Conan & His Wife Liza Recount Their First Date | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Hi, my name is Liza Powell O'Brien and I. feel so many things about being P. O'Brien spouse. >> Oh, this is going to be good. >> Well, welcome to Summer Spouses, uh, the. game show. where the spouses of the three idiots. that do this podcast come in. And. today's special guest, Liza Powell. O'Brien. Um, I thought I'd just start by. saying first of all, um, thank you Liza.

for coming in. >> today. Um, no, it's it's I don't know if. this was your favorite thing to do, but. you were very sweet to say yes, you do. it. And um, we were just talking uh, I. think on one of the I think it was the. first episode we were talking about last. names. Um, because Amanda. uh, >> Lond Yes. But Amanda took Gorly. initially. Is that right? Well, she took. it legally but not publicly out of. shame. >> Right. Okay.

>> Well, um this is a well-known thing Liza. and I talked about because you have such. a beautiful last name and a very cool. last. Powell is such a cool name. >> I think I think I never thought so. growing up. >> The one the one L the Powell with the. one L and how it and because I'm a. history buff and how it goes back to uh. you know revolutionary days. >> I will tell you it has definitely been. misheard or maybe not misheard as bowel. So that's what I think of all the time. now when I'm introducing myself. So that. is a beautiful thing. >> When when I first met I thought you said.

bowel and I was like I am in. >> Yes. >> It's one of my favorite topics and then. when I found out it was Powell I was. really bummed out. >> Yeah. No, but um you have uh it's just a. really, you know, beautiful name and uh. and then I got to know all the Powels. who are really cool people, but I. remember feeling a little bit like, oh, cuz. I've never been a huge fan of my last. name just because it's so generic kind. of just Irish name.

>> So, um yeah. And so we've, you know, we've talked about maybe I should just. switch to Conan Powell. >> Oh, you know, >> really? Well, he's being very kind to me. cuz I said when he was complaining about. his name before we were right before we. got married. >> Yeah, we were engaged. >> And I said, "Well, you can always take. my name." And it didn't go over. >> I know. Wait, you're making it seem like. you're like, "Yeah, I was toying with it. for a bit.". >> I wasn't toying it for a second. >> No, no, it it did not. >> Well, the Conan O'Brien brand had been.

built. Correct. That's That's like we're. going to change McDonald's. That's the. problem is the Conan O'Brien brand had. been built. You know, >> but my I was like privately, you know, ha Amanda Gory, who no one knows as. Amanda Gorly. You could have changed it. privately. >> Okay. And. >> you want to still do that? >> No, that's fine. At this point, no more. pain. >> I want you to have it. >> You're not worthy of this. >> Now that you've actually now after 25. years, you're like, h, >> we gave it to both our kids. That's.

plenty. >> Oh, yeah. >> In addition to yours. >> Yeah. No, it's uh it's it's all good. But um well this is I mean you're free. to you know maybe I should step out. >> if you should leave like I was wondering. why you guys. >> Oh that's interesting. >> Oh do you want me to go? >> Like that's a better um game show. >> It's true. >> But you know we can do both ways. >> Well you know I clearly can't lead this. conversation. >> um any more than I can lead a marriage.

>> uh or participate meaningfully in a. marriage. >> Keep keep going. Keep going. You're. doing well. >> This perspective, >> let's just say uh you know, there's some. I'm problematic around the home. Um. >> your bits. >> What the problematic things? I mean, there's a lot of. >> I almost took a picture today. Nothing. to do with this. I was just going to. record it to maybe show some other. people um what. the. >> Yeah. >> what the kitchen looked like after he. had cleaned up from making his.

breakfast. >> Okay. Tell us. which he was very dutiful. about putting the butter away and. putting the putting the spatula from the. sink into the dishwasher. And then on. the stove was a pan, another spatula, some spray that was still open. >> It was an SPF 50. >> cabinets left open. You know that? >> No, I I fried three eggs and put them on. a butter a piece of butter toast. >> Why did you need two spatulas? >> One went missing. True. You can say.

>> I think I used one spatula to pick up. the other spatula. >> You know that scene, >> you can't be too careful with a spatula. >> That scene in Six Sense when the mom. first knows something's really wrong. with the kid because she is giving him. cereal and she turns around and she. comes back and all the doors in the. kitchen are all the cupboard doors are. open all of a sudden and she's like, "Oh. no." every single time you walk into the. kitchen and he's you can tell he's been. in there because every door in every. drawer everything's open.

