During a recent episode of the talk show Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, the host Conan O’Brien confronted his longtime talent booker Paula Davis about her side gig. O’Brien began the conversation by emphasizing the importance of thoroughly investigating employees to ensure that every cog in the machine is working properly.
Davis, who has been O’Brien’s booker since his days at Late Night, was commended for her fine work over the years. However, O’Brien expressed his irritation when he realized that Davis teaches a yoga class in the mornings, preventing him from engaging in a conversation with her.
Unbeknownst to O’Brien, Davis had gotten certified as a yoga instructor a couple of years ago and volunteers her time to help older people with yoga. Despite the noble nature of her efforts, O’Brien took offense, believing that Davis could have used that time to book guests instead.
Their banter continued with O’Brien playfully teasing Davis about her enjoyment of food and snacks. Anytime Davis seemed to derive joy from something, O’Brien would try to dampen it in a lighthearted manner. Their dynamic was characterized by O’Brien’s ability to find amusement in the smallest things while simultaneously being the “joy killer” for his employees.
The conversation then led to O’Brien praising Howard Stern as the best interviewer on the planet. Davis, who is a fan of Stern, once had the opportunity to interact with both O’Brien and Stern and expertly psychoanalyzed them during their conversation.
Moving on, O’Brien asked Davis if there was a celebrity she had yet to book, to which Davis joked about Shar, an Armenian singer. O’Brien’s enthusiasm for having Shar as a guest was palpable, but Davis explained that scheduling conflicts made it difficult to secure her appearance.
In a light moment, O’Brien asked Davis what Shar‘s real name was, trying to catch her off guard. Davis revealed that Shar‘s real name is Cherylyn Sarian. Their conversation continued with playful banter and O’Brien expressing his admiration for Davis and her ability to handle his eccentricities.
As the segment concluded, O’Brien showcased his knack for concocting fake stories, mentioning how he used to tease Davis and his coworker Gina Bautista by pretending to be offended by articles that mentioned him in magazines. O’Brien would describe outrageous scenarios involving himself and elicit laughter from Davis and Bautista.
Overall, this episode of Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend provided viewers with a glimpse into the dynamic between O’Brien and his longtime talent booker, Paula Davis. Their playful banter and shared sense of humor showcased a strong working relationship that has lasted through O’Brien’s various talk show iterations.
