Conan O'Brien Rings in His 2021 PCA Nomination

Lisa Kudrow knew that they didn't know what she knew about Conan O'Brien. 

The Friends alum recently opened up about supporting the Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend podcast host ahead of his Late Night hosting debut in 1993. 

"I just knew, ‘You're trying to replace David Letterman. No one replaces David Letterman,'" the 60-year-old said she told her longtime friend in a Vanity Fair interview published on Dec. 20. "‘You're no one.' It can't be anybody that an audience would know."

The Comeback actress was convinced that Conan—who also described his television debut audition as "linguine meeting marinara sauce for the first time"—was perfect for the Late Night position because he was unrecognizable to the general public. Not to mention the former Saturday Night Live writer's comedic wit. 

The idea came to Lisa as Conan—whom she dated briefly before they became famous—described who he was searching for in David's replacement.

The 60-year-old—who was involved in the search for the Late Night hosting spot—was looking for someone who could interview celebrities, but also "knew enough and who read enough to ask intelligent questions" of lesser-known guests like authors or scientists.

WatchConan O'Brien Rings in His 2021 PCA Nomination

"And I said, ‘So it sounds like you want you,'" she continued. "And he said, ‘That would never happen.'"

Conan was obviously wrong, going on to host Late Night for 16 years before transitioning into The Tonight Show. His tenure on the latter show was brief, with him vacating the desk in 2010 after one year over a dispute regarding his and Jay Leno's timeslots. He later moved to TBS where he hosted Conan for 11 years. 

YouTube

Trending Stories

1

Jennie Garth Briefly Addresses Dan Schneider & Costar Amanda Bynes

2

Why Paris Hilton and Carter Reum Don't Share Photos of Daughter London

3

Travis Kelce Reveals His Not-So-Cruel Summer Plans With Taylor Swift

"Try and do what you love with people you love," the host said in his very last Conan episode when the show wrapped in 2021. "And if you can manage that, it's the definition of heaven on Earth. I swear to God, it really is. So good nightคำพูดจาก เว็บสล็อต777. Thank you very much."

And the late night host's career trajectory may never have even happened if not for his ex girlfriend Lisa. Curious about more celebs you didn't know who dated? Read on.

 (E! and NBC are both part of the NBCUniversal Family.)

photosView More Photos From They Dated? Surprising Star Couples