Conan O'Brien Must Go: Season 3 Roundtable Discussion Part 1 | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Hello, Conan O'Brien here and this is a. very uh special uh episode that we're. doing of Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend. Uh because I am sitting here with the. creative masterminds behind my travel. show, Conan O'Brien must go and uh by. the time this drops, all four episodes. will finally be out. India, Netherlands, Morocco, Philippines. I'm very proud of. these shows. I think this might have.

been our best season yet. Uh I think. there's a lot of funny uh and even some. heartwarming stuff in those episodes. And I'm thrilled to be here with uh the. team that's been with me on all of my. travel shows going back to the very. beginning. Uh and I'm talking about Mike. Sweeney. Hello Mike. >> Hello Conan. >> Well, and now we're losing [laughter]. we are we are we are dropping fans by. the drop off right there. >> Yeah. Hello.

>> Oh, Jesse Gasco. Hi, Jesse. >> Hi, Conan. >> And um that was a little more sincere. And then uh you know him as Dr. Roy Ao. Royo Royal. I know him as Jose Aoyo. He's an actual human being sort of. Jose, how are you? >> Hi. Hi, Conan. >> Guys, we have been working. [clears throat] together on travel shows. going back years and years and years. >> 80s. >> The 80s. [laughter] That's right. That's. right. the 1980s when we traveled to uh. the Berlin Wall was still up. >> That was us.

>> We actually caused the Berlin Wall to. fall. I was doing a bit with Jordan and. we slammed into it and then everyone was. like, "Ah, what the Let it go." I. almost said Putin, but that's. historically inaccurate. It would have. been Yeltson. Conan, stop it. Anyway, uh. let's talk about these shows. I made. this statement that this might be my. favorite season. You guys can weigh in. And I'm not just saying that in the I. think this is our best yet kind of. shtick. I was very proud of these. >> Yeah, >> they're all quite different. Um, a bunch.

of these are countries that we always. wanted to go to and it never quite. worked out. >> It's really the furthest flung season. I. think we we've traveled far to get to. these places. >> Yes. Yes. And if you go by just mileage. alone, these are our best shows. Uh, and. it all starts with I'm going to start us. off on India because that was the uh. first episode that dropped. >> and Mike maybe you can speak to this but.

uh India was on our wish list for a long. time. I I think there were some. bureaucratic difficulties if I'm if I'm. correct. >> Self-inflicted. >> Probably self-inflicted. Uh but Mike, why don't you lay the table a little bit. for uh our long journey starting years. ago to go to India? >> It started in uh 2017. Uh we were putting India together. >> and there is a lot of red tape, a lot of. bureaucracy to shoot in India. I'm sure.

if you wanted to start a pro chemical. plant, it's smooth sailing. But to shoot. a TV show, it's rough. >> Yeah. And and so and then it turned out. um we shot something in 2004 without any. permits and that someone dug that up and. >> dinged us for that. So on the eve of. going, we pulled the plug cuz we still. didn't have an answer and instead in two. weeks we planned you going to Italy with.

Jordan. >> Yeah, I remember that. We were going to. go to Italy, but because of a kind of. weird rogue remote. >> um that we did years and years earlier. >> uh. >> Andy Blitz, >> Andy Blitz, very funny writer had a very. funny idea, which is he's having. problems with his computer. >> and uh he's talking to someone at the. call center, which of course uh is in. India, and he's having uh difficulty. So. he wraps his computer up, puts it under.

his arm, gets on a plane, and takes it. to India, which is a very funny idea. Uh, of course, we meant, no offense to. anybody, but. >> none. >> what we didn't because we're all wet. behind the ears. And Andy Blitz, and I. can say this, I don't think this is. legally uh actionable. Uh, he's a fool. Um, [laughter]. >> Andy Blitz, brilliant. >> No one got any uh permissions or. anything. It was just sort of shot. >> uh gorilla style. And um that caused us. to be put on some list. But it all.

worked out and our huge thanks to uh the. the government and uh everyone involved. in letting us come to India. We had a. wonderful time. Uh it is one of my. favorite places to visit. It's. spectacular. It India is a spectacular. place. I cannot say enough good things. about our experience there. And I loved. I mean there's one fan that really he's. one of my all-time.

favorite fans and that's Rusty. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Unbelievable. >> Special guy. I mean from the first 10. seconds of you meeting him. I met him as. is as the as the the way these shows. work is it it always starts kind of with. a random fan calling into us and I talk. to them on the podcast and. >> um he well you speak to this Jesse he. was just. >> electric right away. He came in really. [laughter] hot and funny doing a million. bits. >> Yeah. >> And um then we uh.

