Embark on a comedic journey with Conan O'Brien, Sona Movsesian, and special guest Zach Woods in this episode of "Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend." Dive into the heart of humor as Conan delves into a candid and chuckle-packed conversation with the multitalented Woods. Together, they travel down memory lane, uncovering the roots of Woods' comedy at an offbeat venue and exploring his creative milestones from "The Office" to his newest series featuring stop motion puppets—a topic that ignites Conan's admiration for Woods' distinctive comedic flair.
The episode seamlessly transitions into a whimsical discussion about the lighter side of shoplifting and public shame, showcasing Sona's mischievous past acquisitions and Conan’s connections to archaic punishment practices. Laughter ensues as they ponder the ironies of historical crime and punishment, accompanied by Woods' pointed humor. As Conan playfully boast about his supposed pugilistic prowess, challenging anyone in the studio to a bout of strength, the camaraderie and jests between Conan and Sona make for a lively squabble over who could claim victory in a duel of might—or lack thereof. Join the banter and bask in the oddities of their lively exchanges for a podcast that weaves together comedy, nostalgia, and a touch of the absurd.
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Conan O’Brien talks with Zach Woods about various topics including Woods' new series "In The Know." The interview includes a mix of admiration, shared experiences, and career support. Woods comments on Conan’s influence on his career, while Conan shares his enthusiasm for Woods' work, including his performances on "The Office" and "Silicon Valley." They also reflect on the absurdity of casting decisions and Woods’ nascent comedy career, which began in a former strip club that housed the Upright Citizens Brigade. Woods' new series with stop motion puppets is discussed, with Conan praising its unique approach and humor.
The group of Conan O’Brien, his assistant Sona Movsesian, and Zach Woods discuss larceny and related shame with a humorous touch. Sona reveals her childhood thrill of shoplifting, making the conversation a bit personal. Conan connects this behavior to historical public shaming methods, drawing a line to punishments during the Salem witch trials. Woods injects a note of irony about how hangings for theft became a prime opportunity for spectators to commit pickpocketing. The conversation turns to whether stores should shame shoplifters instead of involving the police, leading to an examination of the effectiveness of public humiliation as a deterrent.
Conan, with a display of mock bravado, claims he could defeat everyone in the studio, jokingly referring to an innate rage inside him. He likens himself to a whirlwind, confident of his victory despite acknowledging a peer named Blay as a worthy opponent. The conversation becomes a humorous debate on Conan's combat skills, with Sona contending she could best him due to his lack of coordination. An arm wrestling match is humorously considered to gauge strength, yet ends in laughter without a decisive winner, highlighting the fun and friendly camaraderie among the group.
1-Page Summary
Zach Woods discusses a range of topics with Conan O'Brien, including his new show "In The Know," past acting opportunities, and cultural observations.
Zach Woods shares a humorous anecdote that he doesn’t think he’s ever had a girlfriend who hasn’t had a crush on Conan O’Brien. Their conversation begins with musings on being tall and gangly and self-consciousness about physical appearance, before getting deeper as Zach mentions an acting class he attended where a scene from "Frankenstein" led to a discussion on existence and parallels with parenting. Conan, emphasizing the power of reading, mentions he read the original "Frankenstein" novel, finding it impactful and distinct from the film adaptations.
Conan candidly expresses his attraction to Woods, reminiscing about first seeing him on "The Office" and bonding with his son over Zach’s character on "Silicon Valley." Woods is visibly pleased by the praise and fondly recollects earlier in his career when he was cast for a bit on Conan's show. Although his scenes—including one as a leprechaun with Marfan syndrome—were cut, he still appreciates the paycheck. Conan acknowledges his show's role in supporting New York comedians like Woods, remembering how they used to cast Amy Poehler weekly before her SNL days.
The two share a reflective moment on "praying mantis men" in comedy, leading to a light-hearted exchange on Conan's support for strong white men, with Conan sarcastically remarking on white men needing a break. Woods expresses sincere gratitude for Conan's support in his career, providing platforms and praise without expecting anything in return. Conan humorously responds, saying he often supports funny people in the hope they will cast him in their projects one day.
The interview shifts to cultural commentary as Woods recounts a story highlighting the different attitudes towards self-promotion in LA and the UK. He also delves into his past dream of being a jazz musician, which was derailed by braces affecting his embouchure. After unsuccessful attempts to continue playing the trumpet despite assistance from Dr. Chops, a jazz dentist, he pivoted to comedy, which led him to classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade, humorously located in a ...
Conan interviewing actor and comedian Zach Woods
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Conan O'Brien and guests Sona Movsesian and Zach Woods share light-hearted stories and comedy bits addressing the theme of shoplifting and the accompanying feeling of shame, linking it to historical punishments for crime.
Sona Movsesian, in a candid moment, confesses that as a child, she used to shoplift, driven by the excitement of it. She recounted an instance of stealing a sticker book worth 45 cents from Sanrio, even though she could afford it, suggesting the thrill wasn't about the item's value but the act itself. She also humorously described the daring act of stealing scrunchies and hair accessories and then boldly wearing them as she walked past the store's customer service representatives.
Conan O'Brien draws a parallel between modern-day shoplifting punishments and historic public shaming practices, such as those in Salem, Massachusetts during the witch trials. He elaborates that public humiliation, like putting people in stocks, was historically considered a deterrent for bad behavior.
Zach Woods brings up an ironic historical note about shoplifting becoming a hanging offense in 19th-century London, and how public hangings for such crimes ironically became hotspots for pickpockets, thus exacerbating the issue they aimed t ...
Stories and comedy bits about shoplifting and shame
The conversation turns playful as Conan O'Brien, Sona Movsesian, and Matt Gourley humorously debate Conan's ability to win in a hypothetical fight against his colleagues.
Conan confidently asserts that he could take down anyone in the studio due to his inner rage. He likens himself to a "whirly gig" or "red tornado," boasting that he'd emerge victorious even if attacked by everyone at once. He goes on to joke that he'd beat his colleagues with just his feet and refers to an individual named Blay, the only person he considers a physical challenge due to his workout routine. Sona agrees Conan could win but portrays him as the best cheater rather than the best fighter, suggesting he'd resort to deceptive tactics.
Conan continues the jest by claiming he'd be undefeatable when angry and expresses a comedic desire for the group to engage him in battle. He imagines defending himself against a mass attack and humorously envisages winning a real fight by using distraction tactics such as pointing out memorabilia before striking.
Sona counters by arguing she could easily win against Conan, citing his lack of coordination and predicting he'd be too busy making jokes to fight properly. The arm wrestling proposal is put forth as a means to test their strength, though Conan questions its validity, humorously picturing an unrealistic street fight scenario.
Jokes and arguments about who could win in a physical fight
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