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Conan O'Brien

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Conan O'Brien
O'Brien in New York, November 2007.
Birth nameConan Christopher O'Brien
Born (1963-04-18) April 18, 1963 (age 61)
Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
MediumTelevision
NationalityAmerican
Years active1985—present
GenresImprovisational comedy, Sketch comedy, Physical comedy, Surreal humor, self-deprecation
Subjectsself-deprecation, pop culture
SpouseElizabeth Ann Powell (2002—present) (2 children)
Notable works and rolesWriter for The Simpsons (1992—1993)
Host of Late Night with Conan O'Brien
(1993—Present)
WebsiteLate Night with Conan O'Brien

Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an Emmy Award-winning American television host and comedian, best known as host of NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He has been announced as replacing Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show beginning June 1, 2009.

Background

O'Brien was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Ruth (née Reardon), an attorney, and Thomas Francis O'Brien, a physician and professor of medicine, both Irish Catholic. Later, in a famous Late Night episode, O'Brien paid a visit to County Kerry, Ireland, where his ancestors originated. He served as managing editor of his school newspaper and interned for Rep. Barney Frank. After graduating from the Brookline High School, in 1981, as valedictorian, O'Brien entered Harvard University and lived in Holworthy Hall during his freshman year. In his three upper-class years, O'Brien lived in Mather House. Throughout college he was a writer for the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine. During his sophomore and junior years, O'Brien served as the Lampoon's president, making him the second person ever to serve as president twice, and the first person to have done so since the 1920s. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1985 with a A.B. in History and Literature. Also, while attending Harvard, classmate Damon Krukowski of the band Galaxie 500, used O'Brien's drum kit in many of the band's early recordings. In 2008, he received an honorary degree in Actuarial Science from Ball State University.

Career

Television writer (pre-Late Night)

O'Brien in the offices of the Simpsons writers in 1992.

O'Brien moved to Los Angeles after graduation to join the writing staff of HBO's Not Necessarily the News. He spent two years with that show and performed regularly with improvisational groups, including The Groundlings.

In January 1988, Saturday Night Live's executive producer Lorne Michaels hired O'Brien as a writer. During his three years on SNL, he wrote such recurring sketches as "Mr. Short-Term Memory" and "The Girl Watchers," the latter of which was first performed by Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz. O'Brien also co-wrote the sketch "Nude Beach" with Robert Smigel, a sketch in which the word "penis" was said or sung at least 42 times.

While on a writers' strike from Saturday Night Live following the 1987-1988 season, O'Brien put on an improvisational comedy revue, in Chicago, with fellow SNL writers Bob Odenkirk and Robert Smigel called, Happy Happy Good Show. While living in Chicago, O'Brien briefly was roommates with Jeff Garlin. In 1989, O'Brien and his fellow SNL writers received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series.

O'Brien, like many SNL writers, occasionally appeared as an extra in sketches; his most notable appearance was as a doorman in a sketch in which Tom Hanks was inducted into the SNL "Five-Timers Club" for hosting his fifth episode. O'Brien returned to host the show in 2001 during its 26th season, gaining notice for the sketch Moleculo.

O'Brien and Robert Smigel wrote the television pilot Lookwell, starring Adam West. The pilot aired on NBC in 1991, The pilot never went to series, but it became a cult hit. It was later screened at "The Other Network", a festival of un-aired TV pilots produced by Un-Cabaret, featuring an extended interview with O'Brien and rerun in 2002 on the Trio network.

From 1991– 1993, O'Brien was a writer and producer for The Simpsons, credited as writer or co-writer of four episodes. Of all the episodes he wrote, he considers "Marge vs. the Monorail" to be his favorite. Years later, in his speech given at Class Day at Harvard in 2000, O'Brien credited The Simpsons with "saving" him, a reference to the career slump he was experiencing prior to his hiring for that show. As of 2004, O'Brien's office at The Simpsons was being used as storage. Along with that episode he has sole writing credits on "New Kid on the Block", "Homer Goes to College", and "Treehouse of Horror IV" on which he wrote the episode wrap-arounds. He produced several episodes of seasons 4 and 5 as well, meaning he would frequently contribute to scripts from those seasons.

Conan Rules!!!!

