Elizabeth Banks Returns

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Elizabeth Banks Returns"

Podcast: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
Episode Date: April 6, 2026
Main Guests: Conan O’Brien (host), Elizabeth Banks (main guest), Sona Movsesian, David Huntsberger, Sean Dougherty

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Episode Overview

In this lively, laughter-filled episode, Conan O’Brien welcomes back his good friend Elizabeth Banks for a deep-dive into friendship, competitiveness, parenting, and the unpredictable path of a career in entertainment. Elizabeth is promoting her new Peacock series, "The Miniature Wife," and the conversation rolls through personal stories, vulnerable admissions, big life lessons, and hilarious banter, all delivered in the warm, playful tone fans love. The episode also touches on the dynamics of modern parenthood, the evolving nature of celebrity friendships, and Banks’ journey from a small town in Massachusetts to Hollywood stardom—including the obstacles she encountered along the way.

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Main Segments & Key Insights

1. The Perils of Friendship Performances

[11:01] – [12:12]

• Conan notes, with tongue-in-cheek, that the premise of his podcast—attempting to make real friends with celebrity guests—feels a bit performative when it comes to genuine friends like Elizabeth.
• Elizabeth echoes the sentiment:

  “It always feels...weird whenever I do someone's podcast...where we have an actual relationship. That this becomes, like, a weird performance of our relationship.” – Elizabeth Banks [12:01]

2. Old Massachusetts Connections

[14:10] – [17:27]

• Both Conan and Elizabeth reminisce about growing up in Massachusetts, highlighting their respective hometowns:
  • Elizabeth grew up in Pittsfield (“might as well be Oz” to Conan).
  • Hers was a “divided house”—father was a Yankees fan, mother a Red Sox fan.
• They discuss the evolving Yankees–Red Sox rivalry; Elizabeth recalls watching historic games with intensity bordering on tears:

  “I watched them win the Red Sox win against the Yankees, going to the World Series in a hotel bed, like, crying.” – Elizabeth Banks [17:09]

3. Childhood, Mythology, and Perspective

[17:27] – [21:58]

• Elizabeth describes an outdoorsy, “John Hughesian” high school experience—cow tipping, running through woods, and keg parties in cornfields.

• The conversation wanders amusingly into why so many people believe in unicorns and dragons, their shared mythology, and the cultural oddities of such beliefs.

• They transition to transformative life setbacks—specifically Elizabeth’s career-ending softball injury that led to acting:

  “I found acting because of it, which is crazy.” – Elizabeth Banks [20:51]

• Conan ties this to a theme he tells young people: apparent setbacks can redirect your life for the better.

  “There are so many times where this giant boulder lands in your path and...you take a different road...and later on, you think, oh, my God, look at the life you’ve had.” – Conan O’Brien [21:04]

4. Parenting, Age, and Perspective

[21:58] – [29:02]

• Discussion of teenage parenting challenges, the lack of “leadership to point to” in culture, and how age strips intensity from worries:

  “I'm really watching how, and being reminded how hard it is to be a human and function properly...and we have so little leadership to point to...” – Elizabeth Banks [26:21]

• Elizabeth and Conan joke that reduced hormonal responses with age (“your testosterone levels have fallen a lot” [27:30]) explain much of their mellowing out.

5. Gender, Ambition & Industry Obstacles

[29:02] – [35:44]

• Elizabeth reveals that her drive always stemmed from wanting to “compete with the boys” because the world wasn’t made for girls:

  “I was competitive with boys always. And I think it's because the world was not made for girls.” – Elizabeth Banks [30:04]

• Her childhood heroes weren’t actresses, but Harrison Ford characters—Indiana Jones, Han Solo.
• Directed and produced her own projects, breaking out of the “box” many tried to keep her in:

  “I don't like being put in a box. I feel like I still have a lot to offer. Nothing's gone the way I thought it was going to.” – Elizabeth Banks [32:25]

• Speaks candidly about being dismissed due to her looks or gender:

  “I was literally told by a big producer once, ‘I just don't think men are gonna follow you as a director.’” – Elizabeth Banks [35:06]

6. Work Ethic & Leadership

[35:44] – [39:00]

• Conan and Elizabeth share thoughts on work-life balance and their relentless drive—even as they joke about how they over-book themselves and complain about it later.
• Elizabeth discusses her intensity, both as a creative and a friendly competitor:

  “I became such a cutthroat negotiator...where people were just like, it's getting too intense.” – Elizabeth Banks (on Settlers of Catan) [36:13]

• Both stress the importance of treating others well, even if driven to “go a million miles a minute.”

7. “The Miniature Wife” Behind the Scenes

[40:18] – [45:17]

• Elizabeth describes the technical and emotional challenges of her new Peacock comedy, in which her character is shrunk to six inches tall:

  “The show was really technically challenging...I just didn't realize how technical being six inches tall was. I was on a green screen half the time... they built incredible life-size props.” – Elizabeth Banks [41:02]

• Shares a funny and vulnerable account of acting alone, referencing massive props, and even needing curtains to block crew faces so she could focus during green screen scenes.

8. The Cult Classic Effect: “Wet Hot American Summer” and Surprising Career Turns

[45:52] – [50:49]

• Elizabeth recalls her first big film and how it bombed at first, only to become a beloved cult classic:

  “Nothing. It completely changed my life. I went to Sundance, I met my...manager to this day, 25 years now...but truly...that changed my whole [life]. I can't believe I'm part of that insane ensemble.” – Elizabeth Banks [47:51]

• Conan compares this to the Coen brothers’ “Big Lebowski”—not appreciated at release but a fan obsession for younger generations.

9. Enduring Drive and Future Plans

[50:49] – [53:21]

• Elizabeth admits she’s not slowing down:

  “I literally started...I was in a writer's room yesterday.” – Elizabeth Banks [51:02]

• Both confess their mutual inability to “calm down” or keep their schedules light.

10. Staff Review & Bonus Segment: Sean Dougherty’s Story

[56:10] – END

• Conan shifts to a comedic “staff review” segment, bantering with senior producer Sean Dougherty about his rise from intern, his Massachusetts background, and his recent screenplay sale.
• Conan teases Sean about being his body double (in case of assassination), and the absurd, affectionate dynamic that pervades the Team Coco workplace.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Absurdity of Hollywood:
  “What happened? And so you’re thinking, okay, I got into this to be Harrison Ford and I’m jumping off a toilet onto a plunger.” – Conan O’Brien [44:00]

• On Perspective and Parenting:
  “...the biggest role of being a parent, is just to provide perspective...explaining to them it’s not as bad as you think it is.” – Conan O’Brien [21:58]

• On Dismissive Industry Attitudes:
  “I was literally told by a big producer once, ‘I just don’t think men are gonna follow you as a director.’” – Elizabeth Banks [35:06]

• On Friendship and Celebrity Encounters:
  “That’s the nice thing, too, is in those moments, you want to be the person that they want you to be.” – Conan O’Brien [50:16]

• On Relentless Ambition:
  “I was competitive with boys always...I wanted to be Indiana Jones and I wanted to be Han Solo and I wanted to go on adventures.” – Elizabeth Banks [30:04]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment / Discussion | |-------------|----------------------------------| | 11:01–12:12 | “Performing” real friendship for the podcast | | 14:10–17:27 | Massachusetts roots, baseball rivalry | | 17:27–21:58 | Childhood myths, sports injury, finding acting | | 29:02–35:44 | Gender, ambition, industry obstacles | | 40:18–45:17 | Filming “The Miniature Wife” and technical challenges | | 45:52–50:49 | “Wet Hot American Summer” and cult status | | 50:49–53:21 | Future plans—no slowing down for Elizabeth | | 56:10–End | Bonus “staff review” with Sean Dougherty |

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Final Thoughts

• This episode celebrates real friendship, the resilience required to carve a path in Hollywood, and the value of perspective—whether as a parent, an artist, or simply a human striving to find meaning in setbacks.
• Elizabeth Banks shines as a candid, quick-witted guest with insights on ambition and gender in entertainment, while Conan keeps the tone zany but heartfelt.
• Highly worth a listen for both laughs and inspiration, especially for anyone navigating life’s unexpected twists.

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Transcript

[Conan O'Brien]

Malcolm in the Middle is back. Bryan Cranston, Frankie Muniz, Jane Kaczmarek and the rest of the family return for a four part revival event on Hulu and Hulu on Disney. Turns out Malcolm's been hiding from his family for years, but Hal and Lois are determined to get him to their 40th wedding anniversary. And there is no escaping family. We all know that too well. Stream Malcolm in the Middle. Life's still unfair. Starting April 10th on Hulu and Hulu on Disney. Hulu on Disney requires bundle subscription terms apply. Ever invest in something that seemed incredible at first but didn't live up to the hype?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah, like all the time.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I did that with an all potato restaurant.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, no.

