Conan O’Brien made a notable return to NBC’s late-night scene, appearing on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” on April 9, over a decade after his brief tenure as the show’s host ended.
At 60 years old, O’Brien’s visit marked a significant moment, especially given his 16-year history with NBC, hosting the “Late Night” show before his controversial shift to “The Tonight Show.”
Reflecting on his return, O’Brien shared with Fallon his mixed feelings about being back in a building brimming with memories, especially considering his dramatic exit from “The Tonight Show” in 2010, which saw Jay Leno reclaiming his former position.
Leno held the position until 2014, making way for Fallon. Post-NBC, O’Brien hosted “Conan” on TBS from 2010 until 2021, maintaining a dignified stance amidst speculation around the circumstances of his departure from “The Tonight Show.”
Jay Leno has addressed rumors of tension, emphasizing in a 2022 interview on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast that there was no deliberate sabotage involved in the transition.
O’Brien, for his part, has chosen to focus less on past dramas, even making light of potential awkward encounters with Leno, such as hypothetically sitting next to him on a plane and choosing to ignore his presence.
This period was marked by a deep personal struggle, as revealed in a 2010 interview with “60 Minutes.” However, the subsequent $32 million settlement from NBC and the launch of a nationwide comedy tour helped him recover, transforming his ordeal into a source of renewed creative energy.
