How Conan O’Brien Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Twitter
Apr 09, 2010 - By samuelpeppermint
Unless you’ve been hiding in a cave with Osama Bin Laden over the past 4 months, I’m sure you’re aware of the whole late night debacle that took place in January. Conan O’Brien was (unfairly) given the boot from his coveted hosting position on “The Tonight Show,” while Jay Leno got another chance to be mediocre. Fortunately for O’Brien, he has loyal fans that will follow him anywhere…or at least on to the internet.
That’s right people, Conan is on Twitter and he’s already amassed over 800,000 followers. Since he’s contractually banned (by NBC) from appearing on television until September, he has wisely taken to the net to let people know he’s still active. He has provided us with some hilarious commentary on his “unemployed” life since his “Tonight Show” departure. For example, his first post:
Today I interviewed a squirrel in my backyard and then threw to commercial. Somebody help me.
That was just the tip of the iceberg because he decided that he didn’t want to follow a bunch of celebrities on his account, he was interested in the life of an average Joe. He chose to follow one random person on Twitter, a young Michigan native named Sarah Killen, stating:
I’ve decided to follow someone at random. She likes peanut butter and gummy dinosaurs. Sarah Killen, your life is about to change.
As a credit to O’ Brien’s popularity, Killen went from having just three followers to over 28,000. He created a miniature celebrity overnight! Since then she’s been getting free computers, offers to have her upcoming wedding paid for, and loads of other swag.
Even though this looks like it’s all fun in games this is part of a calculated marketing plan. Not only does he have his basic Conan O’Brien Twitter account he’s also created countless others including @CocosBeard, @ConansFreckles, @ConansMonkey, @ConansTaurus, @ConansSquirrel, and @ConansSharpie. All of this has set the stage for his sold out 32-city live comedy tour that he’s embarking on while weighing his future career options.
This isn’t a man who has lost his mind. This is a freckled genius who had something wrongfully taken away from him and is slowly building an army of fans tweet by tweet, to reclaim a spot that is rightfully his.
What do you think of Conan O’Brien’s Twitter revolution? Are you a follower?
Saturday, April 10, 2010 2:38AM
I miss Conan so much. He was the only one on late night TV who's humor connected to the cool people. We got it, but the general public did not because maybe they weren't meant to? He's got an intelligent audience. No bad there. Except in general audience ratings land where mr. 80 year old is scratching his butt and changing the channel because he doesn't get it has a say. I have no doubt his future is bright with his audience and they'll find him wherever he may land. He'll come out of this smelling like a rose. I follow him on twitter. His posts are the highlight of my twitter day and they ease the jones a bit, so thanks to Conan for that.
Friday, April 23, 2010 3:23PM
[...] a new gig in late night. Perhaps TBS saw that he could still pull in viewers after he amassed over 800,000 followers and his tour began selling out across the country.He might not have “The Tonight Show” [...]