Conan O’Brien gets serious about silliness | American Masters

Conan O’Brien gets serious about silliness | American Masters | PBS

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Күн бұрын

Official website: www.pbs.org/americanmasters | #AmericanMastersPBS
On July 16, 2008, Conan O’Brien spoke about his style of late night and his reason for doing comedy. Interview conducted by director Michael Kantor for the six-hour PBS comedy series, “Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America” (2009).
Chapters:
00:00 Silliness as the engine for O’Brien’s brand of late night
02:05 Taking arms in Groucho Marx’s war against the snobbery of cerebral comedy
04:32 The beautiful, simple currency of “funny”
05:33 The pointless genius of Andy Kaufman
07:39 Comedy as both a defense mechanism and a sanctuary for the perennially snubbed
09:57 Conan O’Brien hates jokes
11:45 Buster Keaton and the well of humor in sadness
12:30 Getting big in Finland and the pure, uniting joy of absurdity
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Now in its 38th season on PBS, American Masters illuminates the lives and creative journeys of those who have left an indelible impression on our cultural landscape-through compelling, unvarnished stories. Setting the standard for documentary film profiles, the series has earned widespread critical acclaim: 28 Emmy Awards-including 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series and five for Outstanding Non-Fiction Special-two News & Documentary Emmys, 14 Peabodys, three Grammys, two Producers Guild Awards, an Oscar, and many other honors. To further explore the lives and works of more than 250 masters past and present, the American Masters website offers full episodes, film outtakes, filmmaker interviews, the podcast “American Masters: Creative Spark,” educational resources, digital original series and more. The series is a production of The WNET Group.

Пікірлер: 309

@rustyshackleford9756 16 күн бұрын

"I don't know any jokes. But if you put me in situation where I have to entertain you for an hour, I'll make you laugh. I don't know what's gonna happen but it's gonna get pretty ugly." After seeing him on Hot Ones this quote rings true

@sydismine 15 күн бұрын

Fave ep of "Hot Wings" Conan was unhinged. I fell OUT! 🤣🤣🤣

@sybrwookie 12 күн бұрын

Yup, he was smart enough to bring on a comedy writer of his to do a skit and make jokes for him to react to and play off of, to then be hilarious on his own from there.

@WarmandHardy 17 күн бұрын

Conan helped me get through high school. I went back and watched Late Night all over again and now he’s getting me through my divorce. Long live the King of Late Night

@pony3284 16 күн бұрын

Part of me wishes I'd found him sooner, but I'm just glad I've got him now to help me

@essaysandmore 16 күн бұрын

Hey, Conan’s getting me through my divorce, too. Gotta say, just an awful lawyer that guy. The judge just hates his guts.

@Eskay_The_Evil_Genius 16 күн бұрын

All over again? Who guested on the show on april 18 2000? Im kiddin . . . but seriously who was it?

@WarmandHardy 16 күн бұрын

@@Eskay_The_Evil_Genius Matthew Broderick

@a-jsuksi9158 16 күн бұрын

@@essaysandmoreHe's not the best lawyer, but he's affordable.

@Apollyon1325 16 күн бұрын

It's refreshing to watch a video with no graphics or random cuts to 'keep me occupied'. Just classy programing.

@fightclub6291 15 күн бұрын

Which is why it’s likely to be taken down bc of Copyright issues.

@aaronokemaysim7310 15 күн бұрын

@@fightclub6291 Why would it be taken down for copyright when the owners themselves are posting the video?

@CorwinPatrick 14 күн бұрын

... and badly transcribed subtitles with misspellings for ironic emphasis and internet trolling. Voiced-over with some random dude recording in his parents bathroom trying for that deadpan soulless AI sound...

@FusionDeveloper 11 күн бұрын

and no stupid title like: "Conan says never before heard things that is SHOCKING the entire industry! This interview is a true game changer!" Those youtube channels, I add to my blocklist.

@lovermaine1995 16 күн бұрын

Omg Conan is blowing up rn. Don’t get me wrong, he’s always been popular but I felt like his popularity has reached a new height in recent months.

