Conan Without Borders Explained

Genre:Comedy
Travel show
Runtime:60 minutes
Creator:Conan O'Brien
Presenter:Conan O'Brien
Executive Producer:Conan O'Brien
Jeff Ross
Num Episodes:13
Company:Team Coco/Conaco
Country:United States
Language:English
Network:TBS
Related:

Conan Without Borders is an American travel show hosted by Conan O'Brien that aired on TBS in the United States as a series of specials on O'Brien's talk show Conan. The series began in February 2015 and included thirteen episodes when the series ceased production due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States and the subsequent ending of Conan. A follow-up series, titled Conan O'Brien Must Go, was released on Max in April 2024.[1]

The episodes do not follow the traditional talk-show format of Conan, instead following O'Brien as he travels outside of the US and attempts to engage the locals and experience the unique cultural aspects of the area.

Background

O'Brien has a long history of featuring segments that occurred outside the traditional studio environment, dubbed "remotes", ever since his first late-night show, Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[2] They became some of his best-received segments, including a famous remote when O'Brien visited a historic, Civil War-era baseball league.[3] The piece was one of O'Brien's personal favorites, later remarking, "When I leave this earth, at the funeral, just show this, because this pretty much says who I'm all about."[4]

The apotheosis of the Late Night remotes centered on the realization, in 2006, that O'Brien bore a striking resemblance to Tarja Halonen, entering her second term as president of Finland. Capitalizing on the resemblance and on the 2006 Finnish presidential election, O'Brien and Late Night aired mock political ads both in support of Halonen and against her main opponent, which influenced popular perception of the race,[5] and traveled to Finland shortly after the election.[6] "We took the show to Helsinki for five days," O'Brien recalled, "where we were embraced like a national treasure."[7] As part of the five-day trip, which was released as a one-hour special episode of Late Night, O'Brien met with Halonen at the Finnish Presidential Palace.[8]

History

O'Brien began hosting the show Conan on TBS in 2010. The first international travel special on the show was in February 2015. Following the onset of the Cuban thaw, O'Brien became the first American television personality to film in Cuba for more than half a century.[9] A few months later, O'Brien visited Armenia in an episode that featured his assistant Sona Movsesian, who is Armenian American.[10] [11] [12] [13] While visiting, Conan guest-starred as a gangster on an Armenian soap opera.[14]

In April 2016, O'Brien visited South Korea in response to a fan letter urging him to visit, as well as a growing fan base online. His visit included a trip to the Korean Demilitarized Zone, which resulted in O'Brien and Steven Yeun also visiting North Korea on a technicality by stepping across the border line at the DMZ. Conan commented on the significance during the sketch, claiming, "The idea that you and I could be in North Korea, talking and communicating freely, seems like kind of a cool message."[15] [16] These and subsequent hour-long international travel specials were branded Conan Without Borders and became part of their own series. Conan eventually travelled to thirteen countries in total.[17] [18]

In April 2017, O'Brien visited Mexico for "Conan Without Borders: Made in Mexico". The episode featured some of the traditional features of his talk show, including an opening monologue, which he delivered in Spanish, and had an entirely Mexican staff, crew, audience, and guests.[19] [20]

The series' final episode before the onset of travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic aired in September 2019, and Conan ended in June 2021.[21] O'Brien traveled to thirteen countries in total. In August 2021, O'Brien stated he was interested in continuing Conan Without Borders in some capacity after the COVID-19 pandemic, with TBS stating in 2020 that the specials would continue to air on their channel.[22] [21] [23]

The international shows became available on Netflix[24] before moving to HBO Max.[25]

On May 17, 2023, it was announced that a four-episode international travel series titled Conan O'Brien Must Go was in production, to be released on Max. The series will feature O'Brien meeting various fans in person whom he had previously featured via video calls in his podcast series Conan O'Brien Needs a Fan.[26]

Reception

The series became some of O'Brien's most popular work, winning an Emmy in 2018 and being nominated in 2019.[27] [28] [29] The first episode in the series, "Conan in Cuba", was watched by around 1.81 million people according to Nielsen ratings, up from Conan's typical average of 642,000.[11] [30]

