Conan O’Brien says YouTube shows are overtaking late-night TV

EntertainmentOpinion
10 Mar 2026 • 7:09 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Conan O’Brien believes the talk show industry is undergoing drastic changes, a realisation he had after his appearance on the viral YouTube show Hot Ones.
  • He noted that his Hot Ones episode garnered over 15 million views, leading him to conclude that traditional late-night shows are 'in trouble' compared to low-overhead online content.
  • O’Brien, who hosted late-night programmes for 28 years, expressed concern about 'malign forces' and government interference impacting free speech on major networks.
  • He previously defended Jimmy Kimmel after Disney reportedly pulled his show following critical comments, stating that silencing hosts for criticising administrations is wrong.
  • Despite his defence of Kimmel, O’Brien generally prefers to avoid political commentary in his own work, having previously criticised comedians who focused their acts on political attacks.

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