Conan O’Brien Must Go: New Zealand Roundtable Discussion

Summary

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Episode: Conan O’Brien Must Go: New Zealand Roundtable Discussion
Release Date: May 15, 2025

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Introduction

In the "Conan O’Brien Must Go: New Zealand Roundtable Discussion", Conan O’Brien and his dedicated team delve into the adventures and behind-the-scenes moments of the second episode in the "Conan o'Brien Must Go" series. This episode focuses on their journey through New Zealand, showcasing cultural interactions, fan engagements, and humorous escapades that highlight the unique charm of the Land of the Long White Cloud.

Overview of the New Zealand Episode

Mike Sweeney opens the discussion by introducing the panel, including Jess Gaskell, Jose Arroyo, and guest contributors like Blay and Jason Shalemi. He mentions that the episode captures their experiences across both the North and South Islands of New Zealand, emphasizing the diversity and beauty of the landscapes they explored.

Mike Sweeney [01:59]: "Today is the day that episode two in the series drops. And today's episode then is about New Zealand, because that is where I traveled."

Cultural Experiences and Maori Heritage

A significant portion of the episode revolves around the team's immersion into Maori culture. Mike recounts a moving ceremony led by a Maori guide before filming began, highlighting the deep respect and connection they felt.

Mike Sweeney [05:01]: "Before we began filming, we were taken by a Maori guide to a mountaintop in Auckland. There was a long discussion about the history, and then he led a ceremony. It was kind of moving."

The team also participated in performing the haka, a traditional Maori war dance, aiming to set a Guinness World Record for the largest simultaneous haka performance. The participation of renowned director Taika Waititi adds a layer of authenticity and excitement to this segment.

Mike Sweeney [07:06]: "I was just trying to remember how to do this correctly. And it's intimidating because, on one side, I had a Maori guy, and on the other side, I had Taika Waititi."

Meeting the Fans and Local Personalities

Throughout their travels, the team engages with fans who reached out via the podcast, showcasing the warmth and laid-back nature of New Zealanders. A standout moment is their encounter with Abby Howells, a talented improvisational comedian who becomes a favorite among the team for her quick wit and infectious humor.

Mike Sweeney [17:25]: "Abby Howells... she was so uniquely funny. She's just funny in her bones and just so much fun."

Their interactions extend to other humorous and memorable moments, including a karaoke session where Mike reluctantly performs Led Zeppelin's "Whole Lotta Love", eliciting laughter and camaraderie among the team and patrons.

Mike Sweeney [23:39]: "I'll just say a cat got trapped in a grain thresher. But then, as you know, in that song, there's a long break of just... I'm just gyrating in this tiny bar while various weird 1969 noises are playing."

Behind-the-Scenes Challenges and Anecdotes

The team shares anecdotes about navigating the logistical challenges of filming in New Zealand, such as unconventional hotel room setups and the extensive travel required between locations. Mike humorously describes a perplexing hotel room entrance, adding a light-hearted touch to their adventurous narrative.

Mike Sweeney [22:19]: "What did you have? ... I was just trying to figure it out for the life of me."

Additionally, they discuss the difficulty of editing improvised segments, given the abundance of genuine and entertaining moments captured during their interactions with locals.

Mike Sweeney [18:53]: "We did so much improv. It was legitimately so funny watching the uncut version."

Notable Highlights and Memorable Moments

One of the most memorable segments involves attempting to break the haka record, capturing the team's earnest effort and the sheer number of participants involved. Mike’s candid admission about feeling self-conscious during the haka adds authenticity to their experience.

Mike Sweeney [07:32]: "I was in my head about, let's do this correctly."

Another highlight is their visit to a remote fan who lives off the grid, showcasing the diverse range of individuals they meet and the unique stories each fan brings to the show.

Shoutouts and Team Acknowledgments

Towards the end of the discussion, Mike extends heartfelt shoutouts to the entire team, acknowledging their hard work and the pivotal roles they play in bringing these episodes to life. Special mentions include Jess Gaskell for her comedic contributions and Jason Shalemi for his enduring support.

Mike Sweeney [27:25]: "I want to thank you guys again and again... I'm very lucky to have you guys."

Conclusion and Takeaways

The New Zealand Roundtable Discussion episode serves as a rich tapestry of cultural exploration, humorous mishaps, and genuine human connections. Through their travels, Conan and his team not only entertain but also pay homage to the vibrant culture and friendly spirit of New Zealand. This episode stands as a testament to the show's mission of forging real friendships and understanding across continents.

