ratings.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tbs-multi-million-dollar-plan-224911|title=TBS' Multi-Million Dollar Plan to Prop Up Conan O'Brien's Ratings|date=August 18, 2011|first=Georg|last=Szalai|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=December 24, 2011|archive-date=January 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120102151926/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tbs-multi-million-dollar-plan-224911|url-status=live}} Viewership in 2012 was 914,000,{{cite web|url=http://adage.com/article/media/jimmy-fallon-s-tonight-show-thrive-fewer-viewers/291646/|title=Why Jimmy Fallon's 'Tonight Show' Can Thrive With Fewer Viewers When Conan's Couldn't|first=Jeanine|last=Poggi|work=Advertising Age|date=February 13, 2014|access-date=February 14, 2014|archive-date=February 14, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214094755/http://adage.com/article/media/jimmy-fallon-s-tonight-show-thrive-fewer-viewers/291646/|url-status=live}} two years later, it had slid to 862,000 viewers.{{cite web | last=Kissell | first=Rick | title=Latenight Ratings: NBC’s Fallon, Meyers Easy Winners for Q3; ABC’s Kimmel, ‘Nightline’ Up | website=Variety | date=2014-09-25 | url=https://variety.com/2014/tv/news/latenight-ratings-nbcs-fallon-meyers-easy-winners-for-q3-abcs-kimmel-nightline-up-1201313970/ | access-date=2024-02-01}}

Halfway through its run, the show became the lowest-rated of all of the major national late-night talk shows: it dropped to 580,000 total viewers in 2015, a 32% decline over its previous year, including a 61% decline in its key demographic, down to 310,000 viewers.{{cite web | last=Steinberg | first=Brian | title=Who’s Winning the Late-Night Ratings Battle? A Look at the Numbers | website=Variety | date=2015-12-09 | url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/late-night-ratings-stephen-colbert-jimmy-fallon-kimmel-1201656805/ | access-date=2024-02-01}}O'Connell, Michael (November 11, 2015). [https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/late-nights-new-pecking-order-839051 Late Night's New Pecking Order: Colbert Holds His Own, Comedy Central Takes a Hit] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108101249/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/late-nights-new-pecking-order-839051|date=November 8, 2020}}. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 22, 2015. By 2017, there was talk of retooling the show to a weekly format;{{cite web | last=Maglio | first=Tony | title='Conan' to Shift to Weekly Format on TBS, Turner Chief Says (Exclusive) | website=TheWrap | date=2017-01-05 | url=https://www.thewrap.com/conan-obrien-weekly-tbs/ | access-date=2024-02-01}} eventually the network agreed to cut the nightly show by half an hour in 2018.{{cite web | last=Chow | first=Andrew R. | title=Conan O’Brien’s Talk Show Will Shrink to a Half-Hour | website=The New York Times | date=2018-05-03 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/03/arts/television/conan-obrien-talk-show-half-hour.html | access-date=2024-02-01}} In its final season (2020–21), the show averaged 282,000 viewers, representing a total drop of 29% over its last year, and 36% in its main demographic.{{cite web | last=Maglio | first=Tony | title='Conan' Calls It Quits Amid Worst Ratings Slide of All the Late-Night Talk Shows | website=TheWrap | date=2021-06-22 | url=https://www.thewrap.com/conan-tv-ratings-down-final-show-canceled/ | access-date=2024-02-01}}{{cite web | last=Deggans | first=Eric | title=After 28 Quirky Years, Conan O'Brien Is Leaving Late Night | website=NPR | date=2021-06-24 | url=https://www.npr.org/2021/06/24/1009587267/conan-obrien-ends-tbs-show-leaves-late-night | access-date=2024-02-01}}

