Ryan Reynolds

Summary

Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend – Episode Featuring Ryan Reynolds
Release Date: May 12, 2025

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Introduction

In this episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Conan is joined by his longtime collaborators Sona Movsesian and Matt Gourley, alongside the charismatic actor Ryan Reynolds. The conversation delves into personal anecdotes, career insights, and the intricacies of the entertainment industry, all infused with Conan's signature humor.

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Personal Stories and Background

Sona’s New Beginnings ([02:49]):
Sona shares her recent experience of losing her house to a fire and the subsequent search for a new home. She recounts a heartwarming encounter with a neighbor named Richard, who expressed his appreciation by mentioning that he listens to Conan's show while walking his dog.

Sona Movsesian ([02:58]): "We have, yeah. In fact, I was there yesterday for an inspection and I ran into a really nice man named Richard walking his dog. And he said, I usually listen to you while I'm walking my dog."

Childhood Memories and Honesty ([07:43]–[09:31]):
The conversation shifts to childhood experiences, with Sona and Conan reminiscing about believing a friend's fabricated story about making out with Austin Peck from Days of Our Lives. They discuss the naivety of youth and the impact of honesty within their friend groups.

Conan O'Brien ([08:15]): "Wait, so how old was he at the time?"

Sona Movsesian ([08:00]): "She was like 14."

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Career Insights and the Entertainment Industry

Ryan’s Move to LA and Groundlings ([30:11]–[32:40]):
Ryan Reynolds discusses his decision to move to Los Angeles to join the Groundlings, a renowned improv and sketch comedy troupe. He emphasizes the importance of formal training and classes in honing his comedic and acting skills.

Ryan Reynolds ([30:25]): "I did do Groundlings, but I moved to LA to be in Groundlings. And of course, it doesn't work like that. You don't just show up and go, ready for the main stage, everyone."

Collaborative Creativity ([32:42]–[35:58]):
The duo delves into the creative processes behind filmmaking and advertising. Ryan highlights the balance between creativity and commercial constraints, using examples from his experience with Deadpool and Green Lantern.

Ryan Reynolds ([35:58]): "It's gotta stop now, and it's gotta stop now. I've had the Ackroyd voice in my head all day."

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Personal Anecdotes and Relationships

Apologies and Personal Growth ([66:36]–[68:49]):
Conan and Ryan reflect on moments where their words may have unintentionally hurt others. They discuss the importance of apologies and personal responsibility, sharing stories from their past to illustrate the complexities of human interactions.

Conan O'Brien ([67:28]): "So you mocked him, and then your apology was to send him the substance that he had successfully kicked me."

Ryan Reynolds ([68:17]): "And I will come in and I'll do it again. Better."

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Philosophical Insights and Industry Reflections

Impact of Constraints on Creativity ([37:00]–[39:05]):
Ryan offers a thoughtful perspective on how creative constraints can enhance the quality of work, contrasting his experiences with high-budget films versus more restrained projects like Deadpool. He underscores the value of meaningful storytelling over extravagant special effects.

Ryan Reynolds ([37:00]): "I have some experience under my belt, and I’m listening to. I’m realizing I don’t know as much now as I thought I did then."

The Role of Collaboration ([62:20]–[63:27]):
The conversation highlights the essential role of collaboration in filmmaking. Ryan praises the contributions of his colleagues, emphasizing that filmmaking is a collective effort where every role is vital to the final product.

Ryan Reynolds ([63:56]): "People sort of underestimate how valuable caring is."

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Humor and Light-Hearted Banter

Throughout the episode, Conan and Ryan engage in playful exchanges, often veering into humorous territory. They joke about everything from commercials to personal quirks, showcasing their effortless chemistry and mutual respect.

Conan O'Brien ([66:51]): "How did you know?"

Ryan Reynolds ([69:06]): "You're an idol of mine. You are somebody who I've watched and dare I say that the risk of overpraising, look up to and always have, always will, because you're kind, you have integrity..."

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Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Conan expresses his admiration for Ryan, emphasizing the joy of their friendship and the enriching conversations they share. Ryan reciprocates the sentiment, highlighting Conan's impact on his personal and professional life.

Conan O'Brien ([69:34]): "Ryan, you are so fast and so funny and making so many people happy. And I'm thrilled that we could spend time today and hang out."

Ryan Reynolds ([70:28]): "But you didn't forget my wire numbers. Cayman Islands."

The episode concludes with heartfelt thanks and a mutual appreciation for the friendship they've cultivated, exemplifying the podcast's mission to forge genuine connections beyond the typical celebrity interviews.

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Notable Quotes:

• Conan O'Brien ([07:45]): "We’re just so gullible. We really. It wasn’t just me. It was like my friend group."

• Ryan Reynolds ([37:00]): "But now, it’s people who are in film are hoping to gain enough respect to get a TV show, right?"

• Conan O'Brien ([65:43]): "I like to do things with people."

• Ryan Reynolds ([70:05]): "You are a deity. Deus. What is that?"

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This episode offers a blend of deep personal insights and light-hearted humor, showcasing Ryan Reynolds' genuine personality and his camaraderie with Conan and the team. Listeners can expect an engaging and heartfelt conversation that transcends typical celebrity interviews, embodying the true essence of seeking genuine friendships.

Transcript

[Conan O'Brien]

One thing about the entertainment industry, it's easy to earn a reputation, even if it doesn't reflect who you really are. For example, everyone thinks that Discover is a card that isn't widely accepted. Can you believe that?

[Sona Movsesian]

I can't stand people who think that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, me neither. Those are my least favorite kind of people. In reality, it's accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. This is a flawed concept. 99%?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, it's almost all of it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, almost. But just 1% away. So maybe now you'll think twice before judging a book by its cover. Hello. Unless it's a celebrity cookbook, just stay away from those. Celebrities can't cook. In that case, judge, you know what I mean. Whenever a celebrity is making a cake, I think that's a bad cake. Based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. Learn more at discovery.com credit card sure, being an expert at celeb trivia is impressive, but saving for your dream home or a sweet new ride is even more impressive. Great way to help with that is saving when you choose to bundle with the State Farm personal price plan. Wait, why did we start on celeb trivia and then get to state Farm?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, I'm confused.

[Conan O'Brien]

Who wrote this? I wish to discuss things with them over at the State Farm ad agency. Anyway, yeah, it's a great way to help with the saving when you choose to bundle with the State Farm personal price plan. Bundling. Just another way to save with the personal price plan. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by coverage. Options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hi, my name is Ryan Reynolds, and I feel philodendrous.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, my God.

[Ryan Reynolds]

About being Conan o' Brien's friend. A little. Who's Harry Crumb reference there for you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Philodendron. Look it up. Look it up.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I believe he says philodendron, but that didn't work.

[Conan O'Brien]

So you changed it to philodendron.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Correct.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what you are?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Uh, yes, and I'm sorry.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're a son of a bitch.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, I am.

[Matt Gourley]

Fall is here Hear the yell Back.

[Ryan Reynolds]

To school, ring the bell Brand new shoes Walking loose Climb the fence Books and pens I can tell that we are gonna be friends.

[Conan O'Brien]

I can tell that we are gonna. Hey there and welcome to Conan o' Brien Needs a friend. And I do I need a friend it's never too late to become my chum. Joined by sonam of session. How are you, Sona? Good to see you.

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm not. I'm doing all right.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're doing okay.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And Matthew Gourley.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hi.

[Conan O'Brien]

And Sona, quickly, we should address the fact that you did lose your house in the fire, but you guys have found a new place that you might be moving into.

[Sona Movsesian]

We have, yeah. In fact, I was there yesterday for an inspection and I ran into a really nice man named Richard walking his dog. And he said, I usually listen to you while I'm walking my dog.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wow.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. And I was like, I get to live by a fan.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's nice.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, that's nice. Yeah, it is nice.

[Conan O'Brien]

You hesitated for a second.

[Sona Movsesian]

No, I mean, like, you know, there's.

[Conan O'Brien]

A lot of people.

[Sona Movsesian]

It's good. It's a good thing. He's really nice and it's a really nice place and I'm excited not to live at my mom and dad's house.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, that sounded like. I mean, I love your mom and dad, but it can be difficult to live with your parents.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Not meant to at a certain point.