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Notable Quotes:

• Mike Sweeney [05:01]: "Before we began filming, we were taken by a Maori guide to a mountaintop in Auckland. There was a long discussion about the history, and then he led a ceremony. It was kind of moving."

• Mike Sweeney [07:06]: "I was just trying to remember how to do this correctly. And it's intimidating because, on one side, I had a Maori guy, and on the other side, I had Taika Waititi."

• Mike Sweeney [17:25]: "Abby Howells... she was so uniquely funny. She's just funny in her bones and just so much fun."

• Mike Sweeney [23:39]: "I'll just say a cat got trapped in a grain thresher. But then, as you know, in that song, there's a long break of just... I'm just gyrating in this tiny bar while various weird 1969 noises are playing."

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the "Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend" episode focusing on New Zealand, highlighting key discussions, cultural engagements, and the camaraderie that defines Conan's quest for genuine friendships.

Transcript

[Conan O'Brien]

Hey, big sandwich news.

[Mike Sweeney]

This is hot off the presses, literally.

[Conan O'Brien]

Firehouse Subs has teamed up with Hot Ones on a new bold version of the iconic hook and ladder sub. You know the old hook and ladder sub?

[Mike Sweeney]

The old hook and ladder used to be our favorite.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, guess what? Introducing the all new zesty garlic hook and ladder. A limited time sub packed with the perfect combo of mild heat and bold flavor. We're talking smoky turkey, honey ham, melted pepper jack cheese all stacked on a freshly toasted bun. Plus onions marinated in hot ones, classic garlic, Fresno hot sauce and crispy garlic chips on top. And guess what? I know my hot one sauces. I think.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah, you do.

[Conan O'Brien]

And that's one of the good ones. Try the new zesty Garlic cooking ladder at Firehouse Subs today. Exclamation point. Only for a limited time at Firehouse subscribers.

[Mike Sweeney]

Sure, being an expert at celeb trivia.

[Conan O'Brien]

Is impressive, but saving for your dream home or a sweet new ride is even more impressive. Great way to help with that is saving when you choose to bundle with the State Farm personal price plan.

[Mike Sweeney]

Wait, why did we start on celeb trivia and then get to State Farm?

[Jose Arroyo]

Yeah, I'm confused.

[Conan O'Brien]

Who wrote this? I wish to discuss things with them over at the State Farm ad agency.

[Mike Sweeney]

Anyway, yeah, it's a great way to.

[Conan O'Brien]

Help with the saving when you choose to bundle with the State Farm personal price plan. Bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Conan o' Brien needs a fan. Want to talk to Conan? Visit teamcoco.com okay, let's get started.

[Mike Sweeney]

Okay, welcome. If you are listening to this program right now, and you are, because you can hear my voice, which is proof that you're hearing it again, we're doing something a little different. We did this last week. Last week we did a podcast about the Spain Madrid episode of Conan o' Brien Must go because that's when it dropped. Well, guess what? Today is the day that episode two in the series drops. And today's episode then is about New Zealand, because that is where I traveled. I am joined by the crack team, as opposed to the team on crack that.

[Blay]

Why not both?

[Mike Sweeney]

These are all good quips and we'll edit them out. Terrific team. Mike Sweeney, of course, at the helm, came in a little late wearing one of the three shirts he owns. And I'm also joined by Jess, who's my favorite Jesse Gaskell.

[Blay]

It takes time to pick them out.

[Mike Sweeney]

Worth interrupting Jesse's intro for that little sorry little sprinkle. Jesse Gaskell, terrific writer, producer, joke writer, and Jose Arroyo, also a terrific comedic mind. And both of you have joined us. It's a trap. It's a trap. What you do is you put honey in the trap, and then they fall into the pit and out of the spikes. And this team, this unit has come on most of the travel shows, just about all of them, if not all of them. And I'm talking about the TBS days and all those Conan without border shows. And now on the Max series, Conan o' Brien Must Go Season two. We are today discussing the second episode in the series, which is New Zealand. Guys, what did you think? It's out right now.

[Blay]

Out right now as we speak.

[Jason Shalemi]

It's amazing. I. I loved it from. I actually saw it just to prepare for this.

[Mike Sweeney]

Oh, is that true? You. You did some.

[Jason Shalemi]

Did a little homework.

[Mike Sweeney]

You did preparation for this. Okay. For this.

[Jason Shalemi]

And I saw it.

[Jesse Gaskell]

You're not ever supposed to watch these again.

[Jason Shalemi]

I know, I know.

[Mike Sweeney]

So how does it hold up?

