Conan O’Brien Has Finally Revealed His First HBO Max Project
Conan O'Brien will host Conan Must Go, a travel series on HBO Max.
Renowned late-night host, Conan O’Brien has been building anticipation for his inaugural project with Max (formerly HBO Max) over the past three years, and, according to Deadline, the wait is finally over. Two years after leaving the late-night talk show space, O’Brien announced he has a travel series in the works with the Warner Bros. Discovery-owned streaming service.
In a surprising twist, Conan shifted his focus from a weekly variety series to remote segments reminiscent of his popular Conan Without Borders adventures. The new travel series, titled Conan O’Brien Must Go, will be a four-part series where O’Brien will venture out to meet new friends he has made through his highly acclaimed podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. Through this podcast, Conan engages in deep conversations with listeners from all over the Earth.
Conan O’Brien himself humorously reflects on the genesis of the show, stating, “My fans around the globe never asked me to visit them, so I did.”
The series is produced by Conaco, Conan O’Brien’s production company, with O’Brien and his long-time collaborator Jeff Ross serving as executive producers. Nina Rosenstein, Executive Vice President of HBO Programming, expressed her admiration for O’Brien after the show’s announcement, regarding the TV personality as a national treasure, “At least that’s what he keeps telling me,” she added with a hint of jest. She also spoke highly of the Conaco team, commending their intelligence, humor, and genuine kindness.
Conan O’Brien made himself a household name as an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He gained fame as the host of several late-night talk shows, including Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993–2009), The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (2009–2010), and his most recent, which was simply titled Conan (2010–2021). Prior to his hosting career, O’Brien worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons.
Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, Conan O’Brien grew up in an Irish Catholic family. He attended Harvard University, where he served as president of The Harvard Lampoon and honed his comedic skills. O’Brien began his writing career on shows like Not Necessarily the News before joining the writing staff of SNL.
In 1993, O’Brien was chosen by NBC to replace David Letterman as the host of Late Night. Although initially met with mixed reviews, the show improved over time and gained critical acclaim. O’Brien later hosted his own version of The Tonight Show for a brief period before experiencing network conflicts that led to his departure.
Outside of the studio, Conan O’Brien is known for his spontaneous and self-deprecating humor. His remote segments, such as the travel series Conan Without Borders, have been particularly well-received, which is a good prediction for how well this new travel venture series will do.
Conan O’Brien retired from late-night television in June 2021 after almost 28 years as a television host. Fans who have been missing his face on TV since his retirement two years ago can prepare themselves for an entertaining and insightful journey as O’Brien embarks on Conan O’Brien Must Go. This exciting collaboration promises laughter, exploration, and a delightful adventure that is sure to captivate audiences.
