It's not often that you get to see a glimpse of the real person behind the name-brand commodity. After the news slowly broke about his NBC late-night debacle, Conan spent his final week on The Tonight Show characteristically positive, with the occasional funny, yet relatively harmless jab at the network that appears to have betrayed him after so many years. I watched his final week in anticipation of what he might do in his final hours on the Tonight Show.
The overriding emotion of Conan's final remarks was simply gratitude. Yes, it was heartbreakingly bittersweet gratitude, but it was gratitude nonetheless. We saw a man that spent the better part of two decades work slowly and steadily towards a goal that clearly meant the world to him, only to have it taken away after less than a year. Instead of negativity toward the situation, we watched Conan honestly submit that he felt fortunate to have held his dream job, if only briefly.
On one hand I don't want to live a world where market-share dictates every aspect of mass-entertainment. On the other hand, Conan is too good for Network television. I doubt that he's interested in an HBO show, but I'd gladly follow him to a network that supports and respects talent.
I can't blame the guy for leaving. NBC's proposed changes to The Tonight Show would, technically and figuratively, irreparably damage the show. To work for a show that becomes a mere shadow of its former glory would simply be a bad decision. Though I am shocked that NBC can justify keeping smart comedies on the air like 30 Rock, while at the same time dumping intelligent and funny Conan O'Brien in exchange (no take backs this time) for slow, simple, Jay Leno, I suppose it makes good business sense.
In his final remarks, on the brink of tears, Conan said “all I ask of you, especially young people...is one thing. Please don't be cynical, I hate cynicism – it's my least favorite quality and it doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen.”
I don't turn to television for guidance, but Conan's comments caught me off guard by putting life, in general, in perspective. I wish him a speedy (showbiz) recovery and happily and patiently await his return. His request for decency in the face of indecency inspires me to be just a little better.
I wrote this to remind me of that.