[Jason Shalemi]

It holds up really, really well. Okay.

[Blay]

Your voice went up.

[Jason Shalemi]

Sorry, what?

[Blay]

No, go ahead.

[Jason Shalemi]

No, no, it holds up really well. And it just. It's. You jump from the north island to the South Island. You cover. We covered a lot of ground.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Covered a lot of ground. Which is. Yeah, I mean, that's hard in that country because it involves flights and driving.

[Mike Sweeney]

And one of the things that we have found is in our travels is that we go. And the premise of the show is I visit fans that have reached out to me through the podcast. And so these fans were pretty well distributed around both islands, the north and the south. I learned a lot. I had never been to New Zealand before. The people were extraordinary. They were lovely. We learned a lot about the ancient culture, the Maori culture, and not so ancient.

[Blay]

It turns out they've only occupied the island for 800 years longer than that.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Is that true? Oh, wow.

[Blay]

That's what they were saying. Yeah. During that welcoming ceremony, which I.

[Jesse Gaskell]

And who was there before that?

[Mike Sweeney]

Before that? It was a medical conference getaway. No, it was for Bausch and Lohm. And it was interesting because when we went, before we began filming, we were.

[Conan O'Brien]

Taken by a Maori guide to this.

[Mike Sweeney]

Mountaintop that looked over. This is in the north island, in Auckland. And there was a long discussion about the history. And then he led a ceremony. It was kind of moving.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Blessing the film shoot.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yes, he was blessing the film shoot.

[Blay]

Another. Another ancient Rite.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah. And which we should always do.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Really.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yes, we should. Oh, okay. So when I go to the American Girl store to drink too much with a doll, which should be a blessing first at the American Girl store. Yeah, it was. It was. It was really nice to be introduced to the culture and then visit the fans, and we learned a lot. Our visit coincided with something that is in the Guinness Book of World Records, which is part of the show, which is. There is a ritual there called the haka. To the uninitiated, just. It looks kind of like a dance routine, Like a very old kind of.

[Jesse Gaskell]

It's like a flash mob.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah, it looks like a flash mob, but it's something that's performed. It's been around for, I'm guessing, hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of years. And it's very important to the culture. And they tried to break the world's record for the largest number of people doing the haka at the same time. So they filled a stadium. And I was joined by none other than Taika Waititi. Taika Waititi. Who helped out. And so that makes for a fun segment. There were a lot of. When I look at the footage of that now, when we were editing, I was stunned by how many people. We're doing the haka at the same time. Because when you're doing it, you're just. You're in yourself. You're doing it. You're not quite aware. But when you.

[Jesse Gaskell]

When you had just learned it, too. So you were probably focusing on the moves.

[Mike Sweeney]

Oh, I was just trying to remember.

[Blay]

Yeah.

[Mike Sweeney]

How to do this correctly. And it's intimidating because on one side, I had a, you know, Maori guy. Yes. And on the other side, I had taika.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah.

[Mike Sweeney]

And people watching from the Guinness Book of World Records. And it's being recorded. So I was.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Lots of news cameras.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah, Lots of news cameras. I was in my head about, let's do this correctly.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Well, I was. I didn't go on the New Zealand trip because I was trying to figure out how to leave my baby, but.

[Mike Sweeney]

Which is a code for battling your addiction. You had a baby on the code. You were at New Horizons.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Oh, I fell off the baby again.

[Mike Sweeney]

You know, it's crazy. Can I just back up for a second that you were with child when.

[Jesse Gaskell]

We went to Norway and Thailand.

[Mike Sweeney]

Norway.

[Conan O'Brien]

Thailand.

[Mike Sweeney]

And we didn't know.

[Conan O'Brien]

Of course.

[Mike Sweeney]

You kept it a secret. Well, you know that I have a policy that no one's allowed to. None of my writers.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Rumple Stiltskin, you. You get the baby.

[Mike Sweeney]

None of my Writers are allowed to reproduce. And it's a thing when you. When you work with me that you have to sign. And so you broke the rules and. No, but. So that was.

[Jesse Gaskell]

It was during the strike.

[Mike Sweeney]

That was interesting. That Dot, who's now how old? A year.

[Jesse Gaskell]

She's a year and a half.

[Mike Sweeney]

Year and a half. Dot is. Was with us on two trips, which is really kind of cool.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Oh, my God, that's right.

[Blay]

She's been to Norway.

[Jesse Gaskell]

I should have spring her on all of them.

