One of the funniest human beings to ever grace the surface of the Earth, late-night talk show hostConan O’Brienachieved fame with his three talk shows. The first wasLate Night with Conan O’Brien(1993-2009) and thenThe Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien(2009-2010), both on NBC. But it was with TBS’Conanthat he peaked, bringing back Andy Richter after a few years apart and peppering in memorable segments likeClueless Gamerand his bits with associate producer Jordan Schlansky.
But it’s not just the talk-show world that O’Brien has found himself a member of. Every now and then (more often now thatConan’s wrapped up), he’ll pop up in a movie or TV series. Usually it’s as himself, e.g. his hilarious cameos in30 Rock. But, albeit rarely, there have been times where O’Brien has actually played a character. Let’s just hope it happens more often from here on out, even if he is busy with the terrific podcastConan O’Brien Needs a Friendand the forthcoming Max seriesConan O’Brien Must Go, which looks to expand the traveling remotes he first did on the TBS series.
10The Single Guy (1996)
Fronted byWeekend at Bernie’s Jonathan Silverman,The Single Guywas a well-cast (Ernest Borgnine, Ming-Na Wen) but short-lived sitcom. Running from just 1995 to 1997, the two-season series wasn’t exactly a hit for NBC.
Even still,The Single Guyis notable for two reasons. One, Ross Geller fromFriendsmakes a crossover cameo appearance. Two, it had Conan O’Brien play his first role: As a literary rival to the central character.
9Andy Richter Controls the Universe (2003)
What? Andy Richter got a sitcom and Conesiewasn’tgoing to put in an appearance?Andy Richter Controls the Universewas the title comedian’s big project after leavingLate Night with Conan O’Brienback in 2000 (thank goodness they reteamed for TBS’Conan, which ended up being the apex of O’Brien’s work thus far anyway, even ifConan O’Brien Needs a Friendis gradually giving it a run for its money).
The show didn’t even last 20 episodes but it’s more than a little worthy of being a cult favorite. And, to an extent, it is a cult favorite. The plot follows Andy Richter, a fictional writer based in Chicago with a proclivity for short form narrative and awkward jokes. In other words, he’s a slightly altered take on the comedian himself. And, as Mr. Bossman (not the character’s real name), Conan steps in for a very brief appearance in one of the few episodes' opening scenes. But, in that time, he gets to play up the awkward creep vibe and manages to utter “Maybe you stole your beauty from a rainbow” whilst accusing her of theft. No matter what he’s saying or doing, disliking Conan O’Brien is comparable to disliking oxygen, water, candy, or the concept of world peace.
8Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episodes I & II (2007 & 2008)
While O’Brien has put in appearances in two episodes of the coreRobot Chickenseries, his best work is in the twoStar Warsspecials. Like in the show, he again plays the boss of Ponda Baba (the one inA New Hopewho doesn’t like Luke, which is a fact his friend relaystoLuke). But, this time (inRobot Chicken: Star Wars Episode I), Baba has to go back to work with a severed arm…which then gets him on the unemployment line thanks to O’Brien’s jerky boss character.
The firstStar Warsspecial also has an outright parody ofLate Night with Conan O’Brienand, naturally, O’Brien makes an appearance. But, instead of his lovable red-headed self, he’s playing Zuckuss, who fans might know as a bounty hunter shown briefly inThe Empire Strikes Back.
7The Backyardigans (2009)
O’Brien was featured in a Holiday episode of Nickelodeon’sThe Backyardiganstitled “The Action Elves Save Christmas Eve.” And, while O’Brien may seem like an odd choice to play Santa Claus, that’s only because heisan odd choice to play Santa Claus…which make the casting just sublime.
Like much of O’Brien’s other vocal work, his participation withThe Backyardiganswas just an excuse to star in something noteworthy that his kids could watch. The former talk show host doesn’t pick projects lightly, but when he does pick one he shows up for just a bit, makes a big impression, then gets his massive head of red hair out of there. And, just asThe Backyardiganscould be viewed by O’Brien’s kiddos, there are plenty of the younger set out there who got a taste of his style, even if they’d get a better sense waiting a few years until they’re interested inConan O’Brien Needs a Friend. But, all good things in due time.
6Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (2013)
Batman: The Dark Knight Returnsis a two-part animated adaptation of Frank Miller’s most revered work with the character. Speaking of the titular character, he’s portrayed by none other thanRoboCop’s Peter Weller.
But Weller isn’t the only star in the DC Universe Animated Original Movie, as Conan shows up in the second part. He plays David Endochrine, a character created by Miller for his classic 1986 source material (spelled as Endocrine there). In the source material, the talk show host character is based on the appearance and personality of David Letterman. And, considering Letterman pretty much wanted to be left alone back in 2013, it’s logical that Conan was brought in. After all, Letterman, unlike Leno, has proved to be a source of inspiration not just to Conan, but any number of legitimately great talk show hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers.
5The Penguins of Madagascar (2015)
Back in 2015, O’Brien put in an appearance inThe Penguins of Madagascar, a spin-off of theMadagascarfilm franchise (and a wise spin-off, considering the penguins were always more interesting and likable than the films' central quartet). Titled “Operation: Lunacorn Apocalypse,” O’Brien stars as Kuchikukan.
What is Kuchikukan? He’s an elusive, shape-shifting baddie who comes to inhabit a unicorn doll. Yet, even while taking on the form of a sweet-natured, fictional fairy tail animal, Kuchikukan doesn’t drop his mean streak. Of course, considering it’s a kids' show and the character is voiced by O’Brien (as a unicorn), the villain isn’t butsointimidating.
4The Lego Batman Movie (2017)
The Lego Batman Movieis chock-full of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it cameos. One that pops in a few times, however, is one of Batman’s greatest adversaries: The Riddler.
However, it’s not Jim Carrey or Paul Dano toying with the film’s titular character, but rather Conan O’Brien, who supplies an even more exaggerated version of his already hysterical laugh. That said, it’s not the Riddler who is Bats' main villain in the movie, but ratherZach Galifianakis' Joker. Even still, it makes sense that O’Brien put in an appearance inThe Lego Batman Movie, considering he’s real-life pals with its Batman: Will Arnett. Not to mention, O’Brien wasn’t unfamiliar withing being part of an animated Batman project.
3Final Space (2018-2021)
Conan is actually the one who made the three-season seriesFinal Spacehappen. He facilitated the showrunner’s pitch to TBS, his Conaco executive produced the pilot and then did the same for the picked-up series itself.
O’Brien plays Clarence Polkawitz, a mean-spirited little alien who at first owns what amounts to a space pawn shop. His greed is apparent there, in his single episode appearance in Season 1, but it becomes even more so over time. The second season shows him become somewhat of a protagonist before, as his peers expect, he messes them over. But, Season 3 finds Clarence seeking redemption with the so-called Team Squad, and he does succeed, even if he also pays with his life to do so.
2The Mitchells vs the Machines (2021)
Sony Pictures Animation’sThe Mitchells vs. the Machinesmakes for a perfect companion piece to the comparably silly and well-animatedCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Both films are action-packed, have nothing that is inappropriate for kids, and feature a host of legendary comedic talent.
In the case ofThe Mitchells vs. the Machines, there’sBroad City’s Abbi Jacobson, Maya Rudolph, Eric André, Fred Armisen, Beck Bennett, and Danny McBride. O’Brien even shows up for a cameo as Glaxxon 5000, who more or less serves as the spokesbot for Foolish Human Air. It’s a bit role, sure, but no one is better at nailing the almost condescending tone of an infomercial than O’Brien.
1Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (2022)
Weird: The Al Yankovic Storyis a respectful, entertaining biopic about the musical satirist. And, given it’s about a satirist, it makes sense that O’Brien would put in an appearance.
However, what doesn’t make sense (on the surface level) is O’Brien playing legendary artist Andy Warhol. But he does, and the look alone is enough to bring laughter-induced tears to the eye. But even when Conan’s nowhere to be found, the movie is both funny and insightful, withsmart references to the singer’s catalogand any number of other cameos.