[Conan O'Brien]

Marketers know that feeling. They optimize for the numbers that look great, like impressions, but then they don't see revenue. You know what I'm talking about, don't you know?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Oh, yeah. All the time.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. LinkedIn has a word for that. Bullspin.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Bull spin.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Instead you can get the highest roas of major ad networks with LinkedIn ads. Cut the bull. Spend. Advertise on LinkedIn. Spend $250 and get a $250 credit. Go to LinkedIn.comconan Terms apply.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Hi, my name is Elizabeth Banks and I feel blessed.

[Conan O'Brien]

Aw. Wow.

[Elizabeth Banks]

About being Conan o'. Brien.

[Conan O'Brien]

You are a terrific actress.

[David Huntsberger]

Thank you.

[Elizabeth Banks]

That took a lot.

[Conan O'Brien]

You might be the best.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Fall is here. Hear the yell back to school. Ring the bell Brand new shoes Walking loose Climb the fence Books and pens.

[Conan O'Brien]

I can tell that we are going to be friends.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I can. Until we are going to be friends.

[Conan O'Brien]

Hey there. Welcome to Conan o' Brien. Needs a friend. I'm sitting here with Sona of session. Blessed to be sitting with you, Sona.

[Sona Movsesian]

Hey, that's nice.

[Conan O'Brien]

And also filling in for Matt Gorley is our trusty David Hopping. Hello. Also blessed also. Well, yeah, sure.

[David Huntsberger]

You're also blessed to be sitting here with me.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think you're more blessed to be with me. But anyway, you're hanging on by thread. We have something to talk about today, which is Sona, apparently. And I have not talked to her about this yet, but she told me that she had a very intense fracas. It's a word you don't hear much on the street with somebody. And I want to hear what happened. Tell your tale, Sona. Tell your tale.

[Sona Movsesian]

This is not a pretty sight. So sometimes, look, sometimes when I'm walking Okie, I have her leash, but slow

[Conan O'Brien]

things down a bit. Okie is your dog Okie is my dog.

[Sona Movsesian]

I'll take her off the leash for a little bit of the walk. Um. A lot of people do it. Cops have driven by. Nobody cares. But this one day, I'm walking by this guy's house, and I have my headphones in, and I hear him just, like, talking to me. And I turn. I take off my headphones, and I turn around. He's filming me, and he's going, walking your dog off a leash is a crime. You C word.

[Conan O'Brien]

And then.

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm not kidding.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wait. Don't move past that. He called you the C word?

[Sona Movsesian]

He called me the C word like, 45 times.

[Conan O'Brien]

Not that there's. Wait, what?

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm not even. It was like, this crazy man. And the thing is, like, I was shocked at first when I turned around, and then I turned around, and I was just like, fuck you. And then I start screaming at him, and he's yelling at me, calling me the C word over and over and over again. And then at one point. And Okie was such a dick for this.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, Okie's still there. I thought he had left. I thought Okie had left and had gone on a flight or something.

[Sona Movsesian]

She did not like the vibes. So she starts walking into the street, and it makes me look bad because she's like. I'm like, yeah. He's like. He was walking. A dog is off the sleeves of crime.

[Elizabeth Banks]

You see?

[Sona Movsesian]

Word. Like, he's, like, foaming at the mouth. And then Okie walks in the street, and he goes, look, your dog's going to. Your dog's going to die, and I'm going to help kill it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Why?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. And he's saying this crazy, crazy stuff

[Conan O'Brien]

to me is, this man's had a break of some kind.

[Sona Movsesian]

I don't know what's going on. I have no idea. But of course, like, instead of just being like, sir, you need to calm down. I yell back at him. And I'm just calling him the F word. I'm saying he is an old, pathetic loser. Like, I'm saying all this awful. And the.

[Conan O'Brien]

Cause you run hot. I've. I've been with you. When Sona sees red, it happens instantly. Yeah. And I remember a time, I'm sure we talked about it years ago when you and I were in. We were in New York, and. And we were at, I think, Sarah Beth's or something on the Upper west side.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

And we were with a friend of yours. And an old man across the room shushed us. Cause you were talking a little loudly. And you. I Saw your pupils disappeared and your eyes were just all white. And you were like, excuse me. Excuse me. And he was like, too loud. And you were like, you think I'm too fucking loud? And I'm just. The whole time I'm thinking, oh, this is page six in the Post. Because I'm sitting here like an idiot.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I was trying to calm you down. And you only get angrier. You went a little crazy, too. So this guy made the M. He yelled at the wrong person.

[Sona Movsesian]

He's matching my crazy. And he's like. The thing is, though, he's filming me. So he's on the. He's on the. He's in front of his door. I'm on the sidewalk. We're just standing here. Like, they're yelling at each other back and forth. And then I'm just like, oh, my God, where is this going? Like, where's this film going? And is it. Is it. Am I going to get canceled for being ageist? So I'm just like. At one point, I switch, and I'm just like, why are you being so rude? And then I. Oh, you decided to

[Conan O'Brien]

clean it up a little bit. This is after. This is after you've already bitten him in the leg.

[Sona Movsesian]

I said some awful stuff. And then at one point, he kept calling me the C word. And I was like, you're lucky I like that word. I go, I reclaimed it. So you.

[David Huntsberger]

I want to see this video.

[Conan O'Brien]

We have to see the video. I googled it just in case. No, it's not. How do we find the video? Do you think this guy knows how to post a video?

[Sona Movsesian]

He probably posted it on, like, next door, if he posted it anywhere. But also, it won't make him look.

[Conan O'Brien]

Maybe he doesn't know. Maybe he thinks he buried the phone and said a prayer, and he thinks that's how it goes out. Like, he might not know some people.

[Sona Movsesian]

I don't know.

[Conan O'Brien]

I wouldn't know how to post a video.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes, you would. You'd have people do it for you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, when he. I mean, yeah. At this point, I have David take me to the bathroom.

[David Huntsberger]

I'm gonna find the guy, and I'll post the video for him.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Conan O'Brien]

That would be a great video to see. But it is upsetting that he called you that.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, he called me it. I. I've never heard that word come out of a man's mouth that many times. So he's so angrily. And then at one point, I was walking Okie, and he went back inside. And then I just see him pop out of the back of his house, and he starts filming me again. And it was. It got cartoo.

[David Huntsberger]

Maybe he had a crush on you.

[Sona Movsesian]

I mean, maybe he wanted this. I don't know.

[Conan O'Brien]

That is how I used to act towards women I really liked. Oh, no. Yeah. I would wait, and I would film them, and I would shout the C word. And you know what? It didn't work. Until it did. Liza said, I love this man. He speaks. What? He speaks his mind.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, that is. That's intense.

[Sona Movsesian]

It was intense.

[Conan O'Brien]

So how far away do you live from this guy?

[Sona Movsesian]

He's, like, around the block from me.

[Conan O'Brien]

So what are we going to do?

[Sona Movsesian]

So here's. Then what happened? I went home and I told Tac what happened, and Tack got really upset.

[Conan O'Brien]

Sure.

[Sona Movsesian]

And Tack's like, old school. You can't. You can't say stuff like that to my wife. And so I was like, let's sleep on it. I bet it's funny tomorrow. And it was.

[Conan O'Brien]

So you both gummied up.

[Sona Movsesian]

So we both gummied up.

[Conan O'Brien]

He can't talk to my wife that way. Let's take a gummy and do tropical fruit. Snore, snore, snore, snore. Hey, where were we? Oh, yeah, that guy.

[Sona Movsesian]

So then the next day, you know, we're at home, we drop the boys off at school. We. We come back home, and I'm just, like, doing stuff. And I didn't hear from Tack for a minute, and then I heard the door open, and he came back, and he's like, I talked to the guy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, wow.

[Sona Movsesian]

And I'm like, what do you mean, you talk to him? And he just knocked on his door. The guy opened the door, and Tack was like, if you ever talk to my wife like that or threaten my dog, I'll have you arrested for assault. And then he walked away. And then the guy started being like, fuck you. Fuck you. You know, just like, crazy. Yelling back at him. And then he was. I think he went to go get his camera and then went out and started filming Tag walk away.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, it sounds like he got the message.

[David Huntsberger]

Had either of you seen this man before?

[Sona Movsesian]

Never saw him before. I never saw him before, but he really. We're not going to walk by his house anymore.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm going to say something. And this just occurred to me because we. This is the time that we live in. Going up and knocking on someone's door like that. I know that because we live in this era where someone can shoot you through the door and say I was standing my ground. Whatever. I don't know. I don't know that I respect what tack was doing. He was standing up for you. I have mad respect for tack, but that. I don't know if you should be doing that.

