Conan O’Brien shared how a pivotal job helped him through a challenging time after leaving “Saturday Night Live” in 1991. On his podcast “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend,” he described entering a “funk” after leaving the sketch show, despite loving his work and colleagues.
O’Brien transitioned to becoming a writer and producer for “The Simpsons,” thanks to Mike Reiss and Al Jean, who recognized his availability. This opportunity changed his life significantly, as he recalled submitting sketches from SNL and quickly landing a job on the iconic animated series.
Joining “The Simpsons” was intimidating for O’Brien, who had primarily written sketch comedy. However, he viewed it as a magical experience and expressed deep gratitude for the chance to work there.
O’Brien left the show in 1993 to enter the late-night talk show space, hosting “Late Night” from 1993 to 2009 and briefly helming “The Tonight Show” from 2009 to 2010. In a speech at the Television Academy Hall of Fame, he predicted that traditional late-night television formats may fade away, but the talents of hosts like Stephen Colbert will continue to evolve and thrive.
This article highlights O’Brien’s journey and the impact “The Simpsons” had on his career during a tumultuous period.
