Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - David Spade Returns

Episode Date: June 16, 2025

Comedian and actor David Spade feels somewhat sick about being Conan O’Brien’s friend. David sits down with Conan once more to discuss his rocky start in the business, developing a comedic and personal closeness with Chris Farley, how to kill at a corporate gig, and his newest special David Spade: Dandelion. For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com.Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: [phone]. Get access to all the podcasts you love, music channels and radio shows with the SiriusXM App! Get 3 months free using this show link: https://siriusxm.com/conan.

Hey guys, my name is David Spade and I feel... ...somewhat sick about being... Just more like bad tummy about being Conan's friend. You know, I think I've always had that effect on you. No, maybe I'll change it to honored. Too late. Okay. Fall is here, hear the yell.

Back to school, ring the bell. Brand new shoes, walk and lose. Climb the fence, books and pens. I can tell that we are gonna be friends. Yes, I can tell that we are gonna be friends. Okay, hit it. Friendship is a good thing. Quiet.

It's a miserable life. It's a miserable life. The whole rhythm of friendship is a good thing. Quiet. It's so insane. Okay, here we go. Hey there, welcome to Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, joined by Sona Mavsesian.

Hi. And Matt Gorley, and I had something kind of sweet and uplifting to talk about. Oh. My wife noticed this, suspicious. I know, this is, even I'm suspicious, but of course the wildfires occurred and Sona, you lost your home.

She's gone. It was terrible. Oh my God. What? What's the matter? I just went, she gone. She gone. That was so callous.

Like a 70s yacht rock, Sona. I know. Well, but you're- It's devastating. You're processing it, but it was devastating. Yes. And we've talked about it here. And the fire came right, as I've said to people,

I was, we were crazily lucky. The fire came to the back of our yard, to the edge of our yard and stopped and burned some stuff on the edge of our property. So there's, and there was smoke damage, but we were overwhelmingly crazily lucky and I'm back living in the house now. Liza noticed that we had these fruit trees,

this little small area of fruit trees in the backyard and all of them burned and are like charred and had to be cut down and taken away except one. The pomegranate tree that your parents gifted me and Liza back when... You guys hosted our engagement party. That's right.

With just 200 of our closest friends and family. Yeah. No joke. It was huge. Yeah, we had a big party in the backyard for your for urine tax engagement and a bunch of, I mean, obviously your friends and your family came and I was, I mean,

I didn't think I was getting a gift because that wasn't the point of it, but your parents brought this pomegranate tree and we planted it along with all the other trees. And it kind of doesn't make sense because all the other trees burned and there's not a really good reason why this tree didn't burn.

Yes, there is. Which is say. Well, pomegranates represent prosperity. So obviously. And it's part of, I mean- It's the Armenian voodoo that my mom put into the tree. It's protecting, it protected your house. That's why it's fine.

You're welcome. Did you have a pomegranate tree in your, did your parents give you one for your house? I had that question as well. I did. The tree survived. So she- Oh, so wait a minute.

Okay. But wait, did your pomegranate tree survive? It did survive, actually. But it didn't save the house? No, no. It didn't serve its purpose there. Maybe it just didn't know which house it was supposed to be guarding. It did protect the yoga studio that my neighbors built next door.

That's the closest structure to it. You probably faced the tree wrong and it probably misunderstood. Like a well-intentioned dog. Don't worry, I saved the yoga studio. You idiot. Oh my God. I have to say, because I've traveled to Armenia with you, pomegranates and the pomegranate tree,

it's like, it is a very important part of Armenian culture. Yeah, it's got a lot of symbolism to it. It's a very important part of Armenian culture. Yeah, it's got a lot of symbolism to it. It's a very important fruit in our culture. And I think that, and also it's not just, it didn't just survive, it's green and lush. Yes, I mean, ours is in bloom. It's spectacular looking as if nothing happened, surrounded by stumps.

And I thought that was very cool. You now have to believe in the Armenian, I know we've talked about the like witchcraft my mom does and the things that she believes in. You have to admit that there's some truth, something. I never, I don't think I was a big denier of the power. Yes, you were. What do you mean?

When my mom buried a baby doll in the front yard. Jesus Christ, I just said buried a baby. Yeah, but when buried a baby doll in the front yard. So you just said buried a baby. Yeah, but when she buried a doll in the front yard, you laughed about it. But wait, what was that for? I can't remember. For me to have babies. And guess what?

It worked. Yeah. Through science. That now you had- Sure, my fertility doctors may have had something to do with it. Modern science. You had twins. Did she bury one baby or two babies?

She buried one, but it's not like- Was it a realistic plastic baby doll or was it like a Ken doll or was it a- No, it was like this doll I actually had when I was a kid and it's gender neutral too. It doesn't have any genitalia. That's weird. The baby doll didn't have a big swang and dick.

When shopping for baby dolls, I like one with a big cock! How ever did she find one like that? Wow, that's a real... Those are hard to find these days. Yeah. Just insane. Your logic today, Sona. I don't know.

This doll poops, it wets, it cries, and it becomes massively erect. And it stars in its own skinamax after dark. Oh, come on. Well. Yeah, all you're saying. It's got a little weird mustache, 70s mustache. No, it's gender neutral, so it didn't look like a girl,

it doesn't look like a boy. She buried it and then I got pregnant. Right. With yes, the help of fertility doctors, but still. I am not someone who I say if it's working for you, go with it. Yeah. And I don't pretend to know the answers. I really don't. Yeah.

And so I'm, and I was very impressed and I have been very impressed by Armenians and by your country. And I'm just like, you I have been very impressed by Armenians and by your country. And I'm just like, you guys have this very strong spirit. And I think, yeah, I would give it up for any power that you guys have. And this tree surviving, I have to say, it's a powerful thing to see.

My parents, I sent them a picture of it because Liza sent me a picture of the tree. It's surrounded by just charred stuff. And they were really touched and happy that it survived. They were really, really happy. And my mom was not surprised, by the way. She kind of knew what was going on. I don't mean to ruin the moment,

I'm just thinking of your mom bearing a baby doll with a huge plastic dick. And the dick is sticking out of the soil. And then it... She buried it six feet under, but still. And then it flowers. The dick is coming up and then it flowers. And a pomegranate comes out the tip of the dick.

Oh! Yeah. Yes! Yes! Oh my God. And your mom just turns to a camera and goes, it's the power of Armenia. Well, anyway, we've ruined another episode

of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend. All right, my guest today is a hilarious comedian and a very old friend of mine. His latest standup special, David Spade Dandelion is available for streaming on Prime Video. I am thrilled he's here today. I really do love hanging with this guy. ["Dandelion"]

David Spade, welcome. I think you should roll right when people walk in because then you see the reel and then when I drop my bullshit act And I start being nice everyone for the cameras Now oh it is okay now the whole thing where you said bullshit, and we talk about how you hate Italians I said it on the stairs it doesn't count We're on our way in thanks for being here mm-hmm. Do you have like a beginning or is this the beginning?