>> which could go either way sometimes. I. mean some sometimes people try that and. it's like ah this didn't. >> this didn't work. trying too hard or it. comes off awkward. >> He just he owned it. >> He owned it. He was, you know, he's that. great quality of he was hilarious and. also sweet. >> Mhm. >> And yes, >> then you add to that that uh you know, he's uh you know, been been dealing with. an ailment uh since birth. um he's been.

dealing with this uh and he's confined. to a wheelchair. and he is the most sunny, optimistic, hilarious, uh forwardthinking livein. the- moment guy. >> Yeah, he's inspiring. >> He's really inspiring. And so, uh, going. and visiting him and meeting his. parents, [laughter] it's one of my. favorite because any, if you watch this. episode, and I hope you do, everything. that happened in Rusty's house with his.

family, you can't. >> invent any of that. It is uninventable. It You cannot script that. It was just a. happening. Uh uh Jose, why don't you. weigh in but keep it very but keep it. much shorter than everyone else. [laughter]. >> First of all, everything you said is. true. We couldn't have planned the. So Rusty is his own character. Very. dynamic, very funny. His father is off. the charts,

you know, incredible as well. He he's uh. almost as tall as you, very outspoken, has kind of a kind of a military bearing. and. >> no filter. >> And no filter. And at one point. >> and brought his own sound effects. >> Yeah. >> And then at one point the dad leaves the. room to go get something and comes back. carrying a giant shotgun. >> Yes. [laughter]. >> And I think it's loaded and I think it's. pointing at me at one time. That was one. of those like we don't have a safe word. and we probably should for when you're.

in these situations. >> Yeah. Yeah. And so, uh, that was. intense. Of course, his mom was. fantastic and and sweet and also her. eyes were just you could see she's lived. a thousand lives with these two. characters. >> Um, and. >> we heard from Rusty after they watched. the show and apparently his mom was. grateful that we left some certain. things out from the [clears throat]. conversation. And his dad was mad that. we hadn't gone further. Oh, is that. true? >> With the edit. Yeah. He he wanted us to. keep the whole thing in. >> Oh. Oh, he wanted Oh, [laughter] he.

wanted it to be a 9-hour special about. him. >> Exactly. >> Uh yeah. One of my favorite things, you. know, India is this massive place as you. can, as you know. >> It's one of the most, you know, populous. uh nations on the globe. And one of my. favorite things is we shot the thing. with Rusty and his his mom and his dad. And his dad was this crazy character. And I think the next day we're out. shooting in this really crowded area and. all of a sudden I hear, "HELLO, CONAN.".

AND IT'S HIM WALKING BY. IT'S RUSTY'S. DAD. How can you run into a person twice. in I know literally like two people or. three people now in India and I'm out in. a crowded area far from Rusty's home and. this guy goes rushing through and he's. LIKE, "HELLO, CONAN. I'M ON BUSINESS." I. think he had his gun with him. Uh. [laughter]. it's a a city of 20 million people and. of course let's talk about the other. fans. >> There was. who who wanted to be a talk show host. and you gave him lessons on how to be a.

talk show. >> But this was a fun moment because we go. to see Nquille. >> Nikil was someone who was interested in. in maybe having a talk show in in India. And I said well I'll give you some. pointers and we thought that'll be a. good segment. We go to Nquille's house. and he had talked to us about his. colorful roommates. >> Yeah. One of them was a huge fan of. yours. He was sort of arranging for you. to come surprise us. >> But we knock on the and he wanted me to. to say hi to his his roommate who's a. huge fan. Knock on the door and.

Nquille's there, but his roommate is not. >> who we were going to surprise. And so. this all plays out in real time where I. said, "Well, where is he?" "Oh, he's at. the gym. Where's the gym? Oh, it's like. a five minute drive from here. Let's go. And we all run into a van. Um, and that. became. >> my favorite thing about these shows. I. love the set pieces obviously where. we've prepared, but when we are not. prepared and you just have to go with.

something, sometimes you slip into these. magic currents. >> Yes. Magic. >> and you feel like uh I don't know what's. happening here. We are not in control. But this is really fun and it and I. think I don't I I I don't know how it. happens, but somehow that stardust does. come through when you look at it later. on in the edit. You're like, you can. tell. >> God works for HBO. >> Yes. [laughter] Yeah, he did work for. Showtime for a little bit, but he was.