[Sona Movsesian]

Nope.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm guessing. Is it Nadia, Is it your mom who can kind of. She can wear on you a little bit sometimes, you know?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, she can.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. And she means well. She's got. She's well intentioned. They.

[Sona Movsesian]

They are unbelievably so nice to let us stay there, but they also. They watch a lot of Turkish soap operas.

[Ryan Reynolds]

What?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. It's like all day. I mean, not all day, but it's like a lot of Turkish. Because they're from Turkey, they're Armenian. It's important to note that. But they're from Turkey.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wait a minute. Where do you. Where does one get. Because I'm constantly looking for Turkish soap.

[Matt Gourley]

Operas and I got a guy you need.

[Sona Movsesian]

Do you really?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, no, no.

[Sona Movsesian]

You know what's up? YouTube.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, so they watch them on YouTube? Yeah. Do you follow the stories?

[Sona Movsesian]

No, I don't watch it with them. I mean, I'm in my room watching TV on a. On my laptop.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, like a. You're watching the Pit or something?

[Sona Movsesian]

Like current to the Pit lately? Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Would you do. Ever? I mean, I'd just be curious what happens in a Turkish soap opera. Are they the same kind of model as every soap opera everywhere? It's just. Oh, it's Turkey.

[Sona Movsesian]

I think the lighting is different. They're all gorgeous and have beautiful skin. And then they.

[Conan O'Brien]

Eduardo, you want to jump in?

[Sona Movsesian]

Very dramatic.

[Matt Gourley]

I'm only familiar because my mom watches a Turkish.

[Ryan Reynolds]

No, Nola. It's basically a Turkish soap opera. But the Spanish channels have put Subtitles. And there's people speaking in Spanish over them. And I asked her where they were from and she's like, oh, it's in Turkey. So they're popular, I guess.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. There's certain countries that have dominated. Like Korean soap operas are legit too.

[Matt Gourley]

My mother in law watches those.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, really? In my travel shows, whenever we can, I try to do a local soap opera.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And we've done them in a bunch of countries. And I cannot tell you how many times someone from Mexico has said, I look familiar to them. Or they know. They kind of know who I am, but they're not sure. And I say, I'll show you who I am. And I call up when I was on the telenovela.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

That was in the Mexico City episode. And I show it to them and they always enjoy it. Cause I'm speaking Spanish the whole time. My version of Spanish.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I love it. Cause I have a mustache.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, yeah, you always have a mustache.

[Conan O'Brien]

I always try and have a mustache and try and exude authority. But I love being in foreign soap operas and I realize I haven't done a Turkish soap opera. I'd love to be in one.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, you don't seem.

[Sona Movsesian]

I think you could do it. I. You could do it.

[Conan O'Brien]

I did an Armenian show.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. You did.

[Conan O'Brien]

What was it? A crime show. I played a crime.

[Sona Movsesian]

You played a. You played a crime boss. First of all, they tried to make you look Armenian and it did not work.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's right. I don't know what they did to me, but they like painted dark wrinkles on me or something.

[Sona Movsesian]

They put dark eyebrows and they put a dark wig on you?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. On the palest man in the world.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

They gave me jet black curly hair and a crazy eyebrows. And I'm a drug lord.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. And you just order guys to beat up another person.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. And I had to say it in Armenian, which was very.

[Matt Gourley]

Do you remember your line?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, I don't remember.

[Sona Movsesian]

Or hedikah, which means enough hedika.

[Conan O'Brien]

Like they were beating him up. And I said, enough hedika.

[Sona Movsesian]

And then you had a cigar in your mouth.

[Conan O'Brien]

I had a cigar in my mouth. And I just sort of was trying to be like the Tony Soprano of Yerevan, Armenia. But I have to say, in the New Max series for the second season, I think. Yes, I did a medical drama. Like their version of the Pit. Yeah, I did a medical drama. And it was New Zealand. It was in New Zealand. And I'm really excited for that to come out because I had to know all of this. They gave me an impossible amount of medical jargon because I think they really wanted me to fuck up badly.

[Matt Gourley]

Did you do American accent or New Zealand?

[Conan O'Brien]

I didn't do. I didn't attempt the accident. I did not. So sorry for that. But I think I did nail the. The medical jargon. Do you remember your lines? No, I don't remember my lines.

[Sona Movsesian]

Do you guys. Did you guys ever watch American soap operas?

[Matt Gourley]

I did for a summer or two.

[Sona Movsesian]

Me too.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Sona Movsesian]

My friend once lied to us when we were like, 12 and said she made out with Austin Peck from Days of Our Lives. And we believed her. So we watched Days of Our Lives, and then we found out she didn't ever make out with us.

[Conan O'Brien]

How old was she at the time?

[Sona Movsesian]

She was like 14.

[Conan O'Brien]

So he'd be under arrest.

[Sona Movsesian]

But we didn't, like, think of it that way. We're like, oh, my God, she made out with Austin Peck. But she just lied to us. Just blatantly lied to us. And we believed her. And we all got into Days of Our Lives to support the guy that she made out to support him.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wait, so how old was he at the time?

[Sona Movsesian]

I mean, he must have been in his 20s. I have no idea. He had no idea who she was.

[Conan O'Brien]

What an interesting. So she just stuck with this lie?

[Sona Movsesian]

Just lied about it.

[Matt Gourley]

Do you still talk to her?

[Sona Movsesian]

No. That broke everything up.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, yeah. I wonder how she's dealing.

[Sona Movsesian]

She said a lot of stuff. She also lied. She said she was a model and we were like, you're five. Two. But okay. Like, we believed everything she said.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I don't believe anymore.

[Conan O'Brien]

I should say I don't. You then. Because you were very gullible.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

No. Hey, can you give me some money? I'm an atm. And I ran out. Okay. You don't look like an atm.

[Matt Gourley]

I don't remember having to put cash into an atm, but okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

I guess they do have to be restocked. But you do have arms and legs and a head. Well, anyway, I'm a baby that only eats wallets.

[Sona Movsesian]

We're just so gullible. We really. It wasn't just me. It was like my friend group.

[Conan O'Brien]

But did. You're unfailingly honest. You didn't lie?

[Sona Movsesian]

No. What do you mean? Lie about what?

[Conan O'Brien]

You're a very honest person. So there are kids that will just say stuff. Like, my brother Neil, growing up, he went to a different school than I did. And he would come home and he would just. I'd say, what did you learn today? And he'd say, oh, today we learned. And then he would just tell me things that were completely untrue. And I was just a little kid, so I believed him.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Matt Gourley]

And you'd take them back to school thinking you knew some stuff.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, I'd say. My brother said like, he's so cool. Yeah, he told me. Oh, today we learned that there's a hole that they found in the earth and they lowered a camera in it and it went to the center of the earth and they took a couple of pictures with it. And when they. And when they. Then they felt it tugging on the line and they pulled it up and the camera was all mangled, but they were able to develop the film and they could see a T. Rex charging. And I was like, what? And he went, yeah, proof. There's a T. Rex at the center of the earth. And Neil's a couple years older than me and knew better.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, Neil did this?

[Conan O'Brien]

This is Neil? No, no. Luke was always like a priest. He was just really good and like. Well, I wouldn't tell an untruth. Neil would just fuck with me all the time. He told me so many lies and still does. I talk to him every day. He's always lying.

[Sona Movsesian]

Did you do that though, to Justin?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, I didn't. No, no, I didn't lie to Justin. I would. Justin was 10 years younger than me. He was a little kid. And so what I did to Justin was just broke his mind with strange games. So he just wanted to play cops and robbers. And I would say, oh, yeah, I told you this, right? And I would just tangle him up in paperwork. You drew your pistol and he'd be like, what? You drew your pistol. There's paperwork. And I would get pads of paper from my dad's office. You need to fill out these, fill out forms. It's a bureaucracy that's a big part of being a cop.

[Sona Movsesian]

That's worse than what Neil did to you.

[Matt Gourley]

I think my neighbor saw the Shining before I did and told me about it, recounted it and completely lied about it. And then when I saw it was just forever wondering where he said that Jack Nicholson got his arm cut off. And you know how a human can grow an arm back? He grows an arm back and all this stuff. And I just was excited.