[Sona Movsesian]

I told him not to. I told him. I said that exact thing. I was like, what if he shoots you through the door and. And he goes, well, then that's murder. Right? And I'm like, yeah, but you'll be dead.

[Conan O'Brien]

I showed him tax up in heaven. Shy showed you? Oh, wait a minute.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I know.

[Sona Movsesian]

I think it was just eating him up inside. And also, I. I don't. I think that guy's all talk. I bet if I walked up to him, he'd be scared.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what I think? I think you should assume he's all talk and keep harassing him at his doorway.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's just my advice as a friend.

[David Huntsberger]

This is gonna be a netflix documentary.

[Conan O'Brien]

Get him in.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Oh.

[Conan O'Brien]

Put on masks and tease him at night right at his doorstep.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, I can't. You know, my petty side kicked in, and I was just like, should I just take Okie's poop and spread it all over his lawn and the front door? Should I egg his house? Like, I used to egg houses and back when I was in high school, but then I slept on it, and then the older mother version of me kicked in and was like, you know what? Let's let this lie.

[David Huntsberger]

She sent her heads up.

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's stay away from this guy. And if anyone harasses him, it should be me. And it should be done in a way that we can monetize for the show.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Okay. Get the clicks.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, that's nice.

[Elizabeth Banks]

You know what I mean?

[Sean Dougherty]

Like, yeah, resolve it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. What the fuck? Did you make a big noise over there? I dropped my pen, but. I dropped your pen. We got, like. He got pots and pans over there. He's like the sound effects guy in a drive time show. I make it bang, bang, bang, bang, bang. I make some of my podcast goulash. No, I was going to say we could scooby doo it and make him think his house is haunted. I think either go in it. No, no, I'm just saying where you're saying. Dress up in masks and stuff. If we engineer a way for you to be shot through the do, then we've got something. Just something to think about. All right, we gotta move on here.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my God.

[Conan O'Brien]

I have so many good ideas today. My guest today is an actress, producer, and director. You Know from such films as Wet Hot, American Summer, Pitch Perfect, and the Hunger Games. Now you can see her in the new Peacock series, the Miniature Wife. I just adore her. I love it when she comes by. Elizabeth Banks. Welcome. This is one of those ones where the fact that the guest has to say anything about being my friend is ridiculous because we are really good friends.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I know. I love you.

[Conan O'Brien]

And one of the great discoveries was that you and your super cool husband are just such nice people and fun to hang with. And we've hung out in a bunch of different situations and had a blast.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah, we have a blast. I know. It always feels. I always feel weird whenever I do someone's podcast where I know, like, where we have, like, a actual relationship.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

That this becomes, like, a weird, like, performance of our relationship. Do you know what?

[Sean Dougherty]

This.

[Elizabeth Banks]

We're just gonna perform being friends.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I know. We've hung out. It'll go great on a ski mountain for days on end.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And while convinced you to order those mashed potatoes and that milk bread that time.

[Conan O'Brien]

Our kids have thrown rocks at each other and we've intervened.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Your kid broke my TV once, as I recall.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think he did.

[David Huntsberger]

Oh, no.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, he did. Yeah. My son always into tech and likes to take things apart but then not put them back together. Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

He's like, I got it. I got it. And then we came down the remote control and we were like, we have no idea how to turn our TV on ever again. Well, no, it's.

[Conan O'Brien]

Try to bail me. Try to bail me. There's a lot to talk about. I really. I'm very excited about this new project of yours, which we will talk about the Miniature Wife, because it looks fantastic.

[Elizabeth Banks]

It's a fun. It's fun. It's absurdist.

[Conan O'Brien]

Opposite one. I mean, you're one of my favorites. And then you're opposite one of my favorite people who I don't think I've met.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Matthew McFadden. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, he.

[Elizabeth Banks]

He doesn't want to meet you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Damn it. Yeah. You know, I sense this. I've been in an airport lounge with him, and he has left the airport lounge and canceled and cancele. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

[Elizabeth Banks]

No, he's a delight.

[Conan O'Brien]

He is so good in everything. And so the idea of you two together and this seems like a really funny idea I absolutely love.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah. The Miniature Wife. See, this is me now. I have to, like, tell you what it is, right? The miniature. Is that what I'm supposed to do? The Miniature Wife is premiering on Peacock in April. And, yeah, it's this really fun absurdist comedy about a couple who have a lot of relationship issues and are working through them, but then he accidentally shrinks her to 6 inches tall, and she becomes his miniature wife.

[Conan O'Brien]

I like how you add. You just toss that in.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[David Huntsberger]

Like, everyone does that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. And you see where this is going, right? She shrunk to six inches, but it looks really funny. And so I am excited about that.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

And just also excited to have you on. We have a lot in common. We're both Massachusetts people.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I still have my Patriots nails on from the Super Bowl.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I did my nails for the super bowl, and then I kept them because, you know, we have the red, white, and blue colors for the Olympics and all of that.

[Conan O'Brien]

And you're also a patriot.

[Elizabeth Banks]

All of that. Just in general, I'm very patriotic. I just wear red, white, and blue nails at all times.

[Conan O'Brien]

I had my nails painted for Ken Burns Revolutionary War documentary. So we all have our different reasons.

[Elizabeth Banks]

How good is that documentary?

[Conan O'Brien]

It was fantastic.

[Elizabeth Banks]

It's unbelievable.

[Conan O'Brien]

Let's talk about that instead. I like the part where George Washington is shrunk down to six inches. Yeah. Yeah. No one's not coming. You're from Massachusetts, and. But you're from a part of Massachusetts that might as well be, you know, Oz to me.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Because I grew up right outside Boston in Brookline, and you could practically roll out of bed and step into Boston. You're in Pittsfield.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't think I've been in Pittsfield in my life.

[Elizabeth Banks]

That's you and many, many, many people.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's way out there.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah. It's in western Ma. Border of New York. So we were sort of like a suburb of Albany. And in fact, I grew up in what we call in Massachusetts, a divided house, a Yankees Red Sox house.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, I've heard of those. Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

So my dad's radio, growing up, his whole life, the news that they got was out of Albany, New York, so it was a lot of Yankees. And my mom, who's from Boston, proper Red Sox family, so grew up very much like we would go. It's. I sort of live equidistant between New York City and Boston. So we go down Yankee Stadium, and we would go to Fenway. And every year, we still have that tradition. I took my dad last summer. We'll go again this summer. Like, it's still our tradition to watch the Yankees in Red Sox.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. I'm a. I'm a good deal older than you, but I don't know if this Was your. Your experience growing up? Cause things may have changed. The Red Sox Yankee rivalry became more genteel at some point. And I also think baseball in general, because teams switch up their rosters practically every year. I come from the era where, you know, the Red Sox team stayed the Red Sox team and changed very little for years and years on end. And it wasn't a rivalry with the Yankees. We hated, hated them, hated them, and everyone in Boston hated them, and they hated us. And there were fights, I mean, between players, and there were brawls, and it was this vitriol. And late now I. It feels like it all got more genteel. Do you know what I'm talking about? Or is it.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I absolutely agree with that, actually. And I don't know how that happened. When did that happen? It's interesting. Yeah, I remember the big poppy years. The daemon. And all those years were like, yeah, you, You. Well, because also, it was. The rivalry was. We would get so close. I watched them win the Red Sox win against the Yankees, going to the World Series in a hotel bed, like, crying.

[Sona Movsesian]

Finally,

[Conan O'Brien]

when they finally won the World Series, I had the same thing. I was crying and calling my brothers, and we were all emotional. I mean, crying for us means slightly moist eyes, which could have been pollen, by the way.

[Elizabeth Banks]

That's the Irish way. That's the Irish way.

[Conan O'Brien]

So you grow up in Pittsfield, and then you're just like. It's also rural. So I picture you, like, running around with unicorns.

[Elizabeth Banks]

We did. Unicorns is interesting. Do you know how many people think unicorns are real? Unicorns and dragons real.

[Sona Movsesian]

I love that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Really? I didn't know that.

[Elizabeth Banks]

That's, like, our shared mythology. I'm fascinated by humanity's shared mythologies. And that's one of them is unicorns and dragons. Right. Because dragons were in every culture, and they never existed as far as we can tell. And so you're sort of like, what were people all over the world in different cultures imagining the flying lizard thing was, I'm okay. And we all agree that. It just. It's like in all of our literature,

[Conan O'Brien]

I will believe in a dragon long before I will believe in a unicorn. And I'm just saying this to anyone out there that thinks there's a unicorn. There is no unicorn.

[Elizabeth Banks]

No unicorn.