The run of Conan coincided with an overall drop in the linear audience, with more people cord-cutting and pursuing streaming options.{{cite web | last=Lynch | first=Jason | title=As Linear Ratings Continue to Slide, Buyers Say Those Viewers Will 'Never' Return to TV | website=Adweek | date=2019-09-27 | url=https://www.adweek.com/convergent-tv/as-linear-ratings-continue-to-slide-buyers-say-those-viewers-will-never-return-to-tv/ | access-date=2024-02-01}} In contrast to its live audience, Conan boasted strong online revenues with its Team Coco website,{{cite web | title=Where Conan O'Brien Stands Amid Late-Night Shakeup | website=ABC News | date=2014-05-14 | url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/conan-obrien-stands-amid-late-night-shakeup/story?id=23715493 | access-date=2024-02-01}} attracting a particularly young viewership that TBS leveraged into lucrative advertiser relationships targeting digital and social media.Steinberg, Brian (November 22, 2015). [https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/conan-obrien-advertising-digital-2016-tv-upfront-1201777486/] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180301114825/https://variety.com/2016/tv/news/conan-obrien-advertising-digital-2016-tv-upfront-1201777486/|date=March 1, 2018}}. Variety. Retrieved November 22, 2015.{{cite web|last=Goldberg|first=Leslie|date=January 5, 2017|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/conan-obrien-remain-nightly-tbs-boss-kevin-reilly-says-961128|title=Conan O'Brien To Remain Nightly|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 5, 2017|archive-date=January 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106013555/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/conan-obrien-remain-nightly-tbs-boss-kevin-reilly-says-961128|url-status=live}} Research indicated Conan had the youngest audience of any of the late-night programs, and by 2018, online videos of the program had collectively attracted 3.4 billion views.{{cite web | last=Goldberg | first=Lesley | title=Why TBS Is Trimming Conan O’Brien’s Late-Night Show | website=The Hollywood Reporter | date=2018-05-03 | url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obriens-tbs-show-format-change-explained-1108410/ | access-date=2024-02-01}} Surveys suggested in 2012 that Conan drew more Hispanic viewers than any other late night program;{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/conan-obrien-says-more-la_n_1323738.html|title=Conan O'Brien Says More Latinos Watch His Show Than Any Other Late Night Program|website=HuffPost|date=March 6, 2012|access-date=February 10, 2014|archive-date=February 22, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222190107/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/06/conan-obrien-says-more-la_n_1323738.html|url-status=live}} another ranking two years later found the show did well in ratings among low income inner city viewers.

On May 16, 2010, O'Brien announced that his new show would launch at Stage 15 on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California.{{cite magazine|url=http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/05/16/conan-obrien-to-shoot-new-talk-show-on-warner-bros-tv-lot/|title=Conan O'Brien to shoot TBS talk show on Warner Bros. TV lot|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 12, 2011|date=May 16, 2010|last=Rice|first=Lynette|archive-date=December 26, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226080609/http://insidetv.ew.com/2010/05/16/conan-obrien-to-shoot-new-talk-show-on-warner-bros-tv-lot/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thestudiotour.com/warnerbros/stage15.shtml|title=Unofficial Warner Bros. Studios fansite – Soundstages|website=theStudioTour.com|access-date=December 19, 2011|archive-date=March 24, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324081143/http://www.thestudiotour.com/warnerbros/stage15.shtml|url-status=live}} Taping of each episode began at 4:30 p.m. PST, which usually followed a rehearsal lasting from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m.{{cite web|url=http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/designing-conan/2|title=Designing Conan|last=Ashe|first=Rob|website=Creative COW|page=2|access-date=June 11, 2011|archive-date=May 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521074412/http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/designing-conan/2|url-status=live}}