Whenever you're ready. I've seen this show a million times. I'm clear. I love that when you walked in, they said, you said, which one's Conan? No, I know, I knew you were the tall one. Oh, this one with the hidden cameras. Yeah.

Dana told me all about it. Oh, you got the backstage. You told me what to look out for. Well, I want to mention, first of all, you and Dana do a great podcast, Fly on the Wall. Thank you. And you guys get all the backstage dirt on what's going on at SNL over the years.

Plus you talk to other people as well. Yeah, we sort of watered down. We sort of ran through. You got through everybody. Yeah. Once you would talk to Jim Brewer six times, you knew it was, you had to move on. To-

Gervitz is always like, you haven't scratched the surface. This is another 900 cast. And I go, yeah, but Bill Squankmeyer from 1988. At a certain point we realized, I guess people do like stars. And that's the sad part. Mark Gervitz, by the way, if you don't know,

he'd been a manager at Brillstein for, I think, 75 years. 70 to 100 years. 70 to 100 years. He used to represent Al Jolson. It's a funny reference, so you should look it up. I know he's old. Yeah, thank you. Hey, Conan likes money.

I guess you don't like money. So he tells me, you want to do a gig in Ottawa tomorrow? I go, tomorrow? Ah, sorry, I'll call Dana. He likes money. That's what Gerbitt says to you? So he will give you shit about not taking a gig because he says that Dana will take the gig.

Yeah, and he just does it to make you feel bad. Yeah, yeah. Because they sit there in their office with their feet up and they get 10% of whatever's there. It's better if you just say yes, and they hang up the phone and go, oh, he's on three flights to Ottawa and I make money. So it's better if you say yes.

Yes, oh, they like a yes. They like a yes, and they don't care what you go through. Not at all. It's a pretty good gig, it's an Anchorage. You might like Anchorage. Somebody hates Alaska. I don't hate a lot. I think it's far.

It's okay, I'll break it to a last. There are your fans. This is what it's like, you know, having a manager. Yeah. You know, there it's- But I have to say, I've had the same guy since day one, you know, when I got out here. I will say a quick story that, do we have an hour?

This is six hours. Okay, this will fit in perfectly, this one story. It's exactly 58 minutes. It's about how you grew up until this moment. No, this is a good manager story, so, and I know then we'll get into stuff. And I will quickly say, Mark Gurvitz, I've known him for a long time and he's a mensch,

he's a good fella. Yeah, I think I've only told this story on 17 podcasts. That's okay, doesn't matter. Have you ever heard people say this? No one listens to any other podcast. I haven't told this anywhere. And they ramp it up like I go, I don't wanna see this clip because I know it's all set up

like I want you to make it a clip. I shouldn't tell this. But I'll tell this because it's boring. It'll fit right in. So here's Spady. This is before you knew me, before we fell in love. This is probably, I'm 22, moved out here, doing standup from Arizona, got my first movie,

got $6,000, I cleared $6,000, bought a car, looked for two weeks going, I didn't just grab the first one, like first Camaro, what you would think, hot rod. I get in Honda Accord, I take the hit, I go, I just gotta get one that starts every day. Buy it, cash, drive it to the improv, come out to show my friend, stolen.

So, stolen in not even an hour. Wow. And then it's so embarrassing, I'm like, here it is. And I'm sure, I'm a little buzzed, I went in and did a shot and I go, maybe it's on Kilkea, hold on. And then we're walking and I go, would it be on Beverly?

Wait, let me check the 405 because I just couldn't believe like, where is my car? Where did I park it? You can't believe someone took it. I could, that didn't even cross my mind. I go, I just don't remember where I parked it. And then the cops go, oh, they probably sold it to you,

kept the key, followed you and took it. And I go, so now what do you do? Spring into action, he goes, you'd think. Um. Um. One would think. He goes, I like these cops already. One would think.

He goes, I'm already forgetting about this as I walk back to my car, but I'll say we're on the case. But anyway, nothing happened, so now I'm back to zero. I have to borrow money and stuff. Anyway, so I, this is a police Academy movie. This is how it started. So I got that movie, cleared that, and when I was there, I was so new, didn't know how to act, I wasn't the fine actor I am today.

You've become quite the thespian. So I was there and this Bobcat Goldthwait, who has helped me out, was like, hey, this director of mine is here and he's doing a new show on Fox, which just started, this old one. And I said, okay, that's what I, I was wondering, like, this director of mine is here and he's doing a new show on Fox, which just started this old app. And I said, okay, that's what I, I was wondering like a sitcom or something.

He's like, it's a single camera where you're like a high school, like FBI. I was like, oh, how fun, you know? So I said, how cool. So Fox, new network, I don't give a fuck, you know. So great. So he goes, hey, do you mind reading this script? Right, so he has sides.

This is in Toronto during Please, Gabby do you mind reading this script? So he has sides. This is in Toronto during Police Cabbie. Should fucking glue this on to make me look stupid. Glue it on. Dacapod. So anyway, I go, okay. So I just read this. So I just literally read it to him. And he's like, great, well, okay, you're not quite there.

We'll work with it. I literally knew nothing about acting. Just read it to him like a story. And he goes, all right, but you got a little heat on'll work with it. I literally knew nothing about acting. Just read it to him, like a story. And he goes, all right, but you got a little heat on you. This is what I didn't know. I had done standup at the improv for about six months. Some casting, I got this job as a skateboarder in this movie. And so now I get back and I've got those heat on me.

Yeah, which I don't even know what that means. Just like, oh, they're talking about you. So I got a manager, My agent moved to ICM. So now I'm at ICM, which is too big for me. I get home and they go, hey, this guy offered you that part, the lead in that show. And I was like, wait, my own show? I said, oh my God, this is like a crazy.

And they go, okay. So they have a big meeting at ICM. I think Gervance is there. And they go, here's why we're gonna turn that down.M, I think Gervance is there, and they go, here's why we're gonna turn that down. You've got too much heat on you, that's a new network. We want you at NBC, they're doing Cosby show, they're doing all that, and we're gonna have a meeting

with Brandon Tartar Sauce or whatever his name is, and you're going to. Tartar Sauce? You're gonna get a job there. Yeah. He's heard about you, he's excited, he saw you, you stand up, I go, oh, I don't know, wouldn't it be better

to the one I have that's a thousand fucking percent an offer? No, no, no, and maybe like 20 grand a week, whatever, some magnanimous number. So I said, oh, so we're all agreed, all 12 agents, I don't do this. Okay, so then I meet Tartakov, they had me read something, right? So now I'm a free agent.

Yeah. The fucking casting director goes, oh, you're about to go, I think we're doing these sides now. I should never have taken him. I took him. I go, okay. I had been coached on a little scene he wanted me to read. Now I walk in and do the police academy read again. Whoa, whoa, whoa, read it.

