Conan O’Brien Makes a Triumphant Comeback to ‘The Tonight Show’ After a Decade

Conan O’Brien Returns to ‘The Tonight Show’ for 1st Time Since Hosting the Late Night Series

Conan O’Brien and Jimmy Fallon during ‘The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon’ on April 9, 2024. Todd Owyoung/NBC

Conan O’Brien, the comedian aged 60, made a successful comeback to NBC late night. He appeared on the episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, April 9, marking his return more than a decade after hosting the show.

"It feels strange being back," O’Brien shared with Fallon, who is 49 years old. "I haven't been in this building for a long time, and it's been forever since I was on this floor."

Reflecting on his time in the building, he mentioned, "I spent 16 years here hosting the Late Night show before we moved to L.A. It's funny, being back here brought back so many memories from across the hall."

O'Brien hosted The Tonight Show for seven months from 2009 to 2010, until Jay Leno, the original host, returned. Leno, who was 73 at the time, continued on the show until 2014 when he was replaced by Fallon. Following his departure, O'Brien went on to host Conan on TBS from 2010 to 2021.

There has been speculation over the years about whether Leno unfairly took back the hosting role from O'Brien, although the comedian has denied these claims.

Conan O’Brien Returns to ‘The Tonight Show’ for 1st Time Since Hosting the Late Night Series

Conan O’Brien appears on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ on September 5, 2003 in Burbank, California. Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Leno mentioned during a 2022 appearance on Bill Maher's "Club Random" podcast that sometimes you try your best but things just don't work out. He clarified to Maher that he never intentionally tried to sabotage his successor.

On the other hand, O'Brien has consistently chosen to take the high road in the midst of the Leno drama. In a May 2017 episode of Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen, the Harvard alum was asked how he would react if he were to encounter Leno on a plane.

"I'm currently watching a movie with my headphones on," he said. "It's funny how we never really talk in situations like this. I realize that I'm so focused on the movie that I miss the opportunity to have a nice conversation with the person next to me."

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The host of Conan Must Go has shared that losing his job was tough. In a post-show interview with 60 Minutes in 2010, he mentioned that he went through a rough time after the NBC change.

He admitted, "I felt really down at times. It felt like a sudden, violent breakup of a marriage. I was just trying to understand what went wrong."

After leaving the show, O'Brien received a settlement of around $32 million from NBC. He then started planning a comedy tour that would take him across the country.

In an interview, O'Brien shared, "When we started organizing this tour, I started feeling a lot better right away. There's almost nothing that helps me move on from what I've experienced than performing every night on stage."

Editor's P/S:

Conan O'Brien's return to NBC's late-night lineup was a nostalgic affair, marked by both laughter and reflection. O'Brien's appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" showcased his enduring wit and charm, and provided a glimpse into the evolution of late-night television.

Despite the passage of time, the legacy of Conan O'Brien's previous tenure at NBC looms large. The circumstances surrounding his departure from "The Tonight Show" in 2010 remain a subject of speculation, with claims of unfair treatment resurfacing over the years. However, O'Brien has consistently maintained a positive outlook, choosing to focus on his own projects and downplay any lingering acrimony. His appearance on Fallon's show served as a reminder of the enduring impact he has had on the late-night landscape, and the unwavering affection he holds for the genre.