Podcast Summary: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend — Josh Safdie (Feb 2, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this playful and genuinely insightful episode, Conan O’Brien sits down with acclaimed filmmaker Josh Safdie (Uncut Gems, Good Time) to discuss Safdie’s new film Marty Supreme, the joy and madness of casting real characters, Adam Sandler’s impact, the agony and euphoria of the creative process, and much more. The conversation ranges from highly specific industry anecdotes to rambunctious tangents about smoothies and snack habits, always anchored by Conan’s quest for camaraderie and laughter. This episode is a boisterous blend of deep film talk and loose, comedic banter among Conan, his co-hosts Sona Movsesian and Eduardo Perez, and Safdie.

Main Themes and Discussion Points

1. Building Friendship Through Hollywood (08:04)

• Conan and Josh on Friendship: The episode kicks off with Conan and Josh joking about the unique bond shared through Adam Sandler, affectionately referencing Sandler’s habit of calling Conan “Coney.” They reminisce about Sandler’s gregarious nature, spontaneous drop-ins, and his habit of calling almost anything “the best.”
  • Quote:
    • “I see Sandler... and I say, ‘What are you doing, buddy? I just saw Josh.’ ‘The best.’ …It’s down to the point where it’s like, ‘Oh, I took the Lexington Avenue—’ ‘Oh, the best!’” — Conan O'Brien (08:54)

2. The Inspiration and Casting Choices of Marty Supreme (12:27, 22:31, 30:04)

• Conan’s Praise for the Film: Conan enthusiastically praises Marty Supreme, describing it as “a juggernaut of delight,” and singles out the achievement of casting and the film’s revelatory supporting characters.
• Fearless Casting Philosophy: Josh details his unconventional approach to casting, often selecting people based on their essence or uniqueness rather than their resumés.
  • Quote:
    • “Every person you see—every face, even if they get one line—feels memorable, almost like Capra would do it.” — Conan O'Brien (30:04)
  • Safdie shares anecdotes about casting real-life characters, such as Mitchell Wenig, an autograph collector who appears alongside genuine stars, and details how creating comfort helps non-actors shine.
• On Realism and Blocking: Safdie prefers minimal technical restrictions for actors, trusting they’ll gravitate towards the right spot for both story and realism—even if it frustrates his cinematographer. (34:25)

3. The Sandler Effect (24:59, 25:00)

• Adam Sandler as Muse: Much of the conversation is about Adam Sandler’s centrality to Josh’s past projects, how Uncut Gems was written for him over a decade prior to its release, and how Sandler’s warmth and “mushy” side deeply affects those who work closely with him.
  • Quote:
    • “He’s very open… a big mastiff—gushy, mushy, tushy. That’s what I say to my daughter!” — Josh Safdie (25:44)
• Drama and Rage: Safdie discusses how Sandler’s electric energy and underlying rage were essential to the authenticity of Uncut Gems.

4. Timothy Chalamet & Physical Dedication (23:10, 40:46)

• Chalamet’s Commitment: The film Marty Supreme needed someone of “nuclear force,” which Josh found in Timothy Chalamet—highlighting his passion, physicality, and willingness to dedicate years to learning both guitar (for Dylan) and table tennis (for Marty Supreme).
  • Quote:
    • “He spent, like, seven years… just starting to learn guitar and table tennis. He got the mechanics down. By the time he was training with Olympians, it just clicked.” — Josh Safdie (42:41)
• Match Between Actor and Role: Conan marvels at how Chalamet’s wiry energy is perfect for table tennis, and Safdie traces the spark to stories of New York’s outsider ping pong scene. (41:17–44:03)

5. The Meaning & Loneliness of Dreams (46:01, 51:22)

• Ambition as Heist: Josh likens the narrative structure of Marty Supreme to a heist, where achieving dreams is as unlikely and suspenseful as robbing a bank.
  • Quote:
    • “Dreams are heists—you’re trying to control your own fate.” — Josh Safdie (46:05)
• Rooting for Flawed Characters: Marty, the protagonist, may not always be likable, but the audience always roots for him—a testament to the film’s emotional alchemy.
  • Quote:
    • “Love is more important than likability... you’re connecting to something pure.” — Josh Safdie (47:27)
• Post-Project Emptiness: Safdie reflects on the “hollow” feeling after completing a massive project and the temptation to change careers, like becoming an architect.
  • Quote:
    • “After Uncut Gems… someone said, ‘What’s next?’ and I started to cry. I didn’t know—I had this hollow feeling because my drive was gone.” — Josh Safdie (52:12)

