Conan O’Brien Discusses The End Of His Talk Show

Comic Conan O’Brien ended his long-running late-night discuss present in 2021 after internet hosting it for 11 years. After all, he additionally beforehand led “The Tonight Present with Conan O’Brien” and “Late Night time.” In newer years, he’d tailored to a extra versatile way of life whereas nonetheless delivering his model of commentary. This features a podcast, a journey present, and returning as host of the 2026 Academy Awards. Now, he is opening up concerning the finish of his present and the place he believes the trade goes.

O’Brien launched his podcast, “Conan O’Brien Wants a Good friend,” in 2018 after feeling that the format of his then-running discuss present did not foster a way of friendship together with his friends. Now, in 2026, the podcast continues to be going sturdy, having gained a number of podcast awards, together with Finest Interview/Speak Present on the Folks’s Voice Awards in 2023, per IMDb.

In February 2026, O’Brien spoke to The New Yorker about how a lot his life had modified since ending his present. He stated, “I left my late-night present 4 years in the past. I’ve had a beautiful time. I feel I attain extra individuals now, both via the podcast or doing the journey present.”

O’Brien continued, “I’ve all this freedom to be me in several methods, in several codecs. There’s a variety of actually lovely alternatives, and I have been having a blast and attending to have forms of interviews I by no means may have had in that previous ‘You are up within the attic’ format.”

O’Brien continued the interview, discussing the place he thinks the talk-show area is headed and his upcoming gig as Oscars host. He stated, “I imply, this previous format goes away, however they’re being changed by a large number of different methods to attach with individuals and be humorous, and be satirical, and be probing, and let your expertise run wild—that in some methods are extra releasing.”

Relating to making ready to host The Oscars for the second time, O’Brien revealed, “I began writing some time in the past. Concepts are like R.A.F. pilots in 1940. It’s important to generate a variety of them. Quite a lot of them fall by the wayside, after which some endure. I can not faux enjoyment. I would like to seek out methods to guarantee that I am having a variety of enjoyable. I would like to organize—I imply, I am a giant preparation particular person. I work with this sensible staff of writers who’re simply downstairs from the place I am doing this podcast, and so they’re cranking away.”

As talked about, “Conan” got here to an finish on TBS in 2021 after 11 seasons. It was O’Brien’s resolution to finish the present. Nonetheless, within the years since he left the discuss present style, a lot has modified. Just lately, late-night host Stephen Colbert noticed his extremely rated present canceled, and it’s now set to finish in Could 2026. The kicker is, it is not simply Colbert’s present being canceled; it is the long-running “Late Present,” which is concluding after 29 years.

Relating to daytime TV, “Sherri,” hosted by Sherri Shepherd, was lately canceled after 4 seasons. “The Kelly Clarkson Present” can be ending; nonetheless, the choice was made by the host herself. For a lot of, O’Brien’s feedback come at a time when the way forward for discuss reveals, particularly late-night choices, could also be bleak.

O’Brien has achieved fairly a little bit of voiceover work all through his profession. This consists of “The LEGO Batman Film” and “The Mitchells vs The Machines.” Now, in response to The Hollywood Reporter, one among his newest initiatives finds him teaming up with Tim Allen for “Toy Story 5.”

In it, he’ll play the character Smarty Pants, described as a “potty coaching toy.” He stated in a video, “These movies are superb. I can not imagine this. It is the very best character of all of them.” The forged for “Toy Story 5” additionally consists of Tom Hanks, Anna Faris, Joan Cusack, Annie Potts, and Greta Lee.