I leave. Gerwitz goes, all the people that just got a development deal at NBC, take one step forward. Not so fast, Spade. I go, what do you meanwitz goes, all the people that just got a development deal at NBC, take one step forward. Not so fast, Spade. I go, what do you mean? He goes, you were too green, they saw you read, you're not ready. But they like you and they're going to keep an eye on you. I go, so now what?

He goes, now we hit the pavement, start auditioning. So I auditioned for 30 pilots that year and got none, not even one callback. I didn't know what I was doing. Right. And then he goes, you know what? Fuck ICM, let's leave them, let's go to, there's a smaller agency, Abr then he goes, you know what? Fuck ICM. Let's leave them.

Let's go to, there's a smaller agency, Abrams, which is medium, right? They're good. This guy loves you. And I was spinning out. I could not believe what was going on. I'm like, lost everything, lost my heat. They all think I'm bad. And I got into classes to act.

And then I was with this agency. And I swear to you about three years ago we're at dinner and Gervitz goes, and then ICM fucked him over and dropped him and I go, no, no, no, I left ICM, remember? He goes, oh, is that what I told you? And I go, what do you mean? Did they drop me?

He goes, oh yeah. I go, they dropped me, they're the ones that fucked me over and he goes, I know, I couldn't tell you that though because just a tough biz. They said we don't need him anymore, he didn't click. And I was like, I said, he goes, you wouldn't have made it without me to handle that. I said, I would not have, there's no way,

I couldn't handle that. Just mentally like, the rejection was so piled on by that point, I couldn't deal with it. So then I went and scraped my way over to, you know, SNL or whatever. Well, I mentioned this the last time you were on, I was present when you auditioned. I went with, and this was not common, but I-

I don't remember this actually. Yeah, I went with, it was not common, but Lorne, there was a showcase. Yeah. And- I can never say who was there, I can't remember. Yeah, Lorne, I remembered, I didn't go to a lot of these, but Lorne wanted me there for some,

I was a writer at SNL, young whippersnapper, and I- Hungry. Hungry. I go with Lorne and Schneider, I think was the same night. Yeah. And the other guy was- Tom Kenny. Tom Kenny, the voice of, this is before he was the voice of-

SpongeBob. SpongeBob and Mr. Show. And so, and watched you guys, and I remembered you were doing okay, and then at the end, you did your Michael J. Fox impression, and it killed. And I remembered Lorne, us driving away, and Lorne being like, you know, I liked the Michael J. Fox guy, and then he liked Schneider. So scary.

And so he brought you two in at the same time. And then I remembered getting to know you really when it was those Tuesday nights when we would stay up all night and write, and you and Chris Rock and Schneider would be kind of wandering around to see who had what ideas. Do you know what I mean?

And you'd come in, you'd go like, hey fellas, anybody got any ideas? That couldn't help me out. But it's funny because I know your special, your standup special is Dandelion, and you have an explanation for why it's Dandelion, which is a little bit about your character. Fragile.

Fragile on the inside, but I always found you, my read on you was always, this is a guy with, you always had that kind of tough, not tough, but I would say sarcastic, dismissive, super sharp- Shell. Shell. But I could always tell you were a very sweet guy underneath.

I would say, yeah, I would say thank you, I kind of agree that it was so tough there. Scary. And it was tough, it's the same reason I was so tough there. Scary. And it was tough. It's the same reason I was sarcastic in high school. I wasn't as scared of getting beat up at SNL, but in high school and grade school, I was in some bad places that I didn't like. So it was sort of my thing being a bit of a pipsqueak.

So getting to SNL was the same thing. I'm just in over my head clearly and just trying to take it all in and going to doors going, I don't know what to do like here, you know. Like everyone, it just takes so long to seep in and then figure out how to write on that legal pad and all that shit. And, um... Yeah, that high-tech legal pad stuff. It's a pad and a pen and you just go go and then the door closes and I go, go do what? I write a sketch, toonses, I don't know,

I don't write my own sketch, do I write theirs, do I, who's the host, do I get to meet a celebrity? The thing, I'm sure you guys have covered this on your podcast, but the thing that, about SNL that no one understands, how, and this is true of a lot of show business, how little supervision there is. Yeah.

I mean, you get to SNL and you think someone's gonna tell you, okay, here's how it works. No one tells you anything. They're almost mad you're there. Yeah, oh, they are mad you're there. Lawrence Standard Lyon, when you'd encounter him in the hall, was still with the show. Still with the show.

And you'd think, I think I am. I told Lorne when we talked to him on the show, because it's a little easier to talk to Lorne now when all the stress is gone. He's fun to talk to because every year he would talk to the managers or whatever and go, hmm, I don't know. So can you just say he's coming back so he can keep his apartment? Hmm, we're not there yet. So I would, for six years, I left my... Lauren was the one that stole your car, by the way. Was it?

Oh, it's a Honda Accord. I love those. Meep, meep. Someone give me a ruler. I'll jimmy it open. Take that, prick. I know how to hotwire it. I learned it in Toronto and university things just got worse for you That was revealed later on to miss your Honda

You hold me back I thought Gervitz told you I Put the drop on you at ICM. So anyway, I says, I says, I says. I forgot you were an old sailor. I says, I says, I says. Remember that Farley bit? I says, I says to him, I says right to his face, I says, I says. I says, I says, I says.

And I'm like, I go afterwards at read through, I go, you're not really going to do this on update. Oh yeah, I am. I go, is that enough to, I go, you're not really gonna do this on update. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I go, is that enough to kill with one, three words? No, no, watch. And I did, and he did. It's so funny. I tell Lord, every year he doesn't bring me back,

and every year I have to drag my mattress down, I have to sell it, I fucking get out of my part. Then about a month later, can't get ahold of him, he's an amiganzit, no phones. I mean, it's always the funniest, I can't get a hold of him, he's an amiganza, no phones. I mean, it's always the funniest, I can't get a hold of him. Then he finally goes, he says yes. So I go back in the apartment

and stress out of my fucking gourd. And then when we had him on the show, he goes, you were never in any danger of getting fired. I go, Lauren, look at me. There was some danger because, maybe in your head, because it did work out, but it took a while, you were there, it took some danger because maybe in your head, because it did work out, but it took a while. You were there, it took a while for me to get any, you know, you get a few snarky lines here and there,

but I was not that valuable. I remember one time Schmeigel said, Schmeigel, Schmeigel. Schmeigel is from Lord of the Rings and he's the lowliest creature. Yes. And then there's Robert Schmeigel, who's also inliest creature. Yes. And then there's Robert Smeagol. Smeagol? Who's also in...

And so Smeagol says, cause Schneider was acting up or something, and Rob and I have talked about this forever, but we were all handling it differently. And he goes, he goes, Schneider's tough, but he is valuable. Worth having around. And I was like, I want to be valuable.

That's what hit me. I was like, oh, you want someone to say, in a position like, your value, Smeagol was like, I want to be valuable. That's what hit me. I was like, oh, you want someone to say in a position like your value of Michael was like, we need you around. Cause he can go to Lauren, Rob, you know, go, yeah, he's worth it. He, he, he, cause Rob is a funny writer, you know? And he had a kind of a gruff, abrasive personality back then, if that's fair.