[Conan O'Brien]

There never has been a unicorn.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I had a friend From Australia who 100% believed unicorns were real. As an adult woman, I had to be like, I. They're not. I don't know how to break it to you.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I felt terrible There's a medication for that.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I didn't grow up with unicorns, but I did. I did go cow tipping, and I had one of those very, like, John Hughesian high school experiences, you know? Yeah. Running around in the woods and like. Like wheeling rolling kegs out into, you know, a cornfield, by the way. Running, you know, hiding in. In cornfields. Hiding off the pontoon boat on the lake where we were all skinny dipping and, like, you know, very classy. I do.

[Conan O'Brien]

Because I've never been naked, so I don't know.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I imagine you covering your junk with a washcloth in the shower at all times. Like, just doesn't want to take a peek.

[Conan O'Brien]

Liza once saw me naked, and I shrieked, oh, no. And I'm suing her. I feel violated. So, you know what's funny is you were a jock. You were really good at.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I was sporty. I don't know. Yeah, I was sporty. Yes, I was.

[Conan O'Brien]

You were a big old jock.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Can you imagine?

[Conan O'Brien]

You were a weightlifter and a shot putter. You had a thick. I've seen pictures of you.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Thick neck.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, Your neck just went right into your head.

[Elizabeth Banks]

It's called. Yeah, it's called bulk.

[David Huntsberger]

It's called bulk.

[Sona Movsesian]

I had bulk.

[Conan O'Brien]

But you. You're a great softball player, right?

[Elizabeth Banks]

I was. I was on the all star softball team, and I.

[Conan O'Brien]

And that was kind of the track you were on.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Well, I needed money to go to college, so I definitely thought, like, I better be sporty and maybe I'll get, like, recru. I don't know. You know, when you're 13, what do you know? And so I was really into it. My dad loves baseball. That's why we've been talking about it so funny. And he was like a coach, and he was. He was just really into it. So it was also just. I'm the oldest, and it was sort of my way of really spending a lot of time with my dad and played a lot. And then I was sliding into third base at a practice, and I spiral fractured both my tibia and fibula. And my foot was hanging sideways to my knee, like 90 degrees, just dangling off there. And I spent a really long time on crutches and in a cast and that fall, which at the time was the worst thing that had ever happened to me and was a dream crusher on every level and separated me from all my friends and the thing that I like to do. I found acting because of it, which is crazy.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's interesting, because this ties in with this theory. I try to Tell this to young people. There are so many times where this giant boulder lands in your path and you're convinced this is the end.

[Elizabeth Banks]

You did it in your. You said that in your commencement speech.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. You think it's over, and then you take a different road and you think, well, this is. And I think, I've. I swear to God, I've had like, seven of those. And then later on, you think, oh, my God, look at the life you've had.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Of course, it is so hard to see it in the moment. So that's the thing.

[Conan O'Brien]

You can't. You gotta go through it.

[Elizabeth Banks]

You're so seeing it in the moment. You have to get all the way through it and then sort of take that look back and, you know, the older we get and Lord knows, I'm so old now.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're a child. I'm looking at a child right now.

[Elizabeth Banks]

But you get that. That perspective comes more and more and more. And all those, like, really big feelings you had about these very big moments in your life, they really start to fade, don't they? Those feelings? They just get a little smaller and a little gentler, and you're just so much easier with all that. And I feel so easy about that time in my life when, in fact, it was really, really bad.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. And you're crushed. And I actually think that is maybe the biggest role of being a parent, is just to provide perspective, because there's so much we can't, you know, initially, once you're past the. Feed them, help them grow, get them clothing and shoes. Once you, you know, there's all that stuff. But then there's this whole part that you and I are probably getting into more now where it's just explaining to them it's not as bad as you think it is. I know literally that's 99% of the job.

[Elizabeth Banks]

It's 99% of life.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And them saying, yeah, you're not right, you're an idiot. Support for today's episode comes from Square, the system powering, like, half the places you go. Hello?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

If you've ever tapped to pay and thought, whoa, that was fast, it was probably Square. Whether you're selling lattes, cutting hair, detailing cars, or running a design studio, square helps you run your business without running yourself into the ground. Square is the platform behind the scenes of so many businesses you already love. It gets them connected to. To a system to make payments, manage inventory, run payroll, send invoices, track it all in one place. This isn't just a point of sale. Square includes hardware that works in person and on the go. I mean, it's incredible. I see square all the time when I go out there.

[Sona Movsesian]

Me too.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I'm out there a lot.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, you are out there. You're out there on the streets.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, with the streets, with the people. And I am doing business, I am bartering, I'm exchanging. And all the time they use square. And you know what? It's fast and it's easy. And I wish it existed in an earlier time. Yeah, would have really helped us. If you're starting a business or running one that deserves better tools, Square helps you sell, manage, and grow without slowing down. Right now, you can get up to 200 off square [e-mail]. go Conan. That's S Q U-A-R E.com G O Conan. Run your business smarter with Square. Get started today. You know, there are days that the travel perks that you get with T Mobile really come in handy. But then there are days that you just want to embrace couch life. Do you? And you. Love you. Some couch life.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Loves me some couch life.

[Conan O'Brien]

And without ever leaving the house, T Mobile still has you covered. Find plans, including Netflix plus deals on DoorDash. The more benefits you use, the more value you get. I mean, why go anywhere when you can get your favorite takeout, binge a show and brag to all your friends? You won't believe what I'm not doing tonight. That's a brag. When you get to hang out on your couch and live life at its most supreme.

[Sona Movsesian]

It's so comfortable.

[Conan O'Brien]

Ift mobile. It's great. And I always like to watch those survival shows. And I like to get meat. So like a steak and then like a survival show. Yeah. And then the monster's eating the person you like with the meat.

[Sean Dougherty]

Pretend I'm the monster.

[Conan O'Brien]

Exactly. You're a sick guy. Check it out@t mobile.com magentastatus wow. Receive Netflix standard with ads while you maintain a qualifying line in good standing. See dashpass details in the tealife app. Sometimes big things come in small packages. Yeah, I hear that all the time. And I think, yeah, but what are you talking about? Be specific. I can never think of an example. And then today I thought of one. Check it out. You may already know this, but Coca Cola mini cans are now available. They deliver big satisfaction in a small package. Finally, something that fits that phrase. Yeah, you know, they're available as single serves at a convenience store near you. Go out and get these. Okay. And guess what? It's not just Coca Cola. Okay. Are you a Fanta fan? Do you like Sprite? Do you like Cherry Coke? Are you a loyalist for cherry Coke? I do love Cherry Coke. I think you're the same way. And Mini singles are available in all these options. It's terrific. So take a mini break with Coca Cola. No planning or overthinking required. Keep a Mini can single in your backpack, stash one in the fridge. You know, you can sneak one under your partner's pillow as a way of saying, I'm thinking of you. Oh, that's so nice.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

If I did that, my wife would be like, hey, this is nice.

[Sona Movsesian]

You love me.

[Conan O'Brien]

You do love me after all.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's a Mini that can bring some big can vibes. It really can, sure. Coca Cola mini can, big deal. Now available on the go. Go.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Being a parent of teenagers, which is me now, is, it's so hands off on so many levels. And then also I'm really watching how, and being reminded how hard it is to be a human. It's just so hard to be a human and function properly and take care of yourself and other people in any decent way. And we have so little leadership to point to at this moment in time. And so you're sort of like, right. Teaching them how to be a decent, like it's just, it's impossible, it's impossible. Watching them.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I, I, I think that the, I was so proud once of the fact that I've calmed down, I have more perspective, I'm slower to freak out. And I was really giving myself a pat on the back and I was talking to my mother in law about it and she's, you know, she was a very smart woman and, and she had, you know, trained as a therapist and she, so I was explaining to her, yeah, I've really come a long way and I think I see. And she said, well, yeah, well, your testosterone levels have fallen a lot.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

And, and I just was explained to her, I, I never had a lot of testosterone. Yeah, they've actually gone up. I'm taking a pill now. But no, it's, but she was right. I realized, oh yeah, there's okay, so much from my Zen wisdom that middle

[Elizabeth Banks]

age really, you know, remember we're like two generations away from people who only live to 50. Right. So like once you're past that, you're in some evolutionary place that humans have never really been in. And it is so true. I was, you know, I was talking, I had a girls week in Utah recently. I was not invited did you think you would be?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I like to be invited to a girls week. Oh, I blend right in.

[Elizabeth Banks]

He does.

[Conan O'Brien]

We'll get a mani, pedi.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And we had. Yeah, we did. We did have massages. But just talking about how little we give a shit about so many things that used to really get in our craw and now we're just like. I think it's just we don't. You literally lose the hormones that make you care enough to, like, mate and do child rearing.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yep, yep.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And so. And now I don't have any of those.

