Conan Recaps The Mark Twain Prize Ceremony With Mike Sweeney | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

hey con O'Brien here and we're doing. something a little different today I. know this is usually a fan episode but. there are no more. fans they're all gone it's been a while. it's been a while and we've actually. used a couple of people 10 times using. different voices and mustaches which is. uh unnecessary when it's audio but. anyway and women. yeah uh but anyway the point is uh we. wanted to do something a little because.

I just had a uh a very momentous uh. moment in my career and we thought maybe. we should talk about it and there was. some people asking questions um actually. no one was I just want to talk about. it no one felt needed more disc I I. received the uh the prestigious Mark. Twain award prize PRI yeah that's right. it's a prize and we looked it up prize. is six notches down exactly um yeah it. comes in a Cracker Jack's box uh but uh. no the mark prize which they've been.

giving out for I think 28 years or. something like that yeah late 90s uh the. previous Century sure that's so far not. helpful at all Sweeney I'm joined by. people who were there and participated. that would be Mike Sweeney and sonum. messian yeah and um I'll start by just. saying that uh it was a huge honor I. mean that um I'm not someone who usually. gets worked up about Awards and such but.

the caliber of people that showed up for. this. event no no it's still but it's still no. I'm saying you guys side um uh the. lineup was incredible awesome it a. murderers Ro it was a murderer row of. just the some of the people I respect. the most in in comedy and they came out. and they were all hilarious and really. funny and uh I will set the table which. is that I didn't know what to expect and.

as you can imagine being the focus of. being talked about and possibly. complemented is uh the lowest rung of. Dante's Hell for me uh and for any. Irishman for any Irishman and um it was. uh I wasn't I didn't know how to feel. about it and I was feeling very squirely. about the whole thing and then I showed. up and um there was a there was a dinner. the night before uh which in this case.

was mced by Mike Sweeney who was and you. feel free to jump on Mike anytime you. want Adam sax because you were there as. well um wow you seem. thrilled it looked like I just asked him. hey if you want to you can swallow a cup. of my. mucus time um no uh just as a as a you. were an observer it's like he was at the. Hindenberg yeah yeah he was there at. Lake Hur the humanity he said Humanity.

the humanity but um Sweeny was awesome. he was I I told you in the moment. Sweeney his he's so funny and so he has. a nonchalance about his the way that he. posts Works um but it just brought I. think it you know put everybody at ease. and it's a strange thing because we're. all here the night before there's some. corporate tables um from different. companies that have that have given. money to the to the Kennedy Center uh to. help support the Arts and have been.

doing so for many years and immediately. uh you started to go after those tables. which was hilarious I want to set the. stage which is this is how strange the. night was uh the night before the night. before we all gather um there's a. cocktail party shaking hands talking to. different people we sit down uh and I. don't quite know what's going to happen. and before the evening just as the. evening is starting I feel something hit. me between the shoulder blades and I'm. like not hard but something kind of. thumped between my shoulder blades I'm.

like did I imagine that would that. really happen and someone leaned over. and said David Letterman just threw a. bread roll at. you and so I wheel around in my chair. and as you're getting started uh or the. proceedings are starting I go over to. Dave who's there with his beard and it's. David Letterman you know who's. such an iconic figure for all of us and. I go over and I just said like sir did. you throw a a bread roll at me and he. looked at me in with mock heart he like.

well no I did not and he pointed to. someone at another table and um he was. uh and then uh Sweeney took over you. were fantastic I I hate I hate. complimenting you I know I love it and. you were really really funny you funny. love compliment you were really funny. and um it was nice too because I didn't. even realize that some of the people who. were going to be performing the next. night these big names were in the room I. didn't realize cuz they showed up kind.

they sat in the corner and um terrified. yeah and uh but people got up and spoke. my my good friend Amy Litman got up and. gave she was great a beautiful speech. and she is so funny but also um one of. the best writers I've ever known went to. school with her so it was a nice. perspective she had a perspective on me. knowing me when I was uh she was not in. the Lampoon but she lived across the. street and she used to call the cops on. us all the time and that's how we became. friends yeah I used to sit and talk to.

her through an open window uh while she. was working late on one of her beautiful. you know stories or prizewinning essays. and she co-created Party of Five which. for my generation is a you know that was. like a and Masters of Sex and a million. other mean she's she's a brilliant. brilliant brilliant force and a great. friend and uh she was amazing she gave a. I mean one of the all-time great. speeches and then um I have to give it. up so many people got up and spoke Jeff.