But I was the nice guy finishing last guy and Rob was like, hey, I'm going to get in there. And Rob was like, hey, I'm gonna get in there, but it was working, you know? You know, everyone, stuff gets rewritten over time and everybody, and there's how you experience it. And this is actually kind of a big, a recurring theme on the podcast that fascinates me. So I revisit it a lot, which is I talk to these

very famous people who've had incredible success, like yourself, and then their take on it is harrowing. I felt like I wasn't gonna make it. It was scary. It was touch and go. I squeaked by, and then in the end, things kind of worked out. But that is not how anybody else sees it.

They just see you as being someone who is like, okay, big star on SNL, and then in movies, and then many TVs, sitcom, you're just like a staple. Yeah. But that is not how it feels to you. I think in fairness, I'm pretty objective about it. I mean, most of the things I say are lies, but when I look back, it was pretty...

It was hard for me to get a foothold. I mean, obviously Sandler caught fire pretty quick, and he's got so many moves, all these characters. Spoonman, everything was happening so fast, I was like, holy shit, he really came in loaded. And Dana obviously is so good on the show. And Farley right from the get-go. So I just didn't have that. I was sort of just a comedian

that could write some funny stuff, but took a while. By the end, I do like I'm lumped in with Farley, Sandler Rock. I mean, that's just kind of how it is. And I love it. So when I was just on a show, Rich Eisen this morning, I mentioned you because I was saying that's just kind of how it is. Yeah. And I love it. So, when I was just on a show, Rich Eisen this morning, I mentioned you because I was saying that that chunk when I got there of talent around which made me better was running with people better than you.

And I said, Conan and Smigel and I think Greg Daniels and all these writers and Downey and, you know, I could go on and on, Frank and then you got Neil and all the cast and Mike Myers and our new guys coming in with me and Adam and Chris and Chris Rock and Meadows and shit. So that was just a big chunk of people that you could look to anyone and go, oh, I can learn something from this guy.

I can learn how to write or I can learn how to perform or look at the table read. It took a while to seep in and then I got better at it. But man, every, I could have gotten, if I left in a year, I told Gervans I wanna leave once. He goes, then what? I mean, where do you go? You left SNL and it didn't work.

Now that's a hard place to be in Hollywood. Yeah. And so he said, just stick. Even when I wanted to quit to do movies, he's like, you're getting movies only because you're on SNL, do you understand? I go, why don't I need time to do them? Maybe one in the summer. He's like, but if you leave, it you're on SNL, do you understand? I go, why don't I have time to do them? Maybe one in the summer.

He's like, but if you leave, it's hard to explain, but it's true. Yeah. How did you, I'm curious, cause I remember I was at your audition and I also clearly remember, it's burned into my brain, going into Lauren's outer office on the ninth floor,

which is one floor above 8H, his little office that looks out over the studio. And there was a- Watches the cows graze on the fucking rehearsal. It's, but it's, that's like the office that he moves to later in the week. That's not the office high up in the tower. And so when everything shifts to this stage

for the second half of the week, uh, Lorne's there. And I remembered there would always be people waiting outside to meet with Lorne and Lorne would keep him forever. And I have a very clear memory of this kind of stout, boyish-looking, tousle-haired guy sitting out on this couch waiting to talk to Lorne

for, like, more than a day. And I went up and chatted with him because he was Odenkirk's friend and it was Chris Farley. And then, and he was sitting there and he was super eager and he was laughing real hard. And I would, and so I took him on a tour of the stage and was doing that shtick I used to do where I would, if someone was already hanging a lamp,

I'd be like, and hang that lamp! And you over there, Joe! I was saying all their names wrong. And if the guy was on a crane, use the crane! That's the way! And Farley was following me around giggling. He would laugh his ass off. And he was, and I just said, I love this.

He had the energy of a puppy when you first go get the puppy, just so much fun. And then you guys found, was it the two of you that realized we have this thing or did someone else see it and go, wait a minute, you've got this energy of Spade and you've got this energy of Farley, it's peanut butter and jelly, let's put them together.

Yeah, it was probably, it was either Lorne or the Turner's because the writing- It would be Bonnie the Turner's because the writing team. It would be Bonnie and Terry Turner, great writing team. Another writer, I forgot to say, those two. But Lorne's like, maybe something about how they are at the office. I think that's how it all started. Like, I make fun of Chris, he laughs, tells me to make fun of him again, he laughs. We walk around, we go to Moose on Franks or whatever. Not Moose on Franks, Wally and Joseph? Yeah, in New York. Yeah, and Huxleys and all the places

that have been condemned now. But- In fairness, they were condemned then. You just still went to them. We just ate there still? Yeah. Yeah, anyway, so then Billy III got written up, that one with the Turners wrote

that first draft and then I think turned it over to Fred Wolf, turned into Tommy Boy. But that was also because Billy was Billy Madison that summer, that's so funny. I'm curious about something. Tommy Boy comes out and not thought of as a success initially, but then very quickly afterwards you find out that it's huge, is that correct?

I think it opened number one, but not crazy through the roof. Right. And then after time, it was looked upon more fondly over time, but then it went to video. But like the video sales were insane. I think it went to a hundred million. Yeah, they said, the Paramount goes, this video,

they ordered Black Sheep after Tommy Boy for the following summer. They're like, start now, we gotta do another one. Maybe while we were, before it came out, because we shot it the next summer. So if I could still be doing those, that was the funnest, you know? I leave SNL, go to the Simpsons, I come back,

and Chris would, you just signed that? That's great. I just wrote Simpsons. That's worth less. I'm just trying to remember how I know you. The more you tell me are more clues. Worth less. I come back to do the late night show

I come back to do the late night show and you guys were also generous and nice. I mean, I'm the new late night host, I'm down on six and I know all you guys. And so you're all coming down, doing bits. Chris would come down and do bits, which I look at now and they just, they fill me with joy. They also make me sad because he's not here. The one where he runs in on Letterman,

I see a lot on Instagram. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He runs down and grabs a guy and he throws him the garbage can. Yes, yeah, yeah. Unreal, that was one of the best pieces of television I've ever seen. Fantastic.

It's so funny, probably not super thought out. He's wearing a thick suit. The funny thing is he would wear like a t-shirt, then a shirt, then a button down, then a tie, then an overcoat, then a cashmere. I'm like, God damn, dude, how do you move? Because my neck is fucked up. I can't wear more than two layers.

He has layers. He's like, I can feel tight and hogged. I'm like, God damn. But, and then he's running and he's sweating. I'm like, he's like, why am I sweating? I'm like, you have 14 layers on. That's the other thing funny thing too, is that he got tagged as the funny fat guy,

but he was incredibly athletic and strong. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, he was agile. Yeah, and he could do all these amazing things with his body. And I think in the same way, Hishiro Belushi, because he was paired with like a bean pole acaroid at the time or whatever,

you could think of him as the heavy guy of the duo, but I remembered him being just such an incredibly physical comedian. I think it's an extra move that is surprising to people, but it's one more funny thing about him. Like, he can do those pirouettes. We did that skating sketch, remember? Yep. Bump up the jam, they will.