[Conan O'Brien]

Right, right.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I'm like, I don't really. I mean, do whatever you. I'll do whatever I want. Does that seem like a good plan for the next 50, God darn years? Really? We're gonna keep this going

[Conan O'Brien]

because my

[Elizabeth Banks]

body is saying, nope, it's over.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, this is what you have to look forward to, kids. If you're in your 20s, listening to this, that's what's coming for you. You know what I love detail about. About you, which makes total sense now, is that growing up and you get into acting and the person, your role model, you know, I was thinking, who would. Who would Elizabeth Banks role model be as an actor? Who would she want to grow up to be? And it makes total sense. But yours was Harrison Ford.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I love Harrison. I want to be Elle. Well, first of all, when people ask me, you know, you were. I. I was a real go getter. I was a straight A student. You know, I'm like a hard worker like you. And so really, it is a work ethic thing. I just believe you get up every day and you gotta do something with your time and might as well like, you know, get an A in math and whatever. I don't know.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And so I've just always, like, had this work ethic, like this, like, engine inside me. And someone was asking me about, like, how that fed into everything else I ever did.

[Sona Movsesian]

And.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And I was like, I was competitive with boys always. And I think it's because the world was not made for girls. And when I looked around, I was told, you can be anything you wanna be. And everywhere that I looked, the boys were getting to do that. So I was like, just really competitive with boys my whole life. And so when people ask me, like, who did you wanna be as an actor? I'm like, I wanted to be Indiana Jones and I wanted to be Han Solo and I wanted to go on adventures and I wanted to have these incred. That's what I wanted. And the Damsel in distress was not interesting to me. And like, you know, I. I think it really just comes down to I'm. I came into this, like, raring to go and wanting. I want my piece.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And if you're a woman, you're the men get all the pieces. So it's like, I don't know, it's always. It did not occur to me to not have my role model be Harrison Ford.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. I mean, and also, when I look at your career, yes, you have had this great on camera career, but you really quickly was like, I'm gonna be producing, I'm gonna be writing, I wanna be directing. I imagine that was not an easy thing for you to break into.

[Elizabeth Banks]

No, it wasn't. I mean, it took a lot of planning and hard work. Definitely wasn't just luck. It was something that I was ambitious about and wanted to do. And of course, you have to be in the right place at the right time and all those things have to line up and you have to find the things. You know, it's. I think my last movie was the movie that speaks to this point the most though. Right. Like, I feel like I was starting to get like, well, she makes movies with like a lot of women in them. And I was like, well, then I'm gonna make Cocaine Bear.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. Yeah. So good. And I maintain, maintain, maybe there's like one of the three best movie titles of all time.

[David Huntsberger]

Oh, my God.

[Conan O'Brien]

When I heard that, first of all, I'd be up for anything that you were involved in. But when I heard that it was Cocaine Bear, I was, I. I became a cocaine. Don't even watch it.

[David Huntsberger]

You don't need a trailer. You just watch it.

[Conan O'Brien]

I need a trailer.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Now. We said that. We were like, it's like snakes on a plane. You know exactly what it's gonna be, guys. There's gonna be a bear. It's on cocaine. I only say that to say I. I don't like. I, I don't. I like surprising people. I don't like being put in a box. I feel like I still have a lot to offer. Nothing's gone the way I thought it was going to.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, well, nothing ever does.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Nothing ever does.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's a. It's a kooky football play. This was the idea. And you're gonna break that way. And the hole's gonna be over here. And then I'm gonna throw that way. And then hut, hut, hike. And then bang.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Giant blitz.

[Conan O'Brien]

Everything goes to shit. And then the next thing you know, you're running through the stands with the football, and it's illegal, but you're still going. And that's been my experience in show business and in life in general.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I agree.

[Conan O'Brien]

And, you know, but I love that idea that you were not having it and you were. This is what I'm gonna do. And what's interesting is, and there's no way to say this without embarrassing you, but you are a very beautiful. You're a very beautiful woman. And I imagine that people can dismiss. You know what I mean? It would be easy for people to say, here's this stunning, stunning blonde bombshell.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I'm just your type of. I appreciate it so much. But, like, if you love, if you love Padma Lakshmi, like, I'm not for you. Do you know what I mean? I love you for saying this.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm just saying.

[Elizabeth Banks]

But I'm also like, come on, Conan. I just look very much like your life.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. I did think I was marrying you, to be honest. I didn't have contacts at the time. No. Yes. My wife.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I appreciate.

[Conan O'Brien]

My wife is very beautiful. You are both very beautiful. But I'm just saying, it's. I remember, I mean, I didn't know you the first time I started seeing you and things when I saw you show up on 30 Rock. You are quite stunning. And I don't know if that makes it easier for people to say, what do you mean you're gonna produce? Or what do you mean you're gonna direct?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah, well, also, I was so, yeah, I was like, look, I'm that blonde actress, small boobs, and I have a husband that produces with me. So it's like, okay, the actress and her husband are gonna make a movie. And it's like, I get, yeah, we're gonna try our hardest. I don't know. It did. It was. I don't wanna say it's easy to dismiss somebody who's good looking because I've had a lot of success being good looking. So I'll take it over anything else every day. I had a lot of champions. You have to do the work. And so at the end of the day, I just put in the work and I didn't really think about what I look like or any of that stuff. It was just. I absolutely have faced a lot of obstacles for it. I was literally told by a big producer once, I just don't think men are gonna follow you as a director. And I was told, like, women just. You just don't get action movies. Like, you're never gonna be able to do an action movie. I mean, I literally had, like, people look me in the eye and say those things to me. So I don't wanna dismiss the obstacles, but I really like what we were just saying about having a lot of grace for those moments in time. Just. They build you up and you move through it, and you just do the work and put your head down and you lead by example. That's all I've ever tried to do.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I would say to anybody that has played any kind of party game with Elizabeth, been any social situation with her, been in any. Seen her out in the world. Yeah. I would put you in charge of the forces invading a country.

[David Huntsberger]

I want to know more about the party, baby.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I would like to do that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, don't fuck with her.

[Elizabeth Banks]

That's true. I actually just got. I got kicked out of playing Settlers of Catan with some friends. You guys. I don't know if you know this nerd game that everyone.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't know Settlers of Catan.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I was. I got. It's a game where you. It's kind of. It's an older game now. It's been around for a hot minute, but. But essentially, you have to negotiate with people for things. Like, you're trying to build the longest road, and you're trying to build a civilization. You're a settler of this island, Catan, and so you have to negotiate. And I basically. I became such a cutthroat negotiator, like, no, you will give me that wheat. Because you. Da, da, da. And, like, where people were just like, it's getting too intense.

[Conan O'Brien]

Right? You can't.

[Elizabeth Banks]

You're not allowed to play with these people anymore.

[Conan O'Brien]

Which we touched on this last time, so I won't go into it, but let's just say I was in a situation where I was playing this fun party game with kids and adults, and at one point, someone said, you know, Elizabeth wants to speak, too. And I went. And your face had become a mask.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Oh, my God.

[Sean Dougherty]

And you.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't even think you were there anymore. And you were telling me what needed to happen. And you were 100% right. She was 100% right. And I was like, well. And she was like, you know, pull yourself together, man. Here's what we're doing. And in that moment, we're trying to win. Yeah, we're trying to win. Put yourself together. But I just. She slapped me. But in that moment, I saw, like, hey, Eisenhower did a great job with D Day, but had he not been available and we had a time machine, I'd get Elizabeth Banks. And I think we would have been in Berlin a year earlier.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Oh, yeah. I would have handled that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. So really, really impressive.

[Elizabeth Banks]

This entire theme of our conversation so far is. Is my intense competitiveness. I'm failing at it.

[Conan O'Brien]

I mean, I. But also, I don'. Any issue with that. I like people that care. I like people that do the work, have a really strong work ethic. And I think the rule is you need to treat other people well. And sometimes it can be tempting if you're really incredibly determined and psyched to not treat other people well, and you have to watch yourself all the time, or you can be brusque with people. David. Of course. You've never seen that happen once.

[Sona Movsesian]

No.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. You're dismissed, by the way. Okay, bye.

[David Huntsberger]

Bye.

[Conan O'Brien]

But. So, yeah, it's a constant challenge, but I think do the work. Do the work and care. Care about it.

[Elizabeth Banks]

It is funny. I mean, you're bringing up a. I've definitely had those moments, too, though, where as a leader, I'm like, oh, not everybody wants to work 100 hours this week. That's just me. I'm like, oh, right. You do really have to take care of people that are. You know, I want to go a million miles a minute. Although.

[Sona Movsesian]

Plus.

[Elizabeth Banks]

So now I say that, like, every.

[Conan O'Brien]

But you know what? Here's the thing. Because I say that all the time.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I know.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I always saying to Liza, why do people make me? And she went. She'll always step in and go, no one's making you.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I know.

[Conan O'Brien]

You had this idea. You said, we're gonna build a giant catapult.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah, exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

And, you know, whatever. So. Yeah, exactly. So it's my own. It's my own.

