This year’s prestigious Mark Twain Prize For American Humour was won by Conan O’Brien.
If you’re unfamiliar with the American talk show host, that he won the award after a massive career misstep is astonishing.
British television is littered with failed attempts at creating a five nights a week, late night talk format which has been popular in America since the 1950s, always hosted by comedians.
“Parkinson” was on Saturday nights and “Wogan” three early evenings a week, but they weren’t comedians.
Brilliant on radio, Wogan didn’t research his guests, so often struggled to maintain conversations.
His attempt to ‘out-wit’ comic genius Mel Brooks did Terry no favours.
Bradley Walsh hosted a short-lived, five-nights a week chat show for Channel 5, but even Brad, with his intuitive comedy ‘chops’ couldn’t attract a late night audience.
The long-running late night TV talk show is resolutely an American beast.
Probably the most well-known example is NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show’.
First hosted in the 1950s by Steve Allen, followed by Jack Paar, it was Johnny Carson who turned it into a cultural phenomenon during his time as host, from 1962 until 1992.
He gave many future star comedians (like Steve Martin and Jim Carrey) their first TV exposure.
If Johnny had been impressed by their stand-up spot, he’d call them over to sit on the couch next to his desk. If he didn’t, they were unlikely to be re-booked.
When Carson retired, Jay Leno took over until 2009, when Conan O’ Brien, who’d hosted ‘Late Night With Conan’ for 16 years on a rival network, replaced him..
But it didn’t work, he was ‘let go’ and Leno returned to ‘rescue’ the show the following year.
If Conan’s ego was bruised, he must have taken comfort in his $43 million pay-off
Conan retreated, worked hard creating new projects and in a remarkable turnaround, has now won the award everyone working in comedy in the US covets, The Mark Twain Prize.
If anyone wants to hire a talk show host for a year before firing them, I’m available, on the same financial terms as Conan’s . . .