History Series / Conan

* LongTitle: The title for the 7/11/13 episode was "The Episode Where We Worked So Hard on the Show We Didn't Have Time to Come Up with a Great Episode Title, So Let's Just Call This One 'Steve'".

* ADateWithRosiePalms: Well, the Masturbating Bear has shown up...
** In a sketch about the New York City Marathon being cancelled, Eddie (a recurring character who's a loud New Yorker) said one of the exercises he regularly performed was "furious, heroic bouts of masturbation". ("Cause that's what serious athletes do!")
** In the "Clueless Gamer" about ''VideoGame/CallOfDutyAdvancedWarfare'', during the part in the game where Conan's character got a robotic hand replacement:
--> '''Conan''': If I had a robot left hand, let's just say I never would've left my dorm room in college. (to camera) A-shaba-daba-ding.
** A similar joke was said when he and Creator/ElijahWood played ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyXV'' when referencing fighting a giant worm boss: "Last time I beat on a worm for 72 hours, I was in college!"
** During a monologue, Conan did the "churn the butter" motion, but the audience reacted like he was miming masturbating. Conan noted how [[BiggerIsBetterInBed freakishly long his penis would be]] for that to make any sense. Andy only made it worse by doing the "churning the butter" motion on his side, making it look like he was giving a handjob.
** The "Clueless Gamer" for ''VideoGame/TheWitcher3WildHunt'' ends with this, after Conan is ''repeatedly'' DistractedByTheSexy.
-->'''Conan''': [[HeadTiltinglyKinky Having sex on a stuffed unicorn!]] Bley, get out of here. Get out. ''Get out''! ''(Fade to StockVisualMetaphors before returning [[DidYouJustHaveSex with Conan's hair disheveled]])'' Uh... ''The Witcher: Wild Hunt'' comes out May 19th. And, um... [[https://youtu.be/SfjLRuE1CLw?t=8m11s it's the best thing that ever happened to me in my whole life.]]
** In the "Jordan Schlansky's Product Review" about a replica Darth Vader helmet, Conan asked Jordan if the helmet gives him pleasure. Jordan replied yes, and clarified "visceral pleasure", not "sexual pleasure". Conan pressed further: "Do you think it's possible, and be honest, that when looking at this, you would ever pleasure yourself?"
--> '''Jordan''': Let me tell you, there is an implication of judgment here.\\
'''Conan''': No there isn't. (...) You're finding a judgmental tone to what I'm saying, which I did not intend. My question was very simple: when you're looking at this Halloween mask, [[DistinctionWithoutADifference you gonna jerk off]]? ''(laughs)''
** When Triumph protested his omission at the Golden Collar Awards, he started a series of chants, one of which was:
--> '''Triumph:''' I will not forget your snub.\\
'''Man:''' I will not forget your snub.\\
'''Triumph:''' On my penis, I will rub.\\
'''Man:''' On my penis, I will rub.\\
'''Triumph:''' ''(to man)'' ...It sounds a little (fucked) up coming from you.
** A line from Ted Turner:
--> '''Ted Turner''': Conan, if you can watch ''Series/DuckDynasty'' without masturbating, I'd like to see it.
** Molly Shannon had a bit about how she would go to confession week after week and admit to masturbating each time:
--> '''Conan''': Didn't he, at a certain point, just say, like, "Okay, go ahead, whatever you want to do. ''(in Irish accent)'' Ahhh, go ahead with your masturbating!"\\
'''Andy''': Go to town.

** The July 2020 episodes to present, as they were shot at the Largo At The Coronet Theater instead of a traditional studio set, again due to the pandemic.

* AcceptableEthnicTargets:
** Invoked during a 2018 interview with Pete Holmes. He mentioned that, despite our cultural sensitivity towards ethnicity and race nowadays, it's still acceptable to make fun of Italians:
---> '''Pete''': You wanna go get... '''A PIZZA PIE?!''' This is not a scandal.\\
'''Conan''': It is true.\\
'''Pete''': No one will tweet about this. No one cares. "EYYYY, LINGUINI WITH THE CRABS!"
** Conan added that the Irish are also still acceptable to mock:
---> '''Conan''': I've been around the most sensitive people in the world, and they're trying to say sensitive things about all different cultures, and then whenever, if my ethnicity comes up, they're like, "You're all drunks!" And even Irish people are like, "It's true!" ''(proceeds to do a leprechaun impression)''

* NamesTheSame: Invoked: Conan was [[InUniverse NOT happy]] that an upcoming Pixar movie is named ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'', claiming that's been his nickname since 2009 and that Disney/Pixar should've gotten permission first.