@erfan3578 16 күн бұрын

His comedy is understandable for almost all the people on earth As someone who is not American or even from Western countries, he is so relatable compared to other comedians, something like Charlie Chaplin

@JeiElRai 15 күн бұрын

One big advantage he's had is that the generations who grew up with the Internet, who've now come into adulthood, grew up with him on TV. Add to this how uniquely well, particularly for someone who'd been in traditional media for 30 years, he's transitioned to podcasting and online presence so effectively. Through just being himself he's effectively capitalized exceptionally well on the particular opportunities of the times. It's no wonder his Hot Ones appearance obliterated previous numbers for the show. He's in a great position culturally.

@verde666 14 күн бұрын

Yup, he released new show and visited biggest shows promoting it, so no wonder

@SARYM911 14 күн бұрын

It's remarkable how positively he is viewed on the internet since the last decade at least, especially coming from traditional late night background. You have to really dive deep to find someone hating him..Unlike someone like Howard Stern who was revolutionary but simply has faded away with the general internet audience, Conan just kept rising in this age.

@jamesmiller5331 12 күн бұрын

Based on what

@TheVelvetVixen 16 күн бұрын

Conan is the silliest intellectual. Love him dearly. Thank you, Conan.

@GovernmentalCtrl 14 күн бұрын

He’s not an intellectual. He said himself. He’s a silly comedian. A clown. A buffoon.

@trust5977 16 күн бұрын

I love Conan so much that it hurts. Does anyone else here feel that way? He is clearly the most cerebral of any comedy legends, but he embraces silliness unlike no other.

@jesuscisnerosjr8580 16 күн бұрын

Same

@m1l1t1am1ke 16 күн бұрын

*like no other

@AffyisAffy 16 күн бұрын

Yes, he wasn't afraid to say the truth. But he was acutely aware that absurdism and mockery could only go so far until it became pandering. Despite being extremely intelligent, he loved playing the clown and butt of the jokes and that combo is extremely rare. He and Norm Macdonald knew that 100%. Also, I felt like he was never able to take himself too seriously on the show and avoided the cynical demeanor of some of his contemporaries.

@robinheil 16 күн бұрын

Same. Started watching when I was a kid. He's always been there to cheer me up during my darkest times.

@NakulaKaufman 16 күн бұрын

The best comedian of our generation. Larry David may be roughly on par.

@whitestoneandy797 17 күн бұрын

Conan is being proven right. He is considered the absolute best by many for a reason.

@Kb0montty2 8 күн бұрын

He is the best!

@Govindaclass 15 күн бұрын

Some of Conan’s most underrated traits that make his comedy brilliant and universal: 1. Diction: I am not from the western world and while I understand English very well, often I have to replay a bit or joke of most celebs to completely understand what they are saying but with Conan’s impeccable diction, I never had an issue understanding him. 2. Enunciation: If you have followed Conan long enough, you will have noticed that he stresses on the right words that makes a usually unfunny line hilarious. 3. Over the top comedy: There are very few people who can consistently pull off the over the top animated comedy and he is one of them. 4. Controlled but hearty laughter: Conan open heartedly laughs at others jokes but can immediately riff off the joke and extend it into a hilarious bit without breaking. A lot harder to do than you think when improvising! 5. Commitment: Conan commits to a joke however stressful, embarrassing, humiliating or even at times dangerous the situation may be. 6. Doing bits constantly off camera: I am often amazed by how he comes up with such random hilarious stuff so spontaneously but then I came to know that he does this 24/7 even at home or just in public! Because of this, while most people would have witty comebacks lost somewhere in the back of their brains, Conan has this right at the surface, ready to go. 7. Being funny while being an active conversationalist: It is a lot easier to come up with a funny line while passively listening in to a conversation. Most people are able to do so with varying degrees of success. But having witty jokes and comebacks while actively listening and conversing with another person is a much harder and rarer skill. Of course there are the other obvious traits but these are some of the most overlooked traits of his that I have observed.

@CodeXCDM 14 күн бұрын

Commitment is an understatement. His Hot Ones interview was absolutely unhinged, because despite not being one to even eat spicy food, he literally chugged bottles of it... Just because of the commitment to the humor.