At its outset, O'Brien noted the new show's effort to not to reuse any of the previous Late Night or Tonight Show sketches, despite the difficulty, and they were unsure if some sketches were going to work.Never Not Funny episode 811f http://pardcast.libsyn.com/episode-811f-conan-o-brien-1 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112215529/http://pardcast.libsyn.com/episode-811f-conan-o-brien-1|date=January 12, 2015}} However, O'Brien noted in interviews that he might bring back certain bits in time. Characters and bits that eventually made appearances on Conan included The Masturbating Bear, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Celebrity Survey, The Audiency Awards, Clutch Cargo interviews, and an update on the "Late Night" sketch If They Mated called If They Melded. The final day of longtime writer/performer Brian Stack in 2015 also saw the one-time return of one of his characters, The Interrupter.{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Megh |date=April 3, 2015 |title=Brian Stack Visits Conan O'Brien as The Interrupter One Last Time |url=https://www.vulture.com/2015/04/brian-stack-visits-conan-obrien-as-the-interrupter-one-last-time.html |access-date=May 7, 2022 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}

Prior to the show's airing, O'Brien and Richter indicated that the show would more closely represent Late Night than Tonight in regard to content and material, meaning that edgier or questionable content excised as a result of the move to the earlier time slot will no longer be an issue at TBS. On the July 12, 2010, episode of Marc Maron's WTF podcast, Richter said that they no longer have to "worry about living up to a respected franchise", and that on The Tonight Show certain sketches "that just felt too 12:30" would be cut and how "it'll be nice to not have to worry about that anymore". During an appearance at the 2010 San Francisco Sketch Comedy Festival, O'Brien told the audience he was "no longer interested in 'broadening' the audience or trying to reach everybody of all ages," further implying the content would not be toned-down.{{citation needed|date=February 2022}}

{{Wide image|Conan Set Panorama Stage 15.jpg|750px|alt=A production photo of the set inside Stage 15.}}

On September 1, 2010, O'Brien announced that the new show's title was simply Conan.{{Cite news |date=September 1, 2010 |title=It's simple! O'Brien names new TV show 'Conan' |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/television-conan-idUSN0113703020100901 |access-date=May 7, 2022}} Prior to the show's debut, set designers John Shaffner and Joe Stewart, who designed O'Brien's previous sets, cited The Legally Prohibited Tour as inspiration for the new set, adopting more of a "theatre" appearance than the previous shows. Shaffner commented on the choice of the show's chair, stating, "You find one that you like and then you build it yourself to make it a little shallower and a little more upright and the cushion a little firmer {{interp|...}} But not too firm or every time the guest sits down they'll say, 'Oooh this is a hard chair.'"{{cite web|url=http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/02/a-chair-for-conan/|work=CNN|date=September 2, 2010|title=A chair for 'Conan'|access-date=September 2, 2010|archive-date=September 3, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903164252/http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2010/09/02/a-chair-for-conan/|url-status=dead}} The rest of the set was described as being "filled with warm wood tones and electric blue screens," and was compared to the set of his most recent stint on The Tonight Show.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651817/20101109/story.jhtml|title=Conan O'Brien Zings NBC, Brings Laughs During TBS Debut|work=MTV News|last=Ditzian|first=Eric|access-date=November 20, 2010|date=November 9, 2010|archive-date=November 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101112015335/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1651817/20101109/story.jhtml|url-status=dead}} The new set featured several differences, however, including a remote-controlled moon, and the backdrop being transformed into a giant blue ocean.

In keeping with a change made during The Tonight Show, Richter joined O'Brien during celebrity interviews on the main set rather than remaining behind a lectern after the monologue. In May 2017, TBS renewed the show through 2022.{{cite web|last=de Moraes|first=Lisa|date=May 17, 2017|title=Conan O'Brien Signs 4-Year TBS Deal; Says Show Will Become Leaner, More Agile, Less Predictable|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/conan-obrien-new-4-year-deal-tbs-1202095437/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190402002606/https://deadline.com/2017/05/conan-obrien-new-4-year-deal-tbs-1202095437/|archive-date=April 2, 2019|access-date=May 17, 2017|work=Deadline Hollywood}} The first show of 2018 saw the debut of a new set by production designer Christopher Goumas, which replaced the ocean backdrop with one depicting a studio backlot reminiscent of the Warner Bros. lot where the program was recorded. O'Brien began entering through a doorway on the left of the stage rather than a curtain on the right.{{cite web|url=http://www.newscaststudio.com/2018/01/16/conan-new-set/|title=Full moon sets on 'Conan' as show switches to new set|website=NewscastStudio|last=Hill|first=Michael|date=January 16, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-date=January 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125134737/http://www.newscaststudio.com/2018/01/16/conan-new-set/|url-status=live}} O'Brien explained that the space was also deliberately tighter to promote a more "intimate" atmosphere, and jokingly demonstrated the ability for the set to be moved even closer to the audience on demand.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpdIiL00AgY|title=Conan's New Desk Is Much Closer To The Studio Audience|website=YouTube|date=January 17, 2018|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-date=May 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190520151729/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpdIiL00AgY&gl=US&hl=en|url-status=live}}

With the debut of the half-hour format in 2019, a new set was introduced with an even more compact design than before, which Richter jokingly compared to looking like "a strip club from Grand Theft Auto", with the desk area replaced by a series of armchairs around a coffee table.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-television/the-slimmed-down-and-soothing-new-conan|title=The Slimmed-Down and Soothing New "Conan"|last=Patterson|first=Troy|magazine=The New Yorker|date=January 29, 2019|access-date=June 18, 2019|language=en|issn=0028-792X|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203052538/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/on-television/the-slimmed-down-and-soothing-new-conan|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/01/23/conan-obrien-aired-his-first-half-hour-show-tuesday-night-heres-what-was-different/|title=Conan O'Brien aired his first half-hour show Tuesday night. Here's what was different.|last=Yahr|first=Emily|newspaper=The Washington Post|language=en|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618023833/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/01/23/conan-obrien-aired-his-first-half-hour-show-tuesday-night-heres-what-was-different/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/conan-returns-a-half-hour-shorter-twice-as-energized-1831971865|title=Conan returns a half-hour shorter, twice as energized|last=Perkins|first=Dennis|website=The A.V. Club|language=en-US|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=June 18, 2019|archive-date=June 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190618023039/https://tv.avclub.com/conan-returns-a-half-hour-shorter-twice-as-energized-1831971865|url-status=live}} In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and the associated lockdown, the show relocated to the Largo following several months broadcasting from his home. The show remained at the Largo until the conclusion of the series.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/07/conan-largo-1202979172/|title=Conan O'Brien Kicks Off Largo Filming, Calls It "Really Special Place" & Urges Support For Theaters|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=July 2, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020|archive-date=August 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200817030404/https://deadline.com/2020/07/conan-largo-1202979172/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Porter|first=Rick|title=Conan O'Brien Taking TBS Show to L.A.'s Largo|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/conan-obrien-taking-tbs-show-las-largo-1301563|date=July 2, 2020|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=The Hollywood Reporter|archive-date=September 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919115618/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/conan-obrien-taking-tbs-show-las-largo-1301563|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Kiefer|first=Halle|date=July 7, 2020|title=Conan O'Brien Debuts His Quarantine Show From Largo to an Audience of One|url=https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/conan-debuts-quarantine-show-from-largo-to-audience-of-one.html|access-date=September 4, 2020|website=Vulture|language=en-us|archive-date=September 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200912185940/https://www.vulture.com/2020/07/conan-debuts-quarantine-show-from-largo-to-audience-of-one.html|url-status=live}} On November 17, 2020, O'Brien announced that the show would end after the conclusion of its tenth season, effectively retiring from hosting a late-night show. O'Brien announced that he was moving on to produce a weekly "variety" show on WarnerMedia's streaming service HBO Max.{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=October 16, 2020|title=Late-Night Laughs: 'Conan's Jeff Ross On TBS Show's Future; 'Full Frontal' Head Writers On Navigating A Manic News Cycle|url=https://deadline.com/2020/10/conan-jeff-ross-tbs-future-full-frontal-head-writers-1234596829/|access-date=November 18, 2020|website=Deadline Hollywood|language=en-US}}{{cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=November 17, 2020|title=Conan To End On TBS, Conan O'Brien Extends Deal With WarnerMedia For Weekly Variety Show On HBO Max|url=https://deadline.com/2020/11/conan-to-end-on-tbs-conan-obrien-weekly-variety-show-hbo-max-1234617122/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117175206/https://deadline.com/2020/11/conan-to-end-on-tbs-conan-obrien-weekly-variety-show-hbo-max-1234617122/|archive-date=November 17, 2020|access-date=November 17, 2020|work=Deadline Hollywood}} Conan's 75-minute series finale aired on June 24, 2021, and featured highlights from the TBS era, appearances by Homer Simpson and Will Ferrell, Jack Black as the series' final guest, and an extended farewell message from O'Brien.{{cite web|last=Lloyd|first=Robert|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Conan was late-night's longtime underdog. He made it into surrealist art|date=June 25, 2021|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-06-25/conan-obrien-tbs-final-show-team-coco|access-date=June 25, 2021}}

