Season 1 - 4 episodes
Watch the trailer
Created by: Conan O'Brien
Starring: Conan O'Brien
Rated: TV-MA
Plot
Conan O'Brien visits new friends he made through his podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, engaging in discussions with viewers from all around the globe.
Verdict
It's fun and funny as Conan riffs through each episode. He's ridiculous, often making others uncomfortable, but I wish this was deeper. It feels like filler as there isn't an overarching story and we don't learn anything about Conan. I just want more from a series. It's a prolonged comedy performance. If you want entertainment, this is great. If you want a story or some kind of meaning, this can't deliver that, and that was never intended.
It depends.
Review
If you like Conan's style of humor, you'll enjoy this as each episode is Conan chewing the scenery. It's entertaining if you want something light. It's not a genre I watch often, as I prefer an intricate narrative. I watch very little reality television. It's on location comedy around the world as Conan comically examines small details of other cultures. Conan visits Norway, Thailand, Argentina, and Ireland, meeting different people featured on his podcast. His guests are often left speechless during Conan's antics.
This isn't a deep narrative, and it reminds me a lot of Smartless, another MAX series inspired by a podcast. What I liked about Smartless was that we saw the in-between, getting a sense of who the actors were outside of their performances. I wish Conan's show had that depth, some kind of insight into him or how he prepares for his performances and this show.
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| Conan O'Brien |
If you're wondering who delivers the opening voice over, as I guessed, it is Werner Herzog. That joke completely fits with the documentaries Herzog has done and the contrast with this show.
Conan knows how to work the camera, able to play off his guests answers or silence. The guests are often awkwardly quiet during Conan's performance or doubled over with laughter. They all feign surprise when he shows up on their doorstep. A lot of Conan's humor is self-deprecating and this is no exception. The fourth episode is the funniest as Conan travels to Ireland to connect with his heritage. He attempts to learn the language, fulfill his dream of having a surgery from a guest, and visit where his family used to live.
This is an enjoyable show, but it's not the genre I typically watch. This is more something I'd watch in the background or I'd watch excerpts on Youtube. It's not a criticism of the show, it's just not a genre I prefer to watch.
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