@Govindaclass 6 күн бұрын

@@CodeXCDM Conan was a 1000% committed long before the hot ones episodes, whether it was improvised or scripted. It’s just the first 2 or 3 years where he seemed unsure of himself. From the late 90s onwards his execution was 100%. If you haven’t seen ‘Conan spends 400$ at Rockefeller Center’, I highly recommend it. I personally think it is more insane and hilarious than his hot ones interview!

@purplegorilla9592 15 күн бұрын

Conan and Craig Ferguson were clearly the best late night hosts of the last 30 years. It's not even a question.

@quinnforde6581 13 күн бұрын

I agree. probably speaks to the timelessness of their shows, the absurdity of it all.

@MagicianofBlackChaos 4 күн бұрын

and Letterman

@Freakazoid12345 2 күн бұрын

That guy who hosted the Daily Show when it first started was great and under-rated. Craig Kilborn.

@zangcheye 16 күн бұрын

I like seeing this real Conan. I love his TV persona, but getting to know how he ticks is a treat.

@isabella-a-a-a 14 күн бұрын

Check out his talks at Harvard & Oxford, they’re fantastic. Silly, serious, long-form and honest.

@Alfonso162008 14 күн бұрын

I'm with you on this one. I like Conan, but sometimes his public persona is too much for me, so it's nice to see his calmer (not necessarily serious) side. It's like a palate cleanser 😂 Another place where you can see more of this Conan is the interview he did for Andy Richter's podcast (The Three Questions), during the height of the pandemic.

@mystarmach 13 күн бұрын

"A frenetic silliness that, to me, is life-affirming" - what a quote

@Chillllllbruh 17 күн бұрын

Thanks PBS, for providing quality programming for years and years. Shoutout Mr. Rogers.

@pruett89 13 күн бұрын

I just love to hear Conan talk about comedy. He understands what makes it work and what makes humans connect with it. He also understands you can’t try and hold on too tight. You gotta let comedy breathe and move with it. I feel like I’ve learned so much for Conan about life.

@somarriba333 15 күн бұрын

Conan is king. NBC blew it with The Tonight Show.

@iyadel-hout3527 13 күн бұрын

Unhinged way of starting the video. No intro or anything, just straight into it. Gotta admit it worked, I was hooked.

@DualStupidity 16 күн бұрын

11:24 the way he tacks on little comments like that is one of my favorite Conan mannerisms

@katizzle92 16 күн бұрын

Words can't describe how much I love this man

@jayess8714 16 күн бұрын

Conan is the king.

@gusandthetv 16 күн бұрын

Late night with conan o'brien was one of the best tv shows of all time

@vargasfamily282 15 күн бұрын

Yay! I made video tapes!!

@WilliamByronIs 17 күн бұрын

Such an influence. Thanks Conan.

@user-gt7vn9lz2m 15 күн бұрын

No host would die for his bits and comedy like Conan. He just goes of. No late night host can't go against Conan. He is an improv master. He can turn something stupid in an 5 min roast. GOAT

@brownkemosabe 16 күн бұрын

He should be on the Mount Rushmore of Late Night Comedy. Thank you Conan, for giving me a delightful teenage and shaping my humour well into my 30s now.

@cleverusername9369 12 күн бұрын

Mount Rushmore of Comedy*

@brownkemosabe 11 күн бұрын

@@cleverusername9369 personally I agree, but there might be others who feel there are stand-ups who deserve those spots.

@Malachi_Risinger 17 күн бұрын

10:00 His view on comedy is very similar to Steve Martin's. Martin believed people only laughed at jokes because they were conditioned to the structure.

@redsoxfox 15 күн бұрын

Conans comedy is timeless and honest.

@goto81 16 күн бұрын

A true Mensch

@funnyvishant 15 күн бұрын

He pioneered a mixture of off-the-cuff, intellectual, goofy, and non-sequitur humor. He is a true revolutionary... At the time hewas a part of The Simpsons, SNL, and Late-Night... They all impacted society like a force of nature.

@j.r.shartzer 16 күн бұрын

"Jokes are too obvious." Yes!

