Cuckoo for CoCo | Disrupt 2020

TL;DR

Conan O'Brien's podcast succeeded by accident, not strategy, because the audio format lets his writer's-room sense of humor run free without the six-to-seven-minute segment limits of network TV. He values the unhurried hour-long conversations, skipping hair and makeup, and staying curious enough to feel 25 again.

Transcript

hello conan o'brien hi how are you connie hey thank you so much for joining us i'm thank you imagining right now that there's an incredible amount of excitement and applause uh and i'm just creating that in my own mind because i hear absolutely nothing so um if you don't mind right now in my imagination it's a standing ovation and uh we're just goi... Read More

Key Insights

• Conan O'Brien's podcast success was a complete accident, not a master plan; he had no expectations when a team member pitched it and initially thought it was crazy because he was already on television.
• The curiosity to try new things is what drove Conan's career pivots; he describes liking to try things as a quality that has served him well, following his curiosity rather than following a strategy.
• Podcasting lets Conan show the version of himself that lives in the writer's room, the same person he is with friends and family or after more than three glasses of wine, rather than a polished TV persona.
• Network talk shows forced unnatural conversation because Conan had to take six or seven minute turns, land a laugh, then break for the band and return three minutes later, breaking the natural conversational flow.
• Podcasts allow hour-long conversations where guests let their guard down; Conan can talk to someone for an hour or an hour and fifteen minutes, which he considers incredible compared to TV segment limits.
• Reacting in the moment is Conan's core comedic strength; head writer Jim Downey once told him he is funny when he reacts, and his uptight embarrassment reactions got the biggest laughs on his talk show.
• Team Coco began 10 years ago during the tonight show conflict as a reaction in the moment, which Conan believes created new opportunities and reflects his career pattern of reacting to events.
• Conan frames the pandemic as everyone being forced to react, and he sees his own work of staying positive, optimistic, and silly as relatable because everyone is doing the best they can in a difficult situation.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did Conan O'Brien's podcast become successful?

According to Conan, the podcast's success was a complete surprise and an accident, not part of a master plan. When someone on his team pitched the idea, he thought it was crazy because he was already on television and it felt like getting into radio. His willingness to try things and follow his curiosity led him to attempt it, and it became a massive success almost immediately. Most importantly, he realized how much he loved doing it.

Q: Why does Conan O'Brien prefer podcasting to his TV talk show?

Conan prefers podcasting because the conversations feel more natural and superior. On a traditional network talk show he was limited to six or seven minute turns, after which he needed a laugh and had to break for the band, returning three minutes later, which is not a natural conversational flow. In a podcast he can talk to someone for an hour or an hour and fifteen minutes, people let their guard down, and he also enjoys not having to do hair and makeup.

Q: What does Conan mean when he says the podcast shows the real him?

Conan explains that the podcast shows the Conan who lives in the writer's room, the version who really lets his brain run free. It is how he is with his friends and family, and what he is like after more than three glasses of wine. While his sense of humor has been out there through the Simpsons, his late night show, and Saturday Night Live for over 30 years, the podcast format lets that side get to run free, fitting him like a glove.

Q: What did head writer Jim Downey tell Conan about his comedy?

Years before Conan had his talk show, when he was a writer on Saturday Night Live, head writer Jim Downey told him he is funny when he reacts, that the way he reacts to things is funny. Conan realized over the years that while he could prepare good jokes, bits, and shtick, what the audience really loved was seeing him react in the moment. For example, his uptight Catholic embarrassment when a guest embarrassed him would get the biggest laugh of the night.

Q: How does Conan connect reacting in the moment to his career?

Conan believes reacting in the moment is his core comedic strength and his main tool, which is why he always loved improvisation more than stand-up. Expanded further, he sees his whole career as reacting to things happening, both good and bad, and to events in the world. He credits this with getting him to the podcast and to Team Coco 10 years ago during the tonight show conflict, when reacting in the moment created new opportunities.

Q: What is Conan's philosophy for this stage of his career?

Conan's philosophy is to stay curious, keep moving, and keep finding something that makes you feel like you're 25 years old. He says the podcast has been exactly that for him, providing a lot of discovery, joy, and creative satisfaction. He attributes his good career turns and comedy ideas not to planning but to being willing to follow his curiosity and try new things, a quality he says has served him well.

Q: How does Conan relate the pandemic to reacting and creativity?

Conan frames the pandemic as a period where everyone is forced to react, including students, teachers, governments, moms, and dads facing a very difficult situation. He says his own work involves trying to react by being positive and optimistic, maintaining his silly tone, and letting his hair grow to a ridiculous length. He finds this relatable because everyone is doing the best they can, and believes reacting in this moment can be very creative and inspiring.