[David Huntsberger]

You always will say, like, hey, let's try to keep the schedule a little light next month. And then that's everything.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Every month of my life. And it's never. It never happens. I'm always like, oh, yeah, Saying no, no is a complete sentence. Here we go. And then I'm like, well, if you can make it work with the schedule. And then someone's like, so you want to do it? And I'm like, well, I'd be interested in doing it if it works with the schedule. I think that's a worthwhile thing to. To pursue and do. Okay, so we're doing it. Oh, we're doing it. Oh, shit. Okay, well, I guess you scheduled it. And then I switch.

[Conan O'Brien]

But then I switch into this. I'm indignant that someone made me do this. And I'm like, who is it?

[David Huntsberger]

There's no winning.

[Conan O'Brien]

Who is it? David? Why is this on the schedule that Conan builds Stonewall? I'm gonna start recording in the woods of Maine. And then just like you wrote me a text that said, I've agreed to build the stone wall in Maine.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

So yeah, that's my own doing. I'm curious. Cause you talk about this dynamic, being a woman in this industry and also trying to manage being in a relationship. I feel like all of this would be addressed in this new show a little bit. Ah, do you know what I mean? Don't you think I love a segue? No, but don't. I mean, that's what I was thinking is like this. There's this obviously really cool looking. Cause if people check out the show, it's a very cool. When you shrink down and you're having these scenes with Matthew, it's a very cool looking, like fun looking dynamic. But then I'm thinking like this is talking about something that's probably close to your heart.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I definitely. It's based on a short story. And when I read the story, it really is about how you minimize your partner's feelings and how women generally are very minimized. And it's how culturally that happens, but also in relationships between. In the power dynamics in a couple. And I definitely felt like it was a fun metaphor, like a very on the nose metaphor. And then also we get to really play with it because this character is very complicated and not a great person. Neither one of them are particularly great people. And you're kind of like rooting for them to figure out that they're the best version of each other when they're whole and together. The show was really technically challenging. My husband Max said that he thought it was the least mentally prepared I was for a job ever. And I think in what way he was right. I just didn't realize how technical being 6 inches tall was. I was on a green screen half the time. Matthew and I were separated. I live in a literal dollhouse, which was great. They built like a replica of my home that I live in, but he's in a real sized house, like doing everything. And then they would make these incredible life size props. So a remote control that's six feet tall, bigger than me, that I like can't push. You know, I'm trying to push buttons and a mini. A travel size toothpaste that, you know, comes up to my chest and a giant Chanel lipstick at one point because still gotta look pretty when you're 6 inches tall. I guess patriarchy

[Sona Movsesian]

you know?

[Conan O'Brien]

Sure.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah, it was really fun. My co star becomes like a doll, like action figure, like a guy who goes to space and things like that. So it was really, the technical stuff was really fun and wild. At one point, I jump off of a toilet onto a plunger and they built a life size 30 foot tall plunger that I like wire onto and slide down.

[David Huntsberger]

It's incredible.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Like it's qu. Plunger.

[Conan O'Brien]

I have moments.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I walked on to set, I was like, who?

[Sona Movsesian]

How does this happen?

[Elizabeth Banks]

I don't know. People's brains are incredible.

[Conan O'Brien]

This is where you're saying, hey, where's this AI I've been hearing so much about?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

But I have so many moments in my life because I went down this crazy stupid path where I step outside my body and say, what are you doing? I'll be in an absurd situation in an absurd outfit doing an absurd thing at my age.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I know.

[Conan O'Brien]

And you just. Cause it's the work. And then you're standing there and you're stepping outside yourself and you catch a glimpse of yourself in a reflection and you go, what happened?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Totally.

[Conan O'Brien]

And so you're thinking, okay, I got into this to be Harrison Ford and I'm jumping off a toilet onto a plunger.

[Elizabeth Banks]

It's on a wire on a giant green screen. And by the way, so vulnerable. I've never felt this vulnerable either. I would, I was standing, I, I would stand on this giant green box 30ft in the air. So I would get wired up onto it. I'm in all this gear and the whole room is green except for the area where the crew is. And right before action, I would be like, okay, so where am I again? Right? So I'm outside, it's snowing, there's a cat chasing after me. I'm gonna jump off this building, which is just a curb on the street. Cause I'm only six inches tall. So I'm pretending I'm on a curb on a street outside and it's snowing and there's a ca. And action. And like I have to imagine all that in my brain because I'm just seeing green and like Larry the Grip just walking over to get pour a coffee at the craft service. Cause he's not doing anything, you know what I mean? And so I was like, what is going on? You know, and they're all just sitting in front of me. And I finally I said, guys, I, I, I actually need you to bring in like some curtains or something. I, I can't.

[Conan O'Brien]

Right? That's too much to ask. That is too much.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I'm alone in this space trying to imagine all these things happening to me. So I can take the audience on the journey of the six inch tall woman.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And watch, you know, everybody like chit chatting over the donuts. Like can we. I need a. I need a curtain. I need a curtain. So every. They literally just slid a curtain in and put. Slid like a 20 buy in and just put every. Everybody behind it.

[Conan O'Brien]

For me it is too much to action when you're in those situations and someone walks in.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And you know they're shaving or something in front of you.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I find that to be. I have, I have been there. You know it's funny because I was thinking about you've. You've done. You've had all this high profile success. But probably, I'm going to guess one of the things you hear about the most is a project that at the time you thought okay, that came and went and no one cared. Which is wet hot American Summer. Like that has gotta be. That's one of those projects that had all of its life later. Is that right?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah. It premiered at Sundance in 2001. It was one of my first films. I actually had to pick my name to be in that movie. Cause I'm Elizabeth Mitchell and there was already an Elizabeth Mitchell and set shout out to her. She was lovely. She was on Lost, one of my favorite shows forever. And so I had to change my name to Banks. And we were at Sundance, we thought it was just the greatest thing ever. And then no one cared. It didn't get. Did no business. And then it started showing. I remember in New York, I wanna say like at Webster hall or somewhere, it started showing like late. Like how they used to do Rocky Horror Picture Show.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

And. And so they were having these screens and it was getting like a little traction. And this is back when DVDs happened. So then people just had the DVD of it, I guess and nothing. It completely changed my life. I went to Sundance, I met my. Still my manager to this day, 25 years now it's been. And started going on real auditions. Some of which in those very early days I auditioned for being Spider man and Catch Me if youf can. And that led to Seabiscuit which actually put me on the map in Hollywood. And then and years later got an audition for 40 year old virgin. Because all those guys, Seth and Evan and all those guys were addicted, you know, loved it. And I was in 40 oh virgin. And suddenly. Oh, she's funny. And then I got 30 rocks. So, like, truly. And I'm still friends with David Wayne. I took him on a USO tour a while back.

[David Huntsberger]

That's great.

[Elizabeth Banks]

We literally went all over the world together. The director, writer, director of it. And I. Nothing. Yeah. I still, to this day, I'm like, that. That changed my whole. I can't believe I'm part of that insane ensemble.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. There are these movies that I think right after Fargo, I could be getting this wrong. But I think after Fargo, which, you know, it's an Academy Award winning film and it's a huge deal. The Coen brothers, I think, made Big Lebowski. And people were like, what's this? And this is weird, you know, and it's. At the time, even people making it, you know, on the set were probably thinking, what is this? We're making giant bowling pins? And what's happening here? What are we doing? And then, you know, that's probably their. That's the movie that people know every word to every single word. And it's become this. I don't know, this text that everybody that generations memorize.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I'm gonna shout out. We were skiing. Conan knows where I ski. And we were skiing, and we were getting lunch, and the waiter brought our lunch out, and he was shaking, and he had sauce all over his face. And I didn't quite clock it at first that he was basically like, I have barbecue sauce all over my face. And he was doing like an homage to the barbecue sauce scene in what had. From 25 years ago, this, like, 22 year old. And he was so excited that he was talking and like, shout out to this guy. Cause he really committed to the bit. Yeah, it was very impressive. All my friends were like, like, what is happening? And the minute we got it, he just lit up with joy. Like, okay, it works. Like she understands what's happening.

[Conan O'Brien]

And then you had it fired

[Elizabeth Banks]

like a dear. Like, when people are like, what's the weirdest thing a fan's ever done? That's close to the top of the list.

[Conan O'Brien]

But, you know, that is. It's one of those gifts that just keeps giving where you do something, you made it. That's a very discreet time in your life when you're very young. And then, you know, someone who's wasn't born. Literally, not born, not born when that was made is now so hears that you're out there.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And needs to do this to connect with you. And that's the nice thing, too, is in those moments, you want to be the person that they want you to be.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I know.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what I mean.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Of course.

[Conan O'Brien]

You don't want to be like, hey, you know, that's not funny. Get that out of your face.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Get out of your face.