Ross Jeff Ross did a very nice job I've. never heard Jeff say uh two consecutive. sentences was crazy and then he 30 years. that's verbiage I've heard and and he. gave a a very nice speech I have to say. something which is Sona messian takes. the stage and who's sitting in the crowd. David Letterman uh um John malany uh. Adam Sandler just s Sarah Silverman. these weights who are going to be.

speaking the next night at the at the. thing they Sona gets up and she acts. like yeah okay here goes no that's how. she always is that's how she that's how. you always are and she's a superstar I. have marveled at this which is that Sona. there's this scientific saying that uh. the minute you um expose any particle to. light the minute you observe any. particle or atom you change it just by. observing it.

there's one exception to. thatan the time uh a guest didn't show. up who Kum and and Sona just we told her. at the last second you're going to be. the guest and we on the show slap some. makeup on her this is on the old TBS. show and she came walking out like she. owned the place Miss s and proceeded to. be an amazing guest and then when the. show was over no her no ego her head. wasn't swollen she wasn't like oh my God. I gotta call on my friends and tell them. on my TV tonight she's like all right. I'm going to go get go to get some in.

and. out uh see you guys later you're just I. don't know who you are oh well there are. no Stakes really I mean and also I don't. know if you felt this too but that's one. of the most nerve-wracking speeches. though just to talk to you about how. much you mean to people that's a very. awkward speech to do you didn't look I'm. a spe Champion which mentioned in your. intro I you are an amazing you just hit. it you were hilarious.

and I will say this at the risk of being. a human being I love you both for being. there and just that night the night. before was so important because I. realized oh I'm just laughing and. occasionally there's a kind word I'll. avoid that and I'll avoid eye contact. but mostly people were just being. themselves and being really funny and I. just found myself laughing really hard. and it meant a lot to me my my um uh my. brother Luke and Justin were there and.

your kids were there Liza was there. really ni that I was never knowing that. those comedians would be there I know. plus so you knew I wasn't sure if they. were going to knew be there who was. gonna be there I I did and I I was like. okay maybe you know maybe David. Letterman won't really show up and you. know it's like yeah he's he's sitting. right there table 18 throwing bread a. Conan like. no and he did a really he did a really.

funny thing which uh was um he was. acknowledged at one I think you. acknowledged him or someone said oh my. God and David Letterman's here and Dave. everyone else just kind of waved from. their seat he stood like King Louis the. 14 and was acknowledge the crowd and. turned and then turned to acknowledge. more crowd and then did more uh sort of. Regal turns and it was so funny that. that the Applause.

and he refused to sit down for the. longest time and I was like got to love. that move that's a really funny move and. everyone was just that night was very. special put me uh in a good mood and. made me feel like hey maybe tomorrow. will be okay and then I just add real. quick on that night before you uh oh. although the fact that you were there. didn't bother me at. all and add one way or the other were. you nervous swey knowing I was in the. audience that's that's that's podcast.

I was just going to say that or it's. Michael Sarah I can't tell which one. that's why sweene. was um the Kennedy Center put up a like. highlight clip on YouTube if people want. to watch it of the night before I think. if you if you look on YouTube the night. before Conan Twain you'll find like a. highlight real and I think you know they. can see son I will say I think just for. some from some background there was some. obviously for the last couple of months. with the new administr ation there's. been some uh controversial stuff going.

on with the Kennedy Center and um there. was a question of should I go should I. not go and I I felt like it was. important to show up because first of. all we were brought in under the old. regime and uh and the people who brought. me in are no longer there but I thought. we should honor their decision and we. went and it was. uh really lovely because so many of the.

young people that have been working at. the Kennedy Center for years were. delighted that we came they don't know. what their future is um I got to talk to. a lot of them and they're really uh. they're going through a lot right now. and I had a great deal of empathy yeah. for what's happening there and I felt. something about the. situation added to the evening somehow. it made wow it sure did it really made. it feel like this is um and without.

