Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert conclude they are long lost brothers

On his latest podcast, Conan O’Brien came to the realization that Stephen Colbert is more of a brother than a friend.

Late night television has been referred to as a “brotherhood” in the past. There are still only a relatively small number of individuals who know what it is like to run a nightly show that is expected to be unique, topical, and funny all at once. Yet for Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert that connection goes well beyond just running a television show.

The two have always had a professional connection centered around shared collaborators and improv backgrounds. They’ve worked together while O’Brien was hosting Late Night and Colbert had The Colbert Report.  They then did it again for Colbert’s Late Show proving they are not exactly competing late night rivals.

On this week’s edition of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, we got a chance to see just how similar the two are off stage. It’s not just a shared affection for the silly that bonds O’Brien and Colbert but something much more at the core of who they are as individuals.

As touching as it was to hear to kindred spirits connecting, you have to wonder if Colbert is eager to be O’Brien’s “brother.” After all, it was on

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

that Conan revealed the

shocking results of his family heritage

.

It’s funny to hear that it was Colbert’s use of an old-time boxing stance way back in 2007 that instantly told O’Brien they were cut from the same cloth. Longtime fans of O’Brien know exactly the pose their talking about as he’s used in countless bits and moments of improv.

This episode better than any other showcases what the podcast can be at it’s absolute best. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at comedy explored in the first episode with Will Ferrell. It addresses some real issues related to anxiety, guilt, and mental health that have popped up on other episodes. And it also has sillier, lighter moments that prove above all else, O’Brien wants to make people laugh.

Whether you’re interested in a career in comedy or not, it’s helpful to hear two very successful comedians reflect on their own psychology and philosophy. While both have struggled with grief and suffering they both admitted that it was only in seeking help did they come to accept things and try to find some level of healing.

On the surface, there don’t seem to be too many similarities between Conan and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Each show is clearly trying to accomplish something different on late night television. Yet the two men behind these shows have a connection that goes deeper than a friendship and maybe even a brotherhood. If anything, Conan O’Brien and Stephen Colbert sound like soulmates.