Conan O’Brien and Jeff Ross recently sat down on the talk show, Inside Conan, to discuss the origin story of “Late Night” and their incredible journey. The podcast hosts Scott Aukerman and Adam Scott couldn’t hide their excitement as they welcomed the duo, emphasizing their popularity and success in the entertainment industry.
The conversation began with Conan reminiscing about how he went from being a writer for The Simpsons to being chosen as David Letterman‘s replacement, which he referred to as one of the craziest stories in show business history. Jeff Ross jokingly compared himself to the radioactive spider that bit Conan, igniting his late-night career.
They continued to discuss how the transition unfolded, starting with Conan officially accepting the offer to host and take over for Letterman. The pair shared a funny anecdote about being present in the empty office space on the ninth floor while witnessing the taping of Letterman’s final show on the sixth floor. Despite some initial reluctance, they eventually went down to join the farewell festivities.
The conversation then turned to the challenges they faced in preparing for the show. With a premiere date set for September 13th, they had only a few months to make everything happen. Conan commented that it seemed like an impossible feat, considering they had no writers, no set design, and no band. But they were determined to make it work.
Conan explained how they recruited Robert Smigel as the head writer and emphasized their shared comedic vision. However, securing Smigel’s deal took longer than expected, which caused some anxiety. But once he came on board, they felt a sense of relief and progress.
They also touched on their decision to reorient the set and rebrand the show. They wanted to ensure that “Late Night” had its own identity and wasn’t seen as an extension of “Saturday Night Live.” Conan expressed his desire not to be compared to David Letterman, as he felt like an amoeba compared to Letterman’s status as a late-night legend.
They shared a funny story about suggesting a name change for the show, proposing “Nighty Night with Conan O’Brien.” However, NBC executive Rick Ludwin made it clear that “Late Night” was a well-established franchise that they couldn’t just abandon. Ultimately, they realized that keeping the name was the best decision.
Throughout the conversation, Conan and Jeff also touched on the challenges of building the set and hiring writers. The pressure and time constraints were incredibly overwhelming. However, as writers started coming in, they felt a renewed sense of hope and excitement.
Conan and Jeff expressed their gratitude for the support they received from Rick Ludwin and other key individuals at NBC during this hectic time. Reflecting on their journey, they both acknowledged the fear and uncertainty they faced but were motivated by the creative possibilities that lay ahead.
As the interview concluded, Conan shared that looking back, it felt like a miracle that they were able to pull everything together in such a short amount of time. The tremendous effort and determination of the entire team had paid off, leading to the successful launch of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.”
This behind-the-scenes glimpse into the origin story of “Late Night” was a captivating reminder of the challenges faced by Conan O’Brien and Jeff Ross as they embarked on their late-night talk show journey. Their story serves as an inspiration to aspiring entertainers everywhere, reminding them that hard work, determination, and a bit of luck can lead to incredible achievements in the world of entertainment.