@SpoookyBooogie 15 күн бұрын

Great work on the sound team for editing out the entire crew laughing during this

@jkap34 16 күн бұрын

Conan was, and still is in my opinion, one of the best late night hosts ever to have done it. Top three, no doubt. Mainly because he was never overly political, he was just funny.

@cahlendavidson2921 7 күн бұрын

This is the type of definitive clip that will be shown in tribute to him when he's gone. I love you conan. May you live forever! ❤

@xGuitarInFlamesx 15 күн бұрын

When I look up "GOAT" in the dictionary all I see is a Conan picture

@danielkillorin9742 8 күн бұрын

I love Conan, in a way he’s distancing himself from the other late night guys like Jon Stewart who only make jokes that are fueled by the anger in people’s hearts towards either the left or right. Respect

@pr0ject25o1 3 күн бұрын

Chip Whitley is a genius. The Conan character he plays, Pimpbot, the year 2000, the 🐻. Man as a kid I would die laughing. Still watch him today! I went to his show once and it was the best ever. Low key genius.

@MatthewPalanca 6 күн бұрын

Incredible interview showing a longform, uncut stream of thoughts by a legend

@mymanjoker 15 күн бұрын

Conan is the GOAT, his remotes will forever be the best thing on KZfaq

@bwuh 16 күн бұрын

This was an absolute delight to watch.

@sunnyOrNotHereIcome 15 күн бұрын

Conan, you bring joy to us. You are loved! I don’t memorize jokes either. You’re a dancer whose shoes are made of humor. I’ve learned so much from you and I try to get others to find their funny bone in the middle of all the seriousness. We have to get the real work done, but we can enjoy all of it together with some silliness. Love you!

@titusrider7948 15 күн бұрын

Some of the best laughs I've ever had from late night shows were the skits of lowering TV monitor with pics of; Clinton, Bush, Trump, Schwarzenegger... where only the mouth moves, the voices are impeccable 😅😅😅

@LycanLink 15 күн бұрын

I haven't had many heroes, many inspirations, many aspirations in my life, but Conan is absolutely one of my few. To his core, he is hilarious, thoughtful, empathetic, intelligent, and kind. I may be older now than he was in 2008, but I still hope and pray I become as amazing as him one day.

@geloamiote 16 күн бұрын

People say you shouldn't idolize any celebs, or person for that matter. I disagree. In my book, this man right here is the only exception.

@yashc1995ify 16 күн бұрын

100%

@ElapseSounds 16 күн бұрын

I agree with this. His Dartmouth commencement speech changed my outlook on things as a young adult.

@mrbeans2425 16 күн бұрын

he really is a true gem.

@arrowguy173 10 күн бұрын

His original Late Night show (which Letterman had pioneered) was absolute gold. Both he and Dave mastered the art of random, college buddy trying anything, out there humor. Stuff you would never see Jay’s typical audience get etc. Dave smashing things with a press and locomotives and hosting Super Dave Osborne numerous times, Conan having elaborate mascot costumes attempt to dunk and a cigar smoking puppet roasting everyone…all just brilliant. And both had legendary remotes plus entire shows done from planes, boats, Conan’s claymation and skeleton episodes…thank God for KZfaq so today’s kids can see what we had.

@mtrps_ 16 күн бұрын

the guy with the combine, hes always so on 😂😂😂

@ah-damn-art 15 күн бұрын

I finally know why I like Conan sm, the random nothingness of his shows is why I would tune in back in the day, I'm glad he's doing great and thriving.

@sourovdas5280 16 күн бұрын

There will never be another Conan Obrien 🌺

@hankdatank09 16 күн бұрын

And this is why I love Conan.

@DIOBrando-ij2bp 16 күн бұрын

That’s funny, when he tells that story (at 8:55) about telling his dad that he’s earning a living exploiting something that should probably be treated now, (he’s brought that story up a few times on Conan Needs a Friend) it’s not him saying that to his dad, it’s his dad saying that to him. Now I’m wonder which is the actual way it happened. Is this telling the actual versions and the story flipped over the course of 13 years, or is how he tells in now what happened?