[Conan O'Brien]

Was it a kid?

[Matt Gourley]

It was a kid. Yeah, he was my age.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, that's okay. Kids are just crazy. I think it's okay if you're a kid. I just, for a moment I pictured like a 35 year old neighbor. And then it's Then it's time to call somebody.

[Sona Movsesian]

Why are you guys getting on my case about believing that my friend made out with Austin Peck when you guys believed all this shit? You're brothers and your friends, you were all dumb.

[Conan O'Brien]

Can I say something? You just stood up for yourself in a way that I thought was deserved.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I don't know, I still think you're dumb, but it doesn't change anything. It doesn't change anything.

[Matt Gourley]

It's impressive what you did.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. But think of the three of us.

[Matt Gourley]

It's crazy that you believed that girl.

[Sona Movsesian]

It is pretty stupid.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. All right, well, let's get this podcast going. My guest today, I am thrilled he's here. He starred in the Deadpool Films and the FX series Welcome to Wrexham, which returns for a fourth season on May 15th. Absolutely delighted he's here today. He's an incredibly talented screen actor, television actor, but also one of the funnier people you will run into in life. Yeah, he's crazy talented and a good soul. Ryan Reynolds, welcome. You didn't leave that at all. Oh, sorry.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Let's keep this.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh. Oh, what'd I do wrong?

[Matt Gourley]

You didn't leave the pause. We talked about this last episode. Before you say the name you're supposed to.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think I'm just excited that Ryan's here.

[Matt Gourley]

I understand. And I should have told you literally seven years ago when we started this podcast.

[Conan O'Brien]

He was 15.

[Sona Movsesian]

But you did write remind him right before we started recording.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, but you know what you have to do is you have to hold up a sign that says pause. Cuz I'm a busy man and I get excited when it's Ryan Reynolds.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

All right, let's give you the pause.

[Matt Gourley]

All right.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm thrilled he's here today. Ryan Reynolds, welcome.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, the mouth noises.

[Conan O'Brien]

I have to say, this is. Well, there's no rhyme or reason to these interviews, but I've talked to you about this a while ago. Just friends. I watched that with my wife. It was a movie that may have been mismarketed. I don't unders. You know, it came out, didn't make a big splash. Hilarious. One of my favorite Christmas comedies. It has so many hilarious performances in it. And then we showed it to our kids and. I mean, but everybody, it is a relentlessly funny movie. And I remember telling you a bunch of years ago, I swear to God, that movie will endure. It's gonna stick around. And it's.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, you don't know about those kinds of movies. I mean, you never know. You never know when you're making it, you're kind of like, this is gonna work. This is not gonna work. When you're older, I think you can trust your experience and your instincts that line up. But then when you're older, you also go, nobody knows anything, so. But just friends. I. God. That was. We shot in Regina, Saskatchewan. It's one of my few times that I've ever been scared of, like, going to jail. Because we just. As a joke, me and the art department, we made a sign that would go over. It would snap over the welcome to Regina sign, and it just said, welcome to Regina, which rhymes with fun. And they. I got in trouble, though.

[Conan O'Brien]

You got in trouble?

[Ryan Reynolds]

But then they thought it was funny because it's snapped off. So at first it was vandalism, right? And then it was. Then it was class.

[Conan O'Brien]

Then it was an art installment that could come down.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, yeah. And I come from rcmp. My dad. My brother is currently RCMP officer. We. I always say you guys should just say agent. It sounds better. You're an RCMP agent.

[Conan O'Brien]

Isn't that Royal Canadian Mounted Police? I believe I was a Royal Mounted Policemen in Canada. We did a week of shows in Toronto a long time ago. And one of the remotes I shot, I either was sworn in temporarily or we just stole the costume. Either way, I operated at the border. I threw snowballs at people trying to come in and out of Canada dressed in that outfit. And, man, I've never felt power, more power in my life.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And polite.

[Conan O'Brien]

And polite. I had pancakes in my pockets.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God.

[Conan O'Brien]

Instead of a gun.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Yes, exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

Syrup. Little cartridges of syrup.

[Ryan Reynolds]

My dad used to bus guys with confetti. He would just like, walk up and throw. Throw the confetti at you. And it's always fun when you and your brother have three older brothers. So it's just mayhem. It's actual mayhem. I mean, this is a horrible situation because I'm the youngest, so I'm the moving target. They're brothers, you know, I'm just. Moving target. Or harvestable organs. And, you know, we would. But as I got older, we would get out on the lawn and it would be like an old fashioned, like Tom Cruise and Far and away with the, like the knuckles up. And we would just beat the living shit out of each other. The neighbor would call the cops and the cop would be my dad. That's not a cop we wanted to mess with.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, but my dad got out of copping. You know, I don't. I mean, he wasn't big on the Truth. So I don't know why, but he. Yeah, he got out of copping and then became a food broker, which we're like, come on, that's CIA, right?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And he's like, no, I really am a middleman for jars of jam and tiny yogurts.

[Conan O'Brien]

What? He works for Meghan Markle? Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes. Really?

[Conan O'Brien]

Tiny jams? Harvestable jams.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes, exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

Made from the oils of Montecito.

[Ryan Reynolds]

If Jimbo Reynolds wasn't dead, I would say he is dead. Meghan Markle adjacent.

[Conan O'Brien]

Many people have likened the two. I have to say, there's so much to talk about here. I am thrilled that you've come on the pod. And you fascinate me because. And anger me and enrage me because you have the leading man looks and all the abilities that come with being a movie star. But when you send me a text, it is one of the funniest written texts that I've received. And I read. You blasted me a couple of weeks ago with these texts. And I was reading them and I thought, this is a class A comedy writer. Wow, you have a comedy writer's brain.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That took me 41 days to compose that one. And it was just in case. Before that, I had no idea I was gonna be on the show.

[Conan O'Brien]

I could tell it took a long time to compose. You said day nine. At one point, you broke up the sentences.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Day nine? Me, Wilson, you. I basically, yeah. I think it was about, like the, you know, dwindling licensing rights of the Academy Awards show. How the fate of the future of film and television, of course, is on your shoulders. Please don't fuck this up. There are a few hundred thousand people who are, like, you know, very selfish and dependent upon, you know, food and shelter.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And, you know, adequate medical attention to children.

[Conan O'Brien]

I was. I was reading this thing and I don't ever do this, but you sent me this. Really funny. And my son. My son loves your work, really loves Deadpool. And he is a 19 year old gentleman. And I just said, I never do this, but read this email. And he was laughing out loud.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, that's great.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, no, I mean, just, just. And it's really funny because, I don't know, you're in a class by yourself of people that can, I think, work both ends of that spectrum slowly at the top.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, I know, I know. You know, we're up there together just holding each other.

[Conan O'Brien]

I meant a different top.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, sorry.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're at. You're at the big top. You're at that top. You're at the top of, like, Everest. I'm at the top of a hill.

[Sona Movsesian]

An ant hill.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, no. Quite a. Oh, Sona.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm in the prairies, Canada. I'm in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, where the tallest hill is the curb.

[Conan O'Brien]

There's a sled on my hill that.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I stand at the house from the curb. No. Yeah. Well, that's a very kind.

[Conan O'Brien]

No. No. I know you're not gonna like a compliment, but your facility. And also, it's so perfect. I know it took you forever to get Deadpool made, and there's a whole saga of you saying, I know how to do this. This needs to be a movie. And I can't believe it took so long to make. But the Deadpool's facility with language and his sort of rubber. It's not just physical rubberman quality, but also the verbal alacrity you have to have. You've got that. And I'm thinking that's because your brothers beat you. Yes, because I had older brothers, too, that beat me.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I don't have as much of it as you. They weren't as strong as your brothers. And my dad was a microbiologist, so he couldn't.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Fuck off.

[Conan O'Brien]

So I'm saying he couldn't come in with that heavy cop energy. My dad came in every now and then with, like, a slide of a paramecium and hits. Now, that's enough of that. Yes, I'll release this paramecium. What I'm saying is you developed, you evolved into a higher being because you had more. More to contend with. That's what I say to you, sir.