underpaid and [laughter] uh he didn't. think they had the same reach. Um then. uh so that and and then I have to say uh. you guys did a a brilliant job. We. obviously wanted to do our homage to to. Bollywood and Mike maybe you can talk a. little bit about how that came about. We. did a we we did our our a Bollywood. number with the assistance of all these. incredible. actors, dancers, uh you know, producers,

uh you know, camera people, sound. people. I mean on this. >> directors, assistant directors, they we gave them. the script and and the the items. elements we wanted in it like the. dancing. >> and they hired a team that was expert in. Bollywood productions and fast I I think. inherent in Bollywood is also being able. to quickly produce something and they.

did a masterful job. It was incredible. >> I was floored. I was for first of all I. mean the dancers men and women um are. just gorgeous, beautiful and so talented. and funny and you know the minute they. saw me they're like okay we get it. Yeah, [laughter]. >> we'll do our best. >> Yeah, we'll do our best to help. >> uh this idiot. And then um we also got. the assistance of these uh two actors.

who are incredible, >> Ali and Reach. They're they're married. >> They're married. And. >> Ellie Fazal and uh Rich Shadra. >> Yeah. And they. >> big Bollywood stars. >> They are big Bollywood stars. And I just. love. >> fans of yours apparently. [laughter]. >> I think they said anything. They're. like, "Sure, sure. We're fans." Um they. were just lovely. They were really funny. and they played along. Uh, and again, one of my um I I I like to go inflict.

myself on another country and then um. what we've found time and time again is. uh that these people from a completely. different culture are so smart and. they're so funny and they're so good at. at playing along and also giving me a. dig when I need one. And trust me, >> [laughter]. >> I'm a big piñata that needs to be.

flacked regularly. Uh, >> and we're like, "Please wait till you. start rolling the. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. [laughter]. >> Uh, so that that show also features one. of my favorite set pieces that we went. in with which went in with. [sighs]. which uh you guys worked really hard on. and I don't know when I've been happier. to show up.". >> I know what you're talking about. You're. talking about the monkey episode, which. by the way was your idea. You talked.

about. >> That's why I loved it so much. >> Exactly. [laughter]. >> I guess there's a problem with monkeys. stealing cell phones. >> Yes. It's a big problem. Yeah. From. tourists. Yeah. >> And you said, "Well, why don't we have a. little m AT&T store and we lure the. monkeys in and we do a sting operation.". >> Sting operation. And so. >> I was [laughter] an outrageous premise. >> It was such an outrageous My favorite. thing is a completely outrageous premise. that you commit to 100%. So sure enough, and a huge thanks again to uh Chalemi. and everyone involved who sure enough.

they they built a two to scale uh well I. was going to start with they built an. AT&T store that's monkey size. >> and then. >> monkey scaled. >> monkey scaled and then they built you. know to to lure the monkeys a robot. monkey. And I guess if you haven't seen the. India episode, if this doesn't intrigue. you enough [laughter].

to get HBO or steal HBO or go hang out. at or break into a home that has HBO and. watch it, >> borrow a monkeykey's phone and watch it. on [laughter] your own. >> Uh, but I remember we were in the van. and I do get very tired sometimes on. these. You know, you're jet-lagged and. there's a long a lot of traffic and. which were we in where were we? Which. city were we in for this one? Was it. Bangalore? >> I was out of Bangalore. Bangalore. That's right. North of Bangalore. >> North of Bangalore. Long drive. We get.

there and usually I have to we're. getting closer and closer and I'm. thinking, okay, which one is this now? Which? And someone said, this is the. monkey sting operation. And I flew out. of that van [laughter]. and I was electrified. and I saw a monkey robot and a. monkeycaled AT&T store and real monkeys. up in the trees and I just felt like. >> all of my career has been leading to. this moment. Everything else is in.

service of this moment. >> So that was. >> in some ways that was our sting. operation. We [laughter] set up. >> Yes. to make you. >> a monkey remote. >> Yeah, at the end the the monkey robot. said, "God, that guy's desperate.". [laughter]. >> Um, well, that's India in a nutshell. It. doesn't. >> Our discussion doesn't even scratch the. surface. Uh, that it is one of my. all-time. uh favorite travel shows, and that's. really saying something because these.

shows mean so much to me. And you guys. did such an amazing job. Uh and top to. bottom the people, the cuisine, um just the whole vibe. India is one of. the most different places that you can. go on the planet earth. >> And I I just the whole time was. alive with, you know, everything was. heightened because of the colors,