[Conan O'Brien]

Get out of here with that, you know?

[Elizabeth Banks]

No, I always look it. I get to come and talk to you and get to do these things because people watch the things that I make, like, period, full stop. If people didn't care about the stuff that we made, you and me wouldn't get to be here. So I'm constantly like, ah, thank you so much to anybody who cares at all. To watch amazes me constantly.

[Conan O'Brien]

So what is, okay, you've made this show, and what's the step for you and what's going to the future? Are you really gonna try and calm down a little bit, or is that total bullshit?

[Elizabeth Banks]

I literally started.

[Conan O'Brien]

Cause I'm not. I'm not gonna calm down.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I was in a writer's room yesterday.

[Conan O'Brien]

Conan, how much do you love a writer's room?

[Elizabeth Banks]

I love a writer. Who doesn't love a writer's room?

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I think there are people that don't probably, but I. Oh, I love it. It's the only place I stop them from doing work.

[David Huntsberger]

None of us know if Conan's in the office, and then we just hear a bang and a scream downstairs. When it's in the writer's room, I

[Conan O'Brien]

always kick a dramatic fashion and they go, whoa.

[David Huntsberger]

All of us up here doing a

[Conan O'Brien]

very over the top bit.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Are you carrying coffees in or why

[Conan O'Brien]

you got to kick them out? No, I don't give them anything.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Right. That's okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's not about giving, it's about taking. Yeah, this is where you and I are very different. I'd have torn that guy with barbecue sauce on his face a new. How dare you, sir? I'm trying to enjoy my apresky manager. Yeah. So. Well, this has been an absolute joy. I love you dearly. And, yes, I love you, too. You look a lot like my wife.

[Elizabeth Banks]

It's not weird.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's not weird at all. And I think Max gets it, right?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yes, he gets it. He gets it.

[Conan O'Brien]

And you know what? The nice thing? Not threatened at all by me. No, man. Is take your shot, Conan. Take your shot. Well, thank you so much.

[Elizabeth Banks]

The miniature wife on peacock.

[Conan O'Brien]

Miniature wife on peacock. And I've never met your co star, Matthew McFadden.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I'm gonna tell him to come hang out with you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, just tell him that. Cause he also did a show about the assassination of Garfield. I think it's Called oh y Death by lightning.

[Elizabeth Banks]

He did.

[Conan O'Brien]

And he plays the assassin Gitzio Charles Guiteau. And I mean, that guy can be anything he wants to be.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah. His American accent is really good.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's better than my American accent.

[Elizabeth Banks]

I know.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Most people don't realize how British he is.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. I'm kind of obsessed with him. And so when I heard you two. Obviously I'm obsessed with you. So when I heard you two were making something together and I checked it out and it's really great. And so congratulations.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Please come back tomorrow.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah. We'll both be busy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Apparently

[David Huntsberger]

I'll start managing your schedule too.

[Elizabeth Banks]

How do you get into my schedule?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Someone will I'll reluctantly say yes and then I'll just be here.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm judging a potato sack race in. In Quebec. All right. God bless you, God bless you. God bless you show. When it comes to snacks. Know what's a real crowd pleaser? Don't even try. I'll tell you.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Nutri grain.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Oh, yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's made with 10 grams of whole grains, 10 vitamins and minerals. No high fructose corn syrup. That's important. Enjoy classic favorites like strawberry, apple, cinnamon and blueberry flavors. Plus plus, check out nutrigrain crunchy. Let me tell you a little bit about crunchy. It's a new satisfying snack option with fiber, whole grains and new crave worthy flavors like chocolate chip chia. A lot of cha cha cha going on in there. And honey oat flats. Each crisp, satisfying and delicious nutrigrain crunchy bar contains at least 23 grams of whole grains and provides a good source of fiber. Okay, gang, what are your favorite flavors? Sony, you go.

[Sona Movsesian]

I go with the cloud. Strawberry flavor. I love it. I could have a thousand of them.

[David Huntsberger]

And David, I recently tried the crunchy one. I had the honey oat flax one and it was incredible.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's so funny. I heard a crunch and then I heard you just moaning with pleasure. Yeah. And I ran in and you were devouring a Crunchy. A Nutrigrain crunchy. And you seemed so happy.

[Sean Dougherty]

I was.

[Conan O'Brien]

Find nutritious and always delicious nutrigrain bars at your favorite store or online retailer today. And look for new nutrigrain crunchy bars and stores near you. Many men don't recognize mental health challenges until they've already taken a toll. Because struggle doesn't always look like struggle, pressures show up in everyday places. At work, home, relationships. Those pressures build slowly, often without being noticed. In season three of the Visibility Gap Dr. Guy Winch and his guests explore how to spot these pressures earlier and what it takes for men not to just open up, but to get the support they need. This is important stuff. Listen to the new season of the Visibility Gap, presented by Cigna Healthcare. Okay, welcome back. We're going to do a staff review today. These have been quite popular. It's where I pull people in from our little team Coco staff and talk to them and we find out all kinds of amazing things about the wonderful people that make up my empire. And today we've brought in a young lad named Sean Dougherty. You're a senior producer?

[Sean Dougherty]

I'm a senior producer, yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

And people have said we bear resemblance to one another a little bit. Yeah, a little bit. You are tall, Irish, Irish Catholic, Irish fellow. You've got a little. From Boston. From Boston. Which part of Boston are you from?

[Sean Dougherty]

I'm from Braintree.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, Braintree. Near Burlington.

[Sean Dougherty]

Close enough.

[Conan O'Brien]

And near Burlington. What's that?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Oh, okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, there you go. You've got a little. A little bit of a pompadour going. Tiny, tiny bitch. Did you have that going before you made it?

[Sean Dougherty]

I did, I swear. I swear to God I did.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. So I did.

[Sean Dougherty]

I promise.

[Conan O'Brien]

For the Oscars, I was shooting this bit where I'm Aunt Gladys from Weapons and they had a stunt double stand in for me. And you will attest, David. And so will you, Sona. This stunt double looked absolutely nothing like me. The whole time I'm thinking, why didn't we bring Shawn Dougherty in? I mean, you should have come in. What's that? Can I say, we actually used Sean when we were building the studio as a fill in for you. Yeah, right. And you did test podcasts and his were much better. He was funnier, he was faster. So anyway, you have had kind of a remarkable rise here. You started out as an intern, what you 2018, 2019. At the show. Where was that?

[Sean Dougherty]

The end of the TBS show. I was there the last year on Warner Brothers.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Okay. And what was that experience like?

[Sean Dougherty]

It was awesome. And be honest, Ruthie was my boss.

[Conan O'Brien]

She's amazing. Ruthie Wyatt. Ruthie Wyatt, who was the best social media priestess. Fantastic. She does a lovely job and also full of sunshine.

[Sona Movsesian]

She's the best. Honestly, I don't think anybody has ever

[Conan O'Brien]

come in in the worst mood and it'll just go away. There's like unicorns sprouting from her head. It's wonderful. So you're working at the show. Did you see terrible behavior? Did you ever see me do anything awful.

[Sean Dougherty]

Oh, my God. No. Everyone was so good. Everyone was amazing. I loved the Hornet.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm sorry, that's boring.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah, yeah.

[David Huntsberger]

We need the drama.

[Sean Dougherty]

We're in, asshole. We're here to everyone sucks.

[Conan O'Brien]

There you go. There you go. No, we're trying to expose the rat in our industry.

[David Huntsberger]

The takedown.

[Conan O'Brien]

So you worked as an intern first, and then you've just done so well. Let me tell the listeners a little bit about you and I'm gonna find a way to shit on you. I just haven't found it yet.

[Sean Dougherty]

It feels like getting called into the principal's office right now.

[Sona Movsesian]

This is like.

[Conan O'Brien]

This is the part where the principal butters you up. You started out really well, third and fourth grade. I thought you showed great promise.

[Sean Dougherty]

We'll get into that.

[Conan O'Brien]

You now have risen to this point where you're in charge of producing Andy Richter's podcast. Here. Rob Lowe's podcast. And so you're dealing with those two monsters.

[Sean Dougherty]

No.

[Conan O'Brien]

You can quietly say no. But you know, both of them. Both of them scour scourges on the business. And so you've done really well. And then I find out it was in the trades that you sold a screenplay.

[Sean Dougherty]

Yeah. Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

So my question is, when am I getting a piece of your success? You've been a barnacle on this boat a long time, Sean. So is there a part in this stream play for me?

[Sean Dougherty]

Oh, my God, of course. Anything. Anything you want. I mean, it's a high school comedy, so I don't know if there is a. I hate to say you might have aged out of your role.

[Sona Movsesian]

Fuck you, Sean.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

[Sona Movsesian]

What the hell?

[Conan O'Brien]

You come in here and you tell me I'm too old to play a high school student when no one would have that take. That is age. Ish.

