What's this? This is an unbiased just-the-facts news timeline ('newsline') about Conan O’Brien, created by Newslines contributors. Become a contributor

Conan O’Brien

Conan O'Brien193 posts

Conan O’Brien is an award-winning TV talk show host, comedian, and writer born in 1963 in Brookline, Massachusetts. After graduating from Harvard University, he worked as a writer for such shows as Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. He made a name for himself in television when he hosted Late Night and The Tonight Show. He is currently hosting the TBS late-night talk show, Conan, in which he is also creator and producer.

Biography view > Click for Latest News view
18 Apr, 1963

Conan O’Brien born in Brookline, Massachusetts

Birth0 Comments

little conanConan Christopher O’Brien is born in Brookline, Massachusetts to an Irish-Catholic family. His parents are doctor and Harvard professor Thomas O’Brien and lawyer Ruth O’Brien (née Reardon). The third of six children, he has three brothers and two sisters. His penchant for comedy starts as early as the third grade, where he does Charlie Chaplin impersonations and cracks jokes to make his family laugh. He also takes an interest in tap dancing.

It starts with the family. I’m from a large Irish-Catholic family and trying, the benchmark, for me, is trying to make my dad laugh or trying to make my brothers laugh at the table when we were having meals together.

13 Sep, 1993

Late Night with Conan O’Brien

Hosts ShowTV Appearance0 Comments

O’Brien debuts his first major television show, Late Night with Conan O’Brien. The show’s cold open features the host being compared to his predecessor, David Letterman, right before he goes on stage. The episode consists of an opening monologue, comedy bits with sidekick Andy Richter, and appearances by guests John Goodman, Drew Barrymore, and Tony Randall.

12 Jan, 2002

O’Brien, Powel marry

Marriage0 Comments

O’Brien weds advertising executive Liza Powel in her hometown of Seattle, Washington. The couple met in 2000 during a skit rehearsal for the TV talk show host’s Late Night program and dated for 18 months before deciding to tie the knot. The ceremony is held at St. James Cathedral and officiated by the TV host’s friend and Harvard roommate, Fr. Paul O’Brien. On meeting his bride:

I did know very quickly. Somewhere in the vaults at NBC, there’s footage of me literally falling for my wife on camera. She’s incredibly beautiful. She’s very intelligent, and funny, and a really good person and so the nice thing is that, that was the basis of the relationship. So, I just knew.

27 Aug, 2006

Hosts Emmy Awards for the second time

Hosts Show0 Comments

O’Brien hosts the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards for a second time. Held at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, the show opens with a sketch featuring the host in various TV show situations such as Lost, The Office, 24, and South Park, among others. He also performs a song and dance number about NBC’s dipping ratings to the tune of The Music Man’s song Ya Got Trouble. On the biggest challenge of hosting the Emmys:

To find a way to make it fun. If you do the preparation and you get some good ideas, it’s fun. When I’m having a good time, people say “that was really good.” And that’s key for me. When I’m not having a good time it’s just not as good, it’s not terrible but… That’s the goal for me, to remember that hosting an award show should be fun.

Emmys 2006 - Conan O'Brien's Opener

1 Jun, 2009

The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien

Hosts Show0 Comments

O’Brien debuts as host of NBC’s Tonight Show franchise. The inaugural episode’s cold open features the host running across the country from New York to Los Angeles to make it in time for his monologue. Filmed sketches include one where he drives his old Ford Taurus around the city and earns the envy of everyone. Andy Richter returns as both his sidekick and announcer. Will Ferrell appears as the show’s first guest, and is followed by a musical performance by Pearl Jam.

8 Nov, 2010

Premieres ‘Conan’

TV Appearance0 Comments

O’Brien returns to television with his new, self-titled late-night talk show on cable network, TBS. After nine months of being off the air since his stint in The Tonight Show, the talk show host returns with monologues, funny skits, and celebrity interviews. The show airs at 11 p.m. EST and features Lea Michele, Seth Rogen, and Jack White as guests.

12 Jun, 2011

Dartmouth Commencement Speech

Gives Talk0 Comments

O’Brien delivers the commencement address at the 2011 Dartmouth College graduation ceremony. The 24-minute long speech discusses his own journey after graduation, which included challenges, disappointments, failures, and major changes in his career path as a TV talk show host.  The TV host is also the recipient of an honorary doctorate of the arts from Dartmouth.

There are few things more liberating in this life than having your worst fear realized. Whether you fear it or not, true disappointment will come but with disappointment comes clarity, conviction and true originality.