>> Yeah. I I will plead guilty to all of. this. Um also I've been told when you. after you use a pan, it's supposed to. sort of. >> cool. >> sit and cool on the stove for about a. week. That may be wrong, but that's just. >> those instructions. >> Yeah, that's what I heard once. Mhm. >> Um, and uh, that's there's a lot. I. think there's some things I've gotten. better at. >> Many things, >> but you say my stuff spreads. >> You're a spreader. I recently figured.

this out. If you go into a hotel room, he has to put when he comes in and drops. something down, I like to make piles and. stacks and and, you know, confine. everything. He has to put everything on. a different surface so we can see it. all. So, next thing, I mean, it works. You know what I am? And we're talking. about t-shirts, jeans, and underwear, but I I lay it out and go like, I'm. rich. >> There's limited surfaces. >> $120 worth of clothing. We're rich. >> What? There's limited surfaces in a.

hotel room. So, you're just. >> not in our hotel rooms. >> Imminent domain. Well, first of all, and. Liz is being very modest, but we always. get the I buy out the entire floor, >> penthouse floor of any Yeah. I just and. I always let them think that I'm coming. that I'm Saudi. >> with that with that name. It really goes. far. >> that I've come in from my palace uh in. my private jet which also for some. reason was named American Airlines. >> Um. >> I have a question. >> So you went out with him and then you.

saw him eat and you're like I'll go out. with him again. You know what? On our. first date, actually I remember telling. Cybil about this. >> Yeah. We. >> our friend Sy Goldman who gets a shout. out. Um he we went to a movie at like 4. something like that and then afterwards. he had an idea to go to I didn't know. this but he had an idea to go to Sha Lee. his favorite restaurant which was right. there. >> Yeah. Real quick what movie did you see? Do you remember? >> All about my mother by Motivar. He. wanted to see High Fidelity but I had.

just seen it. He said I won't see a. movie you've already seen on our show. together. It is sweet. So then she takes. me to a movie where one of the. characters walks out of a vagina at some. point. >> Literally like a 30 foot high. Yep. So. >> and I I my my brain melted. >> I can only imagine you. >> Yeah. I felt I felt safe with John. Cusack. She says, "I have another idea.". And I said, "Okay, we'll try that.". >> And it was like saloon doors. She comes. charging out of a giant vagina and you. hear like a player piano in the.

background. and stay out. Dad and stay out. >> Anyway, he said, so then he said, "Do. you want to get some Chinese food?" And. I was like, "No, I'm in the mood for. Mexican." He's like, >> "Everything I said was no, but we're. doing this instead." Which should have. been a clue. >> So, we went up to this really crappy. Mexican restaurant that I loved at the. time. And we were the it was 5:00 in the. afternoon. We were the only people in. the entire restaurant. And they bring us. chips. And he he put the chip in his.

mouth and then like the corner of the. chip is sticking out. And he. pushes it in with the heel of his hand. I thought it was adorable. >> I know. >> He wasn't doing a bit. This is how he. was eating. >> I If you watch. >> If you watch not just me, but I'm going. to say some of my siblings as well. When. it's time to eat, it was very much a. There's six of us. There was a round. table and they would just throw a bunch. of food. >> Well, your brother, in fact, this. morning asked if our two dogs eat out of.

the same bowl. >> I don't know why he did that. Yeah, I. was talking to my brother Neil and I. said, "Oh, uh, hold on a sec." Cuz the. dogs came running in and they both. started eating their food. Two dogs, two. golden retrievers. They eating out of. there. And Neil went, "Do they eat out. of the same bowl?". >> But I was wondering if he got that idea. because that's what you. >> guys got one bowl of drool that you all. had. >> kind of. But so I also sort of be a. little more specific about what you were. alluding to. The way I eat also very.

>> this is so really fast and like like you. know like his siblings are hovering. I. mean you know but it's it is alarming. and and you tell me no one's going to. take it away from you. She's always. >> like uhhuh uhhuh. >> So when you guys were eating like family. dinner with the four of you, you were. just shoveling food. >> Oh, it's gone before I sit down. >> Like I put the food on the table. And by. the way, uh, uh, I'm you're not the only. one in the house. And so I am routinely. eating like grandma used to, like for 25.

minutes after everyone else is done. I'm. like, well, I'm still working on my. food. >> September is childhood cancer awareness. month, and Tim Coco has something. special coming with Hyundai Hope on. Wheels this September. So stay tuned. Every 36 minutes, a child in the US is. diagnosed with cancer. For nearly three. decades, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, supported by Hyundai, its dealers, and a. portion of every new Hyundai vehicle. sold, has invested more than $300. million in childhood cancer research,

