Sona's Husband Tak Is "Still Adjusting" To Being Her Spouse | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Hi, my name is Tak Biroyan, and I still. adjusting to being. >> [laughter]. >> son of Sacha Baron spouse. >> And how many years have you been married. now? >> [laughter]. >> It's been 10. >> Wait, are you being serious? >> No, no, no. We got married in 2019. >> Mhm. >> No. >> 2018. >> Yes. >> Uh so that let me do my math. >> going to wrap this up. >> This is already great. This is. >> We're going to wrap this up. This is. fantastic. >> for 10. >> Chuck Woolery right now. >> wait.

>> Okie's 8 years old, so 8 years. >> You're going off of Okie's age? >> That's that's how I did it. >> children you have? Well, let's see. There are two little bets. >> [laughter]. >> Um okay, I'm going to start this off. uh by um. by saying that Tak Biroyan is one of the. cooler people I've met in my life. And I. will. >> [laughter]. >> I'm going to give you the evidence. This. guy super handsome. uh cool graphic. artist okay uh you've worked for Tim and.

Eric's company absolutely for 14 years. uh you are a sick guitarist. You've been. in a bunch of bands, okay? Toured. This. guy emigrated in 1989 from Soviet. Armenia. Where you either did or didn't. cause the plant the power plant. >> We talked about this. >> You told me not to bring it up. >> and you you know what you said? You said. I never said he was responsible for. Chernobyl. You said that, yeah. Roll the.

clip. >> [laughter]. >> This is the way I had always heard the. story. Tak was on a school trip. They. went to Chernobyl to see the plant. They. said don't touch anything. Tak said. what's in this room and they said Tak, you irrepressible scamp you stay out of. that room. >> [snorts]. >> Tak went in there removed an important. cooling rod and walked out of the. reactor. It exploded creating one of the. worst nuclear disasters ever, after. which Tak fled.

the Soviet Union, came to America, married you, and then. you said, "Maybe we should get a. microwave." And he said, "Who needs a. microwave? Watch this." And he just put. his hand over the food. >> Okay. He's stupid. >> Okay, look, maybe I said that. [laughter]. But you emigrated from Soviet Armenia in. 1989. How old were you at the time? >> I was 11. >> That's a tough time to emigrate. Your. whole world changed. >> Yeah, it was like I was somewhat of a. child and then.

I was still a child when we came and I. didn't speak any English. Yeah. And uh. >> I think it's the hardest thing in the. world to do. >> What? >> Unimaginable. >> [laughter]. >> I'm still struggling with that. >> True. >> No, but you completely especially at. that age or any age uproot and come to a. different country and need to learn the. language, the customs, everything. >> Yeah, it was tough. It was not easy at. first, but you know, when you're when. you're young you adjust really easily,

so. >> Did you make friends pretty quickly? >> Oh, yeah. >> Did you? >> Yeah. >> I went to cuz I still haven't I still. haven't. >> [laughter]. >> Uh that's tough. >> Yeah, so uh were you a cool kid? Were. you pretty cool? >> No, God, no. I only became cool. when I started marrying Sona. >> When you started marrying Sona? >> Yeah, yeah. >> He's still marrying It's a long process. >> Still marrying. >> Yeah. >> That's why he doesn't know how long. you've been married. >> It's not official [laughter] yet. >> Here's what I remember. Here's what I. remember very clearly, okay?

Um I don't know how much you know, but. uh Sona was a you know, it's a wild. tornado at the show. Um and uh she was a. force of nature. I love Sona, but um she. was always getting mad at me for. different reasons and we would bicker. and she would say, "Well, I'm not going. to give you your messages cuz you need. to you know." I mean crazy stuff was. happening. And then one day. she comes in and she's the happiest. person in the world. And she was like, I. met this guy. We used to do shows at.

Comic-Con. She said I met someone at. Comic-Con and the next thing I know. you're in the picture. And. you she was immediately over the moon. happy. And then all of us were like, this guy Tak is the coolest guy ever. Then you guys get engaged, you have this. wedding. I went to the wedding and I. watched you guys come out and I was. like, that is the that is the. Jack Kennedy and Jackie, you know, like.

>> You're just like the high praise. >> like there's this like power couple. >> Well, and you threw us an engagement. party with like 150 of our closest. friends and family. >> that was fun. I've never seen so many. mustaches in my life. [laughter]. >> And it was so nice. >> And eyebrows. >> So nice of you and Liza to do that. >> they all had one eyebrow. >> [laughter]. >> I mean all of us they grew the one. circular one. It's like redwood trees that share. roots. I [laughter] noticed like these. guys all have to go in one car?