@TheCarpentersApprentice 16 күн бұрын

Damn good question

@MihaelaCornescu 16 күн бұрын

the author is not always reliable

@happylikeanoldtimemovie 16 күн бұрын

I noticed that too. I think there have been multiple times where he said his dad said it so maybe he just mispoke this time?

@ronalddg9369 16 күн бұрын

I can imagine him telling the real story, and then the director saying that's too sad and ordering him to change it

@tkillcoin 16 күн бұрын

This might be pre-therapy Conan, who feels obliged to protect his dad, rather than tell the truth. It could also be because it’s PBS. Real respectable people watch PBS, not just the knuckleheads that like Late Night. But yeah, that bumped me too.

@jt.8144 15 күн бұрын

Life lessons from this guy. KEEP IT SIMPLE AND REAL.

@jonashansson5130 16 күн бұрын

Conan! I am huge fan from Sweden I love you, the best and funniest man alive. Thanks to you I am still alive

@marcpelosi380 15 күн бұрын

The difference for me with Conan compared to everyone else on Late Night is you can tell he genuinely LOVES comedy and television. He's Homer Simpson as a kid sitting in front of the Radiation King TV. The way he talks about shows he grew up on or people he's met through the years. It's like listening to Mark McGrath, Sebastian Bach, or Matt Pinfield talk about music. He's such an expert in his field it's fantastic to watch.

@Drnonstop 16 күн бұрын

Thank you tom hanks! Loved you in the movie

@joejohnson5051 16 күн бұрын

I remember looking at the tv listings each week just for Conan as a kid to see who his interviews would be with. Obviously I knew it would be epic if Norm Macdonald was scheduled and I was right. Proud to say I watched him since show 1.

@Kb0montty2 8 күн бұрын

Conan is an American treasure! He is so intelligent and yet he embraces the ridiculous and silly in a way that is completely noncomparable with any other comedian. Long live the King of Late Night! Thank you Conan!

@mk810 15 күн бұрын

Certified genius

@s10wd0wnab1t 15 күн бұрын

Conan perfectly explained why Mr. Bean is a timeless masterpiece. LOL

@eatonuter7113 8 күн бұрын

What a great conversation. I am glad to have checked out Conan for the first time nine years ago because you can tell he truly cares about how he crafts the show, but not only that, the way he answers the question in such detail helps to allow the viewer to understand what's being asked.

@DontFretBrett 11 күн бұрын

What an international treasure and class act this man is. Had everything to become a “successful” staunchy corporate guy. He chose silly and risked a potential fail. And the geniuses who recognized it and gave him a chance 👏

@AgentSeventyOne 13 күн бұрын

I remember buying a TV with my own money in middle school to have in my room just to watch Conan super late at night (and wrestling). None of my friends watched so I had to keep references to the FedEx Pope, The Interrupter, The European Guy to myself. I remember advertising his first show as the new host of the Tonight show in my homework. We'd have an assignment in my anatomy class to write down words, their definitions and a sketch; I would instead write an ad for his show as the definition and draw the new Tonight Show logo as the sketch. Femur - "This Fall, catch Conan O'Brien make the move to 11:35 as the new host..." I would get my homework back with a circle and question mark around it lol.

@user-jy3br3wj1d 16 күн бұрын

Such an impressive story.

@tdvu 11 күн бұрын

Out of all the last night hosts, I've never seen anyone bash Conan nor have bad things to say about him. Definitely the GOAT when it comes to late night as well as just being a a genuinely funny guy.

@dastaten 15 күн бұрын

Conan is the best. 'Nuff said.

@westsi1 4 күн бұрын

I can’t remember how young I was, but when I first noticed his show, there was fake rap battle between Shaquille O’Neal and Dikembe Mutombo. I cried from laughter.

@Splexx 13 күн бұрын

I remember when he started with The Masturbating Bear on his show. It was so stupid but was the funniest thing on late night. I would almost piss myself laughing.

@robertlockwood3277 9 күн бұрын

I love this man so much. He’s seen me through some rough times. Team coco for life.

@HG-pi3qp 14 күн бұрын

That part about the Marx brothers and the 4 jews line... that's my boy. That's our Conebone69. Late Night was truly something when he took over for Letterman.