[Mike Sweeney]

Well, actually, this means that she's in the union. She's in the guild. She's in the Writers Guild. Oh, my God. Yeah. And so now she's going to bankrupt the show.

[Blay]

Shows money to the guild. They're going to dun you.

[Jesse Gaskell]

She is in her rears.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yes. So. Yes. You weren't allowed to go.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Well, I was. I just hadn't quite figured out a way to be gone for. Cause I knew the New Zealand show that that trip in particular was gonna be long. It's a really long flight. And the trip was like, almost two weeks. I think that you guys were gone also.

[Mike Sweeney]

This was. You were newly. You know, you were still getting to know your daughter, and it was completely understandable that you were like, yeah, I don't think I'm ready to go on this trip.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah. And you guys were really cool about it, I have to say.

[Mike Sweeney]

Well, but then immediately after that trip, you said, I so want to get away from this child.

[Conan O'Brien]

Sign me up for the other day.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Once I saw the dailies.

[Blay]

Amazing.

[Jason Shalemi]

The child did come with us, but you stayed here.

[Blay]

It's amazing. Just weeks later, you were ready to go to Spain and meet Javier Bardell.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Somehow I did pull it together for that one.

[Mike Sweeney]

You pulled it together for one of the most magnetic, sexy. Mommy, Mommy, please.

[Blay]

Not now.

[Mike Sweeney]

Not now, Dawn.

[Jesse Gaskell]

No, but I was gonna say that I was at home and I was, you know, keeping track of the trip. But that first day that you landed, I woke up and all. All over the news were these shots of Conan doing the haka. And it was just. It was perfect. Cause part of the haka is that you do these really grotesque war faces. And so the still that I kept seeing was you with your tongue out and your eyes engorged like a gargoyle.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yes, yes, of course. Hips thrust forward.

[Jesse Gaskell]

It was because I said engorged.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yes. Hips not engorged. Devoid of any liquid.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Deflated.

[Mike Sweeney]

But that was our.

[Blay]

Yeah. The day we landed. Which is probably the best time to learn the hobby.

[Mike Sweeney]

It's called tearing off the bandage.

[Blay]

15 hour.

[Jason Shalemi]

Very quickly, we dove right into agriculture and me at a stadium. Yes, exactly.

[Mike Sweeney]

Front of all of New Zealand. And then we did. I don't want to give away any secrets, but let's just say we. It's. It. It's worth watching that episode to see what's happening at stadium. Then we're making our way through the wilds of New Zealand. The north island and the south island are quite different. The south island is the island where Peter Jackson filmed a lot of fun.

[Blay]

Both islands. He was on both islands.

[Mike Sweeney]

He was on both islands. Okay.

[Blay]

But yes, some of the most dramatic.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah. When the hobbits are hanging out at karaoke bars and driving catamarans around a marina, that's the North Island. So when the hobbits are going through Middle Earth, that's the South Island.

[Jason Shalemi]

Exactly.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

We drink so much water every day.

[Mike Sweeney]

And it's just water. And I'm like, hello, Boring. There's gotta be a way to make water more exciting.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, guess what?

[Mike Sweeney]

Someone cracked it with authentic flavors and lively carbonation. Waterloo sparkling waters bring full flavor artistry. Blay, you're drinking one right now.

[Jeff Ross]

Drinking one right now. I got the raspberry nectarine and it is tasty.

[Mike Sweeney]

It's very good. Very tasty. Everyone here in the office has been enjoying them.

[Conan O'Brien]

They're excellent.

[Mike Sweeney]

They are delicious. And you know, you say, what's flavor artistry? Some people think. Are you just talking a lot of high class nonsense, Conan? No, it's about custom crafting, multisensorial flavor.

[Conan O'Brien]

Experiences of aroma, taste and mouth feel that make you say wow, wow to that sentence.

[Mike Sweeney]

Waterloo waters are crafted, not formulated or off the shelf.

[Conan O'Brien]

Just purified sparkling water and non GMO project verified natural flavors, which I insist on.

[Jose Arroyo]

Me too.

[Mike Sweeney]

With zero calories, sugars or sweeteners. I drink water constantly. I just had a couple of glasses of water and it was just regular water upstairs. And I regret that time.

[Conan O'Brien]

It was boring.

[Jose Arroyo]

You'll never get that back.

[Mike Sweeney]

I'll never get that time back. Three full glasses of water. I wish it was Waterloo and I could have had.

[Conan O'Brien]

What did you have?

[Mike Sweeney]

Raspberry. You know what, what's that one cracking.

[Jeff Ross]

Open a peach right now?