[Ryan Reynolds]

There. I have exited some rooms through drywall, I'll say that. And my, you know, my father was. Yeah, he was definitely. Very. Well, I'm just gonna say it, emotionally abusive, but no. Jesus, no, no, no. My dad was. It's actually odd because my dad was tough and he was very, very, like, coiled. And I think when you. As you get older and he's been. He's passed away for, I don't know, 10 years now or so. Cause of death uncertain. No, he. He. He died of something tragic. But anyway, it was. It was.

[Conan O'Brien]

How do you get laughs with that line?

[Ryan Reynolds]

You shouldn't. So I'm.

[Conan O'Brien]

He died of something tragic. Big laugh from this side of the.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Room out of trust. I'm gonna leave a large air hole now. Okay. And as I was saying, you know, he. He was. He was. I. The story changes when people pass away, too. It's like your. Your memory becomes like a less Of a reliable narrator. And it's becomes more of a feeling like I was. You know, I've been. We're. I'm pushing 50 here. I've had some experience. I have some experience under my belt, and I. I'm listening to. I'm realizing I don't know as much now as I thought I did then. So when I think about my dad and I think about how I internalized however he was raising me and the other brothers and certainly his relationship with my mom, it's not what it. I started asking myself, is that true? Is that true? Was he really that? Or was that more romantic to think of it like that? And he was not great in some ways. And in other ways he was great like he really was. And I think it just. In time that changed. When you die, they will love you.

[Conan O'Brien]

We don't have to worry about that. We will not have to worry about that for four years. So let's just settle down, everybody.

[Ryan Reynolds]

True the. It's gonna be like an ex president. He's gonna have a huge effigy built. Conan o' Brien library. Library. Bruce Valanche Bible.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, he'll be giving the tours. No, it's. It's interesting you say that, because I have the same experience. First of all, my therapist would say, your dad did the best he could. And then I would say to my therapist, no, he didn't.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, wow.

[Conan O'Brien]

See, I'd cry and then we'd fight.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But.

[Conan O'Brien]

But let that sit for a second. Your dad did the best he could, given what he had.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, he did. But he really did. My dad. My dad's. My dad's dad would come home from his job. He was a. Like a city councilman in Alberta and then moved to British Columbia. They bought their house for, I don't know, like a half glass of water and spit and, like, lived in the cesspit. He would get out there and mow the lawn after work. And he'd take his jacket off, not his tie, and he would fold his shirt up one cuff and then mow the lawn like, this is. This is not a man who knows how to fuck. So, you know, like, very, like, conservative, right? I mean, very close.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, wait a minute. Maybe every term is sacred. Put up one and then the other and then jackhammer a makita power drill. I mean, I'm saying, oh, hell, a lot of people assume I might fall in that category, but what I do is I put one and then I put the other up, loosen the tie.

[Ryan Reynolds]

A little, and I show them how The Vikings took Iceland. Yes. No. So that's how they did it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's. Every bully has a bully. Right. You know, so he had those elements, but he also. He showed up. You know, he once went a long, long time without speaking to me, and it was over some. Yeah. Something trivial and dumb. But he would never miss a game, never miss a football game, never miss a baseball game. Always there for a catch. Even though it'd be silent and super fucking awkward, he would do it. Yeah. And he had. That guy had a right arm that you would not believe. He had a. He could. He broke the little bone in my finger. I had to switch to a catcher's mitt. And he did that underhand, like. So when people are like, oh, that's a softball question, I was like, have you ever fucking caught a softball from Jim Reynolds? No, you haven't. Shut up about that sport. God, if pickleball were around, there'd be a lot of dead people.

[Conan O'Brien]

Man, you know what spring is to me?

[Sona Movsesian]

What?

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm not a poet or anything, but it's a season of renewal and quality rest.

[Sona Movsesian]

That's nice.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Really good rest. You know, winter's been so cold. It's hard to sleep in all that cold. And the wind's howling.

[Sona Movsesian]

That's wind.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, that's wind. Or a ghost. Well, winter's over, and so is the excuse to hibernate if you're gonna emerge from your cocoon. What? They're mixing a lot of things here. At least do it well rested. A new mattress could be the boost you need to face spring. And Mattress Firm can help anyone sleep all night, every night. Mattress Firm gets it done, son. Experience quality sleep on a premium mattress. Mattress Firm will find you the right bed with their wide selection of quality mattresses at every price, every single price ever imagined. Mattress Firm carries a curated premium selection of mattresses so you can get the upgrade you want. Sleep is important. Eight hours. Curing sleep. Get matched at Mattress Firm's Memorial Day sale and sleep at night. Text CONAN to 766-693 for $100 off your next purchase at Mattress Firm. Restrictions apply. See mattressfirm.com or store for details. This episode of Conan O' Brien Needs a Friend is brought to you by McDonald's. All new McCrispy strips.

[Sona Movsesian]

Mmm hmm.

[Conan O'Brien]

New McCrispy strips are here. I've been waiting. I've been waiting patiently.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, you have.

[Conan O'Brien]

And then just the other day, the Tom Cryer came down the street and said, hear ye, hear ye. The new McCrispy strips are here. It's chicken made for dippin' Tender, juicy white meat chicken with the golden brown peppery breading. It's chicken so good it deserves its own sauce. The creamy chili McCrispy strip dip. Say that nine times fast, you'll get arrested. A sauce that's creamy, savory and sweet with a little heat. But it works with any of their sauces, you know.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

New McCrispy strips with a new creamy chili McCrispy strip dip. Oh, my God. They're trying to get me. But they didn't. It's McChicken made for dippin' I've lost my mind. You know, one of the hardest parts about B2B marketing is reaching the right audience. You put so much effort into a campaign only for it to get wasted on the wrong people. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, it's ridiculous.

[Sona Movsesian]

It's crazy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. It's like, hey, Santa Claus, get your bathing suit over here.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my God.

[Conan O'Brien]

Hey, he doesn't need a bathing suit. He's up at the North Pole. What did I waste my time for?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, he's got elves.

[Conan O'Brien]

Exactly.

[Sona Movsesian]

They can make it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, you're ruining the point I was trying to make. Yes. No. One of the hardest parts about B2B marketing is reaching the right audience. You put so much effort into a campaign only for it to get wasted on the wrong people. Fortunately, LinkedIn is a network of over 1 billion businessy people who might actually be interested in your business. You can target your buyers by job title, industry, company role, seniority, skills or company revenue. So stop wasting budget on the wrong audience and start targeting the right professionals with LinkedIn ads. LinkedIn will give you $100 credit on your next campaign. So you can try it yourself. Just go to LinkedIn.com TeamCoco. That's LinkedIn.com TeamCoco. Terms and conditions apply only on LinkedIn ads. So my question is, did your dad get. Obviously, I think the answer is yes. He must have seen your career blow up. And was it unalloyed joy or was it complicated?

[Ryan Reynolds]

No, it was joy once I kind of in his eye. Whatever his measure of making it means, then it was accepted. You know, he didn't go to university, but he didn't talk about that. He had Parkinson's. He said the word Parkinson's maybe three times in his life. Also former boxer. Former. Who knows? But, you know, so he was very reserved with that, with praise. Which is why I have an insatiable desire for validation. So we can unpack that later. Never. I Love you guys. You don't need that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I don't know what you're talking about.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Someone who has no need for validation.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Absolutely not. But he. He would. When I made, quote, unquote, made it, I think then he accepted it. He's very bummed that I didn't go to university. I did, though. I went for. I'm not making this up. I went for 45 minutes. I wanted to meet the one teacher. He was like a guy there. Dr. McLean was his name. He got his doctorate in prison. He was, I think, a Hell's angel or something. But went to jail for 20 years or something. Long time. But got his education in jail and became an author and wrote a book. And I read this book. I went there, I met him. Beautiful. Lots of prison tattoos, but also beautiful pastel sweater. And then I walked back out the door of Kwantlen Polytechnic University in British Columbia and I drove to Los Angeles.