In a 2017 review by Daniel Fienberg for The Hollywood Reporter, he stated "Conan’s global adventures have become his TBS show's greatest piece of differentiation from the dozen other shows in the late night and talk show space."[19]

O'Brien himself reflected in an interview with Stephen Colbert in 2017 that the show helped him fulfill his "greatest joy" in "trying to make people laugh that don't even speak English, don't know who I am. [...] It's a little bit of sort of diplomacy through comedy. I like to show that Americans are curious, we're humbled. We're okay to look ridiculous. It's okay if you laugh at us."[31]

O'Brien received some criticism for visiting Israel in the series, especially by supporters of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and also by progressives within Israel itself,[32] who viewed it as a piece of hasbara, diplomacy which attempts to improve foreign perceptions of Israel and dissuade views of Israel as an apartheid state.[33] [34] [32] O'Brien discussed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict within the episode, which he described as "incredibly complex and polarizing".[34]

Notes and References

  1. News: Schneider . Michael . ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ International Travel Series Ordered by Max . 17 May 2023 . Variety . 17 May 2023.
  2. News: Allen . Samantha . April 21, 2015 . The Lost Art of the Late-Night Remote . . September 3, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201205033554/https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/the-lost-art-of-the-late-night-remote/ . December 5, 2020.
  3. News: Hirschberg . Lynn . May 20, 2009 . Heeeere's . . . Conan!!! . . live . December 21, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220319080516/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24Conan-t.html?pagewanted=all . March 19, 2022.
  4. News: Greene . Steve . April 16, 2019 . Conan's 'Old-Time Baseball' Is the Highlight of Team Coco's Growing Archive Project . . live . May 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519000929/https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/conan-old-time-baseball-late-night-archive-1202059246/ . May 19, 2021.
  5. News: Ritter . Karl . January 14, 2006 . Conan O'Brien's mock endorsement of Finnish president is no joke to her opponents . . live . May 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210515095335/https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/conan-obriens-mock-endorsement-of-finnish-president-is-no-joke-to-her-opponents/ . May 15, 2021.
  6. News: Lemola . Johanna . February 13, 2006 . A Trip to Conelandia, Also Known as Finland . . live . May 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210718110853/https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/13/arts/television/a-trip-to-conelandia-also-known-as-finland.html . July 18, 2021.
  7. News: Barish . Mike . January 26, 2010 . 5 places Conan should go on vacation . . live . January 26, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210615112558/https://www.cnn.com/2010/TRAVEL/01/26/conan.obrien.vacation/index.html?hpt=C2 . June 15, 2021.
  8. News: Huuhtanen . Matti . February 14, 2006 . Conan O'Brien meets Finnish president . . live . May 24, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220524235247/https://azdailysun.com/conan-obrien-meets-finnish-president/article_000fb024-18ed-5cff-ae04-f01ca7759da5.html . May 24, 2022.
  9. News: France . Lisa Respers . February 16, 2015 . Conan O'Brien Takes Show to Cuba . . live . May 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211021153421/https://www.cnn.com/2015/02/16/entertainment/feat-conan-obrien-show-cuba/ . October 21, 2021.
  10. News: Butler . Bethonie . Here's what happened when Conan O'Brien went to Armenia . 7 September 2022 . Washington Post . 18 November 2015 . https://archive.today/20220907132820/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2015/11/18/heres-what-happened-when-conan-obrien-went-to-armenia/ . 7 September 2022.
  11. News: Aslanian . Karlen . Late night with Conan O'Brien... in Armenia . 7 September 2022 . The Guardian . 15 October 2015 . en.