[Mike Sweeney]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, you should.

[Mike Sweeney]

You could have offered that to me. You just ate it. Second when I haven't had one.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Oh, sorry.

[Mike Sweeney]

Nice. Thanks a lot.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm so thirsty. Where are you working tomorrow?

[Mike Sweeney]

Give Waterloo Sparkling Water a try. Look for Waterloo Sparkling Water next time you shop. Learn more about the flavors from Waterloo.

[Conan O'Brien]

Sparkling [e-mail].

[Mike Sweeney]

Man, you know what spring is to me?

[Jose Arroyo]

What?

[Mike Sweeney]

I'm not a poet or anything, but.

[Conan O'Brien]

It'S a season of renewal and quality rest.

[Jose Arroyo]

That's nice.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, really good rest.

[Mike Sweeney]

You know, winter's been so cold.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's hard to sleep in all that cold. And the wind's howling.

[Jose Arroyo]

That's wind?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, that's wind.

[Mike Sweeney]

Or a ghost. Well, winter's over, and so is the excuse to hibernate if you're gonna emerge from your cocoon.

[Conan O'Brien]

What? They're mixing a lot of things here.

[Mike Sweeney]

At least do it well rested.

[Conan O'Brien]

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[Mike Sweeney]

This is hot off the presses, literally.

[Conan O'Brien]

Firehouse Subs has teamed up with Hot Ones on a new bold version of the iconic hook and ladder sub. You know the old hook and ladder sub?

[Mike Sweeney]

The old hook and ladder used to be our favorite.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, guess what? Introducing the all new zesty garlic cooking ladder. A limited time sub packed with the perfect combo of mild heat and bold flavor. We're talking smoky turkey, honey ham, melted pepper jack cheese all stacked on a freshly toasted bun. Plus onions marinated in hot ones. Classic garlic, Fresno hot sauce and crispy garlic chips on top. And guess what? I know my Hot One sauces. I think.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah, you do.

[Conan O'Brien]

And that's one of the good ones. Try the new Zesty Garlic Cookin ladder at Firehouse Subs today, Exclamation point. Only for a limited time at Firehouse Subs.

[Mike Sweeney]

I went to a party recently with a rager by my friend Rodman.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah?

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah, he had the tunes bumping. It was really fun. And it was special to me. Cause when you get together with good friends, good chums, amigos, pals from the past, celebrating important occasions means more moments.

[Conan O'Brien]

With the coolest people in your life. For me, that's gotta be Rodman.

[Jose Arroyo]

So many cool people in here.

[Mike Sweeney]

There's so many Cool. You're just like, so cool.

[Conan O'Brien]

They do.

[Mike Sweeney]

I love the coolest friends.

[Conan O'Brien]

Cheers to 50 years of Miller. The greatest tasting light beer for people who love beer since 1975.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah.

[Mike Sweeney]

You know what I say?

[Jesse Gaskell]

What?

[Mike Sweeney]

I say it's Miller time. I do. It's the 50th anniversary of Miller Light. Did you know that?

[Jose Arroyo]

I didn't.

[Mike Sweeney]

So many times whether I've been out at sea.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Oh, okay.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah. You know, on someone's yacht.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I'll crack open a Miller Light.

[Mike Sweeney]

Or whether I'm scaling a volcano. Oh, yeah, it's about to erupt. Because that's the best time to see a volcano when you can feel the tremors.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I crack open a Miller Light.

[Mike Sweeney]

Miller Light. That's what I'm talking about.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's great taste. It's 96 calories. And I did a study myself. It is 96 calories.

[Mike Sweeney]

Go to millerlight.comconan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some mirror.

[Conan O'Brien]

Light pretty much anywhere they sell beer.

[Mike Sweeney]

It's Miller time.

[Conan O'Brien]

Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Mike Sweeney]

Some of the distance, distances we traveled to get. We had to go over this big mountain pass to get to Hokitika. Hokitika. And that was quite a journey. Before we left the north island, we did meet this young woman named Abby Howells who was sort of getting me up to speed on, I wouldn't say customs, but pronunciations, how people, attitudes. Attitudes. How slang. And she was without a doubt one of the funniest people I've met. Her improv. Yes. And was off the charts funny.

[Jesse Gaskell]

You guys were doing like a two person.

[Mike Sweeney]

Oh, my God. I would tour. I would do a two person show with her in Vegas if I could. She's so funny and really delightful. And really delightful.

[Blay]

She should be an international star.

[Jesse Gaskell]

I know. I think she will be, which is.