* IHaveThisFriend: A sketch from 2013 about the post office delivering certain packages on Saturday had an allusion to this, with a guy from the audience (Eddie Pepitone) asking unusually specific scenarios:
--> '''Audience member''': What if you're a stalker who sends a creepy post card to Glenn Close every day? A post card with a photo of your back, with the name "Glenn Close" shaved into it? Will they still deliver that on a Saturday?\\

'''Audience member''': All right, what if you're a stalker who sends a creepy letter to Julianna Margolis every day, a letter wherein I describe what I would do to her if we ever found ourselves in a snow-bound cabin with nothing but a futon, three crates of whip cream, and a jar of Nutella. Will they still deliver that?\\

'''Audience member''': All right, what if you're a stalker who sends a catalog to Annette Benning every day, an Abercrombie & Fitch catalog where I paste my head on top of all the studly young bodies with the rock-hard abs and functioning genitalia.\\

** Whenever Conan mentions ''Franchise/StarWars'', ''Franchise/HarryPotter'', or any stereotypically geeky film, he'll do a {{nerd}} impression, then immediately apologize, due to fanbase overlap.

* BlackAndNerdy: Graphic Designer Pierre Bernard.

* {{Corpsing}}:
** When Will Ferrell came on the show (in character as Ron Burgundy), he began to insult how Conan looked ("Just go under the knife", "Point at your face and say, "Doc, it's a page one rewrite.""). Even though Conan was probably supposed to have an upset expression on his face, he couldn't help but smile (and laugh) at Ferrell's delivery.
** In one sketch, "La Bamba Legal", La Bamba (playing a lawyer) fumbled his way through a monologue, cracking up many times.
** The corners of Jordan Schlansky's mouth occasionally tug up, showing that he's not the complete stoic the show portrays him as. Sometimes he'll [[https://youtu.be/1KxSWKBIoQQ?t=522 even crack a smile]] or even [[https://youtu.be/v-t15Cc8NZw?t=330 crack completely]].

'''Conan''': No there isn't. (...) You're finding a judgmental tone to what I'm saying, which I did not intend. My question was very simple: when you're looking at this Halloween mask, [[DistinctionWithoutADifference you gonna jerk off]]? ''[[{{Corpsing}} (laughs)]]''

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6McWvftbaME "Celebrity Income Breakdowns"]] on Creator/NicolasCage involves the residuals he earned on ''so many ridiculous movies'' Conan himself starts {{corpsing}} at around the midpoint.

* AllWomenAreDomsAllMenAreSubs: During one out-of-studio segment, Conan visits a professional dominatrix and acts out the part of the sub. The entire thing is PlayedForLaughs, partly because Conan is not just a man, but also quite tall and (while not muscular) very fit for his age, implying that he could have easily overpowered her if he wanted to.

* CommonKnowledge: Invoked; in the "Clueless Gamer" about ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros 4'', Conan asked Aaron who the second president was, after his aggravation at knowing all the characters in the game[[note]](although they were playing an early build, which had only 20 characters)[[/note]]. Aaron replied, "Creator/BenjaminFranklin", and an aggravated Conan shouted, "HE WAS NEVER PRESIDENT!!!" [[note]](The correct answer is UsefulNotes/JohnAdams)[[/note]]

* TheUnintelligible: In a 2014 interview, Creator/JennySlate said she does the worst Arnold impression of all time, and to demonstrate, she took a line from ''Film/{{Twins}}'' which both Conan and Andy couldn't even decipher at first: "I did nothing, the pavement was his enemy!"

