It’s a strange time for Late Night Comedy. Right now, nobody is in a laughing mood with the coronavirus tearing the world, industries, and jobs apart. Maybe we all could use the laughs right now, but tuning into Jimmy Fallon or Stephen Colbert is hardly a major concern for citizens right now. Still, the shows are finding ways to go on, including TBS’ Conan. New and full episodes will air starting March 30th.
The State of Late Night
Last week, Late Night shows started shutting down. A few tried to play without audiences, which led to uncomfortable atmospheres for late night comedy. Jimmy Fallon’s show, in particular, was like out of a nightmare. The silence at the end was deafening and, to Fallon’s credit, called for and appropriate. When Fallon and other late night shows started undergoing changes, Conan was in the midst of a two-week hiatus. Episodes were already taped and ready to go last week. Once the hiatus is over, Conan will be back on TBS.
Expect Quality
Over the last week, Conan has been filming short videos for the show, making the most of his self-isolation. For his spectacular podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, he released a “Quarantine Edition.” According to O’Brien, when his show returns, continue to expect nothing but the best comedy:
“The quality of my work will not go down because technically that’s not possible.”
Conan’s executive producer, Jeff Ross, added:
“Our first priority is the health and well-being of everyone in the Team Coco family, and our second priority is to try and find a way that we can do our jobs safely, from home, and contribute some entertainment for our fans out there who may be hungry for silly distraction.”
We could always use silly distractions from Conan. What a time to perform, though. Good for Conan, TBS, and his staff for making the most of the situation, though.
Other Conan Content
Most people have a lot of free time on their hands at the moment. If they need the laughs, Conan is a good source. He has such a huge online presence now. For starters, his podcast is a true piece of audio joy. Episodes with David Sedaris, Michelle Obama, and Billy Eichner are must-listens for fans. Conan gets to relax and have nice and personal conversations. It’s another side of the late-night host that has been wonderful to hear.
If you need even more Conan in your life at the moment, look no further than Netflix. The streaming service hosts his travel episodes, which show him exploring Cuba, Italy, Israel, Australia, and more. They’re some of Conan’s finest, funniest moments. A couple of years ago, Conan made old episodes of his NBC late night show available online. There’s no shortage of Conan content and clips to binge during these uncertain, scary times.
In the last couple of years, the Conan show has continued to grow, too. Conan never stagnates. Sadly, Conan’s band is no longer, but the new 30-minute format is working out great. There’s less guests, no filler, and rarely do jokes miss in such a short time. Conan is arguably better than ever right now with the new show and podcast. He keeps bringing the laughs in full force.
What Are Other Late Night Hosts Doing?
Production is suspended on all late night shows. Initially, many hosts tried their shows without audiences, but it didn’t take long for them to stop airing altogether. Right now, Fallon is keeping busy by releasing opening monologues online and interviewing guests via Zoom. Kimmel and Colbert, too, are at least making their monologues available online. Trevor Noah is keeping busy with digital shorts. They’re all finding ways to stay on the air and keep their staff employed.