[Blay]

Not something I say about everyone. No, but she was amazing.

[Mike Sweeney]

She's kind of the breakout, I think kind of the breakout star of the New Zealand episode, Abby Howells. And I just want to give a shout out to her because I'm hoping I cross paths with her again. She was so uniquely funny. She's just funny in her bones and just so much fun. And I love the segments with her. Yeah, we're at the ocean. And again, this is one of the magical things about these travel shows is you guys do a great job of finding these people. I don't know who they're Gonna be. I get out of a van, I walk up, they say, this is Abby. Hi, Abby. And within two seconds, I'm thinking, she's hilarious. This is really fun. We did so much improv. It was really.

[Jesse Gaskell]

I know.

[Mike Sweeney]

Well.

[Jesse Gaskell]

And I normally wouldn't. I think. I think someone telling me just watch this half hour of improv would maybe turn me off a little bit. But it was legitimately so funny watching the uncut version.

[Mike Sweeney]

Oh, the uncut.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yes.

[Mike Sweeney]

No, no, we wouldn't. We would never. We cut it down. We would never ask you to watch half an hour of improv, Jesse. How dare you suggest.

[Jason Shalemi]

It was hard to edit as. Because it was. Because there were so many good chunks in there.

[Blay]

And it all built as it went.

[Mike Sweeney]

So.

[Blay]

And it just got funnier and funnier. And so then you're like, oh, how do we tighten this up without losing any of these great.

[Mike Sweeney]

I met the only other. I never meet anyone with a first name. Conan, but you guys found someone in New Zealand whose name is Conan o' Brie. And I met with him. That was fun.

[Jesse Gaskell]

He was also really funny.

[Mike Sweeney]

He was funny. They were naturally very funny people.

[Blay]

And that was our talent booker, Gina Batista came in one day. She goes, I got an alert that there's a Conan o' Brien or something on her phone. She goes, I don't know that there's a Conan o' Brien.

[Mike Sweeney]

And he has one of my. He had my amex. He had my AMEX card. We figured out where the leak was.

[Blay]

And he was really funny too.

[Mike Sweeney]

You know, it's funny. There's something. We found this a lot. It's one of the things that I like so much about the travel shows is that you go to these other countries and they're very self possessed. They're like, oh, yeah, okay, I know this. I've heard of this Conan guy. But anyway. And then they get on to just being themselves. And so the comedy is. It's a different.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah. They're not nervous around here.

[Mike Sweeney]

Oh, God, no, no, there's a. There's a. There's a little scent of, I don't know. Disdain.

[Jason Shalemi]

No, Being laid back. Abby mentioned that that's one of the sort of national pride of New Zealand is how laid back people can be.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Yeah.

[Blay]

And they were all very unflappable.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah.

[Blay]

No matter, you know, just meeting someone in a. In a DVD store, guys just buying, renting videos, and they're just like, hey, Conan. And they knew who you were, but they're just like, yeah. And they're just Kind of sleepy.

[Mike Sweeney]

You traveled 45,000 miles to be here, basically to the moon and back to go see them.

[Blay]

Hey, that's cool.

[Mike Sweeney]

Then we go to the south island. And that was pretty fascinating just because the winding van ride up over the mountains, through fog, past just. I mean that. Yes, there's a part of this life of making remotes and there's no escaping it where if you're going to do this, you're going to be in a van for a long period of time and some countries more than others. And yeah, New Zealand is a van country. You're in a van.

[Jason Shalemi]

Yes.

[Blay]

It's not luxury transport and there's no way.

[Mike Sweeney]

I mean, if you want to get. From which city were we in in the South Island?

[Blay]

Christchurch.

[Mike Sweeney]

Christchurch. We were in Christchurch. Then for us to get to Hokitika, which is on the other side of the island, south, and this is getting closer to Antarctica.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's the fascinating part.

[Mike Sweeney]

And I really wanted to go all the way south and if we had been that kind of travel show that's actually trying to inform people and we would have. I would love to go back someday and go to the very southern tip, because that's almost as close as you can get to Antarctica without getting on.

[Blay]

A boat, other than like Patagonia.

[Mike Sweeney]

Patagonia, I think, is a little closer.

[Blay]

We look and we looked into it and we were kind of like Dunedin and down that way there's wildlife and. But, you know. Yes, it would be a long way from the fan and it becomes a whole different show.

[Jason Shalemi]

Exactly.