* SomethingCompletelyDifferent: When the mini set was debuted in the ''Puppy Conan'' sketch, Conan made an offhand comment that he wanted to do an entire show from that set. A few weeks later they did, and booked Shaquille O'Neal and Steve Schirripa as guests. HilarityEnsued.
** The episode where the creator and cast of ''Series/BreakingBad'' were guests on the show became entirely dedicated to the theme, from a cold opening of Conan digging up a barrel in the desert to the title cards matching the show's opening sequence. The musical guest was also played a song prevalent in the series. This was also the case for the episode featuring the cast of ''Series/TheWalkingDead'' and the episode featuring the cast of ''Series/SonsOfAnarchy''; each had a special ColdOpen.
** The "Conan Without Borders" episodes are this by default (see VacationEpisode below).
** As with virtually all talk shows, Conan began to host the show from home starting in late March 2020 and interview guests remotely, due to the stay-at-home orders amidst the coronavirus. Starting in July, he temporarily moved production to the Largo At The Coronet Theater in Los Angeles, both to help out the theater (all theaters have obviously been struggling during the pandemic due to, well, not being able to put on shows) and because it's easy for the crew to social distance in such a large venue. He still conducts celebrity interviews via Zoom, though.

* {{Mondegreen}}: Invoked for comedy in an early episode when Oprah Winfrey's "These are coming!" was captioned as "Bees are coming!", and CG bees were added to footage of audience members crying to make it look like they were being stung.

--> '''Cheryl Boone''': For performance by an actor in a supporting role, the nominees are... Robert Dupoop in ''Film/TheJudge''. [[Creator/EthanHawke Poop Hawke]] in ''[[Film/{{Boyhood}} Poophood]]''. [[Creator/MarkRuffalo Mark Poopalo]] in ''[[Film/{{Foxcatcher}} Poopcatcher]]''. [[Creator/JKSimmons Poop Poop Simmons]] in ''[[Film/{{Whiplash}} Pooplash]]''. [[Creator/EdwardNorton Edpoop Norpoop]] in ''[[Film/{{Birdman}} Birdpoop]], or The Unexpoopted Poop of Poop''.

* LampshadedTheObscureReference: When warm-up comedian Jimmy Pardo was a guest, he made a bunch of dated references, and Conan finally called him on it: "Every reference you've made tonight is ''at least'' fifty years old." (for the record, Jimmy brought up the KISS Army, Perry Como, and Toad the Wet Sprocket)

[[JustForFun/IThoughtItMeant Not to be confused]] with the [[Franchise/ConanTheBarbarian sword-wielding barbarian]] of the same name.

* BadassBeard:
** Grew one in preparation for the show, then shaved off in May 2011, and has grown it back as of November 2011, beginning with the series of episodes in New York, though he's since shaved it off in 2012.
** Nick Offerman, in between seasons when doing "Nick Offerman from ''Series/ParksAndRecreation'' Reads Tweets from Young Female Celebrities."

* DefiniteArticleTitle: During one of the Jeff Goldblum interviews, he told a story about how he got his bowtie, and remarked to his then-girlfriend, "I'm gonna wear it on ''The Conan''." Conan instantly jumped on it:
--> '''Conan''': Is that what the kids are calling it these days? "You goin' on ''The Conan''?"

* LampshadeTheObscureReference: When warm-up comedian Jimmy Pardo was a guest, he made a bunch of dated references, and Conan finally called him on it: "Every reference you've made tonight is ''at least'' fifty years old." (for the record, Jimmy brought up the KISS Army, Perry Como, and Toad the Wet Sprocket)

** Jack [=McBrayer=], when discussing Tracy Morgan not remembering his lines:
--> "Kenneth, I'm gonna miss you most of all!" "Uh, my name's Jack".

--> '''Pete''': You wanna go get... '''A PIZZA PIE?!''' This is not a scandal.\\

--> '''Conan''': I've been around the most sensitive people in the world, and they're trying to say sensitive things about all different cultures, and then whenever, if my ethnicity comes up, they're like, "You're all drunks!" And even Irish people are like, "It's true!" ''(proceeds to do a leprechaun impression)''

* AcceptableEthnicTargets: Invoked during a 2018 interview with Pete Holmes. He mentioned that, despite our cultural sensitivity towards ethnicity and race nowadays, it's still acceptable to make fun of Italians:

* AccidentalMisnaming: Jack [=McBrayer=], when discussing Tracy Morgan not remembering his lines:

* AlcoholInducedIdiocy: According to the flashback skits, Conan suffers from this every time there's a celebration of some kind. He turns into a raving lunatic who verbally and physically abuses his staff.