being pompous. without just it just felt like this is. not a. normal event something and and we all. need to be on our toes and and and kind. of be uh funny but. also. uh bring some optimism maybe bring some. I don't know yeah it's not pompus at all. it was a very specific moment that this. event occurred and that you had all. these great comedians there and you had.

this change situation at the Kennedy. Center that was so dramatic and was in. the news all week I mean dramatically in. the news and so right yes it's something. that while while fetting you at the same. time everyone in their own way you know. acknowledged what was going on I thought. what was great is uh all so many. comedians that came I mean the lineup's. insane yeah uh I mean when you start a. show with John malany yeah well let's. get this thing started John melany was.

so good I was like you know as just. thinking in terms of Comedians and a. show order you're like everyone has to F. everyone was great yeah but watching. melany you're like whoa I would not if I. was watching him and I knew I was in the. on Deck Circle or further down the when. I saw when I saw mean I'd be scared. melen was so funny that I. left cuz I'm supposed to close the. evening m so funny giv this award I ran.

and uh I was I was halfway into an Uber. when Sweeney tackled me and drag me back. man I was like I can't follow that. that's joh meany uh he was but then I. mean uh everyone everyone was great I. mean the list of people uh will frell. and I mean I don't know if we're. supposed to be talking about who it is. or if. it's yeah I mean Will Ferrell uh just uh. Tracy.

s. Glazer. watani you know what's so funny is Bill. Burr understands because we grew up in. nearby towns and we're made of the same. stuff and Bill Burr just drilled into me. like I'm gonna say a couple of nice. things about Conan and he'll never look. me in the eye again know you're gonna. sit and I just like this is a guy who. knows how horrifying this is Andy RoR. was there did we say Steen coar.

Stan Evans and and Steven coar came out. and and I don't want to give away too. much there's pictures no you okay. you in your pictures there you guys. know that came he did a he did a hot one. thing with with with Sean Evans that is. absolutely fantastic and um I was you. know I mean I have such respect and. admiration and awe for everybody uh who. who showed up and I and I was um you.

know there's that part of you that feels. like oh no people have to fly here. that's making me uncomfortable you know. what I mean like you're an imposition. yeah it's an imposition and oh and. then everybody was so funny that I that. all melted away and um there was uh it. was one just it was a happening and it. was also. uh really nice to talk to all of the.

people I say young people they're all. different ages but to me now everyone's. young um who uh who have worked so hard. for so many years uh for the Kennedy. Center and just really have give want to. give their lives to the Arts and they're. you gave them a shout out and that was. the biggest that got a standing Novation. yeah it did um CU that was the whole. Audi was employees no uh no that that.

was a really nice moment that was great. it was very cool it was nice of you to. acknowledge that yeah there a lot of. okay well there's a lot of uncertainty. there there's a lot of uncertainty and. um we've we've heard uh that a person or. two that I spoke to that night is have. lost their job since and this just. happened yeah um and so it's a it's a. you can feel sometimes shallow when. you're trying to give encouragement to. people who are in that situation but I. did want it to be a positive experience.

and I I do think and this sound might. sound sh too but when you're younger and. you lose a job that is an incredible I. feel like everyone here has probably. been fired or I talk about in my exp I. start my speech uh with right yes with a. period of unemployment and uh and and. what it felt like um and I know that. that parts of what I said I'm anxious. for it to come out on I guess it comes.

out on Netflix I I think May 4th May 4th. I oh May 4th yeah okay what did you. think I thought it was April 4th no no. they no they looked at the tape and. everything was great but this you. did no I I was just sitting in the. audience no I know but even you in the. audience and they're doing a lot of CGI. and stuff oh no I saw the camera near me. no it looks like one of the skeleton. Warriors from Sinbad is sitting in the. crowd that's a fun frighten it.

frightened people and a lot of kids. can't watch. now look there's a skeleton and he's. going to charge the stage I think that's. anyway a lot of work is being done so. now it's it's been moved to May 4th are. they adding flesh to me like are they. reanimating me and they're also not just. flesh but living flesh so that it looks. like you're still alive right right. right cuz we've tried adding flesh to. you before using CGI and it just looks. like you're a zombie I don't know why. the word desiccated is always used to. describe me my.

god listen it's my own fault because. when I found you you were in a tomb in. Syria you knew and uh yeah I unwrapped. you and I said you you'll be my. headwriter and um you know the L is. history that's right I just said the Le. history to say I didn't want to mention. it but I heard you say the leest history. well because I'm now my head is so. swollen with the Twain Prize that it's. hard for me to pronounce words did we. mention that we got cans on you sorry in. comedy and it's given at the Kennedy.