[Conan O'Brien]

So you went in knowing, I'm gonna meet this one gentleman and then I'm turning around and I'm going to Los Angeles?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. So you knew?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, no, no, I really knew. Once I was inside, I just thought, I'm not ready for this. Like, I don't think I can do this. I only had one brother who really was adamant about going to university, and it stressed the hell out of him. And I just thought, I don't want to be a food broker, so. And you don't? My dad did it without a university education, so.

[Conan O'Brien]

Did you do Groundlings when you got to la?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I. I did do Groundlings, but I moved to LA to be in Groundlings. And of course, it doesn't work like that. You don't just show up and go, ready for the main stage, everyone. I can give you Streisand. I can give you everything you want. No, you go through the class.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's what I did. You did it when I showed up in la, and I was like, I'm ready to perform. And they said, you will take these classes. And I said, yes, I will.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes, you will.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I did. But at least I got stage time.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That's the thing.

[Conan O'Brien]

And got to improvise with some are great people. Yeah. And so.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, they're so good. They're all so in shape and they're like. You know what I mean? That's. That's a muscle, like that kind of ability.

[Sona Movsesian]

So I thought you meant physically.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Physically. No, no, no, no. These are comedians.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

No, no, no, no. They get home and just vanish. Jar of you Know, but I would.

[Conan O'Brien]

Think you as an improviser, that would be. I could see you being devastating as an improviser. I think it would be. Yeah, that would be your fun space. Just. I mean, just in the times that I've encountered you, we start fucking around instantly. And I could see like, oh, this is someone who wants to play 247 is the vibe that you give.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But also I would say that you are a person that does it as well. But you can also pivot quite quickly to something that's emotional because most people that are funny, I think, have some pretty, you know, deeply emotional people as well. I think, like comedy and drama subsist on the same thing. Tension, subverting. It makes. It makes moves you. And if you have a. Like a film that has emotion, then you can. Or anything. Redemption called whatever you want, but it makes all that funny stuff so much more funny and rich and powerful. So I loved Groundlings when I did do their shows. I used to do like a once in a while, like a Thursday Cooking with Gas show they had and I would do. I think I did Armando a couple times here and then I loved it because there was no limit to it. But on a film set, I don't want to like. It's almost like method acting. I'm not going to like when people are coming on a film set, a Deadpool film, anything. I'm not gonna make my process, their process. So, like, I'd never want to be that guy. So I always. I chat and we talk and we say, okay, so how. How can I help you feel awesome? And like, you know, even an actor who's a day player who comes in for one day, it's a. That's a hard. That's the hardest job in show business because he's got two lines and he's gonna over the fuck do it like you wouldn't believe. Because in his mind, you know, there's no small parts, just small actors. Crush the shit out of this. And then you, you, but you. If you can make it safe. I always love the.

[Conan O'Brien]

Your soup, sir. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, yeah, we're going to liquefy you. And I am. I'm gonna snort your ashes on the top of the plastivos. Oh my God. Just to say I did it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And. But I always say to them when they're leaving, you say, hey, look, look, here's gonna be that moment you're drive home. And yeah, when gay players, you drive your cell phone and you have to touch everything in the car too, by the way. You're gonna get in that car and you're gonna go, fuck, I should have done that. And then I was like. Then we go, like, okay, take 10 minutes and think about what that is. And then let's go do that. And it's like this fun little trick. And then you do that. And then you say, now do the worst version you can do. Like, I'm telling you, you're safe. We'd never use the worst version, trust me. But, like, do the worst. And then that's always the take that. Because now you basically said, like, you're as safe as you could ever imagine. And I love that feeling. So I'm not like a. My improv is like. I've written 10 alts for each joke, but not just for me, but for my co stars or, you know, and it's a. Well, would you. Here's the menu. Is there anything you'd like here? Wesley Snipes was like, nope, nope, nope.

[Sona Movsesian]

Nope, nope, nope, nope.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I was like, you did not read that fast. Come on. This one had a beginning, middle, and end. Like, come on.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wesley Snipes has gotten pretty far on. Nope. Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God. But then he delivered. He was like, you know, I gave him that hit this ice skate uphill line.

[Conan O'Brien]

He was like, I'll do it right so much. You know, when I watched Deadpool and Wolverine, I mean, I'm just. I'm thinking the credit sequence at the top, you know, the nine.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That served nine purposes pretty much.

[Conan O'Brien]

But, yeah, well. But I'm thinking. I'm hard pressed to think of how much was packed into one film and to just be watching. So my son and I love that we were going to that movie and something went awry, and we got there and I just said, oh, trust me, we're just gonna miss, like, two seconds up top. And we missed. I think we missed, like, 45 seconds of the opening.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That would've hurt. That would have hurt.

[Conan O'Brien]

And you know what? It killed me to the point that we went back and watched it later on. But it's rare that you can miss 45 seconds of a movie at the top and feel like, oh, shit, I missed some sweet, sweet syrup. Because the whole thing was jammed up.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You just missed me singing along to the Marvel theme song. The bom bom bom bom bom bom. Marvel. They're so stupid, you know, Keep my own movie, you know? But it was. They were amazing. You could, like, make. I mean, Bob Iger was, you know, he. He saw the film. And the first time he saw the film was in pretty good shape. And he. He said, gotta. You gotta. You gotta remove the one line, Ryan. And I was like, what? What line? You know, the line. And I went, mickey Mouse. He's like, yeah, yeah. And I was like, the Bob. The whole movie orbits around that line. Like, when that line is the film, it's the thrust, the thesis, it's everything, right? And it's because my brain, when he says the one line is like, precious.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes, must keep the line.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And so I really had to kind of, like, walk around his office a little bit, do a couple of laps, and then it was fine. We were good. We switched it up, and he was. He just didn't want the Mickey Mouse joke in. And I. And now it got. Not because of me, they released this script for, like, wga, you know, awards season and stuff, and they just shower these kinds of movies with awards. So, you know, I was dancing behind you and trying to suggest things at the Academy Awards.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes, you were. Yes, you were.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But we're calling the Academy Awards situation. Yes, yes, you were in. In the situation.

[Conan O'Brien]

I love that nobody knows that when I hosted the Oscars, that really was you as Deadpool.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God.

[Conan O'Brien]

No one knows.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, consume arthritis at this stage. No, they have pills for that, too.

[Conan O'Brien]

Did you have. I have a question, which is, did you have an idea of what you wanted your trajectory to be? Would you have been happy if TV had hit and that had worked out, or did you always know, like, pretty much where you wanted to end up?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Well, it's so different now. It's like, now people who are in film are hoping to gain enough respect to get a TV show, right?

[Conan O'Brien]

If I could get White Lotus.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God. A limited series.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, I know. Everything happened perfectly. My whole career was in aggregate. It was very slow. It was never. I never experienced that overnight fame thing. And honestly, I think about how lucky I am because a lot of the guys that I came into the business with are gone, and a lot of them are passed away or like, you think, took these tragic turns where you hear about it one random Wednesday, you're like, what? You just can't.

[Conan O'Brien]

These are friends of yours?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, in Los Angeles. When I first moved here, I lived in East Hollywood, and everyone was partying. Everyone was doing, you know, this and that. And I just. It was scary. It's a scary place to.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, to be young and to have fame and money is a very, very odd combination of things. And I, thankfully, was so Slow with everything. I wasn't. I wouldn't consider, like, I sort of hit it in a way. I mean, you asked me earlier when my dad, he never made it to Deadpool. Like, he never made it to that coming out. He made it to. I was in post production on October 25th in 2015 when he passed away. It was three months earlier. My daughter James is named for him, so he's James Reynolds. James does not like it when I call her Jimbo.

[Conan O'Brien]

She'll grow to love it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I know. Yeah, I'm. And that's our dog, Hawk Tua. Okay, you know what? I'm gonna stop naming things.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, don't name anything anymore. Here comes my Paracote parakeet Adolf.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Yeah. Oh, God. Poor sons of bitches. Around that time, right? Who had that stuck with that name?