  12. News: Horn . John . Conan O'Brien on Bringing Conan to Armenia, Meeting Syrian Refugees, and Peaking in His 23rd Season . 7 September 2022 . Vulture . 19 November 2015 . en-us.
  13. Snierson . Dan . October 12, 2015 . Conan O'Brien is taking his late-night talk show to Armenia . . dead . May 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220428065355/https://ew.com/article/2015/10/12/conan-obrien-armenia/ . April 28, 2022.
  14. Web site: Conan O'Brien Guest Stars as a Gangster on Armenian Soap Opera . November 18, 2015 . . May 25, 2022 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210727194811/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-guest-stars-as-841817/ . July 27, 2021.
  15. News: Lee . Jenny . June 25, 2021 . Thank You, Conan O'Brien, for Making Us Laugh Around the World . . live . May 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210625194412/https://observer.com/2021/06/conan-finale-conan-in-korea-essay/ . June 25, 2021.
  16. News: Epstein . Adam . April 11, 2016 . Watch American diplomat Conan O'Brien host a talk show on the North Korean side of the DMZ . . live . May 25, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220428065303/https://qz.com/659047/watch-american-diplomat-conan-obrien-host-a-talk-show-on-the-north-korean-side-of-the-dmz/ . April 28, 2022.
  17. News: Deggans . Eric . After 28 Quirky Years, Conan O'Brien Is Leaving Late Night . September 5, 2022 . . June 24, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220721030402/https://www.npr.org/2021/06/24/1009587267/conan-obrien-ends-tbs-show-leaves-late-night . July 21, 2022.
  18. News: Schneider . Michael . Conan O'Brien Announces June Finale Date for His TBS Talk Show . 6 September 2022 . Variety . 4 May 2021.
  19. News: Fienberg . Daniel . 'Conan Without Borders: Made in Mexico': TV Review . 7 September 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter . 1 March 2017.
  20. News: Conan goes to Mexico City for more 'Conan Without Borders' . 7 September 2022 . Chicago Tribune . 27 January 2017. https://archive.today/20220907141849/https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/tv/ct-conan-going-to-mexico-20170127-story.html . 7 September 2022.
  21. News: Shanfeld . Ethan . Conan O'Brien Says He's Far From Retirement, Teases New 'Conan Without Borders' . 6 September 2022 . Variety . 10 August 2021.
  22. News: Otterson . Joe . Conan O'Brien to End TBS Late-Night Show in 2021, Sets Weekly HBO Max Variety Series . 7 September 2022 . Variety . 17 November 2020.
  23. News: White . Peter . Conan O'Brien Talks HBO Max Series & 'Conan' Finale As 'Inside Conan' Podcast Rebooted For Season 3 . 6 September 2022 . Deadline . 21 October 2021.
  24. News: 10 travel shows on Netflix that offer a virtual escape . 6 September 2022 . USA Today . 10 April 2020 . en.
  25. News: Tedder . Michael . CNN And HBO Have Very Public Breakup Over Streaming War . 6 September 2022 . TheStreet . 20 December 2021 . en-us.
  26. Web site: Conan O'Brien Must Go' International Travel Series Ordered by Max . Schneider . Michael . May 17, 2023 . Variety.com . . May 17, 2023.
  27. Web site: CONAN Without Borders . Television Academy . 6 September 2022 . en.
  28. News: Hipes . Patrick . TBS' Revamped 'Conan' Gets A Premiere Date . 6 September 2022 . Deadline . 18 December 2018.
  29. News: Goldstein . Ian . Every Conan Without Borders International Special, Ranked . 6 September 2022 . Vulture . 8 November 2019 . en-us.
  30. News: de Moraes . Lisa . 'Conan In Cuba' Clocks 2 Million Viewers On Opening Night – Update . 7 September 2022 . Deadline . 5 March 2015.
  31. News: Perez . Lexy . A Look Back at Conan O'Brien's Most Memorable Travel Moments . 6 September 2022 . The Hollywood Reporter . 17 April 2019.
  32. Web site: Culture . Ryan Smith Senior Pop . Reporter . Entertainment . 2023-11-17 . Celebrities' Israel visits have long been criticized . 2024-01-02 . Newsweek . en.
  33. News: In Israel, Conan O'Brien Became a Patsy for Netanyahu's Propaganda . en . Haaretz . 2024-01-02.
  34. Web site: Awad . Amal . 2017-09-27 . Conan O'Brien and his fantastic marketing campaign for Israel . 2024-01-02 . www.newarab.com/ . en.

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