As someone who has watched Late Night almost every weeknight for the past seven years, I'm pretty well positioned to remark on how he's been doing in contrast to his usual, with-writers show. To be frank, the strike shows aren't as good.
They're better.
This strike has ironically re-invigorated the show and given it a new breath of life. Over time, the same "Bush is dumb, Clinton sleeps around, Rosie is fat, Trump fires people, OJ murders people" monologue loses its edge. Now that Conan has to work around not being able to do his usual monologue at the top of the show, he's come up with some incredible and very entertaining ideas. He's climbed up to the studio catwalk, installed a zip line in the studio (once using it to save Lincoln from being assassinated), put on a German-inspired laser light show, he took over directing duties, did an unbelievably hilarious interview with one his producers (I love the idea of there being someone who unintentionally puts Conan in laughing fits), put his desk behind the audience, learned he has a "floppy heart" from the NBC doctor, demonstrated his range by performing some old timey country bluegrass with the band, gave an audience member a studio tour which quickly evolved to them both running all over the NBC building, and last night he had an MIT professor on to help him shatter his "ring spin" record with an incredible 51 second spin (trust me, it was a lot funnier than it sounds).
All in all, he's been forced to use more remotes and wacky ideas, which has always been his specialty. While the strike may cost my favorite show a true series finale, at least its brought out the best in Late Night. Barvo, Conan, bravo.
Update: My timing is impeccable.
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