@davidbowen2909 14 күн бұрын

Another reason why I connect with you, when I was a lot younger, lived in a rural area outside of Chicago and during summer vacation my parents would allow me to stay up late on Saturday nights so I could watch Marx Brothers movies. Channel 7 would broadcast cast at least 2 movies every Saturday night through out the summer. Long story short, I love what you do Conan. Keep doing it and I’ll keep watching. Thank you

@christoz77 11 күн бұрын

It is wonderful to hear the man behind the mask speak candidly to your heart in reason

@KidSans77 15 күн бұрын

100% agree (except weekend update, RIP Norm MacDonald), there will never be another great talk show host like Conan. 0:30

@naveenpal4782 14 күн бұрын

I read it as Illness at first glance and was instantly worried. God bless Conan and his silliness.

@noname-ve7wo 16 күн бұрын

Conan is the best. I wasn't even born when Carson ran the show but I seen many clips and he was awesome. Conan is more then awesome he's the best.

@pablobest4239 15 күн бұрын

He's brilliant.

@wolverineiscool7161 16 күн бұрын

quality is great!

@titusrider7948 15 күн бұрын

Love Conan, his silliness is brilliant ! He could really make the audience laugh 😅 I really miss his show

@Pendragon981 15 күн бұрын

By far my favorite late night host of all time.

@williambell6611 12 күн бұрын

Conan is the humor that I loved growing up

@djhuxflux 2 күн бұрын

I kinda know what Conan is saying. This is a bit silly, the thing is, I have hard time watching Will Ferrel, Zach Galifianiakis or Ken Jeong without them putting a smile on my face by just seeing them. They have the comedy within their persona, hardly never breaking character, total comedic geniouses. Bill Murray, Steve Martin, what can I say. All top nodge comedy. Big Respect. With Conan it has always been enjoyable to watch him and Norm MacDonald, Sona and his nemesis Jordan Schlansky. Ofcourse its mostly thanks to Dr. Arroyo, the teams life line. He is not so good but he is affordable. "Its always those impractical jokers" - Conan at TBS

@ZeroG_Bandit 16 күн бұрын

Conan is my hero.

@jt.8144 15 күн бұрын

THIS MAN CAN NEVER BE "COPY AND PASTED".

@astraltraveler257 7 күн бұрын

as a writer and producer I have to say comedy is the most difficult form of entertainment to create and make. especially the SILLY part of the continuum. and Conan is one of the geniuses. Monty Python maybe set the bar.

@jeshuruncarlos6649 13 күн бұрын

I am here after Binge watching Conan and Jordan, for the 22nd Time in my Life

@ssbsnb1200 14 күн бұрын

Conan needs to lighten up. Dance Silly Boy! (maniacal laughter)

@jakerz0 4 күн бұрын

One of my favorite bits in Airplane 2: “What’s your point?” “I have no point.”

@nataliezementbeisser1492 15 күн бұрын

I love him

@_sparrowhawk 9 күн бұрын

I think this American Masters interview is the most serious I've ever seen him.

@pyrecticwilliams9916 16 күн бұрын

Nope! Oh, He'll be on a porch alright, but at 90 he'll still be interviewing guests and fans for his podcast, in between his travel shows and we'll all still be laughing with him

@StrangerInAustralia 16 күн бұрын

3:40 "Bullets are better than a movie." - Conan O'Brien, murder.

@greatsaiyaguy8868 15 күн бұрын

"Don't know much about Conan other than that he killed a guy."- David Letterman

@sclogse1 14 күн бұрын

I think there was a war at the time.

@StrangerInAustralia 14 күн бұрын

@@sclogse1 Don't let the war fool you - this beautiful Dutch woman is a cold-hearted killer.

@avlanche7777 15 күн бұрын

The best. No jokes but, off the cuff one of the funniest and best of all time.❤

@dhaktizero4406 15 күн бұрын

when you give funny that makes the ego butler of the mind shanty-town and his little doggie laugh and love this world more, you have succeeded. see the little dog, it's tail is wagging the whole little guy. so happy. good job.