6. The Comedy of Celebrity & Aging (58:47, 61:53)

• Conan and the Erewhon Smoothie Bit: In classic Conan fashion, the episode unspools into a riff about the “Hailey Bieber Smoothie” at Erewhon market losing its celebrity name, with Conan lobbying (semi-seriously) to have it renamed as the “Conan O’Brien Smoothie.”
  • Quote:
    • “I am willing to lend my name. And when I say lend, yes, there will be financial compensation... If you can’t get Hailey Bieber, I’m the obvious second choice.” — Conan O’Brien (63:06)
• The Aging Celebrity Gag: The hosts joke about transitioning from Hailey Bieber to Conan, playfully debating if it’s like going from Sean Connery to Mickey Rooney as James Bond.
  • Quote:
    • “I’m not young, but I behave in a very youthful manner. I’m very immature.” — Conan O’Brien (62:03)
• Self-Deprecating Humor: Conan plays along, fully aware of his less-than-youthful image, but doubles down (“You got to deal with me sooner or later. I’m gravity.” — 67:16).

Notable Quotes & Key Timestamps

• On Sandler’s Ubiquitous “The Best” Phrase

  • “He once said to me in the Subway, I was like, ‘I’m gonna go to the bathroom.’ He goes, ‘The best’ … and I understood it, though.” — Josh Safdie (09:06)

• On Selective Casting Philosophy

  • “I want to see the best in them... I admire people who are iconically them.” — Josh Safdie (32:09)

• On Emotional Aftermath of Creative Work

  • “I’ve had that hollow feeling when I shouldn’t have… I should have felt a sense of accomplishment, but I didn’t.” — Josh Safdie (52:47)

• On the Importance of Love Over Likability in Characters

  • “Love is more important than likability.” — Josh Safdie (47:27)

• On Conan’s Brand of Celebrity

  • “If you can’t get Hailey Bieber, I’m the obvious second choice.” — Conan O'Brien (63:06)

Memorable Moments

• Running Gag on Snacks & Semen
  • Early comic digression about Sona’s hunger, Conan’s snack stash, “pheasant chips,” and a wild tangent on walnuts’ supposed effect on semen (05:28).
• Anecdote: Abel Ferrara’s Chaotic Late Night Appearance
  • Safdie and Conan reminisce about legendary director Abel Ferrara fleeing the Late Night set, being chased down by a producer, and barely showing up for his unhinged interview (14:25–16:18).
• Casting Real People (“The Man With the Golden Voice”)
  • Josh talks about including viral personalities and genuine eccentric New Yorkers to enrich the film’s texture (35:10).
• Awards-Season Dissonance
  • Josh describes the weirdness of film festival competitions, including a story about racing through an abridged tour of Auschwitz to make a screening (55:10).

Episode Structure & Key Segments

• [08:04] — Conan welcomes Josh Safdie and launches into Sandler stories and friendship themes
• [12:27] — Early praise of Marty Supreme; unconventional casting discussion
• [22:31] — Transition to Josh’s process, working with actors, and making non-actors comfortable
• [30:04] — Detailed conversation on finding memorable faces for small parts
• [40:46] — Chalamet’s intense preparation and the real history behind Marty Supreme
• [46:01] — Exploring ambition, dreams, and sports drama storytelling
• [51:22] — Reflections on the emptiness that follows finishing a major film
• [58:47] — Comedic detour: Conan’s pitch to replace Hailey Bieber on the Erewhon smoothie
• [63:06] — Debate about celebrity, aging, product endorsement, and self-aware humor

Tone and Style

• The episode blends genuine admiration for craft, particularly Safdie’s authentic directorial style, with the signature Team Coco brand of absurd, intelligent, self-lampooning comedy.
• Josh Safdie matches Conan’s humor while also offering a thoughtful, often vulnerable insight into the creative process.

TL;DR Takeaway

This episode is a rollicking mix of deep-dive filmmaking process, warmhearted showbiz stories, and spontaneous comedic detours. At its center, Conan and Josh dissect what real friendship and true creative risk look like in Hollywood—while ensuring the listener is constantly entertained.

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