>> the the fabrics that Yeah. >> It's a feast for the senses. >> Oh. Yeah. It's incredible. And it's. everything. It's all the things all at. once. It was amazing. And I'm going to. move us on now to the next travel show. that drops in the order, >> which is out now, which is they're all. out now, but the second one was the. Netherlands. And this. uh you know, I [laughter]. the highlight for me, you can probably. guess, was um well, we'll talk about.

that in a little bit. Let's talk about. the fans first. Um, yeah, the fans. >> Great fans. >> Micah the model who you wanted to you. wanted to get modeling lessons from an. actual professional model. >> Micah is this uh absolutely uh beautiful. uh woman model, but she's also she is. brutally funny. >> She is a [laughter] sharpshooter. She's. so smart and funny. in the minute I I.

mean you could and we could sense that. in the discussion with Micah when we. talk on the podcast. But then when I. showed up and she uh I I'm waiting for. her in front of her studio and then she. pulls up on a bicycle and she walks up. to me and I knew immediately uh this. woman is going to tear me to shreds. [laughter]. >> and I'm and I'm going and I'm going to. love every [laughter] second of it. >> She was so funny. She's lovely. So, she. was giving me modeling lessons. I've.

since when I look at our segment now, she asked me, "Well, what are the things. you're not happy about with yourself?". And I go on this long list of [laughter]. >> the parts of my face that. >> had no problem. >> I had no problem rattling off my long. list of things that I don't like about. my face. >> And at no point does she jump in and go, "Oh, come on, Conan.". >> At no point does she say, "No, Conan. What are you talking about?" She's. nodding as I'm shredding my own face in.

front of her like, "Yeah, yeah, now I. know what you mean. I know what you. mean." So, uh, >> keep going. Keep going. >> Yeah. Keep going. Oh, you're forgetting. something. Right. Right. Right. >> So, uh, but um, she gave me lessons. She's just I love that segment. Such a. funny segment. >> Yes. You learned how to how to walk on a. runway. There was a there was a Conan. sort of lookalike model who was much. more handsome than you [laughter]. >> that you understand that. >> Why would you say that? I guess. >> Well, younger. No, let's not say better. looking. Yeah. No, it's.

>> Yeah, me back in the day. >> No, you would. >> Would have been all my flaws were still. there, [laughter] but they weren't as. egregious. >> Um, no, they were that was a really fun. segment. Uh we showed up in in uh. Amsterdam on King's Day. >> and that was just kind of a happy. accident. We. >> the way the schedules work, you have to. slot these things in and you have to. make sure you accommodate. Oh, we're. doing the Oscars, so we got to make sure. we accommodate that. This is when I. could go and it had us showing up on. this day and we realized it's King's Day.

when everyone uh puts out every piece of. junk they own on [laughter] the street. >> and people party and they wear orange. It's the one day they can sell things. without having to pay a tax or anything. So, everybody does a flea market. It's a. giant flea market. >> So, I'm walking around the flea market. That's a happening because you can't. script that. >> Mhm. >> Uh and you guys had a really funny idea, which is there's a big problem with uh. confiscated bicycles. People park their. bicycles illegally around Amsterdam. So,

>> um you guys said, "Hey, it would be. really funny if we went to the graveyard. where all the confiscated bikes are.". >> The boneyard. Yes, [clears throat] the. boneyard. >> So, uh, and, uh, Sweens, uh, that's what. I call Mike, and you should know that by. now. Uh, Sweens, what am I? Let's make. sure I'm not forgetting, uh, anything. else about Netherland. Oh, there's a. great. >> go, I think, was. >> that was my highlight. >> Okay. Well, we'll say, oh, the other. fan, Lucas. Do you want to talk about. the other fan, Lucas?

>> Yes. Lucas, uh, basketball player. >> Basketball player who wanted to you to. teach him how to trash talk. >> Yeah. You came you came armed with a. series of insults that you you taught. [laughter] him. Uh they were some of. them were horrible, some of them were. funny. And the one he loved the most was. Van Go yourself. >> Yeah. Van Go yourself. Yes. Netherland's greatest contribution. They're all Netherlands sort of. [laughter] based insults. But what I. also loved about that segment is um I.

like obviously to go in. uh go in with massive amounts my. favorite thing is massive amounts of. attitude with no talent to back it up. [laughter]. So should I be playing basketball at. all? Probably not. Should I be playing. basketball with a professional? Absolutely not. [laughter] But then um. he brought one of his friends out who is. much bigger than me. >> Makes you look slight. How tall is he? Do you think.