{{main|Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band}}

Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band served as the house band for Conan from the show's debut in 2010 until the end of its hour-long format in 2018. It was fronted by longtime band guitarist Jimmy Vivino.{{cite web|url=http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2010/09/conan_obrien_tbs_jimmy_vivino_interview_johnnie_johnson_dona_oxford_nbc_tonight_show.php?page=2|title=Jimmy Vivino Talks Johnnie Johnson, Conan O'Brien, and St. Louis' Role as a Rock & Roll Breeding Ground|website=Riverfront Times|access-date=November 14, 2010|date=September 22, 2010|last=Schaeffer|first=Christian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100926194423/http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/atoz/2010/09/conan_obrien_tbs_jimmy_vivino_interview_johnnie_johnson_dona_oxford_nbc_tonight_show.php?page=2|archive-date=September 26, 2010|url-status=dead}} The band also included Richie "LaBamba" Rosenberg on trombone, Scott Healy on keyboard, Mike Merritt on bass guitar, Mark Pender on trumpet, Jerry Vivino on woodwinds, and James Wormworth on drums.

The Basic Cable Band started out as The Max Weinberg 7 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in 1993, and was initially fronted by longtime E Street Band drummer Max Weinberg. It was renamed The Tonight Show Band with Conan's move to The Tonight Show in 2009. For the length of Conan's 2010 North American tour, the band was called The Legally Prohibited Band, with Weinberg largely absent. Citing recent open heart surgery and a desire to remain on the East Coast, Weinberg officially departed in September 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/interviews/max-weinberg-open-heart-surgery-influenced-my-decision-to-leave-conan/|title=Max Weinberg: Open Heart Surgery Influenced My Decision To Leave Conan|website=Fancast|access-date=November 14, 2010|date=October 7, 2010|last=Buckman|first=Aaron|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101010123126/http://www.fancast.com/blogs/2010/interviews/max-weinberg-open-heart-surgery-influenced-my-decision-to-leave-conan/|archive-date=October 10, 2010}}{{cite news | magazine=Rolling Stone | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/max-weinberg-officially-splits-with-conan-obrien-233769/ | title=Max Weinberg Officially Splits With Conan O'Brien | date=September 24, 2010 | access-date=September 25, 2010 | author=Greene, Andy}} For the launch of Conan, the band was newly christened The Basic Cable Band, with Vivino officially taking over as bandleader.

For Conan, O'Brien sought to revamp the show's title theme song from its previous incarnations. In an interview with New York Magazine, O'Brien expressed his desire to create a new introduction from the previous compositions, which were used for O'Brien's entire 17-year relationship with NBC: "It just felt like the right thing to do {{interp|...}} There's this feeling of, 'Let's try and build something new.' I came out to that theme for seventeen years and it does feel like, you know what? Let's try some new stuff. Let's try and change it up."{{cite web|url=https://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/conan_obrien_theme.html|title=Conan Will Have a New Theme ... Co-Written by Conan|work=New York|access-date=November 14, 2010|date=October 29, 2010|last=Adalian|first=Josef|archive-date=November 1, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101101091203/http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2010/10/conan_obrien_theme.html|url-status=live}} The new theme song was co-written by Vivino and O'Brien.

Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band's final appearance as house band took place on October 4, 2018.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/television/8478431/jimmy-vivino-the-basic-cable-play-last-conan-episode/|title=Watch Conan's House Band Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band Play Their Last Episode|magazine=Billboard|date=October 5, 2018|last=Lukarcanin|first=Emina}} However, a smaller version of the band, christened Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Four, returned to serve as the house band for the final two weeks of Conan in 2021.{{cite tweet |user=TeamCoco |number=1404604713753010181 |title=The final two weeks of #CONAN begin tonight with guest @PattonOswalt, Jimmy Vivino & The Basic Cable Four, and our first live audience in over a year! Tune in @ 11/10c on @TBSNetwork.}}

File:Finland Wants Conan December 2010.jpg, Finland. Finnish fans wanted to see Conan's new show air in Finland.]]

In Australia, the program was aired on GO!, a multichannel of the Nine Network from August 2012 following the 2012 Olympic Games but eventually dropped by GO! mid-2014. Originally it was intended to screen within 12 hours after its original U.S. broadcast at 11:30pm weeknights.{{cite web|url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/10/airdate-conan.html|title=Airdate: Conan|first=David|last=Knox|work=TV Tonight|date=October 28, 2010|access-date=November 1, 2010|archive-date=April 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402085043/http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2010/10/airdate-conan.html|url-status=live}} The Comedy Channel which aired the previous versions of Conan's shows announced it would not air the program as the Nine Network had exclusive rights to Time Warner programs. Between November 2010 to July 2012, Conan was aired on GEM.

In Israel, the program began airing in early 2011 on the newly launched Comedy Central Israel channel. episodes were aired 4–5 days after their original TBS broadcasts. However, the channel discontinued airing Conan in October 2011.

From November 8, 2010, to August 30, 2013, the program aired in Canada on cable channel The Comedy Network on Monday to Thursday nights (Tuesday to Friday mornings) at midnight ET/PT, with a repeat on broadcast network CTV at 1:07 a.m. local time. The program was only initially announced for CTV, leading to some concern about the unusually late time slot, two hours after its airing in the United States for viewers in the Eastern Time Zone (the program airs on CTV Atlantic at 1:05 a.m. AT / 12:05 a.m. ET). This is due to local and national newscasts in the 11:00 p.m. hour, and CTV's commitments to The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at 12:05 a.m. and The Colbert Report at 12:35 a.m.{{cite web|url=http://ctvmedia.ca/ctv/releases/release.asp?id=13107&yyyy=2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727123715/http://ctvmedia.ca/ctv/releases/release.asp?id=13107&yyyy=2010|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 27, 2011|title=Triple Play: The Comedy Network Delivers Hilarious Late-Night Comedy Block with The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and Conan|website=ctvmedia.ca|publisher=CTV|access-date=November 20, 2010|date=November 1, 2010}}{{Update inline|reason=These shows are no longer on the air|date=September 2015}} CTV executives later said the program would likely air earlier on The Comedy Network, which is owned by CTV. However, that channel also had a conflict, since it has long aired both Daily and Colbert during the 11:00 p.m. ET hour, simulcasting the Comedy Central feed.