[Conan O'Brien]

God damn it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, we had a feeling at his first speech, right? That putsch. You know the putsch. It was nuts. You went nuts. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know what the fuck we were talking about, but.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, your trajectory. But you just, you took it one step at a time, and I think.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It allowed me to enjoy it in points. I'm always uncomfortable with, with the thing that I'm also in pursuant of. Right. Like, your fame is a weird thing. It has a little power to it. It's odd, but, like, I, I, I, I found a way to kind of make myself appreciate that part of it more because I love acknowledging and playing with the cultural landscape, whether it's in a movie, a commercial, sports. Like, I don't care. I just, I don't discriminate. I love that they're in all those, all those areas. So sharing fame made it way, way less weird for me. Like when, like, a kid comes up and says, can I get a selfie with you? I'm like, who's the most important person in your life? And they're like, my dad, Frank. And I'm like, video. Switch to video. I'm like, frank, I'm here with. Fuck's your name? Will. Will. This is not a hostage situation. He's fine, but he wants. You're the most important person in his life. You're the one. You were the phone, a friend. That was you, you know, and then you let it go. It takes just a few seconds longer than a selfie.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But like, like, now, it's a memory for them forever. And it's a thing that happens and I walk away feeling, like, good.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's a great philosophy, you will attest. I, I pursue people who don't want a selfie with me.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, God. Yeah, that's.

[Conan O'Brien]

And say you're going to like it. It's going to be funny. I've chased children into.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Give me a phone.

[Conan O'Brien]

Give me a phone. It'll be good. It'll be good. Who's the most important person in your life? I don't know who you are.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. So there's a. There's neediness and then there's neediness, but they will enjoy that one day.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I once made a video for Lorazepam. You know, I mean, somebody said lorazepam was the most important thing in their life. And I was like, okay, well, make a video for that. For sure.

[Conan O'Brien]

I've seen it. They air it now. That's a lot of money you missed out on.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And I just want to say, because I have to say this now, every time I bring it up, is that if you're having clay colored stool or any other side effects, please consult a doctor immediately. Razepam. I feel like me again. Trademark Pfizer Corporation. You can bleep those out, right?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, no, we're gonna get that money. Okay? Thank you very much.

[Ryan Reynolds]

They got a lot.

[Conan O'Brien]

We will not share it with you. You will get none.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That clay colored stool thing really cost them a lot, too, because, like, you don't want that. You don't.

[Conan O'Brien]

Or do you?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Or do you?

[Conan O'Brien]

You can pass it off as clay.

[Ryan Reynolds]

In our class, if you listen to it while. If you're on the toilet and you put some unchained melody on and that comes out, you're. It's never gonna happen. But if Demean Darling.

[Conan O'Brien]

And Tak is holding you and you're both on the toilet.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's you, Sona.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That's why they have reverse toilets. So you can sit this way.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, God.

[Matt Gourley]

I've never done this before, but can we just turn off the mics?

[Conan O'Brien]

Just cut it. Just cut the wrap early.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I used to work with a studio executive who. Who will not be named until we stop recording. And he always aimed it at someone whoever saw, like, whoa, Jesus. Yeah. What do you mean, Jesus?

[Conan O'Brien]

I mean, yes, we'll do your idea. It means you don't point your crotch at me.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm going to. Yeah. For those at home, Conan just went back in his chair and then aimed his crotch at everyone he was speaking to.

[Conan O'Brien]

I learned from the best.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes, he did.

[Conan O'Brien]

You learn from the best man.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And that man could use some underwear, I tell you that much. Because that also is a. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

We are In a moment where, of course, politically there's some tension between Canada and the United States over tariffs. What do you guys send us? What do we send you? And it occurred to me today that we have been getting some of the greatest comedians and comic minds and actors of all time from Canada. I don't think we've sent you shit. I don't think we've exported much to you in the comedy realm. And I think if someone were to do a reckoning just comedically, and you started to add up the Ryan Reynolds and the Martin Short and the Lorne Michaels and the Mike Myers, and it just goes on and on and on. There's too many to even begin naming.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Seth Rogen went to the high school up the hill from me.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, there you go.

[Ryan Reynolds]

No, no, Seth Rogen went to high school.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, my God, he can read.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Fluent.

[Conan O'Brien]

A lot of kids who go to high school can't read. They think you can pass.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I had to do a commercial in French Canadian the other. It was a. It was sort of like a. A very scary thing because when you're in those schools, you have to know French Canadian. You have to speak it fluently. And it's just. It goes away. It just goes away. If you don't use it, it's gone. So I was trying French Canadian just.

[Conan O'Brien]

Like every terrible sob story, all the.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So you're French Canadian.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're straight. You should do a really sad tour where you go, like, people think I've got it all Ryan Reynolds, but I can't speak French Canadian until I ask.

[Ryan Reynolds]

For a pastry in Paris. And they're like, oh, is that French Canadian you're speaking? Yeah. No, no, not good. We realize that Canada does have. It does have a lot of fun.

[Conan O'Brien]

But the thing is, you've sent us. And I'm thinking, what have we sent? What have we sent you guys? It's not a fair. What? There's an imbalance. Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Bird.

[Conan O'Brien]

Fl.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thanks. Thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

So there is an imbalance of trade in that respect, and that's about as political as I get. But I think it's gotta stop, and it's gotta stop now.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's gotta stop now. I've had the Ackroyd voice in my head all day. I keep, yeah, you've heard me doing my bad impression, but I can't get it out.

[Conan O'Brien]

You've had.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I can't get it out. Oh, ouch, kid. I'll tell you what, kid. He is off back to Canada.

[Conan O'Brien]

Dan Aykroyd, legendarily funny guy, but not someone. He's an unusual man. He's. You don't meet a Dan Aykroyd every day and.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Nope. And one of the more underrated, though, I think. Talents.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, my God.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Like one of the smartest people you'll ever talk to, but. Yeah. Eccentric.

[Conan O'Brien]

But we were talking about how his comedic ability to. I mean, he did it on SNL in so many ways, but to fire information out of his mouth with great authority and accuracy.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Never. Like, no one else could do that like him. Like, he could pump, like, half of the movie's boring exposition, make it funny, make it entertaining into your mind in like a third of a second. It was the crazy. I've never seen someone speak as fast as Dan Aykroyd does in Ghostbusters. He has this. A speech that must have been that long on the page, and it just comes out and you know it. You still hear it all. That's the trick. And I just think he's. I'm kind of. I think I'm a little obsessed with him in some ways.

[Conan O'Brien]

So he invited you to hang with him a little bit, right?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

But then he also wanted you to take off at some point.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, you gotta come up. You gotta come up here to Ontario, kid. And then we're eating dinner and you're gonna sleep over. And then in the morning, we're gonna do the interview and you're gonna fuck off back to where that's what we're gonna do. Bring an extra order Canada pin for me and put it on and we'll do it. Let's go.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what I love is there's a reason he made the Dragnet movie, because he is Jack Webb. In some ways, I think he is Jack Webb, because Jack Webb, if you ever watch old Dragnets, it's all Jack Webb, just spitting out all this information. Really square cop, 1960s. These are Benny's. Those are. If you have a. In his palm, he would have a list or a whole bunch of pills, and he would rattle them out really quickly. Blue butterflies, you know, and it was hilarious. And then he did the Dragnet movie with Tom Hanks, and it was. He was fantastic at it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That was back when, like, the miscellaneous line item on, like, a production report. It's just like, all cocaine. And then you guys spent $80,000 on miscellaneous in one night. What the fuck is that? That's always the thing. Dan also shows, like, a. A thing a bit. That Candy, that John Candy, you know, you saw. I think you saw in planes, trains, which is what you're seeing a performance that's heartbreaking, funny, vulnerable, and all the things, all the reasons. I have always been and will always be very much in love with Mr. John Candy. But Dan Aykroyd, if you've ever seen Grosse Pointe Blank.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

He gives the most unexpected villain performance I've ever seen. It wasn't over the top. It wasn't over. It was just grounded and, and weird and infinitely watchable. When I finally tracked him down. Cause he's elusive. I said I owe money because I've stolen so much from him that I believe I owe him $41 million. Yeah. 41 million.

[Conan O'Brien]

Don't put that on paper.

[Ryan Reynolds]

No, not at all.

[Conan O'Brien]

Cause he'll take it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I heard him jot it down though. But no, he's just a real gentleman too. Just made a good stuff.

