Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Episode: Don’t Look A Gift Horse Meat In The Mouth
Date: September 4, 2025
Host: Conan O’Brien
Guests: Sona Movsesian (assistant/co-host), Matt Gourley (co-host), Narjamal from Almaty, Kazakhstan
Overview
In this episode, Conan and his team connect with Narjamal, a longtime fan from Kazakhstan whose uniquely persistent attempts to reach Conan—with snacks, heartfelt letters, and even the sacrifice of her prized printer—spark a wide-ranging, funny, and ultimately touching conversation. The episode joyfully explores failed mail, cultural exchanges, the power of comedy, and the responsibilities (and possible atrocities) of being a celebrity pen pal.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Meeting Narjamal from Kazakhstan (03:01–03:16)
- Conan and the crew meet their first-ever fan from Kazakhstan, Narjamal.
- She shares she's from Almaty, the southern part of the country—a place she's lived her whole life.
2. The Saga of the Kazakhstani Snack Box (03:21–07:42)
- Narjamal recounts seeing a clip of Conan joking that if fans sent him snacks from their country, he would visit and thank them in person.
- “I will collect all of the snacks that I know from Kazakhstan. I send it to you. And then no, nothing.” – Narjamal (04:03)
- Conan and the team discover the snacks—including horse meat-flavored chips—never reached Conan directly.
- Sona admits office staff would often eat international snacks before Conan could see them.
- “A lot of people from a lot of different countries sent us snacks. And so a lot of us in the office would open them... and then we would eat the snacks.” – Sona (05:00)
- Narjamal sent fine Kazakhstani chocolates too and followed up by calling the offices.
3. Selling a Printer to Reach Conan (07:42–10:14)
- Not discouraged, Narjamal sold her beloved printer (a gift from her mom) to afford FedEx shipping for a graduation invitation letter to Conan.
- “There was only one thing that was precious to me. It was a printer that was a gift from my mom, and I sold it... exactly the price. A letter to send you.” – Narjamal (07:55)
- Conan is incredulous and sympathetic.
- “Oh my God, Narjamal. I can't believe this story. You sold a printer, an expensive printer, so that you could get the money to FedEx... a letter to me.” – Conan (09:42)
4. Conan Responds (10:14–10:39)
- Narjamal reveals that although Conan didn't respond to the package or initial letter, he did send her a graduation-day video message on Instagram.
- “I was crying of happiness.” – Narjamal (09:58)
- The group reflects on the chaos of their office and the occasional lack of follow-through on fan gifts.
5. Trying to Call Into Conan’s Radio Show (16:36–18:05)
- Narjamal and a friend in Michigan made hundreds of attempts to call into Conan’s SiriusXM radio show, finally succeeding and speaking with Conan for ten minutes.
- “We collectively, we called like 500 times, I think.” – Narjamal (17:51)
- Conan expresses confusion over the memory but is touched by her persistence.
6. The Printer Debacle & Narjamal’s Mom (19:37–21:01)
- Narjamal’s mother discovered the printer had been sold to communicate with a comedian she found disappointing.
- “She was so disappointed.” – Narjamal (19:48)
- “Did she think I was funny?” – Conan (20:11)
- “No, but who cares? I think that you are funny.” – Narjamal (20:12)
- Conan becomes comically obsessed with winning over Narjamal’s mother and considers replacing the printer.
7. Standup Comedy in Kazakhstan (21:01–22:56)
- Inspired by Conan and other comedians, Narjamal began performing standup—mostly in English—in Kazakhstan, despite small crowds.
- “Sometimes there are two people in the audience for English crowd. So I'm not doing that well.” – Narjamal (21:20)
- Conan jokes about the Soviet-sounding names of Kazakh clubs (e.g., "Central Stand Up Club") and muses on the challenges of comedy in a non-native language.
8. The Nature of Hope and Laughter (23:00–24:11)
- Conan humorously ranks global priorities: “laughter” comes after world peace, food security, renewable energy, and the end of dictatorships.
- “Laughter’s like last, but laughter. We need to get rid of nuclear... and then laughter.” – Conan (23:03)
9. Running Gags: “But wait, there’s more!” (16:36–24:35)
- Conan playfully instructs Narjamal on the correct English idiom ("But wait, there's more!") for escalating anecdotal revelations.
- “But wait, there’s more—and you give kind of a look like, but wait, there’s more.” – Conan (24:29)
10. A Touching (and Funny) Farewell (25:17–27:31)
- Narjamal gently roasts Conan for unfulfilled promises: not visiting Kazakhstan despite his on-air pledge, not acknowledging the snacks, and forgetting their phone call.
- “To be fair, you lied to me, Conan. You broke my heart. You didn't acknowledge the snacks I sent. You robbed my mother of a printer that I stole from her just so I could communicate with you. And you don't remember the time we talked on the phone. Other than that, you seem like a swell guy.” – Narjamal (25:39)
- Conan promises (with typical self-mockery) to eventually make things right.
- The team expresses genuine appreciation and enjoyment of Narjamal, leaving the door open for the friendship/conversation to continue.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On snacks and lost gifts
“I can't believe horse meat flavored chips didn’t make their way to me. Sona... I remember that week you smelled like horse and you had all this horse chip crumbs around your mouth.”
— Conan (05:39) -
On selling the printer
“I sold my hair to buy you a watch fob... It's an O. Henry story that no one cares about anymore.”
— Conan (09:05) -
On Conan’s responsibility to Narjamal’s mom
“I feel like I have to buy her something more than that now. I really have to win her over.”
— Conan (20:43) -
On starting comedy in Kazakhstan
“In Kazakhstan, it's like, sometimes there are two people in the audience for English crowd. So I'm not doing that well.”
— Narjamal (21:20) -
On the order of human priorities
“We need to get rid of nuclear... and then laughter. Those are the things in that prayer, in that list.”
— Conan (23:03) -
On running gags and heartwarming resilience
“You have been given, issued a warning by the Central Committee of the standups. Yuk.”
— Conan (22:44, joking about Soviet-style comedy bureaucracy)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:01–03:16 – Introduction to Narjamal and Kazakhstan
- 04:30–07:42 – The saga of the Kazakh snack package
- 07:55–10:14 – Selling the beloved printer and the O. Henry analogy
- 09:58 – Narjamal's emotional response to Conan’s video
- 16:36–18:05 – The great radio call-in quest
- 19:37–21:01 – The printer’s fate and Narjamal’s disappointed mom
- 21:20 – Narjamal tries stand-up in Kazakhstan
- 22:44 – Soviet comedy club banter
- 23:03 – Conan’s (humorous) hierarchy of global priorities
- 24:24–24:35 – “But wait, there’s more!”
- 25:39 – Narjamal’s epic roast: Conan’s broken promises
- 26:56–27:31 – Warm goodbyes and hopes to meet in person
Tone & Language
The episode is playful, self-deprecating, and affectionate, with classic Conan banter, team ribbing, and a global flavor. Despite the humor, there’s a heartfelt appreciation for Narjamal’s perseverance and for comedy’s connective power.
Summary Takeaway
In “Don’t Look A Gift Horse Meat In The Mouth,” Conan O’Brien’s ongoing quest for real connections finds a kind, persistent, and very funny friend from Kazakhstan. Through misadventures involving missing snacks, sacrificed technology, and international miscommunication, the episode delivers on the promise of both laughter and warmth—reminding us, sometimes friendship is forged not despite confusion and chaos, but because of it.