Conan was a late-night talk show that aired on the cable network TBS from November 2010 until 2021. It was fronted by comedian and writer Conan O'Brien, who had previously hosted NBC's Late Night and briefly The Tonight Show. The program blended the traditional talk-show interview format with short-form comedy sketches, recurring characters and filmed remote pieces that reached large online audiences.

Format and on-air personnel

The show's basic structure followed a familiar late-night pattern but emphasized absurdist and self-referential humor. Typical episodes included a cold open or monologue, two celebrity interviews, and either a musical act or a stand-up comedian. Comedy sketches and recurring segments often interrupted or framed the interviews.

  • Host: Conan O'Brien
  • Sidekick/announcer: Andy Richter — long-time collaborator and onstage foil
  • Band: Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band — provided music and participated in bits
  • Recurring cast: ensemble performers, guest comedians and the show’s trombonist, LaBamba Rosenberg, who appeared in many visual gags

History and development

Conan launched on TBS as a new home for O'Brien after his departure from NBC. The series kept the late-night talk-show essentials while exploiting cable and digital platforms: clips and short segments were tailored for online sharing, extending the program’s reach beyond its broadcast timeslot. Over its run the show experimented with location shoots, special travel episodes and multi-part field pieces that showcased different styles of comedy.

Style, notable segments and legacy

The show was known for its energetic, self-deprecating tone and a willingness to embrace absurdity. Popular recurring bits included parody newscasts, character-driven sketches, and remote features—several of which were compiled into the "Conan Without Borders" travel specials. Other standout pieces, such as the celebrity video-game review sketches and short digital exclusives, generated millions of views and helped shape how late-night content migrated to the web.

Although the series ended in 2021, it is remembered for modernizing aspects of the late-night formula by integrating social media-friendly material, nurturing long-standing onstage relationships, and showcasing a host-driven mix of interview work and sketch comedy that influenced contemporaries in both broadcast and streaming spaces.