And it was like, Phil was Vern Lindquist or something, and I was Scott Hamilton, and it was Nancy Kerrigan's show. And Farley and Nancy Kerrigan, and he kept falling. Oh, that's gonna hurt him. He kept falling over and over, and he got down to like zero points. But he was a really good skater too. And so it was funny that he could skate well and you go,

oh, that's a surprising move. And then when he does any sort of like ballet, he can do these weird moves. All adds to the funny. Yeah. Yeah. Well, he is missed. Must be.

I mean, I know that you had an incredibly close relationship with him. I miss him and knew him as like a friend and a guy that I would do things with from time to time. But clearly it was a must, I hope time has made that, I'm sure, an easier thing to handle. Yeah, I mean, we were all pretty close with him. And so any of that stuff, I remember one time he goes, I don't want to be known as the funny fat guy.

I go, would you take the fat funny guy? And he said, it's a little better. Yeah. But I remember seeing you at another, there's another sad, Norm's memorial. Yeah. Where something did happen funny. Not the dying part, but there was other stuff that was going on.

Right. By the way, it was like brought to you by Netflix. It was something because I remember going to the talk and there was like a crane shot or something. I'm starting to cry and they're like, push in. I'm like, is there a camera dolly coming at me? I spoke, I don't know if I was MCing it or,

you can't MC a funeral. You know what's funny? But it always just turns into that, let's be honest. No, no, no, it's true. It turns into who's doing well. I spoke about him upfront and talked about him and then brought other people up on stage. But the two things that I remember are,

Lori Jo is sort of running it or whatever. And I said, Lori Jo, she goes, can you speak? And I said, I'm not good at that. I said, I would do it if I just do it right away up front because I don't wanna sit there and rot while thinking of, oh, and I was, so she goes, okay. And then it was like Downey went up, standing ovation. I'm gonna bring Conan up standing ovation.

Lori Jo goes, then yeah, I think you bring her up. She gets standing ovation. And then gonna bring Conan up standing ovation. Laurie Jo goes, I think you bring her up. She gets standing ovation. And then we finally get back to you and you finally go, all right, we're gonna bring up some friends David's fate. And so I walked up and I go, well, I guess the standing ovation portion is over. Because I was the first. Which killed by the way.

Yeah, that was a good one. I should have gotten off. Honestly, that was the fucking funniest thing that happened. And then, but when I walked up, I fell on those fucking stairs. And you caught me, I think, and you grabbed me, and I think you fell too. Yeah, I'll tell you, I know exactly what happened.

We're in this goofy, I don't know what venue we were at, where we were, but you went up, you tripped on the stairs. I think I did catch you. You don't weigh a lot, so that was easy. It was like catching a packing peanut. 94. 90, I don't weigh a lot, so that was easy. It was like catching a packing peanut. 94. 90, I don't know. That's generous, 94.

You fell and you started to float and I grabbed you. You're like a balloon. But then I thought, what's wrong with Spade? Why did he trip on that step? So then cut to me. What's wrong with fucking Spade? He can't walk up stairs. He's falling apart. So then you do your thing, I go up to then take the stage again to bring up the next

person. My foot catches on something on the step and I trip and I turned it into like a roll and stood up again and people thought, oh, Conan's doing like physical shtick. But then I walked off stage and I said to the guy, that's step, Spade tripped on it. And I tripped on it and the guy went, yeah, that happens a lot. We should fix that someday.

Yeah, he knew. He said we should fix that someday. And I'm like, yeah, what happens when Dame Judy Dench is killed? I mean, the two of us can take a fall. You know, what happens when it's the... It was pretty funny to me that he kept going, like, it felt like most people trip.

And I'm like, well, this isn't an anomaly. Like, with me, I look over and thought he'd be like this. He was like this. Like, yep, another one bites the dust. Another one, yeah. And then he said, like, I went into it with him a little bit. I went, what do you mean? And he was like, well, you know,

it's higher than the other steps. Like, what do you mean? And he was like, well, you know, it's higher than the other steps. Like each other step is exactly four inches. So you're used to like this, this, this, and one tiny. Yeah, and then there's one that's like five. And he said, and it's also uneven and it's coming off. And you're like, fix it!

And there's also an earthquake. That's not my union, you know, so. I mean, I don't know how many of these funerals you host, but you did a good job. I have, you don't know how many of these funerals you host, but you did a good job. You know what's weird? I became the funeral guy because I've done a bunch. Oh, boy. And I really fret over them and worry about them

because it's not just a regular thing. You're really trying to think of who was this person and now they're starting to rack up where it's like, I've done a bunch now. Too many. It's hard. You're good at that stuff. You're doing the popes. you're really trying to think of who was this person. And now they're starting to rack up where it's like, I've done a bunch now. Too many, it's hard, you're good at that stuff. You're doing the popes. I'm doing the popes.

Is the popes gonna be in LA? It's like, can you get me in? This is my friends always wanna get tickets to shit. Can you get me in? I just have to tell this one story, which is I have to tell this because it's a Lauren story. But after 9-11, you11, there was like months and months and months of cleanup and it was an area

that you couldn't go to, but sometimes people went down there and Mike Sweeney ran into Lauren somewhere and Lauren knew that Mike Sweeney was my head writer and they're chatting for a little bit. And then Lauren, to be magnanimous, said, have you been down to ground zero? And Mike Sweeney went, no, I haven't. He went, would you like to?

And suddenly Sweeney pictured a velvet rope and you are a Sweeney, but look, yes, yes, right this way. There's the big pit. We called ahead, yeah. I'll have the veal and I'd like to be near that part of. What I kept saying, which was never working, was I might head down to Ground Zilch. And everyone's like, where am I?

Ground Zip, and they're like, are you talking about the 9-11 where people died? I go, no, no, I'm talking about something else. But that was tragic. But yeah, I went down there like a week later because there's a 9-11 benefit where we all flew in and there was a concert and all that stuff. I think Adam went on, everyone went on.

And they took us down. That was one of the perks. benefit where we all flew in and there was a concert and all that stuff. I think Adam went on, everyone went on. And they took us down. That was one of the perks. Oh my God. It is. It was a weird time. It was so weird. It was such a crazy time to be in.

It was like a humble brag. I went down. Yeah, yeah. Can you get close? Yeah. I got a little souvenir. But 9-11, yeah, I know you think it's funny. It's not funny.

But, yeah, my friends, it's noted that you laugh. My friends go, can I get- Sona, what the fuck is wrong with you? God, it's so funny. You're a monster, I'm crying. We are doing a thing about how it's not funny. And then you start laughing. No, it is awful.

You're young and stuff, but we lived there. He said ground zilch. Yeah, that was funny to me. So let's not forget. He said ground zilch. No, let's not forget. Never forget. It means 9-11.