[Mike Sweeney]

This will not be in the special, but my. Our. We finally get to Hokitika and what you will not see in the special is we check into this hotel and I was taken up to this room. That makes no sense. I've stayed in every kind of hotel room in my life. And this hotel room there is. You take an elevator up two flights to the third. Yes, to the third floor. And then you walk down and they say just go through that door. And you go through that door and there's some more stairs. The stairs take you up to an elevator that is not functioning. It's not a functioning elevator and hasn't been for a long time. But then you, like, go up a ladder and there's another door and then you're in a hotel room. And there's an elevator door in that hotel room, but it doesn't open and that's in the, like, living room of the hotel room. It was just. I couldn't figure it out for the life of Me. And then we.

[Blay]

And they called it the penthouse suite.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yes, penthouse suite. But it's the kookiest thing I've ever seen. And then we walked to a bar, and there was karaoke at the bar. And was it you, Jose, who played a cruel practical joke on me, or was it. Oh, it was Chalemi.

[Jason Shalemi]

It was Jason Shalemi.

[Mike Sweeney]

Jason Shalemi called up a song and he said, you're next, Conan. And I went, I don't want to do it. And I said, no, no, no, you're next. And it was Led Zeppelin.

[Matt Gourley]

A whole lot of love.

[Mike Sweeney]

A whole lot of love. Which, if you know the song, you know, it's that. I mean, I don't know what the rules are. If I can sing, I can't really sing it. Right, there's that part, but then there's.

[Blay]

Led Zip won't file a claim.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah, not for that. I'll just say a cat got trapped in a grain thresher. But then, as you know, in that song, there's a long break of just. And so everyone's looking at me. So I'm just gyrating in this tiny bar and gyrating and gyrating and gyrating while various weird 1969 noises are playing.

[Conan O'Brien]

Whoop, whoop, whoop, whop.

[Jason Shalemi]

It's gone.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's gone.

[Mike Sweeney]

And then finally. And I was looking at Shalemi, and I was like, you fucker. And everyone's looking at me like, you need to make this interesting, impossible. And then you finally get to the John Bonham. But again, that takes a while. It's the worst song to do karaoke to.

[Jason Shalemi]

Should not be on that playlist. I agree.

[Mike Sweeney]

And Jason Shalemi, wherever you are, I'm not gonna fucking forget that. And I will pay you back in time.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Oh, he's the only one who could pull that off.

[Blay]

That's so true.

[Jeff Ross]

I have the whole thing on video. I will say, also, it's Jeff Ross birthday. We celebrated Jeff Ross birthday.

[Mike Sweeney]

That's right.

[Blay]

That's right.

[Jeff Ross]

That's why we did karaoke.

[Mike Sweeney]

Is that why we did it that night? That's right. It was Jeff's birthday, Jeff Ross's birthday. And Jeff said, I want to see karaoke. I want a whole lot of love in a very small bar. And again, there were people in the bar, regular patrons, who just could have cared less about any of us.

[Blay]

Yeah. They had no idea.

[Conan O'Brien]

There I am.

[Jeff Ross]

This is a photo of Conan just sitting there. As it says, musical break. 12 measures.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yes, 12 measures. And you know what I did? I Sat down. I sat down. And I look like when someone's about to be executed by a firing squad and they allow them to sit in a chair, I'm like Gary Gilmore, just sitting there, waiting for it to stop.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Accepting your fate.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah. But anyway, we had. I meet a fan there who lives in very remote conditions, and that's worth watching off the grid. So that was fun. It was a very. Again, none of these two shows are alike because these countries are all so different. And I stress there are a lot of travel shows out there. I promise you, you will learn nothing from my travel show. In fact, my travel show, and I've said this before, it robs you of any knowledge you may have had of that country. It is a protein that eats at the brain. But I think it's funny. I like to think it's funny. I hope it's funny.

[Blay]

There's a couple of Easter eggs in it.

[Mike Sweeney]

Couple of Easter eggs.

[Jesse Gaskell]

Oh, yes, that's right.

[Mike Sweeney]

Oh, my God. I get to do another dramatic turn. A lot of people right now are, if you like the Pit with Noah Wylie, if you like the Pit with Noah Wylie, watch my travel show on Max, because let's just say New Zealand has their own version of the Pit, which is just as gripping and intense. And I get to act in it, and you get to really see my acting chops.

[Jason Shalemi]

Exactly.

[Mike Sweeney]

And I think Noah Wylie should fear me. He should fear. If he. Cause if he saw this, I think he would immediately.

[Blay]

That's why they rushed the Pit on tv. It wasn't ready.

[Mike Sweeney]

It wasn't ready.

[Blay]

And they caught wind. You were on Shortland Street.