Conan O'Brien Delivers Dartmouth's Commencement Address

4 Aug, 2011

Novak Djokovic interview

Interview0 Comments

Djokovic talks about his recent Wimbledon championship. He also shares how he’s handling fame in his home country of Serbia, his brief modeling stint and some of the crazy gigs that his agent puts him up to.

It was a commercial that I have done for my racquet brand that’s representing me, and so they called me and they told me it was going to be crazy, something that nobody has ever done before, but I didn’t assume that it was going to be that crazy. So the guy goes, “Well, we have this 1954 plane right here, and you’re going to play some tennis on the wings.”

9 Sep, 2011

Polo skit

Skit0 Comments

O’Brien meets top polo player Nacho Figueras from Veuve Clicquot and undergoes polo training. Figueras rides his own horse, Dante, while the late-night tv show host rides Fat Tina. After several unsuccessful attempts at hitting the ball, O’Brien is able to play the game.

23 Sep, 2011

Foodies list skit

Skit0 Comments

O’Brien investigates a secret ‘foodies’ email list on his show’s staff by setting up a small spread at the conference room and installing close-circuit cameras in it. He catches some of the members of the list, reprimands them, and proceeds to join his staff in eating the food.

1 Nov, 2011

Chinese food delivery skit

Skit0 Comments

As part of his show’s week-long run in New York City, O’Brien tries his hand at being a Chinese food delivery guy. He goes to a local Chinese take-out place called King Wok and makes two deliveries that never make it to the customers. His adventure includes sipping mate with an Argentine woman, getting shot down by a customer, and having coffee spilled on his leather jacket.

Conan Delivers Chinese Food in NYC | CONAN on TBS

2 Nov, 2011

Love Is Eternal Sacred Light performance

Music PerformanceTV Appearance0 Comments

Simon performs Love Is Eternal Sacred Light during Conan’s week-long residence in New York City’s Beacon Theatre. The track comes from his latest album, So Beautiful Or So What. O’Brien plays guitar in the performance.

Paul Simon - Love Is Eternal Sacred Light - Live on Conan

4 Nov, 2011

Officiates same-sex wedding

0 Comments

To celebrate his show’s first anniversary, O’Brien officiates a Jewish same-sex wedding on the final night of his week-long run in New York City. The grooms are O’Brien’s long-time costume designer Scott Cronick and his partner David Gorshein, who say their vows underneath a chuppah. Bravo talk show host Andy Cohen walks Cronick down the aisle.

The Wedding of Scott Cronick & David Gorshein | CONAN on TBS

6 Dec, 2011

Alec Baldwin interview

Interview0 Comments

Baldwin guests on Conan and talks about news that he is running for mayor of New York and the reactions of some New Yorkers to the rumors. He also talks about his 30 Rock co-star Tracy Morgan and does an uncanny impression of him.

He’s a man-child. He’s a man-boy. He’s very sweet and very sensitive. Like, my image of Tracy is always the first season. And he had this tape he had. And he would lay in his room, he would lay on the couch, he’s really tired, he probably had a late night, and he’s waiting for them to bring him to makeup. It’s like 7 o’clock in the morning, and he’s watching old, Kinescope transfers, ancient media of Jackson Five specials from like, the 70s.

Alec Baldwin's Tracy Morgan Impersonation 12/05/11 | CONAN on TBS

22 Dec, 2011

Secret Santa skit

Skit0 Comments

O’Brien participates in his show’s Secret Santa for the first time and selects talent coordinator Ashley Olivia. Upon discovering her fondness for Jon Hamm, he arranges for the Mad Men actor to surprise her with a signed portrait of himself on the show.

Secret Santa Conan Blows His Staffer's Mind | CONAN on TBS

5 Jan, 2012

Emmy Rossum interview

Interview0 Comments

Rossum returns to Conan and talks about her TV show Shameless. She also sings an Italian aria to O’Brien for a hotdog, shares her fondness for redheads, and talks about her mother’s reaction to her role.

My mom’s cool with whatever I do on the show, because she’s an artist, she’s a photographer, she knows that it’s part of the job. So, she understands that it’s artistic and you know, it’s written in the script and it’s not “me” doing it.

Emmy Rossum Sings Opera For A Hot Dog | CONAN on TBS

17 Jan, 2012

Kate Beckinsale interview

Interview0 Comments

Beckinsale guests on Conan to promote her film Underworld: Awakening. She also talks about her struggles in fake-driving, her experience co-presenting with Seth Rogen and her family’s dirty humor.

We have a tradition in your family even now, and whenever I visit my mother’s house, I always have to leave a banana and two apples, or whatever fruit she has and just rearrange her fruit bowl. Just so that she thinks of me when I’m gone.

Kate Beckinsale Can't Drive | CONAN on TBS