Conan O’Brien admitted that his 2024 appearance on Hot Ones made him realize the late-night format was losing its relevance.
The episode, in which celebrities answer questions while tackling progressively spicy chicken wings, has racked up over 15 million views on YouTube.
“That was the moment the scales fell from my eyes,” O’Brien told The Hollywood Reporter.
“If a guy can post World Series numbers with an overhead that looked like about $600, and every big star lines up for his show … that’s when I truly realized late-night shows are in trouble.”
Stephen Colbert’s Late Show is set to conclude in May.
CBS emphasized that the decision was financial, denying any connection to Paramount’s pending merger with David Ellison’s Skydance Media.
Colbert referred to O’Brien as the “patron saint of ex-talk show hosts,” highlighting that O’Brien had encouraged him for years to step away.
O’Brien’s own late-night legacy spans Late Night (1993–2009), The Tonight Show (2009–2010), and Conan (2010–2021).
In September, Jimmy Kimmel Live! faced a brief suspension after Kimmel’s comments on Charlie Kirk’s alleged assassin drew FCC scrutiny and backlash from affiliates. Disney paused the show when two major affiliates refused to air it, though Kimmel returned after a short hiatus.
Some analysts speculate that Colbert’s pointed criticism of former President Donald Trump may have played a role in the decision to end his show. The FCC, under Brendan Carr, had to approve Skydance’s purchase of Paramount, fueling further speculation about political influence.
O’Brien acknowledged the decline of late-night television but added, “I don’t like when other malign forces intervene, because they’re trying to curry favor. That pisses me off.”
He remains active through his podcast and HBO Max series and will host the Oscars this Sunday for the second year in a row.
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