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we're even just a tiny part of it. Join. the fight to end childhood cancer. Hyundai hope on wheels. When we were. first going out, I just noticed that I. would like I need a giant hamburger. >> Oh, yeah. >> I, you know, I need a I I need giant. quantities of things because it was all. this very sort of compulsive. >> dealing with some trauma from childhood. I don't know, kind of way of eating. And. maybe some of it's just in the. bloodline, you know. Has you have you.

ever done that? Like your father giving. the kids cigars in the closet and you. just go to put a feed bag on and go. until you're satisfied. What are you talking about? That made no. sense. You guys haven't heard that. position. The famous like thing where fathers. would catch the kid smoking a cigar. >> Yeah. They'd put him in the closet and. make him smoke a bunch of cigars to make. him so sick of it. >> You did not word that properly time. That was a problem. >> You need to go into a closet with a. thesaurus. Aversion therapy is what.

you're talking about, right? Aversion. therapy. >> Go into a closet with a white. >> cigar heads out there, they'll know. >> So, um, yeah. So, what I noticed right. away is, and this is still kind of the. case, although I think I've changed a. lot, but uh, we're gotten somewhat. better, but I would just need like I. need a giant steak and a lot of. potatoes, then I need some pie. And I. would look over and she would be like, I'm just going to have it's good to have. a salad first. I'll have this salad. and. I'll have these walnuts and I'm always.

running into her and she'll say, "Did. you eat lunch?" And I'll go, "Yeah, I I. took two pizzas and wrapped them around. each other, unhinged my jaw, and slid it. down and heard a splash when it hit my. stomach." And I'll say, "What did you?". And she's like, "I'm good. I had some. walnuts. Um I I had a little piece of I. had a radish that was really good.". >> He used to call me Cornucopia Jones when. we were first dating. It was all It's. all little like and then I uh and I had. just a little bit of mustard on the I. had that was delicious and I'd be like,

"What are you talking about? That's not. a meal.". >> That sounds healthy. >> Oh, she's very healthy. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah. It makes me crazy. >> Oh, I'm I'm sorry. Do you ever go for. like a just you got to have a steak and. dig into it? >> Yeah. She makes also. >> uh whoever steak that I've steak she uh. when you make a fillet or actually any. kind of She with one spatula. >> Yeah, she's I think insane. I use a spatula to cook another spatula.

>> He's got two spatulas to eat it with. >> I was like. >> doesn't know why it doesn't work. So. >> I think Edward Scissor Hands of. Flapjacks. >> Um No, you make an amazing You grill. You're a master griller. She grills it. Like I'm always really excited and when. I say you know what, oh we're going to. make steaks tonight. Uh we're actually. me and the kids are all super excited. cuz it's better than anything I get in a. restaurant. That's for sure. That's. nice. >> Okay, enough being nice. >> I have I have another question. >> Y. >> He talks about how like on one of your. first dates he muttered murderer to. someone. Oh, okay. Not just murder.

>> Were you Were you Were you ever. concerned about his like mental health? >> Listen, I don't know what's wrong with. me, but this this this is a long story, the first date, but by the time we got. to that point, we had been. >> we had been. >> she brought backups. She arranged for us. to meet other people cuz she thought, I. don't know that I'm safe with this. idiot. She did the right thing. >> No, it was. So, I had made this plan. with friends downtown like late. You. know, when you're young, you make a plan. to like meet up at 11:00 p.m. That's not.

weird. And so, we were seeing an early. movie and so I thought, "Oh, well, he. must have something else to do after. that." So, I didn't cancel my other. plan. So, we get out of the movie, we go. to the Mexican restaurant, we eat the. chips. >> We saw a man walk out or someone walk. out of a vagina. And then I jammed I. jammed a bunch of chips into my mouth. and it was like feeding paper into a. shredder. And then. >> and then we walked up uh West End Avenue. and he I was like waiting for him to say. like, "Well, I got to go whatever." And.

it wasn't happening. I was like, "Okay, this is going on." And now there's this. like there's a bar in the corner of my. You said, "Do you want to get a drink?". I'm like, "Sure. We go into this bar.". >> Then you did a weird thing. >> I ordered a whiskey at the bar. >> Scotch. I don't know what I ordered. >> No, you did. You were like, "Uh, I'll. have a I'll have a whiskey neat." And. they were like, "Okay." And I was like, "Wow.". >> You know, this I did it. Never since. Not one drink. >> Not ever since. And then later on I. said, "I thought you drank like I got. her some whiskey." And she's like, "I. don't drink whiskey.". >> Did you just panic and think of a film.

