Editor’s Note: This article was original published in 2021. It is being re-published today in light of Conan’s 61st birthday (!) and the premiere of his new Max series, Conan O’Brien Must Go.
Over 30 years, Conan O’Brien has entertained us with multiple late-night shows, bringing the laughs through stand-up, elaborate pre-taped segments, and absurd sketch comedy — not to mention his ability to highlight and elevate the talents of Jordan Schlansky, who might just be the most famous associate producer in television.
Here are our 15 favorite Conan bits from over the years, in no particular order.
The Slipnutz Open for Slipknot
Late Night With Conan O’Brien, 03/09/05
Some of the funniest bits on Conan’s late-night programs were based on very simple (and sometimes endearingly stupid) ideas. When Slipknot performed on the show, Conan introduced The Slipnutz, a goofy comedy troupe whose entire act consisted of them singing a silly song and slipping on nuts. But as Conan tends to do, he took it one step further by having The Slipnutz open for Slipknot at an actual concert. The reaction from the sea of metalhead fans is priceless. — Spencer Kaufman
Conan Forces Jordan Schlansky To Clean His Filthy Office
Conan, 01/10/14
Admit it: we all let our workspaces get a little unkempt sometimes. But your office probably isn’t as messy as Conan producer Jordan Schlansky, whose boss described him as a “borderline hoarder” during a 2014 episode. As any gentleman would do, Conan brought in a professional organizer to back him up when confronting Jordan’s sloven habits. After a well-intended roast, the trio got to work for a very satisfying speed cleaning of Jordan’s office. Don’t worry — Jordan’s precious jar of sauerkraut got to stay. — Abby Jones
Conan Catches Jordan Schlansky Coming In Late
Conan, 08/06/13
In what’s probably the best introduction to the Jordan Schlansky Cinematic Universe, Conan gets to the bottom of why his associate producer is forever late on Fridays. While waiting on Jordan, Conan goes through his cluttered office, making fun of everything from the mini pepper grinder on his desk to a box of unopened Star Wars toys. The longer Jordan takes, the more quips Conan has, and they don’t stop once the associate producer finally arrives and shows off even more of his idiosyncrasies. Jordan still works for Conan, so despite his attitude in the clip, they seem to be on good terms to this day. — Annie Black