Yeah, yeah. Not that David Spade called it ground zilch. Never forget. Let's never forget. Never forget. The terrible day? No, that Spade called it ground zilch. You're a monster.

Come on. Let me ask you about Norm. Okay. I know that Spade called it ground silch. You're a monster. Let me ask you about Norm. Okay. You did stuff on, you were on the road with Norm and a lot of us when Norm passed were shocked. And I kept thinking, oh, I must've been the only person that didn't know. Oh, right. And people all thought, well, Conan, you knew Norm and and he does his classic appearances on your show

and da-da-da-da-da. And I was like, I know, we were desperately trying to get him back. I desperately wanted Norm on my last episode. We were trying to get him and not getting an answer back. And I thought, well, he just doesn't wanna come. And I was bummed about it, but thought he's probably got other things to do, that's too bad,

get these all time great guests. And then he dies. And I just thought, well, I didn't know, but everyone else must've known. And then Jim Downey called me and said, you know, more or less Conan, fuck you for not telling me about Norm. And I said, Jim, I didn't know.

And Jim Downey said- I would think Downey might know. No, I didn't know. And Jim Downey said- I would think Downey might know. No, Jim didn't know. Did you know? I did not know. And you were touring with him. Oh, well, I'd done some gigs with him. And then before COVID,

me and Dennis Miller was our last one together, but great, super fun, obviously. And then, but you know, we would talk and it was more about coming over for dinner, same thing where he didn't tell me, he said, no, I can't. And then I, he goes, I go, well, it's just me and you sitting 10 feet apart, but something to do. And he's like, yeah, okay, for sure. And then that night I go, where are you? He goes, David, it's COVID. And I go, what is it? So you're not coming? We're not supposed to leave the house. I go, I know, but we've talked about this.

Like you're allowed to go places and then they, oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay, well let's do it next week then. And then he just did that routine. And then until it was too late, but I didn't know. So I don't know who knew. I think Gervitz knew and maybe- I think Gervitz and Laurie Jo.

I think that's about it. Yeah. And I think, I mean, I think two things about it and they're diametrically opposed. One is I wish I had known, cause I would have told him what he meant to me. And there's that feeling of feeling, I wish I had known.

And so initially I was mad that I didn't know. And then there's the other side, which is great respect for him wanting to keep it private and him not wanting people to treat him any differently because he was sick. I don't know. So I have both feelings at the same time. Yeah, I feel the same way.

Like it was just so overwhelmingly horrible that I just like, then I later it took me how it affected me where like it was, I was mad at him. Yeah. But I really, by the way, just not to lighten up the load, the feel here, cause I know it's getting sad, but when we were at the memorial or whatever that special was for Norm.

Yeah. Where we watched, we were watching the special. Remember that? We watched his special. That's why the cameras are there. That's a separate, that was a thing. Wasn't that after the memorial, we went into the special, remember that? We watched his special, that's why the cameras are there. That's a separate, that was a thing. Wasn't that after the memorial we went into the room? You're talking about two different things.

No, there was a kind of a eulogy for Norm that I sort of spoke at and brought people up. And then there was a separate thing where Norm had made, he was planning to do a, he was planning, it was fascinating, he was planning to do an hour and he had an hour together or 50 minutes and he really had it in his mind. And he knew, I think, I believe,

and Lori Jo would know better, I don't wanna speak for her. I believe. But I think he was planning to go into the hospital for what he thought was gonna be- Something routine maintenance. Routine maintenance treatment for his condition. So what he did was he said, before I go into the hospital, I wanna record. So he recorded using similar technology-

In an amateur way, like just a- Literally just a camera there. We're doing here in the- In the kitchen or something. Far more sophisticated. And he did from memory his whole 50 minutes. And it was really funny and great. He goes into the hospital and he dies.

And then Lori Jo found the tape and they thought to round out the special or to give it something else, let's have you, me, Sandler, Chappelle, Letterman. Who else was there? Was it more Molly? Molly was there, Molly Shannon. A bunch of- Maybe that was it.

Might've been it. It was, and had us watch it. We hadn't seen it. Watch it in real time. That part was a little weird, because the camera was filming us. Yes, and then talk about it right afterwards. And that part, I mean, I think it came out really well, but I remembered being, it was very powerful

to be in a room and have everyone else leave and shut the doors and then show, and then suddenly Norm was there. Yeah. And he's being hilarious and we're laughing and loving it and then it's over. And then I think we just started talking about it. Got all teary-eyed at parts though,

because you're just watching them going and then you start drifting your mind going, okay, it's over, it's right before. And then we talk and then it's funny because we're all talking and then also we're like, just a weird scene. Yeah. Will that ever be released, do you think?

It was. I think it won an Emmy. I didn't realize that. Yeah, it was released. I think it's on Netflix. Okay, sorry. Oh, your mistakes get cut out, that's nice. Yes, it won a, no, it.

Can you edit out me laughing at 9-11? No. No? Okay. Because we never forget. Oh. Nothing special. We never forget who thinks it's funny. It's called Nothing Special.

Yeah. It's called Nothing Special and it won an Emmy. Was it called Nothing Special? What's that? Was it called Nothing Special? Yeah. Is this the thing that you guys are watching is aired? Yes.

The whole, his material. No, no, no. Just, and just so we're clear. Has he been listening? No. This is his first podcast. Is he new? He won a contest.

Is he a contest he gets to sit in? He's a contest winner, he got to fly in, and he told him not to talk. He loves that I make fun of him. That microphone isn't even real. No, it was, the special was, you see, it plays Norm's special, and then you see our reaction to it. So that's the whole, so you see both.

Sorry. No, that's okay, don't be sorry. Don't be sorry. And that's the whole, so you see both. Sorry. No, that's okay. Don't be sorry. Don't be sorry. I, and that's humanity. You should feel terrible about your crimes. We should edit that out. You know, at the memorial, the first one with the dolly shots, whatever that one was, that you were falling everywhere.

When people die and I'm mourning them, I tend to do a tumbling act. Yeah, you're a little bit. Just to sort of loosen up the crowd. Also, by the way, I think it was like four inches and the next one was like nine inches because everybody, their toe hit that fucking thing I'm still mad about, that step.

But I left in between that. And then there was like a part two, or maybe it was the, I'm confusing them, but I had to come back. So I had about, or I just left during it because it was getting too sad. So I ran out. This is when I went to McDonald's, and in the Amazon special, I talk about that exact thing.

I went to McDonald's in my suit and was in line and the crazy guy comes out of the bushes and starts, takes off shirts and smacking the guy ordering. So I go, let's back up, but let's park. I wanna watch. So I went in and that whole thing takes place from the Norm MacDonald thing. Okay, so that happened from the Norm thing.

Yeah, that's a real story and it was really happening and I did get scared when he came in because I thought we were gonna fight. First of all, I want it noted that someone you were very close to, a colleague and a cherished person passed away and you were present at the memorial, but walked out halfway through to go to McDonald's.