[Sean Dougherty]

It's a little concerning to just see you hovering over the teenagers. I don't know if that would be.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think a lot of people would think that guy fits right in. I'm still prepubescent at my age, somehow prepubescent. I'm so post pubescent. I came around to prepubescent again.

[Sean Dougherty]

Horseshoe.

[Conan O'Brien]

So there's gotta be. No, I don't play a high school student. But there are adults that work at the high school.

[Sean Dougherty]

Do you think you could be principal disciplinarian?

[Conan O'Brien]

What are you talking about? What do you think I'm doing right now? You just said you felt like I was being called into principal's office. If you don't find a Part for me in this movie. I will sue you into oblivion. I will make up things about him.

[Sona Movsesian]

On what grounds are you gonna sue him?

[Conan O'Brien]

When you reach my state of the business, which is quite high, the level that I'm at right now, I don't need reasons. I've got judges in my pocket.

[Sean Dougherty]

This is a lawsuit.

[Conan O'Brien]

I do an audition. Audition right now?

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

You kids better cut it out. Now listen here, you nerds. There's no way you're gonna win against the jocksy. Cause I'm with the jocks.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Jocks.

[Conan O'Brien]

And you nerds can stay up all night and work on your robot, but there's no way you beat my jocks. See?

[David Huntsberger]

What role was that?

[Sean Dougherty]

This is a very 1980s, 1970s.

[Conan O'Brien]

And then later, those nerds did what? Blake Bl. I'm the robot they invented. I've just beat up the football team. No,

[Sean Dougherty]

I think you nailed it.

[David Huntsberger]

I think I'm playing the robot.

[Conan O'Brien]

This is a great movie. Oh, don't tell me. Yours explores relationships and stuff that might really happen. That's so boring. You want robots and you want.

[Sean Dougherty]

I think this is great.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm a headmaster.

[Sean Dougherty]

I think you would be amazing at this. I think you've kind of sold it takes place in Massachusetts. So this is another point for you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, perfect. I grew up in Massachusetts, not far from you. True.

[Sean Dougherty]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

So you were growing up in Massachusetts. What were you interested in? What did you aim for in show business? And how did you end up at this up place? How did you wash up on this beach, of all places?

[Sean Dougherty]

I mean, I don't know. I wanted to work in late night television, and then it died. The second I came to Los Angeles, it was just over.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, it was you that killed it.

[Sean Dougherty]

But then it was unfortunately right.

[Conan O'Brien]

Night television was thriving right up until Sean Doherty showed up with his cardboard suitcase. Garsh, I'm here from Braintree. I'm here to see the big city. Where's the chowder? There's no chowder here. Where's the Red Sox? There's no Red Sox either.

[Sona Movsesian]

Waa wah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't know why you deserve all this abuse, Sean, but you do. Everyone. Here's the thing that I find disconcerting. You're beloved. Everybody universally is like, oh, my God, Sean. Sean is such a good guy. They're always talking to me about you. And I don't know what this is, but when I hear too much praise about one of my people, I find a way to try and break them. And that's what's happening.

[Sean Dougherty]

You identify a threat from within. I get it.

[Conan O'Brien]

You look like me, but you're younger. He's better looking. He's got the leg strength. He could go like. He could lift things. No, I'm always checking out when men have too much leg strength, I want them gone. And because I know that they will beat me. I'm the alpha.

[Sona Movsesian]

He could single white female you pretty easily.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, you could.

[Sean Dougherty]

That is what I'm planning to do. I will say, the first time I ever interacted with you as a pa, you did say, we hired this young man so if someone tries to assassinate me, this kid will die Instead, at like 20 years old.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're 20.

[Sean Dougherty]

The first interaction.

[Conan O'Brien]

Because I had read that Saddam Hussein, you know this, right? Saddam Hussein hired all these other Saddam Hussein to look like him to. And, and you know, so that if someone went to kill Saddam Hussein, there was a nine out of 10 chance they'd get the wrong Saddam Hussein. And that made me. First of all, this is why you were hired, Sean. We saw you. I turned down so many interns that day. And then this guy came so much more prepared. Okay, this guy is exactly my height. Sean is six' four. He's got the red hair, the pompadour. He's got my look. And I thought, this is perfect. And that's why I kept sending you out for sandwiches. Even, even when we didn't need sandwiches. I wanted you vulnerable, public.

[Sean Dougherty]

Yeah, yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And that way you draw out the people that want to hurt Conan o'. Brien.

[Sona Movsesian]

That's the first thing he got from you. That's the first conversation that you guys had with each other.

[Sean Dougherty]

I am a notorious Hollywood celebrity interaction. And it's, you will take a bullet from me.

[Conan O'Brien]

And not. You won't. You won't do it. You'll do it against your will.

[Sean Dougherty]

Not out of loyalty. No, no, no. It was.

[Conan O'Brien]

And it worked because he was attacked constantly. When he went up, I had him wear a T shirt that said I am Conan. He would come into the office with arrows sticking out of him. Rocks had been bounced off his head. He'd been kicked by old women. And you. It was like a sponge. That sops up all the hate gravy.

[David Huntsberger]

You know, I love the thought that the people attacking you are old women.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes, you lousy.

[Sona Movsesian]

And you're so scared of them, you send out a decoy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I send out a 20. I send out a 20 year old kid and he just gets beaten. They're hitting you, hitting you with their purses. They're throwing old Necco wafers at you.

[Sean Dougherty]

And yet I stuck around. I said, give me more.

[Conan O'Brien]

So what's the dream? You've written this screenplay. Now would you like to.

[Sean Dougherty]

With my friend Caroline. Yes. Co wrote it. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. And the. Don't tell me the whole idea, but the basic idea is these are high school students in Massachusetts. Uh huh. And it's an homage to the Apartment,

[Sean Dougherty]

the Billy Wilder movie.

[David Huntsberger]

That's terrific.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, that's great.

[Sean Dougherty]

We'll leave the title out of this, but that makes it sound classy. Yeah, it's called the Fuckboat.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Chevy Bolt Advertiser]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, well, okay, well, suddenly I'm distancing myself. Distancing myself from the fuckboat. Yeah. By the way, I wrote a. Good luck with that. I wrote a screenplay called The Fuck Boat, 1987. Went nowhere. But what happens next? Theoretically, you've sold it. Is there a ch. How does these things get made? How does it happen?

[Sean Dougherty]

That's the million dollar question. I mean, I don't know.

[Conan O'Brien]

I know very little about the film business.

[Sean Dougherty]

Yeah, but you're a movie star now too.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's true. Yeah. I'm just flooded with offers. No, I honestly don't understand that business at all. And increasingly I don't even understand the business I was in. It's all changing so much. But that's very impressive that you sold a screenplay and you're kicking ass here at the show. And people again, much to my irritation, think you're a wonderful person. And I'm tired of it. I'm really tired of it. So we're letting you go. That is.

[Elizabeth Banks]

All right.

[Sean Dougherty]

This was the exit interview. I could feel it coming.

[Conan O'Brien]

Filing a complaint with the Writers Guild.

[Sean Dougherty]

Perfect.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

That Fuckboat is my title. I had a catamaran when I was in high school and I called it my fuck boat. And you know why I called it my fuckboat, David?

[David Huntsberger]

Why?

[Conan O'Brien]

So I'd get on it and ride around a little pond and go, nobody wants to fuck me. What a twist.

[Elizabeth Banks]

Oh my.

[David Huntsberger]

The audience is just so sad watching it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Me going in a sad circle.

[Sean Dougherty]

Charlie Brown music.

[Conan O'Brien]

There was no win, Charlie Brown. Nobody wants to fuck me. And then, well, good night, fuckboat. So that was my screenplay. I think yours is gonna be better.

[Sean Dougherty]

Thank you very much.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Sean, thank you. Appreciate it. Honored to have you on the team. And hilarious that my first comment to you was that you will draw my assassin.

[Podcast Outro Narrator]

Conan o' Brien needs a friend. With Conan o', Brien, Sonam of Session and Matt Gourley, produced by me, Matt Gorley, executive produced by Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross and Nick Leow Theme song by the White Stripes Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino Take it away, Jimmy. Our Supervising Producer is Aaron Blair and our Associate Talent Producer is Jennifer Samples, Engineering and mixing by Eduardo Perez and Brendan Burns. Additional production support by Mars Melnick Talent booking by Paula Daniel Davis, Gina Bautista and Brit Kahn. You can rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts and you might find your review read on a future episode. Got a question for Conan? Call the Team Coco hotline at 669-587-2847 and leave a message. It too could be featured on a future episode. You can also get three free months of SiriusXM when you sign [e-mail] Conan and if you haven't already, please subscribe to Conan O' Brien needs a Friend wherever fine podcasts are downloaded.

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