Team Conan, FTW!
Like many others, I too have joined Team Conan these past few days. I am someone who has always enjoyed the humor of O’Brien ever since I discovered him back around 2001. Since that June, I have adored Conan and all of his silly antics. I was thrilled in 2004 when it was announced that he was going to take over the Tonight Show from Jay Leno. I’d never really liked Leno. I’d watch him at times when he had a guest on that I was interested in seeing but other than that, Leno was nothing more to me than a speed bump when waiting for my favorite late night host to come on. I was a gawky teenager at best and I gravitated towards Conan’s humor. He was a nerd and so was I. He was crude and vulgar at times and so was I. It was a match made in heaven. He said the things that I wanted to say but couldn’t quite get away with. On top of it all, he wasn’t all that bad to look at either.
Yes, I will be the first to admit that I had a crush on Conan. Still do, in fact. I have always found nerds highly attractive. Funny nerds even more so. And apparently, he fits into my type: tall and with blue eyes. So when I discovered tall, blue-eyed, funny, sexy O’Brien, I fell head over heels. I loved his skits, Masturbating Bear, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the Chuck Norris Lever. All of it. He could do little wrong in my teenage eyes.
When Conan took over the Tonight Show, at first, I was a bit disappointed. To me, I wanted his old crazed antics. However, I watched the show more and more, I grew to love it. Did I watch it every day? No, between term papers and cramming for exams, I missed his show occasionally. There just weren’t enough hours in the day, unfortunately. I still tuned in as much as I could to get my dose of sexy red-head.
When the rumors started spreading about Jay moving back to 11:35pm ET/ 10:35pm CT last Thursday, I was furious. I had already railed against the Jay Leno show as being completely unfair to Conan and now the idiots in charge of NBC were handing the Tonight Show back to the large-chinned buffoon. Immediately, I jumped on my Twitter and Facebook accounts to proclaim my love for Coco. I had seen the power of social media and the internet in cases like getting NBC’s My Name Is Chuck back for a third season, getting a wrap-up mini-series for the sci-fi show Farscape, and getting Michael Shanks to come back to Stargate SG-1. I was hoping that with sites like Twitter and Facebook, I and other fans of Conan could rally, maybe even sway the executives into keeping Conan. I’m still hoping that’s possible. I will refuse to watch any other host of the Tonight Show at 11:35pm. Conan O’Brien is the rightful host in my eyes.
Yes, I get it. Leno appeals to an older crowd that has grown used to his bland, often times mean-spirited humor. Conan is the future. He appeals to the younger, 18-49 demographic. He’s edgier and steps over the “line” (whatever that means) at times. But that’s why we love him. I will never forget Conan jumping onto his desk after being flipped off by William Shatner. I laughed my ass off for days about that. I showed it to all my friends and they loved it. Conan just needs time for people to adjust to him like they did with Leno after Johnny Carson left. It’s only been seven months. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Nor seven months. I believe that if Conan is allowed to stay on at 11:35pm ET/10:35pm CT that he will flourish and eventually take over the ratings, just as Leno did all those years ago.
I support Conan’s decision to walk away if NBC forces him to do something that he believes will compromise the integrity of his show. I will follow him to another network if that’s what he chooses to walk away. If he decides to quit television, I will bid him a fond farewell and cherish the many laughs that he has given to me. Through this whole debacle, kerfuffle, shake-up, whatever you want to call it, Conan has been classy. Here’s hoping that NBC and Leno have been taking lessons. Don’t hold your breath though. Something tells me this isn’t over yet.
Viva Conando! Team Conan!
I'm With Coco!
