Conan O’Brien Has a Surprising Regret About His Time at SNL

Conan O’Brien is known in the comedy world for his intensity, so you might not be surprised to learn that one of his best qualities has led to a few regrets about his career, especially the four years he spent writing for Saturday Night Live. On a recent episode of O’Brien’s podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, the comedian and writer opened up to his guest and frequent SNL host Tom Hanks about those regrets. Life in the bustling world of late-night live television has never been easy, but the long-time SNL writer shared his experience of mostly working behind the scenes from 1988 to 1991 and how stressful creating the show was at times.

As a now former host of his own late-night show, Conan, the comedian has had a rich career in television, which he revealed had its fair share of intense moments. Some might think O’Brien would be worried about the risks he took with jokes for the sake of his comedic integrity, but that is not his concern. O’Brien has even praised Norm MacDonald for pushing the show’s boundaries with recurring O.J. Simpson jokes, so it’s clearly not the risky content that worries him. Instead, O’Brien regrets “being so intense”:

“I regret being so intense about that job. Yeah. I was way too intense, and I think I robbed myself of some fun that I could have had. I did have a lot of fun, but I think I could have had more fun. And I think I could have maybe written there a little longer if I didn’t make it such a grind for myself.” – Conan O’Brien via Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast

Hanks, being a seasoned veteran of SNL as a 10-time host of the weekend sketch show, knew exactly what O’Brien meant. The Forrest Gump actor recalled his years of hosting and how, over time, it got to be too intense for him.

“The last time I did it, I told everybody who was in charge of me, particularly our our wardrobe and stage manager people. I said, ‘I want you to understand that my goal on this week’s hosting duties is to take as few steps as possible… You know, it’s a young man’s game, and there was a time that it was just balls to the walls, and you just fill up every minute with activity. But ‘No, no, no. Take it easy, Tom.'” – Tom Hanks via Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend podcast

Check out the episode where O’Brien reveals his regrets to Tom Hanks below.

SNL Is a Famous Industry Pipeline for a Reason

Like many SNL writers and cast members, O’Brien left the show because of the burnout he felt from trying to keep up with the fast-paced environment. When O’Brien left SNL, he was welcomed by the coveted writers room of hit animated show The Simpsons and became a writer and producer on the show in 1991. However, it didn’t take long for SNL producer Lorne Michaels to win the comedian back with an offer to take over David Letterman’s slot as a late-night talk show host. The show was a success until its final episode in 2009.

This is not an uncommon trajectory for SNL staff members, though. Tina Fey, Bob Odenkirk, Bill Hader, and Pete Davidson, among others, have all gone on to expand their careers after their time on SNL, with shows like Better Call Saul and Barry. Weekend Update’s Michael Che is another SNL cast member who is considering the jump to late night, working on a new show titled Don’t Sleep with Michael Che.