But also- But then something funny happened which you could use in your special dandelion. No, because I had already done my set. Yeah, you did your set, so then you're out of there. I scored and now it's time for some chicken McNuggets. Oh, yeah. I try to sound real and it's too many comics there

and I'm trying to sound like, say nice stories about Norm and everyone just looking for punch line. It's such a weird scene because it's all comedians and you're just like, I'm just gonna leave here and everyone's gonna be like, who did well? You know what I mean? It's like, that's everything.

Okay, let's talk about this. This is a real phenomenon. Yes. Where a funny person dies. Yes. Who are their friends? Other funny, professionally funny people. We get together when people pass on, when they die,

and there's a gathering, people speak, but you've got a room full of people who are competitive about getting up and being funny, and it's a strange phenomenon. These things are weird because you think, nope, it's not about that, but there's some part of you that wants to do well. And there's some nerves and some awkwardness.

And I think it started, I went to Gary Shandling's funeral, and then everyone was like, Bill Maher did great. Yeah, and I kept going. And then everyone was like- Can I say, Bill Maher did great. Yeah. And I kept going. And then everyone was like- Can I say something? Maher used props. Oh. And he had a lot of balloons.

He was doing balloon work. He was? I don't remember that. I remember it clearly. And he had a whole trunk like Gallagher or Gallagher 2. That was being filmed too. Yeah. I think you have a tell from that.

Yeah. Is that been released? Are you filming for something for a documentary? Oh, I thought Gallagher was, sorry. What's that? I got confused. I thought Gallagher- So you guys are here to it. Yeah, they had to, yeah. Has that been released? Have you filmed it for something, for a documentary? Oh, I thought Gallagher was, sorry. What's that? I got confused. I thought Gallagher.

So you guys are here to help. Yeah, I know. Bird, bird, bird. She's throwing confusion. I am. You should do Gallagher three. Do you know what Gallagher two is? Gallagher two is his brother.

Yeah, and he does Gallagher's act. Right, but I think, are they both passed onto their reward? I think Gallagher won. Well, according to this podcast, I'm sure they did. Because everyone's dying so far that we talk about it. I know, you guys are talking a lot of- Well, I'm sorry, but- It's a lot of death.

I'm sorry, we're jinxing everyone. We are two survivors here. You know, Sona, you and Gorilla, you're young people. You don't know what it's like. We, we have been through the shit. We're like guys that were in war together. We're like in the Titanic. We're just talking about it.

SNL together, I don't think that's war. It's a lot like the Titanic, SNL. Yeah, yeah. It's all right. God, we talk about SNL forever. It's so embarrassing, but it is something to talk about. Right? He said doodling.

Hey, if you're bored, just let me know. No, I'm not. I think this is, I actually love talking about this stuff and it's meaningful to me. No, because we were both there. If you want to take a break and go to McDonald's, go ahead and I'll just keep talking. You can get yourself the McGriddle, whatever it's called.

No, I almost got beat up. That's a big story. You're not even concerned. Well, let's hear about it. Oh, I can't. I very much enjoyed your special. Did you watch it? Yeah, I did. Oh my God, that's nice.

What are you talking about? When I talk to a friend and they have a special, I, and you know what I liked is that you've got very funny material. You're obviously a very funny comedian, but when you notice something that's just happening in the real moment and fuck around about it, you're one of my favorites.

And one of the first things he does in the special is you're talking and I didn't even notice it, but I realized you're kind of doing that thing when there's a long cord. Mic cord. Your mic cord and you're trying to run and you went, by the way, the cordless mic was invented in 1996 guys. And it's hilarious and it's not even part of the set

that you had planned. And then you go on this whole riff about Jeff Bezos and- Give me a shitty mic for my fucking special. Yeah, and I noticed this at the SNL 50th, and I know I'm bringing SNL back into it, but for a reason, you did a sketch in that. And at one point you're not even in the sketch anymore and you ad-libbed a line that was one

of my favorite lines of the night. That's right. You told me that was very nice. And I mean, it absolutely was hilarious, which is a sketch is going on, you take us through it. I'm doing a sketch with Mulaney and Pete Davidson, Broadway New York musicals. So it's kind of a long sketch. And it's about the evolution of New York

throughout the different eras. Like starting out in 75 when SNL starts out and then a bunch of people saw this. And me and Peter, like two young kids and he's telling us the story of how it started. Yeah, yeah. And so as we go through it, I don't know if they predicted this,

but of course I got bored during it. So they have me, they write me in the middle of it. I walk in and I sit in the audience. You're in the audience suddenly. So it's- Which all the way people don't really know. You like suddenly, you're not there, but you don't quite clock that.

And then all of a sudden they just, they wonder where's David? He goes, listen, Jimmy. And then he goes, wait, Pete, he just breaks character. Where's Spade? And he goes, oh, I think he went back to the audience and sat in the audience. And then they look around and then they have a camera at me

and I'm sitting in the audience and they cut to me and I go, oh yeah, no, I got a feel for it. So. I, I, but, and so I asked around and I think that was you, was that your line? Well, they gave me a line and it was something like that. And then they, Wally goes, I'm not gonna give you a cue card. You got it.

And I go, yeah. And then when it came to me in rehearsal, I said that which was basically something like the line. And then- Right, but you said it your way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you were so dismissive and it was so, it was so thrown away, you're like,

nah, I gotta feel for it. And I, you know, I laughed very hard a bunch of times that night. That might've been my favorite moment. Thank you. That was fun because we did rehearsal and it worked. And then Malani was like, just do it like that. Like whatever. It was perfect. It was fun because we did rehearsal and it worked. And then Milenia was like, just do it like that. Like whatever.

It was perfect. It was fun to be at the 50th. And it was fun to be in something because, you know, we just go and I thought Lovitz's line was funny too. Oh my God. They, Lovitz is at the American girls store. He's sitting so far away. So he's, you know, they have people sitting

and he is in the American girls store. And what it was his line. And they go, cause they have the all stars in the audience but you can't fit everyone. And they go, where's John Lovett? And then they pan the real American Girl Story. He's sitting with all these dolls around him. And they go, oh, Johnny goes, I'm not mad.

I just want to know why. They go, sorry, John, that you're all the way over across the street in the American girls. I'm not mad. And I just want to know why. Like he doesn't get, there's not enough seats. We had a crazy night. I don't know if you're gonna remember this.

It wasn't that crazy, but we occasionally get dinner together. It'll be, and when I say we, it's you, it's Dana Carvey, it's myself. It's the same group. We always go to the exact same restaurant on La Cienega Coy. Love it.

And it's this thing we do and we'll just sit around and talk. And I remember one night, it wasn't planned, it was a total accident. We're leaving the restaurant and we hear, hello. Hello. And it's John Lovitz. What do we have here?

What do we have here? What do we have here? And he is always himself and he's always, he's one of the funniest people you'll ever meet because he's always himself and whatever he's doing, if he's standing with an attractive woman, he'll say, oh, and this is, you know, and this is Jessica. And then he'll look at me in front of her and say, mm, jealous.