[Mike Sweeney]

Yeah, Yeah. A lot of the basic sound editing hasn't been done on the Pit.

[Blay]

The Pit was gonna cover a week at the hospital, and they found out you were coming, and they said, let's make it a day.

[Mike Sweeney]

Donan's doing Shortland in New Zealand, and he blows Noah Wiley out of the water. So what they did is they just quickly made it a day, and instead of having all the script ready, they just. A lot of it is just people reading medications.

[Blay]

And contraindications.

[Mike Sweeney]

Well, I want to thank you guys again and again. A shout out that you're here with me, but Mike Sweeney, Jose Arroyo, accent on there. Yeah, I thought that was important. And, of course, Jesse Gaskell and so glad that you guys. You guys work so hard to make these shows come out. And a shout out to the whole team. Blay, of course you were there. Eduardo and Adam, you're in the studio, but you did nothing for these shows. Shalemi, shout out to you, Jeff Ross. I'm very lucky to have you guys. And I'm gonna say that. And then I'm gonna quickly make a joke about you guys being awful and a lodestone around my neck or edit it out.

[Jason Shalemi]

Shout out to Bex, our fixer in New Zealand. Well, she put together.

[Mike Sweeney]

And to Bex, Beer.

[Jason Shalemi]

Okay. And to be.

[Mike Sweeney]

Which I probably shouldn't do because it doesn't matter. We do have a Miller Light guy.

[Jason Shalemi]

Fixer.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Blay]

Miller Light is the one who found Abby Howell.

[Jason Shalemi]

So yes, that's great.

[Mike Sweeney]

This is the segment called Too Much Information. And also the Hyundai Excel company.

[Blay]

They were amazing.

[Conan O'Brien]

Renting us a car.

[Blay]

The Kia Bird.

[Jason Shalemi]

You were. You were hilarious in many different ways.

[Mike Sweeney]

Thank you. Well, listen, I'm a painter who uses many different colors.

[Jason Shalemi]

Yes, yes, yes, it was.

[Mike Sweeney]

Which is my way of saying funny in different ways. Anyway, check it out. It's on Max two Dimensional. There are two episodes now out. Last week was of course Spain and this week is New Zealand. And you can tune in next week. We'll be doing a podcast about the third episode in the Conan o' Brien.

[Conan O'Brien]

Must Go series and we'll see you then.

[Mike Sweeney]

I'm hooked.

[Adam Sachs]

I'm hooked.

[Matt Gourley]

Conan o' Brien Needs a Fan With Conan o' Brien, Sonam of Cessian and Matt Gourley Produced by me, Matt Gourley Executive produced by Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross and Nick Leow Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino Take it away, Jimmy Supervising Producer Aaron Blair Associate Talent Producer Jennifer Samples Associate Producers Sean Doherty and Lisa Berm Engineering by Eduardo Perez get three free months of Sirius XM when you sign [e-mail] Conan please rate, review and subscribe to Conan O' Brien needs a Fan wherever fine podcasts are downloaded.

[Mike Sweeney]

Foreign.

[Adam Sachs]

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[Conan O'Brien]

Shark Cryoglow is the only I'm gonna say that again.

[Mike Sweeney]

Only LED mask with under eye cooling.

[Conan O'Brien]

In the US only. Cryoglow uses high energy blue and red LEDs, deep penetrating infrared and Instachill technology to soothe and firm under eyes, complete with four unique treatments developed with dermatologists backed by clinical testing and FDA cleared. Iqled technology provides dermatologist optimizing treatments of red, blue and deep infrared light with four unique better aging skin clearing, skin sustain and under eye revive for a completely customizable routine.

[Mike Sweeney]

Hell, I'd want all four.

[Conan O'Brien]

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[Jose Arroyo]

I've used this.

[Conan O'Brien]

You've used it?

[Jose Arroyo]

Yeah, they sent us one and I.

[Mike Sweeney]

Took it and you look fantastic by the way. Thank you.

[Jose Arroyo]

I feel fresh faced. I've been using it pretty consistently. You know, there's eye holes so you could just like wear it and just go about your day. You look kind of crazy, but you can just, you know, watch some tv.

[Mike Sweeney]

You look like when Hannibal Lecter cut off someone's face and put it on.

[Conan O'Brien]

His face, but it was cooling.

[Jose Arroyo]

Ye you really feel it working. It's actually really nice and I love it. I'm going to keep using it.

[Mike Sweeney]

Cryoglow all the Kids Are Talking Available at sharkbeauty. Com.