Emmy Host

O'Brien hosted the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006, to critical acclaim. He had previously hosted the Primetime Emmys in 2002, and Co-Hosted in 2003.

Conan Rules!

Television writer/producer (2002-present)

In 2002, Conan helped write and produce Andy Richter Controls the Universe, a comedy series that ran for two seasons. It was cancelled mostly due to poor ratings.

On March 7, 2006, NBC announced a new adventure/comedy series entitled Andy Barker, P.I.. O'Brien was executive producer and also co-wrote the pilot. The show starred O'Brien's former sidekick Andy Richter. After six episodes and low ratings, the show was canceled despite being named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the Top Ten Shows of 2007.

"USA Network has handed out a 90-minute, cast-contingent pilot order to the medical-themed "Operating Instructions" from Conan O'Brien's production banner. O'Brien will serve as an Executive Producer through his Conaco label. The script comes from "Just Shoot Me" veterans Judd Pillot and John Peaslee, who will also executive produce."

Conan Rules!

Comedy and mannerisms

On Late Night, O'Brien has become known for his more active and spontaneous hosting style. He starts off every show by saying, "We have a great show for you tonight." His stage habits include but are not limited to mime, self-deprecation, dramatic expressions, various impressions, use of awkward pauses or responses and moving his hair and scalp back and forth. He frequently makes fun of and interacts with the audience. He commonly makes light of his own appearance including his hairstyle, his pale skin, his clumsiness and his height.

One of his trademarks is to perform the "string dance." He also does impressions of celebrities; among the most common are Arnold Schwarzenegger (where he pretends to bite off a piece of an imaginary sausage, only because "his Arnold always eats a sausage"), Donald Trump, which generally includes the phrase, "You're fired," and Larry King where he circles both eyes with his fingers and pretends to pull suspenders on his chest.

Filmography

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References

  1. "Outstanding Comedy Series". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  2. Associated Press (2008-07-21). "Leno's last 'Tonight' announced". CNN.com. Retrieved 2008-07-21. Leno's last show will be Friday, May 29, and O'Brien will start the following Monday, June 1, NBC executives told a Television Critics Association meeting Monday.
  3. "Conan O'Brien Biography (1963-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  4. "Conan Christopher O'Brien". Ancestry. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  5. Newman, David C. (2000-06-07). "'Poonster Gets the Last Laugh". Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  6. Beggy, Carol (2003-11-06). "Monet goes to Vegas; Kerry goes out on the town". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  7. "Harvard College Freshman Dean's Office". Harvard College. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  8. "Famous Alumni: Where Did They Go to College".
  9. Rabin, Nathan (2006-08-30). "Conan O'Brien". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  10. ^ "Host of Late Night With Conan O'Brien". Greater Talent Network. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  11. "Jeff Garlin interview". Late Night with Conan O'Brien. 2007-09-07.
  12. "Conan O'Brien". IMDB. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
  13. Volonnino, Michael R. (2000-06-08). "O'Brien Returns to Harvard". Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  14. "Conan O'Brien's Commencement Speech for the Harvard Class of 2000". everything2. 2000-08-08. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  15. The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for episode 9F10, "Marge vs. the Monorail" (DVD).
  16. Adalian, Josef (2006-08-27). "http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931393?categoryid=1264&cs=1". Variety. Retrieved 2008-05-11. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  17. Flynn, Gillian (2007-12-21). "Andy Barker, P.I." Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
  18. "Conan O'Brien scrubs up for medical drama - Yahoo! News". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2008-10-13.

Further reading

External links

Media offices
Preceded byDavid Letterman Host of Late Night
1993 – 2009 		Succeeded byJimmy Fallon
(Announced)
Preceded byEllen DeGeneres Host of Emmys
2002 		Succeeded byEllen DeGeneres, Brad Garret, Darrell Hammond, George Lopez, Himself, Bernie Mac, Garry Shandling, Martin Short, Jon Stewart, Wanda Sykes
Preceded byConan O'Brien Co-Host of Emmys
2003 		Succeeded byGarry Shandling
Preceded byEllen DeGeneres Host of Emmys
2006 		Succeeded byRyan Seacrest

Template:Simpsons writers

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (1980–1989)
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2000–2009)

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