The Comedy Network then attempted to move up both programs to 10:00 p.m. ET beginning in September 2010, presumably to make room for Conan at 11:00; however, there were intermittent "technical difficulties" with getting the shows in time for the earlier airing, particularly for a series of special live Daily episodes in late October, which meant re-runs were aired in their place. After viewer complaints about the missed episodes, Comedy elected to move both shows back to their previous timeslots, meaning that Conan was rescheduled on that channel to midnight, on a one-hour delay from TBS.{{cite web|url=http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Displayblog.aspx?bpid=0f770d12-88e5-4137-8df8-e0f224b04155|title=Daily Show: The Sanity Bus Makes it to D.C.|website=thecomedynetwork.ca|publisher=The Comedy Network|date=October 29, 2010|access-date=October 29, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101102163332/http://www.thecomedynetwork.ca/Displayblog.aspx?bpid=0f770d12-88e5-4137-8df8-e0f224b04155|archive-date=November 2, 2010}} On September 3, 2013, Much Music began broadcasting the program every Monday to Thursday at 11 p.m. ET (8 p.m. Pacific),{{cite web|title=Conan is coming to MUCH this fall|url=http://blog.muchmusic.com/conan-is-coming-to-much-this-fall/|author=Allison|website=Much Music|date=August 21, 2013|access-date=August 25, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823141243/http://blog.muchmusic.com/conan-is-coming-to-much-this-fall/|archive-date=August 23, 2013}} though it was moved back to its time-delayed midnight airing the following month. The repeat on CTV was moved to 1:37 a.m.

On September 3, 2014, the program began airing on Much at 12:30 a.m. after @midnight. On January 9, 2017, Conan began airing at 11 p.m. ET again, only to again be moved back an hour to midnight in April of that same year. Conan aired on Much until September 1, 2017. The program aired solely on CTV until April 2020, when it began airing again on the renamed CTV Comedy Channel at 11:30 after The Daily Show following Comedy Central's cancellation of Lights Out with David Spade. The show was pushed back another 15 minutes to 11:45 after Comedy Central expanded The Daily Show by 15 minutes.

Selling rights to a Canadian channel was necessary, since TBS ceased being available in Canada in October 2007. The local Atlanta station through which Canadian cable subscribers had previously received TBS programming then adopted a distinct schedule as WPCH-TV. Some speculated that WPCH might pick up the program anyway, since the revamped station continues to air some of the same syndicated series as TBS, but WPCH later indicated explicitly that it had no plans to broadcast the new O'Brien program.{{cite web|url=https://vancouversun.com/entertainment/Conan+Brien+okays+deal+talk+show+updated/2851812/story.html|first=Bart|last=Jackson|title=Conan O'Brien okays deal for new talk show|date=April 13, 2010|access-date=April 13, 2010|work=Vancouver Sun|archive-date=April 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415041854/http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/Conan+Brien+okays+deal+talk+show+updated/2851812/story.html|url-status=live}}

In the UK and Ireland, the show aired on the channel truTV since its launch in August 2014, though it has been absent from the schedules as of August 2017.

In Portugal, Conan was retitled Conan O'Brien. The show aired on SIC Radical, in the same timeslot as his previous NBC shows, with daily broadcasts beginning on October 5, 2009.{{cite web|title=Programa de Conan O' Brien regressa à SIC Radical|url=https://www.dn.pt/inicio/tv/interior.aspx?content_id=1345549|first=L.|last=S.|date=August 27, 2009|access-date=June 14, 2015|website=Diário de Notícias|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925060625/http://www.dn.pt/inicio/tv/interior.aspx?content_id=1345549|archive-date=September 25, 2015}} The show aired Monday to Friday beginning around 20h45 to 21h30, following The Daily Show, with occasional reruns interspersed among new shows. New episodes aired about two weeks after the US broadcast. However, since January 2016, SIC Radical stopped airing the show because the show's international distributor has ceased shipping the show outside the USA.

The show aired in Southeast Asia and Hong Kong on FX.

• Television in the United States

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Wikiquote|Conan O'Brien}}

{{Commons category|Conan (talk show)}}

{{Wikinews category|Conan O'Brien}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{IMDb title|id=1637574|title=Conan}}

{{Conan (talk show)|state=expanded}}

{{Conan O'Brien}}

{{Writers Guild of America Award for Television: Comedy-Variety Talk Series}}

{{TBSNetwork Shows}}

{{2010 Tonight Show conflict}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Conan}}

Category:2010 American television series debuts

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