Image Credit: Meghan Sinclair/Team Coco; Mitch Haddad/ABC
New network, new start time, same old Conan. Or is it? The TV Insiders are here to break down the first week of Conan and tell you (and him) what is and isn’t working so far on O’Brien’s new TBS talk show. Michael Slezak and Annie Barrett join yours truly to hand out our grades for week number one. Listen on, and see if you agree. But that’s not all we’re debating this week: We also give our picks for the funniest Modern Family cast member. (How will Mike and Annie take it when they learn how clearly right I am and clearly wrong they are?) There are also plenty of reality shenanigans to be discussed and dissected. You will sit in stunned silence as someone on our panel admits to actually rooting for Survivor‘s most hateful contestant ever NaOnka. And we will sit in stunned silence as we try to figure out how Bristol Palin has made it all the way through to the Dancing With The Stars final four. Is she the worst final four contestant ever? We’ll let you know! You can download all the insanity straight to your mp3 player, or click on the video player below to enjoy all the podcast magic on your screen right here, right now. Plus, if you have a question for the TV Insiders, you can tweet it to @EWDaltonRoss. And now, herrrrrrrrrrrrrrre’s Conan!
Annie you’re my hero for giving Conan A+++.
Agreed. Err, well, I haven’t exactly listened to the show (and I’m not going to because I seriously can’t hear another Conan diss on EW) but, being a long time Conan fan, I, like most of his hardcore fan base, understand and love his self deprecating humor. I watched as he made fun of himself, NBC, and now TBS. People who are just tuning in aren’t used to this and stick out like a sore Jay Leno fan. Seriously, that type of humor is practically what he is known for! That is why I kinda hate how much TBS has promoted his show, because now there is a lot of pressure and new eyes on him. Eyes that don’t necessarily understand him. A lot of my friends don’t get it, but I will forever and always be TEAM COCO. /rant
These guys are idiots.
Big Conan fan. However, I’ve been disappointed with the new show. Too scripted. Conan is best we he cuts loose and riffs with a guest or with Andy. Thats what made his last shows on NBC so great – he didn’t follow the script anymore.
Annie, I just wanted to say thank you for being the first person at EW to realize that Conan has a self-depricating sense of humor instead of complaining about the TBS jokes and having no idea what Conan is about. Also, picking the funniest Modern Family character has been one of the easiest choices I’ve ever made……Phil.
Agreed. Ken Tucker blows.
aamen a lot of writers on ew are giving conan a lot of flack. He’s the same ol’ Conan we love on a different channel. All hosts have self depreciating humor and Conan excels at it. He is awesome!
Conan has a lot to deprecate himself about. He’s dull as dishwater.
The awesome thing about Modern family is that there are so many characters to love – Cameron all the way! But at the same time I can’t disagree with your choices. Oh and thanks Dalton I’m looking forward to season 22 now of survivor cos this ones bumming me out a little
I’ve been watching all week and have been loving it. It’s classic Conan, if anything it feels more like late night. I’ve been confused what the criticism is. He’s always been a critical darling. His self-deprecating humor has always been there.
Exactly. I think Conan on “Late Night” was his absolute best, and this new show has a “Late Night” feel and I absolutely love it! I really hate to hear all the criticisms (especially here) about his humor, mainly his frequent TBS jokes. I mean, there was a article on EW.com the day after his second show aired that said “enough with the TBS jokes” after what, two shows?! Seriously? What is he supposed to just ignore it? How does someone not understand that that kind of humor is pure awesome Conan?
Word. Go bash something truly tired and overrated.
Phil, Hayley, and Alex are the only MF characters I can tolerate anymore. Gloria, Cameron, and Mitchell are giant walking stereotypes who occasionally say funny things, Manny has been grating since day one (the whole faux adult thing isn’t and will never be funny), and Claire and Jay are meh at best.
AW COME ON!!! I love Hayley and Alex too, but to me Gloria is the funniest bar none.
“first u KYILLE it, then you chop off its head. I go to church now.”
I’m agreeing with you for the most part, especially your comment about Gloria, Cameron & Mitchell.
But I have to say even Phil’s dumbness has started to get on my nerves. I don’t mind Jay, though.
And Manny is my least favorite of the children this year. Maybe i’m just disappointed overall with this season, except for the unplugged episode which felt like first season MF to me. But the whole Gloria can’t pronounce words correctly is funny once or twice, but EVERY episode? Now, Hayley rocks and I hope to see more Dylan this year.
Anyone see Julie Bowen on Conan last night? To quote Robert Smith of the Cure, “Hot Hot Hot!”
Michael Slezak: “You know he’s going to be on the message board later, posting as Jane or something, telling us how awful we are.”
Annie Barrett: “Yeah, he has nothing to do.”
LMAO I love you guys!
Conan himself has been a ton of fun.
The only problem with the new show is that it feels too rigid and restrained – yet super fast paced. Conan always worked best when he was loose and pushing things.
Of course, the show just started and I’m sure he’s still adjusting to the super speedy nature of the new show.
Conan….will be sick of him by the end of the week. Just like when he was on NBC, he gets straight up annoying..
gotta agree with you on that. He tries SOOOO hard to look chill, but his nervousness always shows. Very weird and distracting. He’s funny but underlying stress comes through and ruins it.
It’s his thing. You just don’t get it. His tall, lanky, awkward redhead trying to pretend to be cool when he’s not – that’s his schtick. And I love him for it.
If it’s schtick he hasn’t perfected it. When he first started in 1993 he was so nervous and awkward on stage it really was hard to watch. He was funny, though, so it was OK. Seventeen years later, he should be beyond trying to be cool, and just concentrate on the funny, which for me has become stale.
Maybe a dumb question, but when I click on the download link, it just pops up with a streaming podcast. How do I actually get a file to put on my mp3 so I can listen to this in the car?!?
Control + Right Click – Download Linked File
I love your analysis, you guys are great! I don’t even watch Survivor and now I’m looking forward to season 22. Dalton, will you please sing for us next show? Y/Y
When do you record the show though? Like what day of the week?
Conan seems to be trying a little too hard, himself personally. The show is OK. Sounds like you people are a little bias, politically? I think Emmett Smith totally sucked on Dancing with the Stars, and I think he won the show? Naonka is a douche bag, and should have been gone the second show! I think this podcast is worse than any of the shows you talk about!
He still sucks!!!!!!! Not like the time off (WELL, paid time off), honed his skills. I wouldn’t have paid him anything for screwing up NBC. He better be forking up money to TBS (suprised they were even still on), to pay for this new failure of his…….He SUCKS!!!!
Is somebody just bummed that Conesy hasn’t busted out the Walker Texas Ranger lever yet? Coco 4 Eva!
and the Conando skit. I love that
He can’t fail on TBS though, that’s the beauty. If he gets a quarter of the audience he got on NBC he’ll be a huge success on TBS.
These people need to get out of the house.
Look in the mirror. You’re posting on an entertainment website.
JT, ya burnt!
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Ugh. I am unliking EW on my Facebook. Get a new topic already. Nobody cares what you think of Conan anyway. Seems like every other thread is about him. Going to get my entertainment news elsewhere thanks.
THANK YOU. Enough Conan already!
I don’t even care if they’re pro or anti Conan just stop evaluating every damn show. I assume they’re done after this week though, right?
well it’s either this or glee apparently. at least until the harry potter movie comes out. this is what ew does. it beats anything remotely entertaining into the ground.