[Conan O'Brien]

And he sells a tequila that comes in a skull.

[Matt Gourley]

Vodka.

[Conan O'Brien]

Vodka.

[Matt Gourley]

Skull Vodka is really into actual crystal skulls, right?

[Conan O'Brien]

And aliens and UFOs. And aliens.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Come on.

[Matt Gourley]

Did you try any?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Did I try. I think I've tried everything that exists at some point. You know, trying. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Clay colored stool. Yes. You can smoke it.

[Sona Movsesian]

We don't have to go back.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, but don't smoke the lorazepam because I also have another PSA for that. And you don't want those side effects. Oh my God. Or baby formula. Don't smoke baby formula.

[Conan O'Brien]

Are we gonna list things you shouldn't smoke now?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes, most of them. When you smoke, you don't know you're peeing anymore for the rest of your life. Just like, you're like, oh, it's warm now. It's cold.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's warm and comforting all of a sudden.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But now like the womb. Little stingy. Little cold. Yeah. No, no, no, no. Yeah. But I, I, yeah, I didn't, I was never big on all that. That's probably why I'm like as real heavy case of alive. Yeah. Yeah. I've always wanted to do a non alk commercial for like one of those. You know, I wrote one. I haven't figured out how to end it all yet. But like where people do the same things drunk people do, except on their non alcoholic beverage.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

A choice where they're like, you know, the next morning they're like, you know, there's a woman who's like, I went out with Gail and the girls the other night and I don't drink, but I had a one night stand with this guy and then the camera just shifts over to him and he's like. And let me Tell you something. And I don't drink either. And I felt everything. And she's like, I was awakened and basically says we got crazy in the middle of the night and we just decided, fuck it, let's have a baby. And we just met, I didn't know his last name. And basically experiences that each person has that you ignore, like the groom or, sorry, the best man at a wedding gives a speech that's just fucking profound, you know, and it's not like just the letter L for five straight minutes and then a. Like an anecdote about himself, you know, just nails it. Toe pick everything. So I've always wanted, I've always wished that's like the angle. That's the angle. It would be fun with a little.

[Conan O'Brien]

It could have been in advertising. You missed out. Yeah, because I can tell when you do your. Whether it's Mint mobile and I'll give you guys a plug. I think it's a fine service. That's okay.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, it is a fine service. It's very good.

[Conan O'Brien]

Your ads are very funny and I get the impression that you are behind them or steering them because you have that kind of brain. You like to say this is a commercial, but also call out that it's a commercial you love.

[Ryan Reynolds]

They know they're being. I mean consumers know they're being marketed to. So don't do.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's not a very special episode of Dharma and Greg. It's a fucking, you know, I love the Hot Stick commercial, you know, but it's. Well, you know why I like them. And it's sort of. It's not just me certainly. I have a, like a. I have some of the greatest, smartest people that quite frankly I find threatening. Who are. I get to work with. I mean Shawn Levy, who I've done three, three movies with now. You know, it's like a brain trust and like a. There's a real. I mean every movies that you sort of quote control are like that. You're not controlling it. They just trust you. You know, you said like, hey, I'm gonna land the plane. You know, I remember trying to, trying to get the. My Deadpool and Wolverine movie made and I just focused on that. I was like, I will return your investment. Like, I will return your. I got you. Like, I am not a reckless, you know, pilot. I am. I will land the fucking plane on a dime. It will be a 4 quadrant R rated film. I'm gonna make Disney's first 4 quadrant R rated film. And this is after they said no to 18 different things, including a movie where Deadpool is after the hunter who killed Bambi's mom. They said, we don't touch Bambi. And I said, you said, you don't touch Mickey Mouse, we don't touch Bambi, and we don't touch Mickey Mouse.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what? Given the profits and what you've shown, I think you can do it now.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, we did. And yeah, it's like. But that's part of our responsibility too, is people to produce the movie and we co wr write the movie and we're back. All those things. It's like making sure it, like, works. Because I've done movies that are, you know, small films that, you know are in Sundance and all that stuff, and I loved making them, and they were hard to make, and, you know, they would get great reviews and everything, but then it would just. You'd find out later it just bankrupted whatever little tiny studio made it. And I thought, I'm going to be out of work. They are getting out of work. I got to find a. I got to find a job that fits. So it's a win, win. You know, if I want to do it for the rest of my life, I'm gonna have to figure that out. And then it grew to all of it. Like, all the other things I love. I love commercials. When I was a kid, like, if you saw a good commercial, it stayed with you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, and I. And I was one of those kids like you probably were. You're sitting there two inches from the TV and just trying to stay up as late as being irradiated.

[Conan O'Brien]

Cause TVs back then ran on plutonium.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God. Right?

[Conan O'Brien]

And my face was melting.22.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And that is scarred for life.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, God.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, my God. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, it's just we sometimes turn off the lights in the studio and I'm a grinning skull.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. The. The teeth whitening has got to stop.

[Conan O'Brien]

We drink so much water every day, and it's just water. And I'm like, hello, boring. Yeah, there's got to be a way to make water more exciting. Well, guess what? Someone cracks. Cracked it. With authentic flavors and lively carbonation. Waterloo sparkling waters bring full flavor. Artistry. Blay, you're drinking one right now.

[Matt Gourley]

Drinking one right now.

[Conan O'Brien]

I got the raspberry nectarine, and it is tasty. It's very good. Very tasty. Everyone here in the office has been enjoying them. They're excellent. They are delicious. And you know, you say, what's flavor artistry. Some people think, oh, you're Just talking a lot of high class nonsense. Conan. No, it's about custom crafting multisensorial flavor experiences of aroma, taste and mouth feel that make you say wow, wow, wow to that sentence. Waterloo Waters are crafted, not formulated or off the shelf. Just purified sparkling water and non GMO project verified natural flavors, which I insist on.

[Sona Movsesian]

Me too.

[Conan O'Brien]

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

[Sona Movsesian]

You'll never get that back.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'll never get that time back. Three full glasses of water. I wish it was Waterloo and I could have had. What did you have? Raspberry. You know what, what's that one cracking open? A peach. Right. Well, you could have offered that to me. You just ate it. Second when I haven't had one. Oh, sorry. Nice. Thanks a lot. I'm so thirsty. Where are you working tomorrow? Give Waterloo Sparkling Water a try. Look for Waterloo Sparkling Water next time you shop. Learn more about the flavors from Waterloo sparkling [e-mail] I went to a party recently. It was a rager by my friend Rodman.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

He had the tunes bumping. It was really fun and it was special to me. Cause when you get together with good friends, good chums, amigos, pals from the past, celebrating important occasions means more moments with the coolest people in your life. For me, it's got to be Rodman.

[Sona Movsesian]

So many cool people.

[Conan O'Brien]

So many cool.

[Sona Movsesian]

Just like.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. So cool. They do. I have the coolest friends. Cheers to 50 years of Miller Light. The greatest tasting light beer for people who Love beer. Since 1975.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

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

[Sona Movsesian]

I didn't.

[Conan O'Brien]

So many times. Whether I'd been out at sea.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. You know, on someone's yacht. And I'll crack open a Miller Light. Or whether I'm scaling a volcano. Oh, yeah, it's about to erupt. Because that's the best time to see a volcano when you can feel the tremors. And I crack open a Miller Light. Miller Light. That's what I'm talking about. It's great taste. It's 96 calories. And I did a study myself. It is 96 calories. Go to millerlight.comconan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Merlin Light pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Really, the. The biggest change for me was. Was Green Lantern, because it was, you know, didn't work. And it was. It was. I watched a studio throw money at problem, at the problem after problem after problem instead of creativity. Like, you know, constraint is the greatest creative tool in the world. And that's why I like commercials, because there's an economy to them. You have to make them quick. You have to be not precious about them. You know, it's a fucking commercial. Who cares? It doesn't have to be a Fellini film. It'll either work or it doesn't, or it moves at a speed of culture. So it's at least relevant. Like, it's a. It's an easier way to kind of fix it, you know? But the. That movie was where I changed my life. Because I just saw.

