Conan O’Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom Hanks

Conan O'Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom Hanks

As a seasoned critic with decades of television-viewing under my belt, I can confidently say that Conan O’Brien‘s career is as intriguing as his late-night monologues. His recent revelation about regretting his intensity during his stint at Saturday Night Live (SNL) resonates deeply with me, being someone who has spent countless hours watching the iconic sketch comedy show.


In the realm of comedy, Conan O’Brien is renowned for his high energy level. It might not shock you to discover that one of his admirable traits has occasionally led to some career regrets, particularly the four years he spent crafting content for Saturday Night Live. On a recent episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, his podcast, O’Brien, in conversation with frequent SNL host Tom Hanks, spoke candidly about these professional misgivings. In the frenetic environment of live Saturday night television, work has always been challenging, but the long-serving SNL writer reminisced about primarily laboring in the background from 1988 to 1991 and the pressure he faced during those times while producing the show.

As the ex-presenter of his own late-night talk show, Conan, the comedian has enjoyed a varied television career filled with intense moments. Some might assume that O’Brien would fret over the risks he took with jokes to uphold his comedic principles, but he couldn’t be further from this thought. In fact, O’Brien appreciates Norm MacDonald for testing the limits of the show with frequent O.J. Simpson jokes, indicating that it’s not the edgy content that gives him pause. Instead, what saddens O’Brien is his own intensity throughout his career.

Looking back, I was overly zealous about that job, and now I realize I missed out on some enjoyable moments. Don’t get me wrong, there were good times, but I believe I could have savored even more joy. Reflecting upon it now, I wish I hadn’t made the work so taxing for myself, which might have allowed me to stay a bit longer and contribute more.” – A devoted fan expressing remorse about being too focused on their job at times.

Given his extensive experience as a 10-time host on Saturday Night Live, Hanks clearly understood what O’Brien was implying. Reflecting on his past hosting stints, the Forrest Gump actor reminisced about how, after some time, it became overly demanding for him.

Previously, when I was assigned this task, I made sure to inform my supervisors, particularly those responsible for wardrobe and stage management, about my intentions. I explained, “I want you all to comprehend that my objective during this week’s hosting duties is to minimize the number of steps I take… You see, it’s a role that typically requires youthful energy, and there was a period when it was all guns blazing, with every second packed with activity. But no, no, no. Let’s keep things relaxed, Tom.” – Tom Hanks [on Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast]

SNL Is a Famous Industry Pipeline for a Reason

Conan O'Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom HanksConan O'Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom HanksConan O'Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom HanksConan O'Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom HanksConan O'Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom HanksConan O'Brien Shares His SNL Regrets With Tom Hanks

Similar to numerous writers and performers on Saturday Night Live (SNL), O’Brien departed due to the exhaustion he experienced from maintaining pace with the show’s swift tempo. Upon his departure from SNL, he was warmly received into the prestigious writing team of the popular animated series The Simpsons in 1991. Yet, it didn’t take long for SNL producer Lorne Michaels to lure O’Brien back with an attractive proposition: hosting a late-night talk show following David Letterman, which turned out to be a hit until its finale in 2009.

It’s not unusual for Saturday Night Live (SNL) employees to follow this path. For instance, Tina Fey, Bob Odenkirk, Bill Hader, and Pete Davidson are just a few who have furthered their careers after leaving SNL, moving into productions like Better Call Saul and Barry. Weekend Update’s Michael Che is also considering the transition to late-night television, working on a new show called Don’t Sleep with Michael Che.

On Saturdays, you can tune in to watch Saturday Night Live starting at 11:30 PM Eastern Time or 8:30 PM Pacific Time, both on NBC and the streaming platform Peacock.

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2024-11-05 23:31