More than a decade removed from one of late-night television’s most infamous feuds, Conan O'Brien revealed where things stand with Jay Leno today. And it was another former late-night host who got O'Brien to open up about the Tonight Show fiasco.
During the most recent episode of his podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend (available everwhere March 30), O’Brien sat down with fellow late-night legend Arsenio Hall and briefly addressed where things stand today. It all started when Hall expressed hesitation about chatting with O'Brien, considering he'd spent the previous night co-headlining a show with Jay Leno.
“Eh, water under the bridge,” O’Brien said quickly, though his delivery didn't exactly convince podcast co-hosts Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley. When Hall pointed it out, O'Brien sarcastically repeated his answer before finally coming clean.
“No … This is going to sound corny, but I am so happy with my life, and I get to do the things I want to do,” he shared. “I honestly don’t think about any of that stuff. I really don’t.”
For Hall, it was a relief. The comedian revealed he worried O'Brien would "hate" him for having a long-lasting friendship with Leno. But Hall had his own beef with Leno back in the day, leading Hall to tell O'Brien that he and Leno were "like Cain and Abel." The podcast host was (jokingly) happy to go along with that metaphor if Leno was the brother with the worse fate.
While O’Brien has certainly taken his share of jabs at Leno since the fallout from The Tonight Show debacle, those moments have typically come when prompted by guests or fellow comedians, and rarely cross into anything that feels truly bitter.
Perhaps it was because Arsenio Hall is the one who brought it up that O'Brien responded with such openness. The Arsenio Hall Show ran around the time Leno and David Letterman were jockeying for control of The Tonight Show, so Hall knows how competitive and political late-night used to be. The comedian also knows how grudges can linger within the entertainment industry.
That answer also revealed where O’Brien appears to be in his career today. Not that he ever wanted to air dirty laundry, but he's clearly less interested in rehashing old conflicts and more focused on the opportunities he has now. His podcast remains as popular as ever, he has another hit with Conan O'Brien Must Go, and can handpick projects that excite him, like hosting the Academy Awards.
So while fans (and a few other comedians) may want to keep holding the Tonight Show saga against Leno, don't expect Conan O'Brien to lead the charge.