He's a walking cartoon character. And he does play the John Lovitz. He does what you want to hear. But we were with him and we're all talking to him. And then I can't believe this really happened, but we all walk outside the restaurant and Lovitz is standing there and he said, hold on, they're delivering a car for me.

And they delivered like an, one of those trucks was delivering a car to him at the restaurant. I don't mean like an Uber. I don't mean, I mean, he was taking possession of a fancy car and looked to me and was like jealous. Yeah, I was jealous. Doot, doot, doot, doot.

As they were lowering a car. You're a Porsche, sir. Yeah, and I thought, who, who the fuck says yes, well, yes, I'll take possession of my Bugatti, I'll be over at Coy looking for old friends from Saturday Night Live. Wait till you see me standing with them, and then pull up.

Yeah, when you see me standing there,, and then pull up. When you see me standing there, and you see them with their shitty cars, make sure you wait. And then back up and have the car delivered. And it was a happening. I loved that. Yeah, we love it. It's always a cracker.

He has tons of cars. I'm shocked. I like cars. He has way more. He pulls up. Do you like it? You like it. He goes, how can I?

Cause he goes, you should get a Mustang. And he pulls up this new blown out Mustang and goes, how can I get you in this car? He's trying to sell it. Yeah. He is always a crack up. Oh, also you did the Mark Twain. I saw you at the last Mark Twain that I was in,

which was the Sandler one. That was a really funny one. Was yours fun too? Yeah, it was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun. I was more fun than I thought it was gonna be. I like, I really like showing up for other people. Being talked about, of course.

Is it weird? I was dreading and then I loved it. Just because everyone was so funny and to your reference. Yeah, I just saw the lineup out there on the poster that you signed for yourself or something, but it was on the wall. No other people signed it to me. I don't know exactly what happened, but.

I stood with a marker and I signed Letterman, Malaney. It's part of your deal, sign here. I signed everyone else's name on it to pretend. I was with Nikki Glaser in Vegas and she gallantly took a, we did our show. And she goes, I'm gonna miss your set. I'm going straight to the airport. Went straight on the red eye to you, got it together.

I mean, that's a brutal- She killed and I was just in Vegas yesterday and ran, I think drove by seven different signs. I hope for me and Nikki. Yeah, for you and Nikki. And I adore her. Yeah, she's great.

I adore her and I adore you. I love the idea of you two being out there together. And that would be a show. I would love to see that show. Yeah, you'd laugh. It's funny. We just, and like what you're saying earlier, it's like when you do corporate shows,

you probably do those when you, Dana and I do a bunch of them and he fucking kills. He's exactly what they want. He exactly, I'm pretty much what they want when he's exactly what they want. But whenever you do anything, actually any show when I'm on the road, this tour, if you say anything that they don't think is scripted,

like that mic thing or you say something about this, you make fun of the guy over here with the lights, it always works 10 times better than whatever you're really supposed to say. It's so funny that it always works that way. One time I was doing this corporate, and this is just a dumb example, but it was like three nights. One night was like Stevie Nicks, me, and then Journey, right? So I'm going backstage, they're like, and don't forget, tomorrow night,

we got David's video coming, but don't forget, tomorrow night, Journey. They would put it over the last figure. So I have to do it about six times before I go on, I go, hey guys, I don't wanna hear one fucking more thing about Journey, okay? We're here tonight, I don't give a fat fuck about Journey and all their contest winners that are in that,

it's not even all real Journey and I'm ready to break it to you. But I said, we're here, and I'm here, and it's gonna suck, and we're gonna get through it. And then you get your precious Journey. And then that works better than the whole other. Of course. So anything like that.

Anything else you've got. And then I go, anyway, dogs are funny, and they're like, no, no, no. Boo hoo hoo. Oh, I smell your ax. Go back to Journey. You really hoo hoo. Boo hoo hoo. Oh, I smell your act. Go back to Journey. Yeah. You really got it with that Journey thing.

Say shit about anything else. David, I've kept you here long enough. God, that did go fast, Conan. I have to say, we did a good job. It was nice and fun and you were great. I think I did a good job. You did a great job. You were all over the map.

I think Sona and I did the best work here. Yeah, I think me and Matt. In your own way. We learned a lot. I think you guys killed it. We learned about, oh, building seven over there. Jesus Christ. Oh my God.

Yeah, building seven. So to end on a positive note. Pearl Harbor. Yeah. There we go. Sona doesn't know what you're talking about. David, on a serious note, I've known you, I wanna, I don't know, I think it was 1989,

something like that, 1990, I can't remember. It was a long time, I've known you a really long time and I'm always really happy to see you. And you are a deeply funny person and also a sweet gentleman. I've always known you to be that. That sweet rumor. Hopefully it's sticking around.

Yeah, we're getting the word out there. It's not trending well, aren't buying it, but there's a lot of pushback on it. But David Spade Dandelion is available to stream on Prime Video. I watched it last night. Very nice. It's really funny.

And you're a good man. On the road, come see me. I know your friend Adam. Tell your friend Adam I said hello. Actually, someone said there is a house over there by you guys. I don't even know where you live exactly, but didn't it get close to you? Yeah. You can take this out. No, no, no, but- We keep it that way. Didn't it get close to you?

Yeah. You can take this out. Oh, no, no, no, no, it's fine. The fires got, Sandler and I live very close to each other. I lived closer to the fire than Sandler. But can you still live there or you cannot? Yes, I can, yeah. Oh, great, great, great.

Yeah, we're, you know, I'm very lucky. We were very fortunate that our house was close and we had to move out of it for a couple of months, but it was just smoke damage. Sorry to bring that up, but yeah, I'm glad yours is okay. So you saw us getting out with some good sentiment and some good feeling and you brought up the fires. I said quickly, I was rocking my brain,

Chad GPT, what's the saddest thing that's happened recently? The fires in Los Angeles. And it goes, this show's over, I wouldn't bring it up. I go, no. So wait, so Chad GBT knew that it was a mistake. They know everything. I would have ended on the journey bit. Yeah.

That really killed. I thought you had timing, you're proving. All right, David, I hope I thought you had timing. You're proving. Yeah. All right, David. I hope I see you real soon. Yeah. Give me about a hundred yards ahead of you and then you take off. Yeah.

All right. Thanks. Conan O'Brien needs a friend with Conan O'Brien, Sonam Avsesian, and Matt Gourley. Produced by me, Matt Gourley. Executive produced by Adam Sacks, Jeff Ross, and Nick Leow. Theme song by The White Stripes. Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino.

Take it away, Jimmy. Our supervising producer is Aaron Blair, and our associate talent producer is Jennifer Samples. Engineering and mixing by Eduardo Perez and Brendan Burns. Additional production support by Mars Melnik. Talent Booking by Paula Davis, Gina Battista, and Brit Kahn. You can rate and review this show on Apple podcasts

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