Fourteen years after being ousted from NBC’s “The Tonight Show,” Conan O’Brien is finally returning as a guest on the show to promote his new travel series. O’Brien originally took over as host of “The Tonight Show” in 2009 but was pushed out after slipping ratings and pressure from affiliates. He refused to accept a later timeslot and ultimately left NBC with a multimillion-dollar payout in 2010. O’Brien then went on to host his own show on TBS for nearly 11 years. Despite some lingering resentment, O’Brien acknowledged his past partnership with NBC and has since focused on his podcast and travel show. The late-night talk show landscape has shifted from intense competition to more congenial relationships, with hosts like Jimmy Fallon extending olive branches to guests like O’Brien and Joan Rivers. O’Brien’s upcoming appearance on “The Tonight Show” with Fallon marks a symbolic return to the show that once fulfilled a lifelong dream for him. Additionally, the camaraderie among late-night hosts was demonstrated last summer when Fallon and others teamed up for a podcast to support their staff during a writers strike. O’Brien’s journey from the tumultuous exit from “The Tonight Show” to his current role as a traveling host and podcast host reflects the evolving dynamics of the late-night talk show world.
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