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Conan O’Brien announces new format, podcast and more

By Matt Moore

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 11: Executive producer Conan O'Brien of the TBS television show Final Space speaks onstage during the Turner portion of the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 11, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 11: Executive producer Conan O'Brien of the TBS television show Final Space speaks onstage during the Turner portion of the 2018 Winter Television Critics Association Press Tour at The Langham Huntington, Pasadena on January 11, 2018 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) /
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Conan O’Brien has made the official announcement regarding changes coming to his late night show and told audiences where else he can be seen.

25 years into his late night career, Conan O’Brien is shaking things up. It was reported months ago that Conan would be restructured from an hour long program into a half-hour show on TBS. This new time also meant the show would be eliminating musical guests and altering how content is delivered.

On last night’s episode of Conan the host announced it would be the final hour long program before a hiatus and eventual relaunch in January 2019. Any considering that this was a downgrade or bad news was put to rest by O’Brien. He explained that the new format would allow him to focus on what he enjoys most: remotes, travel segments, and a more curated lists of guests. These are by far O’Brien’s strengths and will likely mean the end of his monologue.

The late night veteran seems genuinely excited about the changes and after a quarter century in the business, something new could be invigorating. In addition to the half-hour redesign of Conan, a few other announcements were made. Check out the video below:

Conan & Friends: An Evening of Stand-Up and Investment Tips

This 18-city tour was announced a few weeks prior to O’Brien’s official comments during his show on Oct. 4. It will keep the comedian in the spotlight during the show’s hiatus, similar to his 2010 “The Legally Prohibited From Being Funny on Television Tour” during the Tonight Show debacle.

The tour kicks off on Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. and runs until Dec. 15 in San Francisco. Comedians scheduled to appear alongside O’Brien include Ron Funches, Marina Franklin, and Flula Borg.

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend

Launching a podcast is a fantastic idea for someone with O’Brien’s skill set. His interviews are always the best when they are unstructured, allowing O’Brien to improvise and bring the discussion away from promotion or pre-screened topics. In the five minute introduction episode, O’Brien comments on just this idea. With more control over who he speaks with, the podcast should be an even more authentic O’Brien.

The introduction also features O’Brien’s assistant Sona Movsesian who may in the co-host/sidekick role on the podcast. The two have a very amusing dynamic, demonstrated in several remotes and bits featured on the show over the years as well as their trip to Armenia. Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend will debut in November.

Conan 25

The announcement of a website featuring clips and shows from O’Brien’s entire career is great news for his longtime fans. It’s a long time coming but finally everything from Late Night, The Tonight Show, and Conan will be in one place and digitally remastered. Since his split with NBC, it has been slightly more challenging to find clips from his early days. It was a nice surprise when the entire episode of O’Brien’s debut in 1993 made its way onto YouTube via the official TeamCoco page.

Conan Without Borders: Japan

If you follow O’Brien on Instagram (@teamcoco) then you probably saw a few of his posts from Japan. Check out some of the highlights in preparation of next month’s episode, including another familiar face:

O’Brien finished out his announcements with news on his next travel special. His trip to Japan will air on TBS on Nov. 28. This comes on the heels of the last expedition to Italy where he brought along producer Jordan Schlansky. It will be the second trip to Asia following the 2016 episode in South Korea.

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