noir or something? >> I guess or something like that sounds. like a cool thing to do. I didn't enjoy. it. >> She chewed tobacco. Anyway, so we were. so we were there for a while and I'm. thinking like my friends are waiting for. me downtown and and I thought, well, I. don't want to bail on them cuz that's. kind of lame. I didn't tell them I had a. date and I didn't tell. So then I said, well, I'm supposed to meet people. downtown. Do you want to come? He said, sure. And now this. >> I should have been I was not cool cuz I. could have said, I've got things to do. Buy, sell, buy, sell. But no, I went.

okay. I've got nowhere to go. >> So we get in this cab to go downtown. Now, we both had probably something to. drink at the Mexican restaurant and the. bar. >> We weren't sloshed, though. >> No, we weren't sloshed at all. But I. think And we're also Neither of us knows. what's going on. And so we're in this. cab heading downtown. >> and he You gave the address or maybe I. gave the address. I think you gave the. address. You told him where we were. going and then you started going, >> "Oh, I know that." Yeah. >> I We all know that now. I enjoy life.

that then. So I just was like, "Okay, we're going to go down to what. >> St. Mark's Place, I think, was the name. of the bar. >> Yeah, we're going to go down to Prada. It's on It's on, you know, whatever. It's in the Bowery blah blah blah." And. the guy's like, "Okay." And I go like, "Thank you.". >> Oh my god. Oh my god. And the thing is I. >> people who don't know me, uh, I'm always. doing a show and the show is just for. me. >> So I don't care. >> I'm cringing for you. No, I'm just I'm. I'm going, "Okay, thank you." And then.

I'm doing my like papa like, "Well, I. guess we're going now. Ella's going to. take a little I'm doing all that stuff.". And Liza's just not being polite. She's. being polite and not reacting. So, you. weren't laughing or anything. You didn't. even acknowledge. >> I was like, it's almost Yeah. Like it. was like he had Tourette's, >> which What do you mean like he had. Tourette's? Something's wrong with me. >> Did I just like you were bombing? Did. she. >> First of all, you don't understand, Matt. I'm going to call you Matt. Um, you don't understand that it's not about.

it working or not working. It's just. what's going to happen. >> That's right. Like, okay. Oh, well, I. guess we're going. And I'm always I. mean, I'm with David Hopping all the. time and we'll be on an elevator and. someone will say like, hey, Conor, you. know, it's good to see you, too. I'll. get you. And Dave is like, I think that. person can hear you. >> So, then you said murderer at some. point. Is that what you were getting to? I mean, we I don't even know if that was. murder, but it was just strange noises. Okay. Okay. >> Strange noises and mutterings and weird.

aides that don't need to be said. This. one thought, well, um I'm so glad we're. meeting up with uh other people. This. will be a safe environment. >> And um but then we uh we had a really. good time. >> Yeah, we did. >> And how was a second date brokered? >> There was no second date. He called and left a message on my. answering machine the next morning at. like 11 and said I had a really good. time last night. You know, I don't know. if it was like let me, you know, give me. a call or whatever. So, >> yeah. Yeah. And then I didn't hang up. I.

went. I left that message. >> Um God, >> well, we only scratched the surface. We. could do so much. We could do we could. do 35 hours of just and and what would. happen afterwards? >> Really lose your podcast. >> No, people would be very entertained and. they would call in and say, "You've got. to get away from him. >> Are you safe?". >> Well, thank you so much for coming in.

Uh, >> anytime. >> This is the love of my life right here. >> Yeah. >> My favorite thing about you. >> You've always said that. You remember. you told me that once. You you said like. you you didn't say much. You said Liza. is the only thing about you I like. >> But also I was just out there in the. hallway. We have the nice HD monitor out. there and I was just out and it was. before I came in and yeah I saw lies up. on the monitor and there's a whole room. full of people. I went look how pretty. my wife is. >> That's. >> I'm still smitten.

>> A. >> now what's for dinner? >> A radish. I can't wait to have my nightly radish. >> All right. Well, that has been Liza. Powell. No, Brian. Uh, and thank you so. much. That was great. And then. >> next episode is over to you guys. You. get to. >> you guys take over the whole podcast. >> Exciting. Look out. Oh god.