>> he was around 6'8 or 69? >> He's about 5 in on me. >> That's one of my favorite things cuz. while we're shooting the first part, I'm. like, "How are we going to end this. segment? How are we going to end this. segment?" And then we look over at his. teammates and. >> Dave who's 6' n [laughter]. >> and we're just like truck. >> Yeah. >> I think Dave will be the ending. [laughter]. >> Yeah. And sure enough, I then go up and. I start insulting Dave.

>> and acting like it will be no problem. for me to trash you. He of course. immediately starts to uh kick my ass. And so I start karate chopping him. [laughter]. >> Oh, but of course my personal highlight. was um dressing like Van Gogh. >> Oh, that was such a good costume. Shout. out to Scott Chronic for that costume. >> Yes, Scott Chronic. costume and also I. love that uh you know Van Gogh was I. think a red head so there's some similar.

colorings there and also I'm uh a very. tortured artist uh [laughter]. >> who's uh my my nation's greatest. contribution. >> uh and so um that was really fun and. >> I love the excitement of it because we. were shooting something down by the. train station and we all just got back. kind of on later than we wanted to back. to the hotel and you were like, >> "Let's do the Van Go because we're right.

across from the Van Go Museum.". >> But we had to the rush to get you. dressed and get that beard on. We had to. do it all in like 10 minutes because the. museum was going to close. >> Yes, we were racing. So I am I quickly. throw the stuff on and then I'm. [clears throat] running to get to the. museum. >> and the whole idea is I want to get. kicked out of the museum. >> and. >> uh these are things you want to happen. but you have no control over it. So what.

if I had showed up and the guards were. all laughing and said, "Oh, Conan, come. on in." Well, [laughter] that's no fun. [gasps]. >> Boy, did they do us a favor. >> They were not amused. >> They were not [laughter] amused. >> They were not amused. They they. >> they asked you to clear the exit area. >> Yeah. And the minute you I meet. opposition like that, I'm so happy. Uh. but anyway, that was a thrill. Netherlands really fun. >> With a lot of these shows, we we kind of. think of the facial hair first and then.

plan the segments around that. Like what. what kind of beard or mustache could you. put on? >> Yes. Uh last year when we were in Vienna. uh for the travel show, I I I was Freud. and the minute I'm put in costume and. any kind of makeup or fake facial hair. and I get to have a stupid accent, >> I'm just a pig and I'm so. [laughter] happy. And then I start to I. I just free associate. I go into some. other.

>> I go into a trance. character work. >> Yeah. And so we got to do that uh with. uh with uh Van Go. I got to become Van. Go. And I have a gripe which is that I. died in obscurity and then all my works. which I got nothing for in my lifetime. are now being sold for hundreds of. millions of dollars of the most prized. artworks in the world. And I'm bitter. about it. So I want to go and get a. piece of the merch. >> Yes. >> And um. >> the the the tourists I encounter were.

really fun. The whole thing was just uh. was just spectacular. And here's what I. think we're going to do. I think it's. going to be a two-parter because. >> we've had so much fun talking about. these first two episodes. These are all. available now uh on HBO and it's called. Conan O'Brien Must Go. And I I really do. these are a labor of love. Um there's uh. that's pretty much all I can say. I I. absolutely love doing it and I love. doing it with this team. Uh you guys are.

spectacular and No, it is. It's just. it's it's something that means so much. to me and I'm so proud of these ones. They're out. Uh this is just part one. We'll be back next week to talk about. the other two episodes which are out. now. All of them. They've been coming. out once a week. Uh they're all out now. and you can see them. This is the third. season. Uh I really love the other two. seasons too if you want to check those. out. But um let's sign off for now.

unless you have anything to add on. Netherlands. >> The Netherlands. Oh, just that you were. hauled into the International Criminal. Court. >> Yes. Which is in which the HEG. >> The Hague is in the Netherlands and. that's where that's where people are are. tried for international crimes. And um I. was I was arrested and taken to the H. for my various comedy crimes against. humanity. >> Crimes against humanity. >> And you've never seen judges at the H. more unified. [laughter]. Apparently the one thing everyone can.

agree on. >> That was a really funny saying. >> They reinstated the death penalty. [laughter]. >> Okay. >> Which they wanted [laughter] to they. wanted sentence carried out immediately. using just heavy staplers. Um [laughter]. so India, Netherlands and uh next week. we will talk about the other two shows. Morocco, Philippines. This is all behind. the scenes gold. And uh we'll see you.