Center did we mention yeah that's what I. don't know if we mentioned what the pr. it is for athletic ability oh no no no. no no opponent someone lied to you and. guess what know what it is it's the Mark. Twain Prize for the most Riz no yes. yes yeah for the most no one person who. should use the word don't make it. negative that I I know what Riz is and. it says on the award Twain thinks you. got Riz the rizzler of the Year award.

someone a new a new and guess what can I. say you something else she was famous. for piloting a rizer boat and no we got. to stop they just put the award away. they're here to take it away asz I said. rer boo they should take it oh no they. should take that first award to be taken. oh no second edit out that May 4th. announcement not happening no now it's. July 4th cuz they've got a oh we. got a skeleton in the. I'm making dad jokes about RZ we're all.

going down the drain without giving. anything away I think that Will Forte. also should get a shout out oh my god. well Will Forte yes Will Forte is a. surprise but it's okay to talk about it. he was uh I had a notion for how I. wanted the evening to end and there was. when I thought of it I thought there's. only one person who can do it which is. Will Forte and I did something I never. do which is I cold called him and I. don't like to do that but I cold called. him and I said I have an idea but it.

means you fly to DC and only you can do. it and he was laughing really hard at. the idea and he said it do it and then I. said you have to pay for your own flight. oh man and you have to pay me $5,000. that's reasonable yeah and you have to. kiss my feet no he uh he came and he um. I mean he's again again he's just. so uh funny and he can I I I thought of. this one idea and I thought there's one. person who can do it and sure enough and. to the degree where if he had if he had.

said I'd love to do it but I can't. because I'm shooting my you know I've. got a shooting I'm in a movie I'm doing. this I'm doing that I would have done a. different idea because he was the only. person who could do it so what. everything came together and tri your. idea oh my God Robert Smigel and Triumph. Robert was great Robert was hilarious. and he took you through the evening and. the fact that it was a you're in the. Kennedy Center and it's this very. impressive environment and that and that. triph let's and let's just try and. remember Triumph is a rubber dog who.

speaks like an old Russian lady is has a. microphone and is leading us through the. evening yeah you know what I mean it's. supposed to be like this is where Maria. Callis gets her special medal but then. there were a lot of old characters that. that's the other thing yeah yeah and I'm. not going to give anything away but. there's a lot of but you know you could. tease two old late night writer. favorites yes made appearances memorable.

appearances yeah I sent Robert a photo I. looked up at one point and it was just. all you could see was Triumph like. watching the show sitting next to will. frell watching the show and it was just. hilarious I photo of just Triumph. watching show and you know what's so. funny is that when Robert is triumph. over the years I mean over the whatever. 25 years it's been since. Triumph 1998 1998 something7 but but uh. you know in between takes of things I'd.

be talking to Robert and the puppet. would be on his hand and we'd be talking. about and sometimes Robert would be. doing the puppet and I find myself. talking to the puppet and Robert's not. wearing a mask or anything you talk to. Triumph but the fact that is if Triumph. is sitting there just watching the event. and will frell's also watching and no. one's like I'm watching it it's just the. most natural thing in the world yep. there'll never be a Dumber. I mean there may not be a Twain award.

again but will there even be one again. gets it next year know I don't know and. we could tease David Letterman had was. at the dinner throwing rolls at you and. maybe he showed up for the big uh award. night as well we'll never know until you. till May 4th if it ever comes yeah wait. till the 4th of May it would have been. the 4th of April except for S did you. say May the 4th be with you why don't. you take a rizer booat and find yourself. a new job yay. anyway uh it was um BR has a you.

mentioned the your speech though I do. think it already has hundreds of. thousands of views up on YouTube excerpt. of the speech which I you know I will. just say I thought was incredible and. powerful and in the moment you know I. think I I think people got chills I did. you know watching this hearing the. speech in the moment and I really. suggest everyone go check it out there's. oh go ahead well you were so distract. well not distracted you consumed by. doing the Oscars and then the R over and.

and all this they were planning travel. show another travel show we left the. morning after the twain Awards to go to. Austria to go to Austria to to finish up. yes the show that had been interrupted. by uh uh stuff in my life but I just. want to mention that that then when you. finally the week before the Twain award. prize Twain Prize you were like wow this. is coming up you sat you just you wrote. your whole speech every every ASP every. part of it was uh written by you and it.

was fantastic job oh well done including. the serious part which is out already. yeah and is already been nominated for a. Grammy spoken. word but anyway yes a great job oh and. you uh got n best special. effects incredible best skeleton how did. they get a skeleton in the crowd he's. animated um also Andy was great. fantastic the dinner and the show both. both yes amazing job by he had some.

great jokes and I get chills because. Andy the summer before the show started. I was in so much trouble because I knew. I only have literally weeks right to try. and come up with the show that would. replace David Letterman from scratch and. uh and the minute I met Andy RoR I. thought oh I like this guy and in the. back of my mind I thought it'd be cool. if he was with me out there so I wasn't. alone and he's so F he reminds me of.

Sona and that he doesn't give a out. yeah which is unusual in a performer no. no no I interrupted you I'm sorry you. were gonna say you loved having them no. no I that Andy is always Andy yes. exactly and it doesn't matter you can uh. in a beautiful way he's always himself. yes he's true to himself all the time. and there's no okay I better Gear Up get. into Andy RoR character there's no such. thing and the same with Sona Sona. doesn't give a about or her work. for me yeah um look at me now on your.

podcast who won that one yeah know you. you win all the time you win at life all. the time but didn't it feel like a. funeral kind of um doesn't it feel like. we were eulogizing you in a way didn't. Amy sort of reference that did say that. she said it felt like we were eulogizing. you and kind of did yeah and I did have. the strong urge to die afterwards just. cuz it's like what are you going to do. now. but then I realized it's on Netflix.

people will see it they'll forget I need. to get that next. prize sorry there was only one American. humorist apparently yeah I'm sure if we. live you lived in Britain there's. probably like a humorist award every 3. weeks we've only had one we've only had. one it's Twain who's the guy that. created Garfield right right right. what's his name I don't even know I. don't know it would be so cool if I had. this I only know Charles sches is it I. don't know if anyone char SK over. Charles they they what if they skip over.

Charles Schultz and they just give it to. the Jim Davis yeah Jim Davis creator of. Garfield and it's the Davis the Davis. going get the Davis yeah but you have to. work in a plug for Garfield of lasagna. that's right cuz that's what he liked to. eat a bowl you guys no one eats lasagna. out of a bowl wow this was going so well. hey I thought that 20-minute Bell was. going on it went off all right and off. when you said rer booat oh that's when. it started going downhill also some.

great fun video surprises during the. show yes. yes really good video surprises uh some. uh fans will enjoy yes fans uh if. they're still Conan fans out there uh. after this self- congratulatory uh. podcast episode um well no I. congratulated you so that wasn't self. that's true but of course I'm an. employee and and value my paycheck. uh yeah I just wish I had had more time.

to take it in because literally the next. morning everybody had to scatter because. everyone's busy and uh we you and I. jumped on a plane with with with Ross. and we took off for and Jordan for uh. for Austria and then uh we just got back. so I'm. still um we're Ed with this edit the. show is edited it's due tomorrow to HBO. Max so we're edit Insanity yes there's a. lot that's happening right now but uh I.

am uh that I I I'm I'm glad they. recorded that evening because if there. wasn't a recording of it I wouldn't. believe it that's how I feel about it I. kind of just wouldn't believe it and uh. my love and thanks to. everybody um who who came out I mean. really busy people flew across the. country to be there and I'll never. forget it uh as long as I live wait just. forgot it it's a very very funny show.

and very sweet at the same time yeah all. right well I think May 4th Netflix check. it out I think you will enjoy it and. um uh next week in this regular time. slot we'll probably be back with a fan. or maybe just me talking more about how. I won a. prize they're casting more fans this. week so we'll have well more fake fans. for you people his name's Conan yeah hey.

Cronin I loved your blat night show it's. Conan and it's late night I love you. started in 2011 I love it you're great I. love when you drive with people and sing. songs no that's Cordon whatever it. where's my money all right peace out. Tupac.