Well, we better go now. Uh so. yeah, just just been a delight. And then. you have the coolest you have these. these twin boys and. they're super cool, good looking. They're just going to lay waste to the. world. >> They are. And they are [clears throat]. really. >> Mikey and Charlie have a lot of energy. >> of energy. It's a lot. They're a. handful, but they're so cute and they're. so sweet. >> They are really sweet. >> Yeah, it's just the fighting, the. constant fighting.

>> It's constant. >> I always say I I feel like I'm. refereeing half the time at the house. I'm just like. >> Yeah, yeah. >> You go there. You go there. Yeah. >> you a cool dad or are you a dad that. loses gets his loses his temper? What. which dad are you? >> I try not to like lose my but I. do, right? >> Yeah, it's hard not to. >> But yeah, I try not to do it. Uh it's just like so frustrating at. times. Um. you just got to remember that they're. little. >> Mhm. >> And don't take everything personally and. >> [laughter].

>> Wow. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Again, these are skills I've not. mastered. >> Yeah, [laughter] yeah. >> English, having friends, not taking things personally. >> [laughter]. >> I think I I need a lot of work. Um tell. me about the music because you're really. into. punk music. >> Yeah. >> What are your inspirations? Who do you. love? >> Oh man, there's so many. Um like everything from like you know, old school like British punk like you. know, Sparrer, The Clash, Sex.

Pistols, stuff like that. >> yep. >> And then like American bands Rancid, like Dropkick Murphys, you know, that. sort of thing. >> They're They're on your show. >> Yes. >> Yeah, yeah. >> And so and you shred. >> Uh. >> Yeah, you do. You shred. You're too modest. No, you're modest. He. shreds. >> I'm all right. I do okay. For punk music. I do okay. >> Yeah. >> But in like uh compared to like metal. guitar players or you know, that whole. circle I don't. I'm like a novice. >> that when you uh go check out a punk.

band, you'll jump in the mosh pit. >> Uh yeah. We I do sometimes. >> When do you. >> Yeah, I took Sona into the mosh pit, right? >> Yeah. >> And how Wait, how did that go, Sona? >> We went to see Sparrer in Santa. Cruz. They don't come to LA, right? Cuz. someone got stabbed. >> Yeah, well. >> Is that what happened? >> Hey, it happens. >> Yeah, it is. People get stabbed. >> It's It's written on the Sparrer. ticket. You will be stabbed. >> [laughter]. >> And then he uh there's like a code with. mosh pits, too. Like they're not It's. It's like violent, but also if someone.

falls, they create like a barrier. Am I. doing this right? And then uh but so. like Tak just like kind of grabbed me. and like took me in there and then the. crowd of people just threw me around. like a doll. And then I got out and it. was intense and scary and really fun. >> It looks violent and crazy, but there is. like a method to the madness. Like. people watch out for everybody. At least when I was going to shows, you. know. >> Right. >> Um as soon as somebody falls down, that's like everyone sort of just jumps. in and pulls them out. >> Right. Or her out.

>> And then stabs them. >> [laughter]. >> You stabbing only comes later. >> mosh pits, don't you? >> I do. I love to I [laughter] love. starting a good pit. >> Have you ever started a mosh pit and. realized this probably isn't the. environment for it? >> [laughter]. >> We're at a bar mitzvah. Your wedding. >> This is a bris. >> [laughter]. >> Bris. >> The mohel is being. bobbled around. >> He's still working on the kid. >> [laughter]. >> I think I GOT IT. >> I ALWAYS I ALWAYS WANTED TO START a mosh.

pit at a comedy show though. Like. >> Oh that's a great idea. That's a great. idea. >> Yeah. >> So you're at Comic-Con and how did you. Were you wandering around and you saw. Sona? >> Yeah. >> This was after we had we had finished. the shows for the week. I went back. You. said I'm going to stick around. Um you know, and and check out some of. the venues at Comic-Con. Is that right? >> I went to the actual convention. >> Yeah. >> I was walking around with my friend. David. He was walking around with his. friend Katie and they knew each other, David and Katie.

