Bob Costas Wasn’t Sure Conan O’Brien Would Make It in Late Night
Conan O’Brien is now regarded as one of the most distinctive comedians and late-night hosts of his generation. However, his path to becoming a television favourite did not look certain when he made his late-night debut in 1993.
Sportscaster Bob Costas recently recalled that he had doubts about Conan O’Brien during the comedian’s early days at NBC. Costas knew O’Brien was funny, intelligent and personable, but he was not convinced that the newcomer had enough on-camera experience to handle a major late-night hosting role.
The comments came from a 2022 episode of The Friars Club Podcast with Joe Sibilia. The episode was later reshared on Nostalgia Tonight with Joe Sibilia, bringing renewed attention to Costas’ early assessment of O’Brien.
Conan O’Brien Was New to Television Hosting
When Conan O’Brien took over Late Night in 1993, he was already known within comedy circles as a talented writer. However, hosting a television programme was a very different challenge.
O’Brien had worked as a writer on shows including Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons, but he had limited experience performing as the central figure on a late-night programme.
At the time, Costas was hosting Later with Bob Costas on NBC. The two shows occupied consecutive time slots, meaning Costas had an opportunity to watch O’Brien develop as a host.
Costas later explained that O’Brien’s early nervousness was noticeable. Although he could see the comedian’s potential, the beginning was not an obvious indication of the remarkable career that would follow.
Bob Costas Saw O’Brien’s Potential Despite His Concerns
Costas did not question O’Brien’s intelligence or sense of humour. Instead, his uncertainty came mainly from the comedian’s lack of performing experience.
He recalled that O’Brien was clearly funny and smart and that he also seemed like a genuinely kind person. However, Costas said the young host’s nervousness and discomfort were visible during the early stages of the show.
That made O’Brien’s future difficult to predict.
Costas also credited NBC for giving the comedian enough time to improve. In his view, the network’s patience was an important part of O’Brien’s eventual success.
Without that opportunity, television audiences might never have seen the distinctive style that later made Conan O’Brien one of late night’s most recognisable personalities.
Conan O’Brien Developed a Style of His Own
Rather than simply becoming another traditional late-night host, O’Brien gradually created a style that was uniquely his.
His unusual comedic timing, physical humour, eccentric characters and willingness to embrace awkward moments became major parts of his television identity.
Costas later described O’Brien as someone whose work evolved into something that only he could do. That transformation helped turn an uncertain television debut into a decades-long career.
O’Brien eventually became one of Costa’s favourite late-night personalities, despite the sportscaster’s initial uncertainty about how long his first show would last.
O’Brien’s Career Continued for Nearly Three Decades
The early doubts surrounding Conan O’Brien did not stop him from building an extensive television career.
He hosted Late Night with Conan O’Brien from 1993 until 2009. He then became the host of The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien in 2009, although his run on the programme lasted only until 2010.
O’Brien later launched Conan on TBS, where he remained until 2021.
Across these programmes, he established himself as a major figure in American late-night television and developed a loyal international audience.
Conan O’Brien Has Found New Opportunities Beyond Late Night
Although O’Brien is best known for his late-night career, his work has expanded well beyond traditional television talk shows.
His travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go has allowed him to connect with people around the world while combining travel, interviews and comedy.
The show’s third season is scheduled to premiere on August 21, 2026, on HBO and HBO Max. Warner Bros. Discovery lists the new season as a four-episode HBO Original series.
The third season will take O’Brien to destinations including India, the Netherlands, Morocco and the Philippines. The series continues the concept of meeting people he previously connected with through his podcast.
Conan O’Brien’s Career Shows How Television Careers Can Evolve
Bob Costas’ recollection offers an interesting look at how difficult it can be to predict a performer’s future from an early television appearance.
O’Brien’s first days as a late-night host may have been uncomfortable, but he eventually turned that uncertainty into part of his comedic identity. His career demonstrates how experience, creative freedom and time can allow a performer to develop a style that audiences cannot easily find anywhere else.
What initially looked like an uncertain late-night experiment ultimately became a career spanning multiple television shows, comedy projects, podcasts and international travel series.
For Costas, the lesson was clear: sometimes a performer needs time to grow before audiences can see what makes them truly special.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Bob Costas have doubts about Conan O’Brien?
Bob Costas was uncertain about O’Brien’s future because the comedian had limited on-camera performing experience when he became the host of Late Night in 1993. Costas could see that O’Brien was funny and intelligent, but his early nervousness made his long-term success difficult to predict.
When did Conan O’Brien start hosting Late Night?
Conan O’Brien began hosting Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1993 after David Letterman left NBC for CBS.
How long did Conan O’Brien host late-night shows?
O’Brien hosted Late Night with Conan O’Brien from 1993 to 2009, followed by The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien from 2009 to 2010 and Conan on TBS from 2010 to 2021.
What is Conan O’Brien doing now?
O’Brien continues to work in comedy, podcasting and television. His travel series Conan O’Brien Must Go is returning for its third season on August 21, 2026.