Conan O'Brien came to New York sixteen years ago as an unknown underdog that left most people scratching their heads trying to figure out just why this awkward Simpsons writer was chosen to replace the legendary David Letterman. He said goodbye to the city last night just as awkward, but now almost universally loved and respected as a comedian who was able to take what at times is a very "out there" sensibility and make it succeed with mainstream audiences.
Conan certainly did not forget Letterman while saying his final goodbyes last night, gushing over the man who left big shoes to fill and now will be his ratings rival when O'Brien takes over The Tonight Show on June 1st. The end of last night's show saw Conan get choked up as he thanked so many of the people who made Late Night thrive for so long. His deepest gratitude may have gone to Lorne Michaels, who he credited with taking "one of the greatest, most ridiculous chances in the history of this medium."
Conan's final Late Night was a relatively low-key affair. Like most of his shows over the last couple of weeks, it was heavy on clip montages—featuring everything from Conan's famous freak out where he smashed a chair following a surprise kiss from Rebecca Romijin to the time he "pranked" sidekick Andy Richter into thinking that the live set of Today was actually NBC's nude Turkish spa.
The finale was by no means a perfect affair. The White Stripes out of tune goodbye ballad wasn't exactly Bette Midler serenading Johnny Carson. And while die hards may have been left wondering where Triumph and his handler Robert Smigel were, it was a welcome sight to see Andy back in his old chair bantering with his longtime partner in crime.
In his goodbyes, O'Brien said, "The warmth and the kindness of New York is something I will never forget." Well, whether it was picking us up in a van during the transit strike or doing your monologue in the dark during the blackout, you had a way to bring out the best in us, Conan. Comedy in this city isn't going to be the same without you.
In case you missed his final show, after the jump is Will Ferrell doing a presidential strip tease to send O'Brien off, Richter's bare bones encounter with Matt Lauer and Conan leaving New York with a parting gift—the freedom of Abe Vigoda.