>> chance. >> Just by chance. And we just ran ran into. them by chance. >> And did you know who Sona was in terms. of the Conan. >> I seen the Armenia episode like few. months ago before that. And then I was. like, "Where did I know this broad. from?" You know? She looks so familiar. >> Yeah. >> And I thought she was somebody's cousin. at first. I was like, I uh. I was like, I. "You're so-and-so's cousin." And she's. like, "Yeah, I am." And [laughter] then. uh and then it clicked and then we. started talking and. I uh told her what a good job she did on.

the episode. >> That was a lovely episode. >> It was great. >> me to a matchmaker. >> I took you to a matchmaker and little. did we know that. >> In in way it worked, right? >> In a In a way it did because you were on. television with a matchmaker. We. couldn't find you a good match. I think. most of the people that the matchmaker. was showing us, she was on her computer, uh, were she said, "Well, we have to. wait for him to get out of prison.". >> [laughter]. >> They were all They were all 40 years. older than you. >> [laughter]. >> And they all looked like, uh, they had.

been They had had a rough couple of. years. And then she did say like, "Oh, you got to wait." That's a really good. episode though. >> That was a great episode. It was very. powerful. >> And then because of that episode, because of the matchmaker, I got a lot. of random requests, friend requests from. guys. >> I was one of them. >> And he was one of them. And so the next. day, cuz we didn't exchange information, the next day I stalked him on Facebook. and then I found him he had requested me. as a friend like months earlier. >> Yeah. It was more of a thing like I was. like. Sh- How do I How do we not have any. mutual friends or relatives cuz we're in.

the same business, we're like we're the. same age roughly. I'm a little older. And I was like, "How is this possible we. don't never met?". >> Right. >> Yeah. And then I sent her a friend. request and never heard back. And then when we got back from. Comic-Con, I was like, "Well, hello.". >> [laughter]. >> Game on. >> I know. >> Yeah. So, uh. >> I I think Zach swept you off your feet. He's He's very gallant. >> Well, you you met a lot of the guys I. had dated before Zach. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. It was Not that my.

standards were low. I'm not saying that. >> [laughter]. >> I'll just say that when Zach showed up. I was a miracle. It was fantastic. >> What the What do you mean it was a. miracle though? >> It was fantastic. >> Why? >> Because he's say he's like this, you. know, dashing, cool guy who can do. everybody's, you know, I don't know. I. just It was And and and, you know, some. of the other guys I didn't like. That's. all I'm saying. [laughter]. You know? They were the guys. >> Yeah. No, it's okay. >> You know? Like one of them had an air.

mattress in an alley, you know. >> [laughter]. >> God. >> It was the video game guy. >> you to drop them off at the methadone. clinic. >> What are you talking about? >> [laughter]. >> What do you mean? >> The guy from the who was playing video. games when you showed up. >> Oh. It's in your book. I thought it. >> But you know what? But I was like her I. was like a father figure. So she I would. say she'd come back from one of these. dates and I'd say, "Well, how did it. go?" I said and she went, "Um it was. okay. I mean, I went to his house. He. answered the door in his underwear. He.

said, "I'm not ready to go out yet cuz. I'm still playing I'm on a new level of. my video game. Can you just chill?" And. she said, "Okay." And he gestured to a. bean bag chair and I sat in that and he. played his video game in his underwear. and then said, "Well, should we just. walk to like the Olive Garden and then. we can split the check?" And I was JUST. LIKE SAYING, "NO.". >> He wooed me like the uh. You're a wooer. >> How did you come up with it, Orton? What. did you guys do for your first date? >> Our first date was at CityWalk. >> [laughter].

>> That's like Amanda and me. >> Yeah, it was a an ironic CityWalk date, right? >> Yeah. >> We went to see a we went to Hard Rock. Cafe. >> [laughter]. >> Uh and then we went to see a horror. movie and I did the move, YOU KNOW, LIKE. >> [laughter]. >> WHAT WAS THE MOVIE? >> THERE'S A COUPLE OF MOVES THERE. That's. just one of them. >> I think was it? >> It was Lights Out. Yeah, which I and I I. hate horror and I told you I hate. horror. He was. >> [laughter]. >> like, "But this one's good." I'm like, "All right, I'll give it.

>> I'm in charge now. I'm in charge. >> I know. And then. >> It's this or video games. >> He was nice [laughter] taking me to the. Hard Rock Cafe. Yeah, it was fun. It was. really fun, obviously. Married him. Had. babies with him. We did okay. >> and uh are you How are you adjusting to. to Sonia's family? Let's talk about. that. You've got Gil, who I love Gil. >> Love Gil. >> Uh that's your dad, of course. >> Yes. >> [laughter]. >> Don't do it, Dad. >> Oh, sorry, Gil.

Whenever I You know what I love? When I. do my Gil, I put my finger [laughter]. He's got a pronounced mustache. I put a. finger under my nose, and what I love is. I blow. on this [laughter]. on this corner of the finger to make it. lift up a little bit. >> [laughter]. >> Um. Love Gil. Nadia, you know what Nadia. said to me when she first met me in. 2009? She said, [clears throat] "Conan rock. USA.". >> You rock USA. >> She said, "You rock USA.". And I said, "Fantastic." She said it's. amazing.

>> [laughter]. >> But you do rock USA. Um yeah, so. you know, any You guys do you have any. questions, Matt? >> Do you remember I pitched that you and I. do a podcast together one time? >> Yeah. >> Called Paris Toyka. >> It's a Paris Toyka. >> where we just talk about the toys from. our youth, mine in America and yours in. Soviet Albania. >> you know what? You Don't you have some. old Soviet toys from your youth? >> this is why I brought it. >> I Yeah, I We bought some for the kids.

We bought a Crocodile Gena and and. Cheburashka. >> Oh, who Can you tell us. >> You don't know who those are? >> Oh, you don't You don't know? >> You guys basically This is. >> And Vinny Vinny Pooh. Vinny Pooh, too. Um. They're They're like, you know, Vinny. Pooh is Winnie the Pooh, but the Russian. version. >> Right. >> Uh and it's. >> And he's got And he's got a smoker's. voice. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> You rock USA. >> [laughter]. >> It's Winnie the Pooh, but he's in.

instead of like the 100 Acre Woods, he's. he's in a line. >> [laughter]. >> He's in a line to get borscht. >> It was a beautiful children's cartoon. >> I'm sorry. >> [laughter]. >> What's the wolf one? That one's weird. >> Oh, Nu, Pogodi! >> Nu Yeah. >> That's like the Tom and Jerry of. Soviet animation. It's like a wolf and a. rabbit. Always tries to eat them. >> Right. >> and you know, you know how it goes. >> I know how it goes. >> Itchy [laughter] and scratchy, you know. >> It's Itchy and Scratchy. But it's it's. fascinating to me that it doesn't matter.

what the culture. >> Mhm. >> kids are going to want the same kind of. stuff and the culture will provide that. for them. It will look different to us, it will sound different, but we want. we want two characters that are trying. to kind of kill each. >> Kill each other. That's it. Yeah. One Yeah, one a crazy ugly one and one. cute one and. that's it. >> And do your kids like these toys? >> Yeah, I think so. No, they don't play with them anymore. [laughter].

They sing, so you press the button and. they sing the the songs from the. cartoon. >> Do they look cuz these were made a long. time ago, right? >> are like remakes. >> Oh, they're remakes. Okay. >> What's the song Crookedile Ganash sings? I want you to sing it. >> I'm not going to sing that. >> Crocodiling and rushing. >> Let's move on from. >> Okay. All right. >> All right. Well, listen, we've all had. childhood toys. I had. >> [laughter]. >> I had a Mrs. Beasley doll. Um. >> Mrs. Beasley? >> Crazy reference. Family Affair. Listen, you can that'll come right out.

>> What? >> And snip. [laughter] Uh. And we're back. Um. >> Family Affair. >> Yeah. Yeah, that's boy, that'll that'll. help. >> [laughter]. >> Uh. >> We were talking about Mrs. Beasley? >> No, that's over. >> Oh, we we cut that out. >> Oh, and. >> We didn't. >> We did. We cut it. >> It's still in. >> It's out. Stop that. Stop that. >> It's out. It's out. It's out. >> Um When am I going to play music with. you? And what would I do? Would I. would I fit into because you know, my.

vibe is sort of more rockabilly kind of. thing. So, I don't know. I've never really. tried to play punk, although I love The. Clash. >> You really punker kind of adjacent. >> They're kind of adjacent. Yeah. I mean, it's funny. I play rockabilly so fast. that it might sort of it's actually a a. genre a called. it's called psychobilly. >> yeah. I'm kind of a psychobilly guy. >> Are you really? >> Well, a little bit. In my in my youth I was. more psychobilly because I was just. more insane. And believe it or not, I.

have mellowed. >> To me psychobilly is like communism. It. like sounds good on paper, but for some. reason when I. >> [laughter]. >> put it I hear it together I'm like. Uh I just. >> think it could work. >> Yeah. >> And we're going to find out in Manhattan. real soon. [laughter]. >> There's there's a There's a joke they. say like rockabilly's like the. retirement plan for punk rockers, you. know, cuz they get older and they grow. their hair out. >> Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, maybe. Maybe that's me. Maybe that's me. >> There you go. >> Maybe after all I am punk. Now, Sona, is. there anything grievances you'd like to.

air here or maybe Tac you'd like to say. something Come on, is there something. that Sona's doing around the house that. you'd like maybe for her to alter her. behavior a little bit? This is a safe. space. We can talk about it. Proceed. >> How much time DO WE HAVE? >> YES. YES. >> LET HER RIP, BABY. LET HER RIP. >> [laughter]. >> Pay me Tac. >> No, everything's great. I. >> [laughter]. >> One thing that drives me crazy is.

is sometimes I'd play certain kinds of. music and Sona will get mad at me and. like. >> That's such a good Sona impression. >> Right? IT'S SPOT ON. SPOT ON. >> Megadeth for our 5-year-old. And he. plays Megadeth is great. But I'm talking. like there's some What was the one that. had a lot of like F bombs in it? Like it. was. the the one who just the guy the Irish. guy who just who died like a couple. years ago.

>> The Pogues. >> Oh, >> Oh, Shane MacGowan. >> Shane MacGowan. Yeah. >> Oh, he's got to hear They've got to hear. the Pogues. >> three. >> barely make out what he's saying. >> No, no. I mean, Shane MacGowan couldn't. understand Shane MacGowan. >> Yeah. >> No, there just like I don't know what. I'm talking about. I don't know what I'm. They don't They don't [laughter]. know what that is. They don't know what. that is. >> Sorry Shane. RIP. >> Uh there's a lot of like not age. appropriate music he puts on. He's just. so eager for them to like have the same. music taste. I'm like they're five. >> Do you think they're going to be. interested Do they Oh, I've seen you.

guys used to put on some music and then. when it it jumped into it got fast, they. would both I mean they were like two at. the time. >> a pog song. >> They would sort of They were sort of. gyrating a little bit with the music and. then the minute this fast part would. come, they would both spring to life. >> [laughter]. >> And I was just so good to see. >> They'd start a mosh pit. at home. >> No, it's it's it's not even that. It's. like I'll play like a little bit of like. country music or something in the car. and she gets mad at me. It's like What's. wrong with country? >> It's it's not fun country. Like, you.

know, Dolly or Woody. It's like redneck. country. And I don't like redneck. country. And I I said I don't like. redneck country. >> country in a car. I play [laughter] like. like Gram Parsons, you know, like cool. >> Yes. One of my favorites. >> I GOT GRAM PARSONS IS MELLOW. It's. >> I don't know. >> I'm going to say this. I I love Tac. And. don't get mad at him. Don't get mad at. him ever, Sona, ever.

>> I ever? >> Yeah. He can do no wrong. Whatever. you're doing is right. >> [laughter]. >> He's going to be crowd surfing with our. boys. You've crowd surfed? >> I did, yeah. >> He's crowd surfed before. You have. people who just like on top? I've always. wanted to do that, but I've never done. that. But he's done that. >> Yeah. How many Is that your one of your. wishes? We can make that happen. We can. crowd surf. >> I want to crowd surf. >> Yeah, we'll use everyone who works for. the podcast company. It'll be three. people at a Fishbone [laughter] concert. >> Fishbone concert? Really? >> at Crenshaw High Auditorium. >> Aw, that's cool. >> isn't that You crowd surfed at a Benny.

Goodman tribute concert. [laughter]. But it went on so long they passed me. into the fishbone contest. [laughter]. >> Button up your overcoat when the wind. blows free. He's jumping. >> [laughter]. >> They're just lightly massaging you as. you go. >> women holding you up. >> It's like stage diving. >> This is good. >> [laughter]. >> This hurts. >> Yeah. Obo solo. Um. >> I was just happy. >> Tossing out Shakespeare t-shirts as I. >> [laughter]. >> the whole time with a cannon.

Zach, thank you so much for coming in. You are You are a superstar. You're one. of my favorite people and and also I. love Sona and. you made her and continue to make her so. happy. You're such a good guy, such a. great dad, such a great husband that um. I'm just I'm delighted. I'm delighted. that you could come in today. Seriously. >> it, folks. Glowing endorsement from the man. himself. >> Yep. We all know that Conan only says. reasonable things. >> [laughter].

>> that are beyond dispute.