Conan O'Brien returns from exile

[Nebulous]

http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/conan-o-brien-returns-from-exile-monday-1.2437381

Away from television since his disastrous seven-month stint as host of the “Tonight Show,” the ginger-headed comedian is back with a new show on TBS, simply titled “Conan,” at 11 p.m. Monday.



While Jay Leno reclaimed his seat on the show, O’Brian signed a five-year deal with TBS in May. Banished from television until this fall as part of his settlement with NBC, O’Brien has joked that he’s keeping expectations low this time around.



“I’m going for eight months on the air. All I want to do is break my 'Tonight Show' record,” the 47-year-old said in a recent Playboy interview. I'm a guy who wants to say I did more push-ups today than I did the day before, and the good news is, I did only one push-up yesterday.



O’Brien’s reps and TBS didn’t to return requests for comment by press time regarding what’s in store for “Conan.” Here’s what viewers might expect:



• Racier content for a younger audience: He is on basic cable, and he is going to be a little more free to do the kinds of things he is good at doing,” said Robert S. Thompson, pop culture professor at Syracuse University. This includes “everything from the Masturbating Bear and Triumph (the Insult Comic) Dog and all that goofy stuff,” he added.



• CoCo beyond TV: Viewers can see more of O’Brien on Twitter and teamcoco.com, which ran a 24-hour Team Coco webcam and features video clips of The Conan Blimp.



• The return of his longtime chum, Andy Richter: “Andy will be part of it, for brute strength alone,” O’Brien told Playboy. He could take Charlie Sheen in hand-to-hand combat. It wouldn’t even be close.”



• New Set. His new studio is smaller and more personal and abandons “The Tonight Show’s” blue hue for sunnier colors.



• A traditional format. The show will still include a desk, opening monologue, and musical and celebrity guests.

 

[agentmanningctu]

I heard it was dry and disappointing. I'm not surprised. He's funny, but this isn't his kind of show.