Conan O'Brien is back on the air with his new TBS talk show, "Conan." Conan's new program is just like his old one, an approach that guarantees laughs but keeps things from feeling fresh. Conan is a very funny, quick guy though, and his goofy and nicely timed deliveries will keep most viewers smiling for the entire hour.
Conan looks comfortable as host and keeps his persona intact while at ease in the big chair. He has been a talk show host for almost two decades now, and it shows in the effortlessness of his monologues and one−liners. He is a man who knows what is funny and is not afraid to deliver it. In his triumphant return, he has brought an excitement with him that seems barely containable at times, as if he has spent these past 10 months waiting for his chance to be back on television again.
Many of the jokes are targeted at the NBC debacle with Jay Leno over the fate of "The Tonight Show." The zingers are always clever and bring some nice laughs, though their predictability keeps them from being brilliant. Conan never seems vindictive in these jokes about NBC; most of the punch lines actually belittle Conan rather than NBC, which keeps the show feeling fun and enjoyable rather than spiteful and vengeful.
Most of Conan's crew is back on his new show including his sidekick Andy Richter. Richter balances well with Conan, and they have a chemistry together that can only come from the many hours they have spent together over the years. They know how to bounce bits off each other in such a playful way that they seem more like old buddies joking around than talk show personalities.
Most of Conan's old house band is back, setting the mood for the show and introducing guests. Max Weinberg, the old band's leader, is no longer with the show. To reflect this change the band now goes by the name of Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band.
Initially, because of all the hype about Conan's return to television, the show feels like a minor let down. Conan is not trying to reinvent television with his new show; he is simply trying to get people to laugh, and he accomplishes that. Once the hype wears off, the viewer can once again enjoy the quality humor that is employed in the show and its guest selection. Conan is creating the same quality program as he did on NBC, only on a different network.
Conan's talk show does a great job of mixing hot, in−demand guests with staple celebrities, which makes the show more widely accessible. Younger viewers will love "Glee" star Lea Michele's appearance, while Tom Hanks' interview probably pleased more of the older viewers. Conan knows how to elicit great stories from his guests and create a humorous back and forth, always in good spirits. It is a real testament to Conan's strength that he can still pull in A−list stars despite no longer being on one of the major networks.
Throughout his entire first week, Conan seems to only get better and more content in his new show, something that viewers will love. Conan easily compels his audience's attention at all times and knows how to move quickly through different timely subjects, whether it is BP's latest fumbles or Brett Favre's scandal. By always switching up the subject and jokes, his show never feels stagnant.
After the catastrophe that ensued because of Conan's gig hosting "The Tonight Show" and its fallout, it was unclear whether Conan would ever truly rebound and conquer television again. After watching his new show, it is certain that he has. Team Coco will be extremely grateful to know that Conan has created a new show that is up to the quality level of his previous talk show.
