RKMBs Forums .::Robegories::. Media Conan's "Late Night" Infomercial

Conan's "Late Night" Infomercial

By Josh Grossberg

Get ready for Conan O'Brien: the infomercial.

No, the Late Night host's not hawking five-minute abs or spray-on hair, but he is planning on channeling his inner-Ron Popeil during this Thursday's show.

O'Brien is set to parody the infomercial format by converting his show into one long advertisement hyping th release of two Late Night-themed DVDs: Late Night's 10th Anniversary Special and The Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.

Okay, so it's not Veg-O-Matic or Tae-Bo instruction, but the big guy's going to shill his heart out.

"If this works out, watch for the Conan O'Brien Weight Loss System this fall," proclaimed O'Brien in a press release.

Late Night producers will make over the set, using the tacky lighting and low-end production values insomniacs have come to expect from the infomercial genre.

O'Brien will be joined by his pugnacious bow-tied pooch puppet pal Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. They'll screen some of their greatest hits and interview some Very Special Guest Stars--former Love Boat doc Bernie Kopell and former Olympic champion Bruce Jenner, both of whom know their way around an infomerical.

All the while, O'Brien says he will be working hard to close the deal, continuously directing viewers to www.shopnbc.com to buy the DVDs at a special discounted price (for a limited time only!).

This isn't the first time Late Night has toyed with the show's format in its 11-year history. O'Brien once broadcast an entire episode in claymation, did another show from a Circle Line boat cruising around Manhattan and even did a 15-minute opening segment on back-up power during the 2003 blackout.

The 10th Anniversary Special is divided into four sections: "Comedy Shorts" features some of O'Brien's funniest bits; "Favorite Guest Moments" spotlights interviews with the likes of Harrison Ford, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jack Black; "Conan on Location" finds O'Brien riffing outside the studio; and the "Behind the Scenes Gallery" chronicles the Late Night production team.

The Triumph disc collects the adventures of the cigar-chomping puppet famous for his trademark punch line: "For me to poop on!" Among the highlights: Triumph's scene-stealing tirade opposite Eminem at the 2001 MTV Video Music Awards and his notorious appearances at the Star Wars premiere and the Westminster Dog Show. But wait, there's more. It will also feature "extra poop," that is, outtakes, music videos, etc.

The 10th Anniversary Special and The Best of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog DVDs, which retail for $19.98 each, are now in stores. While supplies last.

Shameless self-promotion... I love it.

I love Conan's self-decaprating style.

Triumph at the Phantom Menace opening is well worth the 13 bucks for the DVD.

My favorite Triumph bit is when he's on the Hollywood tour bus when who should they pass while jogging? JOHN TESH.

The informercial was okay. It made for a decent parody. I think Conan's better when his show comes across as more off the cuff, tho.

Agreed. This suffered from being a bit too staged.

Improv infomercials would be disastrous.

Disastrous? Or hilarious?

Little bit of Column A, little bit of Column B...

Have both DVDs


The extras are excellent


Of the two, Triumph is better. Hollywood Squares was my favorite segment coming into it. The Star Wars bits were hilarious too. Hit a little close to home. Never dressed up like that, but I did attend those special editions, back in the 90s, waited for like 30 minutes or so in line. College friends dressed up. One as Luke, one as Han Solo, and his girlfriend spent an hour to get her hair done like Leia. Looking at it, I saw these people as pathetic. Wondered how, in retrospect, I would have reacted towards my idiot friends (or myself). But at least I didn't dress up. Thank god.

The American Idol stuff was good too.

Conan's best bits were featured on the infomercial. Andy Richter appearing nude on Today Show always makes my bladder weak. "wow, sure is cold in here."

There are extras, and a lot of the segments are shown in entirety, like the Ireland trip. Wish the DVD had Cameltoe Sally. That would have made it complete.

most everything on the triumph dvd has been download-fodder (fodder!) for a few years now. just search for "triumph" on any peer-to-peer network, and you'll get listings for the bon jovi special, the star wars bit, the dog shows, etc.

still, if you're a collector, it'd be a sweet dvd to have.

i actually thought the the conan special / dvd was kinduva 'noying. i mean, the constant barrage of clips were insanely hilarious, but the inbetween set ups and special guests spots were entirely unnecessary. definitely coulda done without'em.

all the same, tho, both dvds are pretty cheap, and probably worth it just to say you have them, and then point and laugh at all of those who dont.

I really want both DVD's. I'm going to wait until after Christmas when they start hitting the used DVD stores and get them dirt cheap.

USED DVD STORES DIRT CHEAP GETTERER!

I won't deny it. I'm cheap.

so you deny it!

DENIER OF ITS!

Well, having friends watch the download fodder with you is fun. Good for parties. good for those lonely nights when you need to feel better than losers, aspiring want to be's, and celebrities. Or maybe I just am too lazy to download the stuff.



oooh... flexible gymnasts.....

I want a best of "the masturbating bear" DVD!

I was in my local video store and there was the Triumph DVD...displayed on the kiddie videos rack with "Bob the Builder," "Elmo" and "Blue's Clues."

I decided to be a nice guy and tell the clerk on duty that he should probably reshelve them before some little old lady thought the dog puppet was a harmless kid video, bought it for little Jimmy and then sued when her grandson started repeating "for me to Poop on" and "lick myself."

Crazy.

It reminds me of the time when I was visiting a neighbouring comic-book shop and found some Itchy & Scratchy comics on the lowest rack right next to Archie and Disney comics. I picked up one of them, opened up to a particularly violent and bloody page, and showed it to the comic shop owner, pointing out that he should probably move it a bit higher. Especially since there were some really little kids in the shop at the time.

When Abe Vigoda dies, will Conan feel bad for making fun of his oldness all these years?

On a similar note, I wonder if Dave Chapelle felt any kind of guilt over the Rick James sketch.

That day at work, all you could hear from the guys were "I'm dead, bitch!" and "Fuck yo couch, n*gga!"

"Darkness!"

Non

Chapelle edited a new best of season two without Rick James. I'm sure he will be on the season two DVD when its released later this year.