Conan O’Brien’s decades in late-night produced a remarkable catalog of recurring sketches, remote segments, and one-off bits that have aged well beyond their original air dates. The selections below are standout examples of his range and represent the segments most worth revisiting or introducing to new audiences.
| Skit/Segment | Era | Best For | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Late Night/Conan | Character comedy | 4.9/5 |
| Walker Texas Ranger Lever | Late Night NBC | Absurdist prop comedy | 4.8/5 |
| Jordan, Mississippi Remote | Conan TBS | Travel and character comedy | 4.9/5 |
| Celebrity Survey | Late Night NBC | Celebrity roast format | 4.6/5 |
| Clueless Gamer | Conan TBS | Gaming and celebrity crossover | 4.7/5 |
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog — Best Recurring Character Bit
Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, voiced and operated by Robert Smigel, began on Late Night and became one of the most durable characters in late-night history. The puppet’s appearances at cultural events, including Star Wars lines, award shows, and political conventions, gave the bit genuine satirical reach beyond the studio. Triumph works because the target of the joke is always the context and the subject rather than punching down at individuals, which gives the segments a rewatchability that purely mean-spirited comedy lacks. The New Hampshire primary segment from 2016 stands as perhaps the peak example of the format.
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Walker Texas Ranger Lever — Best Prop Comedy Bit
The Walker Texas Ranger Lever was a physical prop installed on the Late Night desk that Conan would pull to show a clip of the Chuck Norris TV show Walker, Texas Ranger. The comedy relied entirely on the gap between the earnestness of the clips and the absurdity of the framing, with Conan reacting with escalating mock-reverence. It became a beloved low-tech gag that rewarded the audience for understanding the meta-joke. The bit also cemented the show’s tone as one that found humor in sincerity rather than requiring elaborate production.
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Jordan, Mississippi Remote — Best Location Segment
The Jordan, Mississippi remote segment, in which Conan spent time in a small town that had adopted him as a mascot after a fan letter campaign, is widely cited as one of the best remote pieces in late-night history. It works as character comedy, fish-out-of-water comedy, and as a genuinely affectionate portrait of a community. The segment won a Peabody Award and demonstrated that remote comedy did not need to be exploitative or condescending toward its subjects to be effective. It is a high point for the genre.
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Celebrity Survey — Best Studio Sketch Format
Celebrity Survey was a recurring segment where staff supposedly surveyed Hollywood celebrities with absurd questions and read the fake results. The humor came from the deadpan delivery and the escalating specificity of the fictional answers attributed to real public figures. It was a format that required no special guests, minimal production, and relied entirely on writing quality, making it a good benchmark for the show’s room of writers. Segments from the mid-2000s Late Night era are particularly sharp examples.
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Clueless Gamer — Best Celebrity and Gaming Crossover
Clueless Gamer ran during the Conan TBS era and featured Conan playing video games he had no familiarity with alongside celebrity guests or alone, reacting with honest and often deeply confused commentary. The segment worked because Conan genuinely was not a gamer, which made the reactions authentic rather than performed. It introduced late-night audiences to major game releases in a format that did not require gaming literacy to enjoy, and the celebrity guest versions added improvisational chemistry that elevated individual episodes.
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How to Choose Which Conan Skits to Watch First
If you are new to Conan’s catalog, the Jordan, Mississippi segment and the best Triumph appearances are the highest-quality starting points because they hold up without needing context from the broader show. Studio bits like Walker Texas Ranger Lever and Celebrity Survey reward familiarity with the show’s tone. Clueless Gamer is the best entry point for viewers who come from a gaming background. All of the above are available through the Team Coco YouTube channel and represent the strongest case for his place in late-night history.
For more entertainment picks, see our best Conan podcasts and best comedy movies streaming now. For details on how we select and rank content, visit our methodology page.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I watch old Conan O'Brien skits and segments?+
The Team Coco YouTube channel hosts thousands of clips from Conan's various shows including Late Night, The Tonight Show, and Conan on TBS. Many full episodes from the TBS era are also available on the Max streaming platform. Older Late Night NBC segments have limited official availability but many circulate through fan uploads and archive projects.
What was Conan O'Brien's most famous recurring skit?+
Several recurring bits competed for that title over the years. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog became arguably the most recognizable recurring character. Walker Texas Ranger Lever, where Conan pulled a handle to play clips from the show, was a beloved Late Night staple. Remote segments like the Jordan, Mississippi travel piece earned significant critical attention as standalone comedy.