I’m not one to really get drawn into the melodramatic world of television and celebrities but what’s been happening in the late night world these last few weeks/months (I don’t really know how long it’s been happening) has kind of caught me by surprise. For anyone not aware it seems as if after a few short months as the new host of the Tonight Show Conan O’Brien is going to be canned, fired, released, let go, whatever you want to call it in favor of that plug Jay Leno once more.

Team Conan

My real concern is does anyone even watch Jay Leno? We’ve had this debate before about which program was the best late night show on television and not once did Leno’s name ever come up. Kimmel, Letterman, Conan, and Ferguson all seemed to be names being spoken. I suppose judging by this website it’s easy to see I enjoy the same sense of goofy humour that Conan brings to the table and while I am not a religious late night viewer (thanks to all this dreaded hockey) when I do tune in there usually isn’t a dull moment on the program.

Whale Week

Perhaps the first experience of Conan was back in the brisk winter of 99-2000 (I think)…you know the Y2K? This has nothing to do with it but it was one of the first moments I watched Conan and ironically I still talk about the devoted “Whale Week” in which Late Night devoted an entire week to a whale costume they had purchased for $4000. Tons of ridiculous moments and it was capped off by a special appearance by none other then Robert Goulet himself…

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqbNS3FzSG0]

In the Year 2000

On going skit that I was quite happy to see them bring back when they made the move to The Tonight Show (of course changed to “In the Year 3000″). Inane millennial predictions filmed in the style of a Swedish music video? With David Duchovny? Emceed by Andy Richter? There’s genuinely nothing not to love. Better still, the running bit (often starring unannounced A-listers who wouldn’t dare be this alien in L.A.) continued well after the millennium came and went.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87soTsQjf5Y]

Walker Texas Ranger Lever

After NBC took over the USA network Conan was at his leisure to play as many Walker Texas Ranger clips without having to fork over the dough. The results were often comical and actually ended with a appearance by none other then Chuck Norris himself.

Triumph the Insult Comic Dog

Triumph first appeared in 1997 and has made appearances ever since. Triumph’s debut was in a comedy skit about unusually talented dogs at the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, from which he was eventually banned (though his third visit to the show was by invitation). In perhaps his biggest hit on Late Night Triumph made an appearance at the lineup for fans waiting to get in to see the latest Star Wars.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugk37TvIR8E&feature=player_embedded]

Vomiting Kermit & Shit Eating Duck

What makes Conan great is the ridiculous props he gave to mascots.

[youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVSTiYzy3Jc&feature=player_embedded]

Finnish Idol

Apparently a huge hit in the country of Finland Conan was told by Finnish tourists that he resembled their country’s female President, he was so amused that he fake-campaigned for her re-election. Conan urged Fins to vote for Tarja Halonen because she looked like him — admitting that he knew nothing about her actual platforms — and promised to visit Finland if she won. At the time, Late Night with Conan O’Brien was very popular in Finland, and his unofficial campaigning had been aired on local news programs. So when Halonen won re-election in 2006, Conan made good on his promise.

Conan was mobbed by fans at the airport, appeared on a weird Finnish talk show, and tried to surprise one of his fans, but she wasn’t home. “If this was a scripted show,” he said, “Someone would have answered the door.” Instead, Conan knocked on the door of another person named Forss Fagerstrom.

Conan O Brien in Finland

Much More

There is obviously much more but living in Canada sucks because Hulu won’t let me view them unless I go through a US Proxy and NBC are chodes (for letting Conan go) for taking down copyrighted material. Some obvious mentionables include the rants with Arnold Schwarzenegger, the trip to Houston, the infamous writers strike beard, hornymanatee.com, picking Apples with Mr. T, and of course Andy Richter.

The Point

No point really but it’s truly a shame that NBC hosed Conan for Jay Leno. In case it’s taken you a really long time I’m a huge Conan and I hope for comedy’s sake he finds another place on TV, preferably on a network where he will be allowed to showcase his comedic genius. Whether you like him or hate there is no denying that…writing for the Simpsons back in it’s glory days is a testament to that.

What the future holds for Conan no one knows but judging by the thousands of writers, bloggers, fans, critics, and more the feeling is NBC dropped the ball giving Leno his time slot back. Jay will always have his trusty faithful but Conan is hip with today’s technology and humor which ultimately makes him a hit with todays younger generation, something NBC should probably have been aware of once people eventually tune out of Leno. Whether they tune to Conan or someone else I for one don’t really care. Unlike O’Brien who was the bigger man not wanting to move his show back for Jimmy Fallons sake Jay Leno should have done the same but instead only has one care it seems….himself.

Poor Johnny Carson is spinning in his grave watching the Tonight Show go down the shitter.

Still Not Convinced

If you’re one of those people that still dont find Conan funny then perhaps this last clip will at least get a smirk out of you…

And if that didnt work then god have mercy on your soul because you my friend are an angry angry person. Perhaps you’ll get some joy out of the fact that from being a pervert and thanks to the angry mob at digg people tracked down that good looking 1860′s woman named Nell…you know the one, the one Conan was trying to hit one.

I’m sure I’m not the only one who was wondering if she was good looking under that smock of 1800′s clothes, well lo and behold!

I’m a sad individual

LONG LIVE CONAN!