* AllAnimeIsNaughtyTentacles: In a sketch parodying the Chrysler "Let America Build Your Car" 2014 Super Bowl ad, the narrator listed a bunch of other countries and stereotypes about what they produce. One of them was a clip from ''Manga/WannaBeTheStrongestInTheWorld'', with the narration, "Let Japan make your animated torture porn."

* AmbiguousSyntax: In one of the earlier "Fan Corrections", Conan said the responses have been pouring in, and immediately followed that by saying "So far, four viewers have stepped up to the plate." He realized how ambiguous this sounded and clarified: "Oh there's a lot more than that writing in! When I say, pouring in, I mean they really have. We've ''selected'' four."

* AnachronismStew: In a "Fan Corrections" about Thomas Jefferson helping James Madison write the Constitution from abroad in France, Jefferson and Madison are talking on cell phones.

* BadassBeard: Grew one in preparation for the show, then shaved off in May 2011, and has grown it back as of November 2011, beginning with the series of episodes in New York, though he's since shaved it off in 2012.

* BaitAndSwitch: One "Fan Corrections" concerned Conan saying you can hide $40,000 in a bra. A fan disputed that, so Conan showed video proof that it can be done. Cut to a strip club, where three women were dancing. Conan asked if anyone wanted to give it a try. You think he's going to stuff dollar bills in the stripper's bra, but he opens his shirt and lets the stripper stuff bills in ''his'' bra instead.

* {{Beat}}: Common during the brief segments where UsefulNotes/BarackObama announces how he's going to deal with the debt crisis. Overlaps with ManipulativeEditing.

* BitingTheHandHumor: Among other digs at TBS, Will Forte occasionally pops by in character as TBS founder Ted Turner, who comes in to the studio riding a stuffed buffalo and proceeds to insult Conan, his audience and the current state of the network. Then, Conan got a bigger buffalo and chased Ted out of the studio.

* BlatantLies: In the intro to the "Fan Corrections" segment, Conan says, "There have been many challengers, but no winners. No one has ever been able to catch me make a mistake." Of course, every correction that comes in is accurate, meaning that many, many people have caught him making a mistake; it's just that he inevitably responds with a skit showing a clearly absurd situation which nevertheless enables him to claim he was correct.

* {{Blipvert}}: On the 10/4/12 episode, Creator/JJAbrams was a guest and announced that he brought a clip of the new ''[[Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness Star Trek]]'' film. However, Creator/{{Paramount}} only allowed him to show three frames of footage. After an extensive introduction to what the clip consisted of, the clip played in less than a second.

* BodyHorror: One of the Fan Corrections involved a viewer tracing Conan's hand gestures of drawing a penis. When the viewer showed what hand movements Conan made, he remarked that it looked nothing like a penis. Conan retorted by saying that's what his penis actually looks like, proving it with some footage of a visit to the doctor where both Conan and the doctor screamed at a drawing of how Conan's penis looks.

* BriefAccentImitation: In the skit where Conan and Andy messed with Photo Booth (which caused their faces to distort), at one point Conan got into a position where his chin looked large. Upon seeing this, he wagged his head and said "Nnnnnnyah!", as a brief imitation of Jay Leno. The crowd went nuts.

* BrokenRecord: When ''Captain America: The First Avenger'' was new:

* ButtMonkey: [=LaBamba=], who has had to do things like sit in honey to see how much money will stick to his ass and was snowed on for practically the entire show. And let's not forget having to stand naked in front of everyone despite winning the bet involved with it.

* {{Catchphrase}}: Guest Wrestling/TheMiz tried to give Conan a catchphrase: "Step into my dojo, mofo!" It didn't stick. He complained about this the second time he was a guest.

* ChinaTakesOverTheWorld: The sketch "Why China is Kicking Our Ass", showcasing something idiotic about American culture.

* CloudCuckooLander: Anytime Harland Williams is a guest.

* ClusterFBomb: Creator/GeorgeTakei, in a sketch about coming out and parroting an exact speech earlier in the skit: