Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend - Rose Byrne

Episode Date: October 13, 2025

Actress Rose Byrne feels delighted about being Conan O’Brien’s friend. Rose sits down with Conan to discuss her Australian comic influences, her friendship with Heath Ledger, and playing patient ...and therapist opposite one another in their new genre-defying film If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. Plus, Conan recalls his earliest showbiz days as an awards show seat filler. For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com.Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (669) 587-2847. 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hi, my name is Rose Byrne, and I feel delighted about being Conan O'Brien's friend. Oh, that's nice. Fall is here, hear the yell, back to school, ring the bell, brandy shoes, walking loose, climb the fence, books and pens, I can tell that we are going to be friends. Yes, I can tell never we are going to be friends. Hey there, and welcome to Conan O'Brien Needs a friend. I'm Conan. We got Sona in De House, Matt Gourley, and Sona, it is almost your birthday.
Starting point is 00:00:45 It's time. Yeah. Now, you take your birthday, you take your birthday more seriously than anyone I've ever met in my life. Yeah. What is it about you and your birthday? I don't know. I just, I take this entire month as an excuse to say. see the people I haven't seen in a really long time. You know, so I celebrate all month long.
Starting point is 00:01:04 Every dinner, every event that happens, I feel like is about me. Yeah. I don't know. It might be a Libra thing. I don't know. I don't think so. I think it's a narcissist thing. It's a Sona thing. Maybe. Do you demand gifts from all those meetings? No. I don't, it's not like, I mean, it is a milestone birthday. It is 43. The big four three. It's a big. It's a big, milestone so maybe no but nobody gives me gifts it's not like we're giving gifts to each other it's just like let's do a dinner and then we just go to dinner and i see people from all different walks of life i mean it's fun multiple presents over the month or do you think you just get presents on the day i don't get any presents i don't want presents you don't get presents on your birthday i also just like
Starting point is 00:01:52 just like getting a lot of stuff you know i i mean this is really sad i lost my stuff and so i'm really aware of all the stuff I'm accumulating now. In the fire, you lost a lot. Yeah, I just don't want just stuff anymore. I just want things I need. So I'm very particular about it. But I do love going to eat, and I do love celebrating my birthday. So you're putting it out there that you don't want, because I was going to get you some really nice things. Oh, I know. Okay. No, we'll do that. No, no. Matt and I had lists of beautiful bibles and treasures that you were going to give you. That's right. But those apparently are out now.
Starting point is 00:02:29 That's not going to happen. Yeah. No, it's okay. I guess I'll just keep this hand-signed by Cher leather boostier from the video, Believe. Are you just have that? I do. I bought it for myself, but I was going to give it to you. Oh, were you really?
Starting point is 00:02:43 I did lose my share drawing on my house. And I guess I'll just hang on to this bust of Dr. Kavorki and it's made out of dried. Come on. Dried hummus. Why? Dried hummus. Wait, did you say hummus? Quimus.
Starting point is 00:02:57 Oh, my God. Do you love it when I say it that way, don't you? I know. So you should let me know what are some things that you need? Because I would happily get you something that you really need. Well, things I need are kind of lame. Like, I just realized I don't have a tray. A tray.
Starting point is 00:03:13 Like for my kitchen to, like, take things. I don't understand what you need. Are you, is there a driving window at your house? It's a buffet. You guys always eat from a buffet? Yeah. Can I get some extra ketchup packets? Yes.
Starting point is 00:03:27 Could you just hand me? No, why do you need a tray? What do you need a tray for? In case I have a lot of stuff, I have to transport from the kitchen to another room. You need a tray. Who's eating in another room? Do you guys have sneeze guards in your kitchen? Wait a minute.
Starting point is 00:03:43 It says here, I just looked up your address. It's a sizzler. You live at a sizzler now. I wish I lived at a sizzler. So wait a minute. So describe to me. No, the sizzler burned down. She lives in a soup plantation.
Starting point is 00:03:56 She loves. She needs to defend how you have a tray that takes things from one room to another. That's very normal. This is weird. Never has Liza ever come to me with food on a tray when I'm in another room. It is true. It is a normal thing to have as a tray. When you watch TV, you put snacks and a little drink on a tray and stuff.
Starting point is 00:04:16 On a tray, you have a trade. Oh, Liza won't let that happen in our house. You can't eat over there. Some crumbs will get... No! But you're an awful eater. So that makes sense. I would not allow you to eat anywhere in my vicinity.
Starting point is 00:04:31 I've heard you're ravenous, but are you messy as well? Yes. Yes. Well, I've been called the wood chipper. So what happens is you feed food towards my gaping maw and then crumbs shoot out. Remember when Cookie Monster would eat? He couldn't because there's no real throat to Cookie Monster. It just, there's no throat.
Starting point is 00:04:51 You know, Cookie Monster just has these flaps. He's a puppet. He's not real. There's no mouth hole. It's just flat there. That's a mouth hole. That's ridiculous. He's not real.
Starting point is 00:05:01 That's not true. You, I get it. I get why Liza would. The trays. That's a normal thing that a lot of houses have. Very normal. Your house for sure has a tray. When Liza serves me food, she is wearing a hazmat suit.
Starting point is 00:05:15 And she's wearing one of, you know what she's often wearing is one of those deep sea diving uniforms from the 1920s. And she'll come to me and she'll say, here is, and I can just hear an echo. Here is your automation. Pro soup, soup, soup, soup. And then I go, and then it's just a Jackson Pollock all over the walls. Oh, that's nice. So, yeah, stuff just goes flying.
Starting point is 00:05:37 That's why we don't have a tray in our house. You do have a tray. For sure, you have a tray. You probably just never have used it. But I'm thinking a very small tray that just brings some grapes and a little bit of cheese over if a guest is here. We would have that, but you're talking about a big tray? No, I'm talking. I think when I'm saying tray, you're thinking of, like, cafeteria trays trays.
Starting point is 00:05:54 No, I'm talking about like a serving tray So you want a tray And what else do you want? I only got to tray That's as far as like That must be a pretty good life If all you need is a tray I know I need a lot more stuff
Starting point is 00:06:08 Does your new place, your new abode have stairs? Yeah Do you need a stair chair that goes up the stairs? I don't need it But I'd like one Would you use it if you had one? Yeah I think those are so cool
Starting point is 00:06:19 Aren't this so cool Well I guess I'll go upstairs now And you sit down and you actually put a seatbelt on and then and it's much slower. Yeah. And I think the fact that you don't need one is kind of cool. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:06:31 But you still have one. And then you could put the tray on your lap and you could eat like you're on an airplane. Because that's how slow it is going up. You could finish a meal. Yeah. You could have a whole turkey dinner and slowly tack is going up the stairs at like, I mean, slower than a tortoise. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:06:46 And oh, it's really fun too to put a tortoise on a stair chair. Okay. Why? But the tortoise is already slow and it's already going up. It's just a slow thing on a slow thing. Yeah, it's really funny. And then you just let a rabbit go up the stairs on its own. Do you want a stair chair?
Starting point is 00:06:59 Yeah. You're putting a second floor on your house, aren't you? I would love to. You haven't put it on yet? Give me some time. It takes a long time to do that. You know, it would be great. I'll build you a staircase and put a stair chair in,
Starting point is 00:07:09 even though you don't have a second floor. And it'd be funny when people smash their head on the... And then just blood rolls down. Blood rushes down the staircase and your guest is screaming I swear there's a second floor there yesterday. We're doing elevator. Yeah. That's funny.
Starting point is 00:07:27 We just got a thing in the mail. We got junk mail for something called like a slift. What's the slift? And it's like an easy prefab elevator that you can put in your house. Wait a minute. Wait a minute. This is fantastic. We could get a slift.
Starting point is 00:07:39 Yes. Wait a minute. I think it's called slift. Can I say something? Can you Google is it called Slift? Slift. That sounds disgusting, by the way. The, uh...
Starting point is 00:07:48 No. It's a band. It's a what? A band? So it's not called slift. You sick, pervert. You're like, there's something I want to get.
Starting point is 00:07:56 It's called Slift. Oh, that's right. It was a nudie mag. We got in a minute. Is there, this is a question for maybe for Adam, but this is our building here. We own this building at Larchmont. It is Team Coco global headquarters. We should have an elevator.
Starting point is 00:08:11 And I love that idea. And you know what I want? I want one that we have three floors in this building. I like the idea that it's prefab. It's something that someone comes in. It's installed within a. day because I know it's not going to be safe and that's funny. Yeah. We also need
Starting point is 00:08:26 fire poles. What? I think it's one of the other. Yeah, it's one of the other and I say elevator. What's it? What's it called there, Eduardo? Stilts. That's it. Stilt. With a Z. And can we have an operator? But how, I don't understand. I've never heard of. Look at that. Oh my God. It looks like
Starting point is 00:08:42 very Star Trek, doesn't it? It looks like you go in there and you get some kind of future medical thing done. Like from No way, like it's a chamber. You get into this chamber and how do they install that? Oh, I see, they dies. That's where Spock dies. Yeah, but he dies of boredom
Starting point is 00:08:58 because it's going so slowly. Wait a minute. Do you think we could get this installed? I think it's a great idea. I'll put up the funding for it. I think we should look into it for real. I would love it. Oh, look, there's a little animated part.
Starting point is 00:09:09 It would make the building more accessible. Yeah, it would make the building more accessible. That's true. It's good. It's a good thing to do. Oh, you know, it'd be great if it made a lot of noise so that when we were recording the podcast. It should come up in this room.
Starting point is 00:09:21 And Ted Danson comes in to get ready for his podcast. And, of course, you know, he's no spring chicken. He'll get on the stilts. And then, and we can hear it on our podcast. And I'm like, Ted! I'm sorry. But Slift makes more sense than stilts. I think you're right.
Starting point is 00:09:37 Yeah. Maybe we can get that. Oh, look at this. It's quiet. It's quiet. And there's a cartoon of a guy and his dog sleeping so that he can sleep on a couch while his wife quietly goes in an inner tube and sails up. Oh, it's got a remote control.
Starting point is 00:09:52 So you could put someone in it and control what they do? This lazy shit is having, his lazy shit is having his luggage sent down in an elevator. And he's saying, okay, all right, this is a handicapped person or handicavable, but this is a person who should use this. But can we go back to the guy saying, someone put my luggage in the elevator and send it down to me in our two-room house? I do think you need to have an old school guy with a hat as the elevator operator. David Hopping is on the, let's just call it a slift. Okay, a slip. And stilts, get your act together and change the name.
Starting point is 00:10:35 David Hopping will be on it and he'll be wearing a, again, 1930 elevator operator. And when he arrives at this floor, he goes, like, cosmetics, notions, unmentionables. Unmentionables. We don't do any of that. This is fantastic. Because he doesn't do anything when David does. a lot. But then whenever we're all here, he didn't do anything. So he could be riding up and down the elevator doing bits. We have to get this. We need to immediately find out how much this costs.
Starting point is 00:11:01 The company's called Stilt, and I'm not doing an ad for them because I wish their name was Slits. Slits. I say Slits. Slits. And guess what? That's the even better name. Slits is like a strip club kind of. Trust me. Yeah. And you know what? Slits should have an elevator. You can join the 100th of a mile club. Listen, stilts, you have 24 hours to change your name to slits. I want this, I've never wanted anything this badly. I've never wanted anything. Maybe they'll give us one for free.
Starting point is 00:11:33 I doubt it. I mean, we've done a lot of promotion for them. Come on, listen up, slits. Yeah. Slits. Knee, formerly known as stilts. Slits, knee stilts. You may know her as stilts, but we call us slits.
Starting point is 00:11:49 I've got to have it. I've got to have it. I've got to have it, and I will spare no expense. We're going to sawn a hole in this joint, and we're running that thing up and down. And David Hopping's going to get a uniform, and we're going to shoot videos, and everyone's going to love us again. Okay. All right, let's wrap this up. My guess today stars in, this is very exciting for me to talk about the new movie, if I had legs, I'd kick you alongside, well, another familiar face you might know.
Starting point is 00:12:16 And this is a project that's very near and dear to my heart. and I absolutely adore our guest today. I can't, I don't know. Just nothing more I can say. I'm thrilled she's here with us. Rose Byrne, welcome. I'm thrilled you're here on the podcast. You came on the late night show a couple of times,
Starting point is 00:12:42 and I never really got to talk to you. And we've had this incredible experience together, working on a movie. I had never done anything remotely like that. And everything I thought about you came true and was verified a million times over. Just in terms of like your, I know you to be this incredible actress
Starting point is 00:13:05 and this very funny person who can do any kind of performance. And then you show up and you were one of my favorite people of all time, seriously. And so that was a blessing. And now I want to take, you down. I want to...
Starting point is 00:13:20 Today's the day. Today's the day. You claim you're from Australia. Exactly. But I found out, San Diego is where you were born to Patricia and Lorenzo Bobkick. Finally. You can come clean. Right?
Starting point is 00:13:40 This is exciting. We'll talk about the film in just a bit. I just wanted to start with you grew up just outside Sydney. But in a city suburb, like 20 minutes from the city, Balmain. Balmain. And you're one of four? Youngest of four. Uh-huh.
Starting point is 00:13:55 Okay. I feel like a policeman now getting information says here. Your eyes are hazel. And you're so innately funny. And I've seen this up close and in person that I'm thinking that had to present itself when you were a kid. Did you know you were funny when you're just with your, in your family? I mean, the youngest thing of like. you're goofy, maybe, like trying to get attention and being a little bit goofy. And my mother says
Starting point is 00:14:21 I liked the attention, but I was also quite shy. So one of those performers, too, that's a little bit shy, but a bit of a ham. And you knew there were certain comedic performances you saw growing up. Yes. And you thought that. And who is that? Who are we talking about? Well, John Cleese in Fulte Towers, that was a show that my family, one of the few shows that we all gathered around to watch. And it was like, I don't know how big it was here in the States. Faulty Towers was I mean, it wasn't like friends, but it was, it played, I mean, the first times I saw it, I think PBS was showing. Yeah, it would only show on PBS until cable came around. Yeah, and but I would see it and what drew me to that performance, and I'm guessing you might be the same, is that John Cleese is verbally very funny and kind of pitch perfect.
Starting point is 00:15:09 But then he can use his body in the funniest. Which is not dissimilar to you, actually, now that it's the same. physique. It's so tall and like the legs and just innately comic with and just some brilliant yeah brilliant physical comedy sequences from that show that I can recall. Yeah. I mean he's so he could he could do it both and I always just thought and I know Peter Sellers to me was the same kind of thing as someone who could you know deliver verbally the perfect performance just in the face but then if called to could be very physically hilarious and what about what women were you watching where you But that person's doing something I love.
Starting point is 00:15:50 There's a great show called Kath and Kim from Australia, these two brilliant comedians, Jane Turner and Gina Riley, I believe. And they were brilliant. They were fantastic. Hysteric was a very popular show in Australia, sort of satire, about these two women. And then also I loved Ab Fab. I loved women from that. And Julia Louis Dreyfus was one of my touchstones.
Starting point is 00:16:11 I just grew up watching Seinfeld, and Elaine was, I mean, yeah, I'd not seen anything like that in a sitcom. I just thought she was, like, so groundbreaking, you know, and amongst these men and just such a specific lived-in character, so physically funny, verbally brilliant, so her intelligence just shines through. But then the horrible dance that she had to do. Horrible dance. I mean, yes, again, she could do just like cleese, she could do both.
Starting point is 00:16:38 One of the things I loved for her and for any fan of comedy is when she did Veep, she opened up this whole other can of whoop ass comedically. Yeah, she really did. It was a it was a turn, wasn't it? It was a pivot. Yes. I mean, she, you know, she could have moments of being a slight out-of-touch sociopath on Seinfeld. But then in Veep, they wrote this incredibly, incredibly mean, horrible stuff for her to say and do. And she's so funny doing it. She's so funny. And still I, you know, still likable. We're rooting for her. Yes, I'm so rooting for her, even though she's clearly the worst person in the world. That's like working for you. Okay, okay. We'll have to edit that out.
Starting point is 00:17:24 Oh, wait, you edit out. I'll handle it. I'll handle it. Did you guys ever work together over the years? I've done some bits with Julia Louis Dreyfus. I feel like everyone has crossed over at some point. So I love to hear those stories. You know, I'm such a geek about that.
Starting point is 00:17:40 I'm like, tell me what happens. And I have to ask you about some. who I got to meet through my show, who seemed very cool. And of course, tragically, we lost him way too young, but Heath Ledger. And I know that Heath Ledger, I think, was on my show and agreed to play a didgeridoo. So I remember I had a very distinct pleasure of talking to Heath and then us bringing a didgeridoo out and him blowing into it. And it makes that sound that, I'm sorry, you know, I don't know that he was hit playing it correctly or incorrectly. But I just don't know the digit redo. I don't know what the tuning is.
Starting point is 00:18:16 That really surprises me. I am shocked. You didn't grow up doing that? I know. I couldn't pick out exactly what rush tune it was. But I think I have a recollection of that now that I feel like that thing. Heath is an important part of your early life and getting started. Tell us about that.
Starting point is 00:18:39 I was 18 and I got cast in a film called Two Hands opposite Heath. And Heath was the lead with the same age, you were just kids in the film. It did very well in Australia. It was Brian Brown, myself and a cast of wonderful Australian actors. And Heath and I travelled to Sundance together. And the film didn't ultimately really translate here as well as we'd hoped, but it's become like a beloved classic in Australia. And yeah, he was integral in getting me agents and getting me to auditions.
Starting point is 00:19:05 And he would always have a house full of Australian actors and friends. He was a very generous guy. Also shy, actually. There was a kind of reserve about. him even though he was surrounded by people often. But he was really instrumental in those early years and very, as I say, a hugely generous spirit. So, but yeah, we were just kids. He was 18, you know, he had done a show called Roar and it was interesting. You know, he always had such great creative instincts and he was being offered so many kind of corny TV shows. He
Starting point is 00:19:34 was a heartthrob, you know, after when he kind of hit. And he really had a specific goal of what he wanted to do and whose careers he loved and I admired that he had confidence inside I still think that his joker I mean that performance had nothing to do with any performance he had done before and it was so that I had seen yeah and it was so it's so easy when you have that heartthrob leading man's status and you have that face to just disappear into that world of playing the same person over and over and over again And he came at that in this way. And in so many of his roles, it just felt like it was very important to him that this is an art. Yeah, he had a creativity about him and a goofiness.
Starting point is 00:20:20 And that role in particular was so unexpected, right? The performance he gives, it's so talk about a pivot. It was really, and it stands the test of time, obviously. It's like, I remember going to see it in the cinema and the gentleman next to me had obviously seen it several times. And every time Heath came on, he would start to recite the lines with him. Oh, no. And I was like, wow, this guy has seen this movie. Matt, would you like to apologize?
Starting point is 00:20:46 25 times in the cinema. I would like to apologize. I thought you looked familiar. I wasn't going to say. I was like, were you at a movie theater? But you have to admit I was pretty good. Honestly. He mailed almost every line.
Starting point is 00:21:00 Yes. But it was, that's a mark of the performance that is, like, you know, iconic. Yeah. So you have success, things are going well, and then you do bridesmaids. I thought that you were getting to play so many very subtle comedic moves. The speech where you're each trying to, when you first came on screen, though, I remembered thinking, okay, this is the beautiful friend who's going to be kind of uptight, and you're just going to hit that note, and then you don't. And you're in many ways being just as competitive, petty, and insane
Starting point is 00:21:52 Kristen Wigg. And I was just like, oh, okay, Rose, yeah, Rose Byrne. And then I think that was everybody's reaction. You know, it's like, those guys are so willing to, like, I had auditioned for getting him to the Greek and ended up doing that film. how I met Jard, who was producing Kristen's script that Paul Feig directed, Kristen and Annie Marmolo's script, that Paul Feig directed. But those guys are really open-minded. They're like, I was on damages. They're like, sure, come in.
Starting point is 00:22:17 You know, a lot of people would be like, why would you want to see this dramatic actress who's not got comedy chops to come in and work with these, like, you know, hardcore. All those girls are from groundlings. UCB, like, really properly trained improv comedic actresses. All brilliant. Like, as you say, like, what an ensemble of, like, incredible actresses one of my like probably my favorite film to ever shoot um and and helen really is the straight man in many ways she's just so sputtened up like but i remember early on when we were
Starting point is 00:22:49 rehearsing and just trying to figure out exactly like the the inspiration for that character and how competitive she is and her um the need for status and how important that is and what that kind of how how people wear that entitlement and you know it's very fun very fun and working with oh my god Kristen Wig, Maya Rudolph, you know, Melissa, Ellie, Wendy. It was just such a heavyweight cast of these women, you know. Did you find that that because what's been remarkable about your career is, of course, there are people that do comedy and drama, but you excel at both of them, and I'm not asking you, I'm telling you, I'm telling you, I mean, I watch you and I love, I'm going to write it down.
Starting point is 00:23:34 This is Blake. I love horror. I love the insidious film. Yeah, they're fun. But, like, I'm watching you in that, and you can just, you're always able to really break my heart, and then I'll see you being hilariously funny
Starting point is 00:23:48 with Seth Rogen, and I'm just a little mystified as to what that's all about. I think there's something very wrong with you that would show up on a cat scan, frankly. There's a large line dividing your skull. I'm sorry, I just want to reduce all your... That's definitely true. Yeah, all your talent took.
Starting point is 00:24:11 It's just because she has range. You're like, something's wrong with you. I just think she has a terrible brain problem. That's my take on her acting. And he's right. I think I'm right. It is correct. But, and then I, we need to get to this because this script comes along.
Starting point is 00:24:31 This creative force named Mary Braunstein. Our friend Our friend writes a movie How does the script come to you? What happens? My agent sends me this script And she's a very discerning
Starting point is 00:24:42 Irish woman Oh You best be reading me scripts What is wrong You all best be reading my scripts I'm sending it your way Pretty much I'm tired to a donkey
Starting point is 00:24:58 She's a pirate She's a pirate agent I said she was a pirate I didn't I heard pirate not Irish Pretty much Cah Cah Weirdly exactly like that
Starting point is 00:25:08 Why did my parrot Don't caw car car Parrots don't go Caw car car You're an Irish pirate With a raven I couldn't get a parrot So I had to get a raven
Starting point is 00:25:17 Um Sorry Sorry Sorry sorry I'm sorry So anywho You've got a line down your head Fisceral cellular reaction
Starting point is 00:25:29 To an Irish woman I'm sorry They terrorize me Straight up. Throughout my life. From the island. Straight up. No, she's very discerning, you know, and she's only written a few times over the years, and she said, you need to read this. And I was like, hmm, okay. But she, you know, read like fire. It's like she lit the page. It's such an unbelievable script. And I want to hear your thoughts on it when you read it. And I devoured it. And there's an incredible symmetry to the script with the imagery. It's kind of the metaphors that are going on. And what's happening in front of Linda. happening to her and what's happening outside of her is a wonderful symmetry and it's and you really do see it I think in the finished product as well it's very much there and I just thought oh my god what an opportunity it's someone throwing you the ball right and you've got the bat and you're like can I really oh my god oh my god and it was extraordinary and it's sort of genre defying in a way
Starting point is 00:26:25 there's many John there's horror tropes of horror in there there's tropes of drama there's there's comedy and there's comedy so I you know I couldn't believe it. And then I started to, you know, I met with Mary and we started to work together and I just thought, I'm like, I cannot fuck this up. So I have this funny experience, which is this script comes my way and we talked about this with Mary on the podcast. But Adam Sandler calls me and Oh, I didn't know that Sandler called you. Yeah. Yeah. Just to tell me he admired my work. Yeah. And then he, uh, hold on. And then he called me. I'm just name dropping now. And then Brad Pitt text me. He wants to know where I got my Ford Taurus.
Starting point is 00:27:03 By the way. And so anyway, all these famous people are always calling and texting. Now, Adam called and he said, is it okay if I give one of the Safty brothers your number? And it's for an 824 film. And I went, I guess so. And he was like, oh, you think so, Connie? Yeah, dummy, idiot. And so at first I thought it's going to be, if someone like me gets offered a part, it's always to play myself.
Starting point is 00:27:32 Do you know what I mean? Of course. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's, oh, and then the characters turn on the TV and Conan O'Brien's there. And he's saying, you all heard in the news, the story about insert character's name here. And then they were like, no, no, no, you're playing a character. So I talked to Mary and tried very hard to talk her out of it. I just was like, well, this is a really great script and you don't want me in there.
Starting point is 00:27:56 But she was adamant. And then my- What was your reaction when you were like, oh, it's playing a therapist? I mean my first reaction was there's be honest with you was there's been a mistake you know like why why am I why is someone and I should talk to my therapist about that but I it it was very surprising to me that she has this this beautiful thing that she's written that's a real statement by her and yes and I and and comes from her life and I just this is her big shot and I'm in there and I thought okay and I really didn't want to um mess things up so she was
Starting point is 00:28:41 very like no we felt the same way we felt the same way we're like we got mess it up here's a little difference you're roseburn and um and i'm gonna to burn so so then um I'm starting to feel better because she's given me all the reasons why I'd just be perfect for it and she said Trust me, everyone is excited about you doing and you're perfect for it. And I thought, well, they're professionals, they must know. And then Mary sets this meeting at the Whitby Hotel that I show up at, you show up at,
Starting point is 00:29:14 and Mary shows up at, and you proceed to say, excuse me, Conan, what acting have you done? And I start saying, well, I haven't really had that. No, but I mean, what films have you done? And I went, I haven't done any films. And then you said, uh-huh. And I said, I've done sketches. And she said, but what about like dramatic roles film?
Starting point is 00:29:33 And I went, I haven't really done that. And then you, he started drilling down deeper and you went, but surely you did plays in high school. And I said, no, I didn't. And Mary, I didn't know you that well then. So I thought, Rose Byrne does not want me in this. And then I find out later that you're taking the piss out of me. And like you winked at, you winked at Mary. But I left.
Starting point is 00:30:01 thinking, oh my God, like she's going to go to her Irish script reader and say, put down that bowl that taters and get Conan off this feckin, not fucking, but feckin, movie. But I often feel like people have secret histories. You don't know. Like, you know, maybe you had a rich history of doing a play or at Harvard, you know, like. You knew I didn't do any. But I don't know. Now you're being the nice person.
Starting point is 00:30:29 No, no, no. Honestly, like, I was like, but I think I remember, I remember going, but has anyone approached you before or whoever has anyone asked you to do a dramatic girl that didn't work out? So, you know, like, I was like doing investigative, like, because I feel like. Yeah. It was like you were wearing a wire and people were listening in a van. Yeah. And then all I remember is, is you slammed your plate down at one point and said, who do you think you are? That did happen. That did. That did. And then you slapped me. And then I hit you. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:30:57 And then I hit me. Yeah. It was, no. And then we start the process of making this movie. And I will admit, I was saying that I worked really hard with Mary. You do. For a longer than a year. You were attached forever.
Starting point is 00:31:18 Yeah. Long before, as was Rocky. So you're making the point that you got much quicker than I did. I see what you're doing. Look at this. This rose is such a master at passive. Are you seeing it? Yeah, you're a long time.
Starting point is 00:31:30 A long time. I mean, much longer than me. And I'm really 99% of the film. But anyway, I had that experience of worked very hard with her, tried to prepare as much as I possibly could. And then before you know it, it's a very small room. It's a tiny room. Tiny room. And I'm a large fellow.
Starting point is 00:31:49 And we're in this tiny room. Tiny room. So quite hot? How was the temperature? I remember. You think you were very excited to see me. Of course. You kept saying, is it hot in here?
Starting point is 00:32:03 People were like, it's actually 33 degrees. Was it stuffy? I just remember, was it? Yes, it was, they had sealed all the windows for sound. And it's just a regular office on the upper east side. So it was... This is not a fancy. This is like, we shot this fast, and it was like a big budget.
Starting point is 00:32:20 It was just to set the scene. It's not like it's a... I was told you got all the money, all of it. Of course they did. And you came in the first day wearing a grill. It said rose rocks. I was like, that's a little over the top. That's how I were.
Starting point is 00:32:37 I know. Established my boundaries. That was really off-putting. Every time you stood up, just money fell out of you. But I, we had these, I'll never forget, just sitting opposite you and we're in that room. And then I hear, action. Like the whole, the hallways packed with people. Action.
Starting point is 00:32:55 and you and I have this scene to do. And I think the first take, I was just trying to process, I'm in a movie, why am I in a movie? Why am I in a movie with Rose Byrne? This is insane. And then I kind of got it together,
Starting point is 00:33:14 I think, for the second take and was able to just, okay, just be in it. But I think on the first take, I was freaked out, you know? You were great. You were great. I looked at you, and you were there, you were my scene partner, and you were present, and I never felt not safe.
Starting point is 00:33:30 But then I see a close-up. I know. I've worked with a lot of people, and it's like, you know, when someone is there with you and you were there with me, you know. And the scenes were very hard. They were challenging. There's a destructive relationship. It's at the end of this relationship with this therapist and their patient, and it is someone in a crisis, and they're not treating each other well. Right. It's, like, complicated.
Starting point is 00:33:53 Well, I was saying this to Mary. Bronstein, the writer-director, I was telling her that one of the things that was a little difficult for me is I am extremely fond of you and I'm also a caretaker. So in real life, if it started to rain, I would scramble to like have a tent built around you. It's that kind of thing. It's counterintuitive. And my character is the exact 180-degree opposite. And you are in, I'm in this tight space and you are begging me. screaming at you, you know, screaming me for help. And I'm, I'm, I'm not doing the thing. Every cell in my body is saying, we must help Rose Byrne. And then I have to remind myself, this is not Rose Byrne right now. Yeah. This is my, my patient.
Starting point is 00:34:39 But it was, the scenes were challenging. I agree. But you, and I've told this to everybody, and you can see it in the film, I just was present for you, turning yourself inside out in the scene. And it's so insane to watch someone do that, especially in an enclosed space, not up on a proscenium in a theater, but just take their own heart out and crush it in front of you.
Starting point is 00:35:06 And then I'd hear cut and you would start laughing or giggling or you'd say, I want a sandwich, you know, and making jokes. And then Mary would come in and go, okay, let's do another one. You'd be like, all right. And I'm like, oh, what do you mean another one? No one can do that twice And you'd do it like 19 times You want me to pull my heart and my lungs out this time
Starting point is 00:35:29 I could try that for you Or just one lung and two hearts It was just weird to see I'm very impressed They were epic They were like I hadn't done that that sort of Same before
Starting point is 00:35:40 Where are you in a therapist office like that Whereas really like in real life Where you're having these sort of moments With your therapist So it was wild That was definitely those days Were they were I mean they were fun There's a fun, for me, a fun element of, like, can we do this?
Starting point is 00:35:56 And, like, you're taking off together in this scene, like, what's going to happen, you know? Yeah, yeah. And then seeing, you know, where it kind of goes. There was one, I can't remember if this made into the film or not, but there's one scene where you're, I think you're lying. There's some scenes we're in the chair and there are some scenes around the therapist couch, but where you're going through all these emotions and at one point, you were just trying different stuff. And it was so fun to watch you play. At one point, your feet went up in the air.
Starting point is 00:36:26 I'm there. I remember that. And you're doing some sort of yoga feet up in the air thing. Like, obnoxious stretching in the chest. So stupid. Like, she's so obnoxious. You're trying to provoke your therapist. And so you're doing like this weird yoga stretch where your feet go up into the air and your head, you know.
Starting point is 00:36:42 I don't think it made it in. No, I don't think so. I think it might have been a bridge too far. I know, but I was, I like what you and I do is galaxy. apart, but then I see flashes of, oh, I know what that is. That's you playing to find things and offering Mary all these choices. And I know that we do that in comedy. Yeah. Exactly. Exactly. It's the same. Absolutely, an offering. Like you're, and she allowed us to do that. You know, there was these, you know, and her, especially in those scenes. It's always, I mean, I'm always looking
Starting point is 00:37:17 for a little levity, right? And those scenes were heavy. So it's like, how can we sneak in some, something that is a little bit, you know, that might be funny. I don't know. So I have a question, which is something I find very endearing is your refusal to take yourself seriously in a profession where everybody takes themselves very seriously. Is that an Australian thing or is that a Rose Burn thing? You tell me. What do you think? Because you've probably spent, had Australians in this chair before. So I don't know. That's right. We had all of Akadaka here, which is the correct way to say ACDC. Haka, it's true.
Starting point is 00:37:54 I did a show in Sydney once at some big theater downtown and one of the best crowds ever. I mean, on Australian audiences. They are such a good. I'm so glad you say that because it's such a long way to come. So when people do get there, they really do appreciate it. People kept thanking me for coming and I said, you know, I kept saying, you know, you have a really good country. I'm happy to be here. But no, the crowd was insane and great.
Starting point is 00:38:20 But they're, what I love is they just, there's no formality. Like if I would call on someone, instead of just answering my question from their seat, they'd come running up on stage and then would end up being seen partners and doing a bit. There's a lot of improvising and having fun and taking the piss in Australia, which is really lovely. Cultural language, for sure. But do you think that's part of your, any time a compliment comes your way or people say, oh, my God. And you're like, well, thank you. And then I see the deflection.
Starting point is 00:38:50 Yeah. Which is... I mean, I would say the same of you. You're a bit of a deflector, I would say. Is that an Irish thing? I mean, I am... I have Irish, you know, ancestors. Yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:39:03 But culturally... How Irish are you? Are you? I haven't... Well, Byr and E is like one of the most common names in Ireland. So when I went there, they said, welcome home. Welcome home. They did.
Starting point is 00:39:14 And my full name is Mary Rose, which is like literally a ship, you know, from Ireland, you know. But funny, when I went there, I found. I felt melancholy. I don't know. I felt like the Irish kind of streak of pain, if I may say. I share with you guys. I felt I felt the joy, but I also felt that. Did you feel like that when you're there? Did you have any reaction? I was like, I'm going to feel like the motherland. And I had that to an extent. And then I felt like the deep kind of history of, you know, stuff. There's, I went back for my travel show and I got very sad. And I'm not someone who lets myself probably, I have a difficulty accessing that and there was no hiding it there. I just really felt, I said, oh my God, the view here, it's such a beautiful, you can see these mountains. They're so gorgeous. And oh, my God.
Starting point is 00:40:09 And I said, why did people leave? And the woman I was with said, because you can't eat the view. like they didn't you know and they needed this wasn't working and they had to go and I thought right idiot it's intense it was really intense but that's why they left return to your roots did they try to eat the view they did I looked at the mountains and there was one big chump okay out of it maybe they didn't need to seasoning yeah but that's real I get that I get that oh he's good to bring levity into famine I always say I'm seriously I'm serious I'm I appreciate that.
Starting point is 00:40:45 I need it now and you gave it to me. But no, but like that is part of it. But I think Australia is so fascinating to me because so many Irish went there or were sent there. We were really sent, most of us. Yeah, yeah. Well, you were clearly sent. I was clearly sent.
Starting point is 00:41:04 Yeah. No, the gels were overflowing. And they did this crazy experiment where they were like, let's put all these people on a ship and ship them out there and they can live out there a sentence there and then hang out with the people who put them in jail in the first place.
Starting point is 00:41:18 That's a short history and also ruin all of the indigenous people, culture. There's a reason they don't use you. That's a thing that happened. There's a reason they don't use you in the tourism ads anymore. Can we try another take, Rose? I know, exactly.
Starting point is 00:41:32 Yeah, wait, let's not focus on that. And then you forgot one of the most important things, which is everyone from Ireland who got shipped over there has my skin color. and they're suddenly living at the equator and they're running around shirtless in that sun and that's not it is it is the weird weirdest story it's a pretty crazy story that everyone is beat red there everybody yeah it's wild uh and so i was thinking okay that's the currency in my family where i come from which is you make fun of yourself before anyone else can make fun of you i think so no i do to your point i think it's absolutely a cultural fact you know we
Starting point is 00:42:10 don't take ourselves too seriously there's a thing called tall poppy never get jumping for your boots. And, you know, like, there's definitely an element of that culturally for Australians. And I guess I kind of embody that a little bit. But, you know, my, my, you know, yeah, humor's always been a big thing in our family and I've always been a family, you know, made fun of. So. And supported at the same time. But, but no, it's not, I, yeah, I find earnestness pretty, pretty hard to swallow. To be honest, it's not my cup of team. I do too. That's why I surrender myself. With the least earnest people in the world.
Starting point is 00:42:46 It's like, yeah. It's a funny thing. What a good joke. But I take the work seriously. Yes. I love the work. And I love the work. And that I would absolutely take seriously.
Starting point is 00:42:58 Well, I mean, it was clear to me that you're not screwing around in this role. And it's been delight to see the reaction to your performance. It's just made me so happy because, universally people have been saying yeah rose burn and i and mary likes to use the phrase hiding in plain sight you've been here you've been doing incredible work everyone loves you and then you do this role and everyone is saying jesus christ this is uh yes oh it's just really nice yeah oh look i i feel very emotional about it emotion about the movie i'm protective of it like i think it's such an incredible piece of art i think mary's a force of nature i think her story is
Starting point is 00:43:42 is so punk rock how she's taken this tackled motherhood and being a caretaker and really in a radical way. Like it's very unconventional and it's uncomfortable and I love the film. So I'm still figuring it out as we were chatting about earlier. Like I'm still discovering it and seeing it through particularly a lot of friends who are now seeing it, seeing it through other people's eyes and what they're discussing with me about it and what feelings they're responding with. And I've, it's been, I'm so grateful not to be corny, but to be a part of that. And I feel, yeah, I feel, I feel, I feel very, like, so proud to be in this. There's something about maybe you could tell me what it is, but it is a different movie,
Starting point is 00:44:24 and there aren't a lot of movies like this. Well, there's the tradition of sort of the woman falling apart. That is. Yes, that's a tradition. But Mary pointed out to me, those are all written by men. Yeah, yeah, totally. Through the lens of the gaze of a man. And she was like, no, no, no, I'm going to write this. And this movie is like refusing to ignore. this woman. You know, a lot of mothers feel invisible. They don't feel seen. They don't feel acknowledged. And this movie is like, no, no, no, you can't look away. This is a mother in a crisis with a child and she will not be kind of ignored. Okay. Which is a response, a friend was chatting with a friend and she was like, I felt seen. And I was like, wow. And so, and then
Starting point is 00:45:07 I have friends who don't have children who really understood other aspects of the movie and other other things she's bringing up in people. So I think that's a market. Well, my wife has not seen the movie yet. Oh, yeah, she's not seen it. And she, I wanted her to see it. She's not a fan of my work. What a shame.
Starting point is 00:45:26 That's so hard. Oh, what a shame. Has no aware I did television, really. It just doesn't like the podcast. But, no, Liza hasn't seen it yet. And she wants to see it, but, and she was going to see it tonight when we go to this event. She can't come. She can't come.
Starting point is 00:45:42 She has to be in Seattle, and so, to see, her lover. Who, by the way, is, isn't, he's a great guy. He's hot, too, yeah. He's a ferry captain. The weather is really bad, then. He's very tan. He's a most tan guy. Because he takes her to Mexico all the time.
Starting point is 00:46:03 I'm like, well, I'm closer. I could take her. And he's like, I got it. They're actually going to see the movie together tonight. They're going to come. up to me afterwards. We thought it was great. Yeah, I loved it. God damn it. Why is your voice so low and resonant? But anyway, but I've been telling her because, you know, I really like her podcast. Oh, yeah. She is the brains of our outfit. And she, but she said an interesting
Starting point is 00:46:36 thing, which is, I mean, I was telling her that, that this movie, I don't, it's going to be tough for you. It's not going to be easy because it's very visceral about what a woman goes through who is a mom and trying to handle it all when her husband's off doing talk shows. And, but I know she's going to love it, but also that it's going to push some buttons. Did she read the script? She did read the script. And she said to me, I didn't know people wrote scripts like this anymore in the nicest way. Oh, that's right.
Starting point is 00:47:09 That's such a cool comment. That's great. you know, Mary really wanted to get, the film is so you up to the point where the camera is so close to you so much of the time. And initially did that freak you out at all? Well, the first day, the camera got closer and closer and closer. It was like here, and I could hear it.
Starting point is 00:47:31 It's film, you know. And I said to her, are you going to be that class? Is that? That's how close we're going to be? She was like, mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah. And I was like, you set the dailies to your dermatologist yeah exactly that was like I'm a good mask okay to you
Starting point is 00:47:47 yeah we'll just freeze it but I could I could hear it so it was it was cool I mean it's just technical right so just sort of adjusting for that and making sure we were always in dialogue like did you get this did you get that should I try one like this try one like you know even though we'd had this great rehearsal period her and I but that technical side of stuff you don't know until you're there right you've got to like figure out and understand it and get my sea legs with working with the camera department. But I knew she was doing something. You know what I mean? I was like, she's pulling something off here.
Starting point is 00:48:19 And the conceit of not really a spoiler, but the conceit of never seeing the daughter was also something she told me early on. And I was like, hmm, okay, right. So I knew she was crafting this language and this tension to tell this story in her, you know, vision, her cinematic vision. And it wasn't until I saw it that I was like, oh, good Lord. Wow. Oh, my goodness, me.
Starting point is 00:48:39 She, she, she, nothing could have prepared me, yeah. You've done so much work in film, and yet this seems like a big evolution or step forward or change in some way because it pretty much is, I mean, yeah, ASAP Rocky, myself, you guys have some people tossed in there, but we're, and we're playing the parts that we need to play, but this is, this is you. And that was, that was, that was, I think it's one of the most powerful things about the film is, um, it's, it is your journey. And, uh, I think I've heard you say that so often it's easy for a woman to be an appendage in a film or like, you know, you're the. Of course. Yeah. You're the co-equal or less. Yes. Yes. Yep. Which I've done many times. Oh my gosh, many times. But this is truly from the perspective of this character. Like you have no other perspective really. And sometimes you don't know. what's real and what's not like when through the eyes of this woman who's just so disassociated you know it's a real it's a real tightrope the whole thing it's like and as that mother myself like
Starting point is 00:49:47 just confronting all of these you know it's very people are not comfortable there's a lot of shame around women who are disappointed with motherhood or have anger around motherhood or have you know feelings that aren't anything anything less than total fulfillment total fulfillment you know isn't it just the most joyous, totally fulfilling. And Andy, Andy Richter told me when his kids were little, he said, you know what it is? It's high stakes boredom. And I said, what do you mean? Because this is before I had had my kids.
Starting point is 00:50:16 And he said, it's a two and a half year old and you're, they're not doing anything. And you're just staring at them. Yeah. But if you're not vigilant for a second, they will try to run in front of a car. And that's what it is. It's the reality. And so there's, of course, there are moments of resentment, good feelings, bad feelings. And at this point, she's not even a mother, she's a caretaker more, you know, so she's not even getting the joy of it and the, like, the extraordinary parts of it.
Starting point is 00:50:47 And it's like this, she's just in this crisis of being a caretaker. So I felt that was, you know, yeah, such a opportunity, you know, it's just an opportunity. It's like, you don't get these shots often. So I feel, yeah, you know, I feel a bit too like, I can't. believe it came to me i'm like a little bit like that too now it got back to me you've tried to cut me out of the film and just the first scenes you said the last scene i thought was pretty good pretty good you requested this is true rose would have done that yeah rose um suggested that maybe because she saw a rough cut and said this is really rough we could get yeah she said i've
Starting point is 00:51:29 seen rough cuts but this is and she said what are we going to do about him And then she said, can you just put a CPR dummy in there and put an orange wig on it? And they tried it. I have a question for you. When did you first see the film? I saw the film for the first time. At Sundance? Yes, at Sundance.
Starting point is 00:51:48 We were at Sundance together. What was your experience of watching it? I think a little disassociated. Yeah, yeah. Like you were out of it. I watched, no, I could watch. I really loved it and I could watch you. I could watch everything.
Starting point is 00:52:01 You know, my scenes, I just, I just think it's a weird, I can't really connect to it. I can't watch that dispassionately. And I know anyone who's been like you, an experienced, you know, actor can do that. I can't do that. I'm just happy I didn't look at the lens at some point and give a little wink. Here's a crazy hypothetical. I know there's a lot of awards buzz for you, Rose, but let's just say. Say, supporting actor, I know, hold on, supporting actor nomination for Conan O'Brien.
Starting point is 00:52:36 He wins, but he's also hosting the Oscars. What happens? The world implodes. First of all, you've just ensured it won't happen. That was my goal. How superstitious are we? Very superstitious, yeah. I come from that island.
Starting point is 00:52:50 Me too. That pirate island. We're probably related. Yeah, I think so. No, I don't think so. I just looked in a mirror and then I looked at you and I'm like, hmm, okay. I have cousins that look like you. You have cousins that look like me?
Starting point is 00:53:05 I do. I have an uncle with no leg. I do. I do. I have cousins very similar. Very, very similar. Say it. Handsome. Handsome. Totally. I totally. It was so sad. I have a cousin that looks like you. I do.
Starting point is 00:53:17 But then they fixed it. No. No. Listen, you can't help me. The damage is too deep, Rose, too deep. You're not getting my sympathy. Yeah. I don't think we'll encounter that problem ever. And I think the important thing, But you are hosting again, correct?
Starting point is 00:53:33 Yeah, that's the plan. Wow. You were so great. I loved you. Loved last year's ceremony. It's wonderful. I couldn't think of the word. I was like, events, ceremony, whatever.
Starting point is 00:53:47 I know, all of a sudden I'm the queen of England. But I couldn't think of the word. I was like, what is it? An event? No, it's not an event. It's a ceremony. It's a ceremony. It's so Rose Byrne is to be so elegant.
Starting point is 00:54:01 using just the correct but then also so goofy at the same time crossing your eyes doing a bit and then right back into oh we're here with dame judy dench that was like you had to thread such a crazy needle it was such a following such a tragedy here in california remember and you had to it was like no i don't remember me i know you probably disassociated but it was like that's like a kind of an impossible task so That's a tough, that's a tough gig Okay, now I don't want to do it again Yeah, you do
Starting point is 00:54:35 Yeah, you do Get the CPR dummy That's what, it ain't tough, it ain't fun Yeah, come on, you're talking CBR dummy This is hosted tonight by the CPR dummy Yeah, Leo de Capo comes out, It does chest compressions
Starting point is 00:54:53 Well, the movie, I mean, this is cool, we get to plug the movie If I had legs, I'd kick you. It's a weird thing to say, but I feel like as like an uncle figure, whatever. I'm so proud of you. I'm so proud of Mary. I'm just happy for both of you.
Starting point is 00:55:09 Thanks, buddy. Thanks for having us. October 10th. You can go to the cinema to see it. And thanks for your support, my therapist. My therapist. You know what? My character doesn't have a name.
Starting point is 00:55:19 Oh, really? Yeah. And I looked at night, there's a degree on the wall, which you can't see in the movie. But I walked up at one point and where it says name, it just says therapist. Did you give yourself a name in your character work? No, I didn't.
Starting point is 00:55:31 No, I didn't. It's not too late. The movie's not out. Nigel G. Sopsip. I think it's best if we take about it. That was a bad one. Anyway, just a joy to work with you and to get to know you better. Me too.
Starting point is 00:55:49 I'll be seeing you around the circuit. I see on the circuit. Yeah, thanks for having me. Thank you for such a wonderful room of funny, lovely people here. Thank you. do what's this thing about you being a seat filler oh we'll do it sure okay just say hey conan any childhood any memories from your early days and show business okay ready yep hey conan any memories from your childhood days and show business right one more time hey conan
Starting point is 00:56:23 Do you have any memories about your childhood days and showbass? Childhood days and show business. You said early days. What am I, Shirley Temple? You just TV up to do that. It was time to shoot on the good ship lollipop.
Starting point is 00:56:39 Puff, puff, I'm smoking a cigar. No, we were just talking earlier and you guys said, hey, bring that up on the podcast. It's one of those early memories of young Conan out in the world. I think I was a writer on Saturday Night Live. have been the, I don't know, sometime between 1988 and 1991, I think we were in a hiatus. I wasn't doing much.
Starting point is 00:57:02 I was bumming around. And someone, because I did sketches on the show, occasionally, I would appear in the background of some SNL sketches. And someone said, hey, Conan, they could use you over at, I don't know if it was the MTV Video Awards or VMAs or something, it was some early version of one of those types of shows. And it was shooting at the Armory in New York. I remember this. And they said at rehearsals, they need people to pretend to be the winners.
Starting point is 00:57:29 So you sit in the audience and they say, and the winner is Phil Collins. And then a black woman stands up. And she walks up on the stage and she says, I want to thank the other members of Genesis. And she basically just so they can get the lighting right and the blocking right, because you're certainly not going to get that person there. They never read the real winner because that can never be revealed before the show.
Starting point is 00:57:51 So they always say at the beginning of rehearsal, this is for rehearsal purposes only the winner is Phil Collins or whatever. So I just thought, like, this was interesting. I'll do this. And I think I got like $50 or whatever I got. So I went over and I think about this now because I've, when I do award shows now, I'm there when I see the people who are doing that same thing that I used to do. Did you ever think you'd be up there hosts in the Oscars? And here you are just a seat filler, you know, fake award winner? Yes, I did.
Starting point is 00:58:17 I knew. I just knew. I just knew. I said it's going to be probably around 2025. Okay. Global warming is going to be a real problem. People don't think so. Ozone layer would have been fixed. And yeah, I just knew the whole thing. Okay. So anyway, no, it would have had no idea. But I was there and I was doing that and I think I had to be someone in Oingo, Boingo once. I mean, it was just these crazy, these references are so funny, you know. And I was like, well, on behalf of Boingo, I just want to say, I was joking around a lot and they probably told me to shut up. But what I remember very clearly is someone who was there in person was Tina Turner was hanging out at the rehearsal. Yeah. Wow.
Starting point is 00:59:02 And so I'm sitting there just wearing my little lanyard that says backstage goofball. And Robert Palmer was there. Simply irresistible. He was there. The two of them were there. I think they probably had a sound check, but they were just hanging out. And I remember they announced the category. And again, they said, you know, okay, let's.
Starting point is 00:59:21 The winner for Best Song of 1988 is, and they opened the envelope, and someone said, Tina Turner. And this person got up, I think, a 62-year-old, very pale man stood up with crutches and went up on stage and said, oh, I'm just really excited that I'm here to win this award. And Tina Turner was there,
Starting point is 00:59:41 and she got really excited because she thought this means that she's going to win that night. And I saw her manager have to go up to her and say, no, no, no, this is just for rehearsal. And I remembered seeing someone's, a huge icon of rock, dreams get crushed in that moment. I saw that happen. It wasn't that bad. I think she probably ended up winning anyway.
Starting point is 01:00:01 But, yeah, it was one of those things where I had a lot of experiences like that. That's fun. Yeah. Show biz. It was showbiz. And I was just this young. Your childhood showbiz. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:00:13 It wasn't childhood. I would have been in my 20s at that point, mid-20s. Okay. And, but it was an exciting. exciting moment for me back then and now all these years later I still treasure it was that sincere
Starting point is 01:00:26 nope I didn't think so okay it's just one of those things that you know so the year it was 1986 according to oh it was 86 okay so guess what I wasn't on SNL yet it was pre-snall 1886 and what was it
Starting point is 01:00:40 the VMAs it was the VMAs was it at the Armory it was in New York not at the Armory what was the Tina Turner song we don't need another year I was probably going to be no I bet it was going to be What's love Got to do
Starting point is 01:00:52 That's that 86? What's love A second-hand emotion Typical male What's that? Typical mail You got a typical mail
Starting point is 01:01:04 Is that? What? It's much so much better Than an atypical man The video was To the mailbox Nope We don't need another hero
Starting point is 01:01:13 That's what I said Yeah Oh Okay well anyway I was there And what would Robert Palmer Have been there for Was that simply
Starting point is 01:01:20 irresistible? Probably Albert Palmer was there and he presented a video Vanguard award to Madonna. Okay. I didn't see Madonna at rehearsal. Because you didn't get to go to the show. No, of course not. His video was addicted to love. Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 01:01:34 You're addicted to love. He's so fine. She's no telling where the money went. I can't afford it. We can't afford it. You guys have to stop. We don't have to pay this. Do we have to? No, we do. I don't think we have to pay if we sing a song, do we? I think we're singing it. Oh, let's get that from Adam. Adam. Adam, do we have to pay if we sing a song?
Starting point is 01:01:51 Yes. I don't know. Let me ask you this. It's murky. The versions we're singing are so far from the original that they can't be, you know, works for me. Okay. No, I think you can't. And she's a common, a stay way to heaven.
Starting point is 01:02:10 Oh, boy. You can't do it. Yes, you can because I just sang it incorrectly. Yeah. I mean, legally you can. But. I said, shh. airway. I know, but you shouldn't. You're just ruining things, I think. It's okay.
Starting point is 01:02:25 Look, we're going to get some clarity on this. Okay. Because I think we should be able to sing these things. People know me as a crooner, and I'm a jukebox. Quiet. They know me. I'm America's jukebox. I've got these golden pipes. No. They call me the velvet smog. And I think that we should be able to sing songs. Well, we should look into this. And I would say, stay tuned. Yeah. straight to a future episode. I don't know what we're doing. Don't make it. Oh. Oh, boy. Conan O'Brien needs a friend with Conan O'Brien,
Starting point is 01:03:02 Sonam of Sessian and Matt Goorley. Produced by me, Matt Goreley. 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 Melnick. Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Battista, and Britt Con.
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