Q: What does Conan say about his team at Team Coco?

Conan credits building his company over the last decade to a great team, naming Adam Sacks, Jeff Ross, and Sona. He jokingly says Sona is not a good assistant, but admits the sordid truth is that she is very good and takes very good care of him, asking that this not get out as their secret. He describes Team Coco as something he built roughly out of himself in some ways over the last ten years.

Summary

Conan O'Brien discusses his podcast, his love for the medium, and the creative opportunities it provides. He also talks about his preference for podcasting over traditional talk shows and the importance of reacting in the moment. Additionally, he shares his thoughts on the pandemic and how everyone is forced to react and be creative during this challenging time. Conan also addresses the future of his career, his willingness to try new things, and his focus on creative satisfaction rather than financial gain. He mentions the various podcasts he has launched and his support for young comedians. Finally, he talks about the possibility of exclusive deals with streaming platforms and his desire to keep creating content that reflects his brand.

Questions & Answers

Q: When did Conan start taking podcasts seriously and realize that his comedy translated well to the audio format?

Conan explains that he initially had no expectations for his podcast and saw it as a surprise opportunity. However, he quickly realized how much he loved doing it and how well it suited his sense of humor. The podcast allows him to be more free and spontaneous, putting emphasis on the Conan that exists in the writer's room and reflecting his true nature.

Q: Does Conan prefer podcasting over his TV show?

While Conan acknowledges that there are aspects of podcasting that he enjoys more, he also appreciates certain things about hosting a talk show. He explains that the conversational flow in podcasts feels more natural, allowing for longer, in-depth discussions. Additionally, he likes the freedom from hair and makeup that podcasting provides. Ultimately, Conan's philosophy is to stay curious, keep moving, and find something that makes him feel young and excited about his work.

Q: Has the pandemic affected Conan's listenership or led to any synergistic benefits with his TV show?

Conan discusses how the pandemic has forced everyone to react and adapt. He mentions that people are seeking entertainment and he aims to be positive and optimistic during this time. While he doesn't explicitly mention changes in listenership or any specific benefits, he emphasizes the importance of staying creative and finding inspiration in the current situation.

Q: How does Conan prioritize his other podcasts and plan to roll them out?

Conan explains that he prioritizes quality over quantity when it comes to creating podcasts. He wants them to reflect his brand and his ideas about being a decent person. While there's no set goal for the number of podcasts, he aims to collaborate with good people, have a good time, and make people laugh. He also mentions that he's open to exploring visual content and expanding beyond podcasts.

Q: What are Conan's thoughts on exclusive deals with streaming platforms?

Conan states that he hasn't given much thought to exclusive deals with streaming platforms. He believes in staying creatively satisfied and working with people he respects. While a lucrative deal might be tempting, it ultimately depends on whether it aligns with his values and allows him to continue creating content that brings him joy. He expresses excitement about the numerous ways to be creative and make people laugh in the current media landscape.

Q: How does Conan support and promote young comedians?

Conan shares that he finds joy and inspiration in working with young people. He mentions the goal he had early in his career to help aspiring comedians and sees it as a giving and receiving relationship. He mentions specific comedians, such as Moses Storm, Beth Stelling, and James Beach, who he has collaborated with and helped produce their shows. Conan hopes to see them succeed and often takes pride in being associated with their success.

Takeaways

Conan O'Brien's podcast has been a surprise success and a source of joy for him. He prioritizes creative satisfaction and working with good people over financial gain. He appreciates the freedom and natural flow in podcasting compared to traditional talk shows. The pandemic has forced everyone to react and be creative, and Conan aims to maintain a positive and optimistic tone. He supports and promotes young comedians, finding inspiration and joy in their talent. While open to exploring new opportunities, he stays focused on creating content that reflects his brand and brings him happiness.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Conan O'Brien reveals his podcast's success was an accident. He had no expectations and thought doing radio-style audio made no sense while he was on television, but his curiosity led him to try it and it became a massive success almost immediately, which he genuinely loves.

• The podcast fits Conan like a glove because it shows the person from the writer's room, his true sense of humor with friends and family. He prefers the format's unhurried hour-long conversations over the forced six-to-seven-minute talk show turns, and appreciates skipping hair and makeup.

• Reacting in the moment is Conan's defining comedic tool, praised early by head writer Jim Downey. He applies this to his career and the pandemic, viewing everyone as forced to react and finding creativity and relatability in staying optimistic and silly during a difficult shared situation.