[Conan O'Brien]

You saw this is going down or this. I don't think this is coming together, and they're just throwing more millions at it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. And it was really like, that's hard for everyone because it's. It's. You're too much money. Too much time will murder creativity. Like, if you have to. If you have, you're under constraint. Like, the next movie I did was Deadpool, which had a $56 million budget, I believe, which is nothing. Like, I think they probably spent 250 on Green Lantern, and this one had nothing. So you had to supplant or change all of these action spectacle set pieces into movies that, like, you remember the dialogue, not the. Because audiences also are inured to special effects. Like, if you. The world in danger. I was like. I loved the character's. Like, I don't give a shit about the world. Like, I care about those people and no one else.

[Conan O'Brien]

I've been saying this. I've been saying this for years. I refuse to see a movie. At a certain point, I declared I will not see a movie that has a portal if a portal opens up.

[Ryan Reynolds]

We did use the portal.

[Conan O'Brien]

I know, but we did call it.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The Marvel Sparkle Service.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes, yes. You. You had fun with it and made fun of it. There are so many movies where clearly they don't know what to do. So what they have is six people put the nine stones together, and then the sky opens, and anything can come out, and it doesn't have to make sense.

[Matt Gourley]

I love that this is your cause, because most people are like, oh, politics.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And kids these days. And you're like on your portals.

[Conan O'Brien]

Portals, portals, portals.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I saw another portal. Yeah. Used to be, get off my lawn. Get off my portal.

[Conan O'Brien]

A dragon made of fire and lava came out of the sky and punched Captain America, who's a strong man. Yes. And he fell down, but then got up and punched the dragon and it went flying.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Preach, sister.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm sorry. I know that there's. People think there's problems with racial inequality, gender inequality. There's a poverty. Poverty in the world.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Even get us started on tariffs.

[Matt Gourley]

But all of that can be fixed by portals if you'll just allow it.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, a dragon will come in and smash it all.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I watch. I loved the. The use of it because you could say anything in the Deadpool movies. We just, you know, I loved watching. I loved watching Kevin Feige watch the thing back got together where Deadpool's like. He's like, you know, listen, we don't have to do this. You know, there's a big fight about to happen. And they're like, no, we're going to fuck you up, or whatever the line is. And he says, no, no, I'm not. I'm in the multi. It's not working. It's not great. It's just been miss after miss after miss. It's been two ant mans forward and one black Adam back. And it's not working. And, you know, Kevin wince on each miss after miss.

[Conan O'Brien]

So funny.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And. Yeah, but then, what a sport. Like he was.

[Conan O'Brien]

But you make a really good point, which is that I do find that that's. What's missing, is a good movie. Gives you a couple of people and you. If they're doing it right, you really care about them. I know it sounds corny, but I was watching the Third Man, Orson Welles, just Vienna. Vienna. And I watched that a couple nights ago and, God, they had me caring about these three people in Vienna in 1948. And I think the movie cost $11, but, oh, my God, it's fantastic. And I do think that CGI had people thinking, oh, we don't need that so much as long as. Cause people really care that that portal gets closed. And you're like, I'm not sure they do. They don't really care if the portal gets closed.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But I'm sorry, I knew we were going back there.

[Conan O'Brien]

The scene that we've seen so many times where one character, he's still doing it is on one side of the glass and there's the radiation and it's you. It's Deadpool.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I spocked him.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. Deadpool, Wolverine. And it's the parody of that scene. And one of the things that. In a weird way, I got suckered into caring. I was caring about the people in the scene. And then you start fucking around.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Once. I did it just to make Hugh laugh. And I swear to God, there's one. It's actually. We had to realign my head a couple times. Cause the going down the stairs didn't work quite well. So we were like, really jiggering it, trying to get a rap. But I just did it to make you laugh because there he is, shirtless, hasn't had a carb since the 80s. He's like, oh, my God. Like, you know, can we just get through this scene so I can have a bagel? And you know I'm fucking a rat. It's just terrible. Horrible friend. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what's so sad? The first time he said it, I thought he said to make you laugh.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I thought so, too.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I thought he was saying Conan. I put that in just for you. And then I realized, no, he means Hugh Jackman.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I suddenly lost interest in you as a.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Actually had the same problem with the Whitney Houston song. Oh, the Dolly Parton song. But I always thought it was Hugh. I always, always love Hugh. And then I was like, wait, you.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, she meant it. She wrote it about Hugh Hefner. Which is weird because it's. Yes, it's very sexist. Yeah, yeah, she likes that. He's commodified. Women's sensuality. I don't know.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's a common commodified. That word's come up three times today.

[Sona Movsesian]

It has, yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. I was sitting next to someone who said, co modified. And I was like, I think you mean commodified. And he's smart as shit. I was like. But I. So I felt the power in that moment. Right. I was like, oh, I have something over you right now, don't I?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, I knew what I was doing because I've trademarked co modify. Oh, I got you to say you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And McElhenney because it was McElhenny.

[Conan O'Brien]

Robert Copernicus Mackelhenny was walking around here earlier. You guys were working on something in our.

[Ryan Reynolds]

We often use your office.

[Conan O'Brien]

I let you use my office to shoot a major film. No, one of your. I think for your Wrexham project. You guys were shooting something. And I said, yes, yes, of course. Mikasa Sukasse, which I believe is. I think that's Spanish. I think.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. No, that's German.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, that's German.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Mein casse.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Mein casse.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, but it's angrier. Anyway, I saw you when I first walked in. I see you and I see McElhenny and I give you a hug and it's like, this is Ryan Reynolds. Takes good care of himself, works out. I hug you and I'm like, well, this is an impressive lad. And then I turn to McElhenney, I hug him. That guy is alabaster.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes. No. Hard as a rock.

[Conan O'Brien]

Hard as a rock.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hard as a rock. Right now he is just describing it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Your heart is a rock.

[Ryan Reynolds]

100%.

[Conan O'Brien]

McElhenney. I saw him without his shirt. How you feeling now?

[Ryan Reynolds]

There you guys were, expertly lit and in slow motion in my mind when I saw you guys coming together. No, McElhenny, don't sleep on that body. Well, sleep on it if you can. Happily married. Thought so. Don't try it. But he's, you know, he's a rock. He's a beast.

[Conan O'Brien]

Incredible.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So, yeah, Rob, I. I treat with respect, get better with kindness.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Occasional condescension, and that's about it. Yeah, mostly just those things. But he did say co modified. Not great.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, he fucked up, not me. I wouldn't do that.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Just finished a. Like two years of just in the guts of something, you know, with. I always think of film and say filmmakers, like, Shawn Levy is more like a brother. We say we just love each other. Three movies together. We're going to do a fourth one at some point. But that, like, filmmaker word is not broad enough, though, because, like, it's. So when movies work. You guys talked about this on one of the shows. I think it was like Adam Scott, the How, like, they're hard to make a movie. A movie's hard to make.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's impossible.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Like, everyone has to be excellent, like, really. And care. People sort of underestimate how valuable caring is. You know, when you work with a props department or a production designer who in his cells wants to make the best possible. Our Deadpool and Wolverine, Ray Chan. He passed away, unfortunately, on our last fucking day of shooting, too. It was really sad, but it was one of those things where in post we got to put Easter eggs of him everywhere in the movie. But that movie would never have done what it did or connected with people the way it did without this guy. And I consider a production designer a filmmaker. Sometimes a costumer's a filmmaker, sometimes it's a, you know, cinematographer. It's just these are. It's a vat. More vast a pool than I think People realize, you know, there's a lot like, it's part of why it changed my trajectory when I was at the right time was, you know, you do a movie and you're working with people who. If there's one person in charge, and that is it my way or the highway? You get everyone into a yes, sir, no, sir. You know, like, when I pitch a joke, I'm always like, okay, here's the shittiest version possible. But. And I'm. What I'm actually doing is inviting dissent. I want you to disagree. Like, disagree with me, because then. Then we're gonna have fun. It's gonna get better.

[Conan O'Brien]

Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And you may have an idea that it's amazing that you've suppressed because I'm like this, but that pool always has to be expansive. And then you make great stuff. And then it's why movies are like, you know, I was so happy you were hosting the Oscars because, like, you, I think you've now and have always understood the joy of collective effervescence. It's why you work in front of a live audience a lot, too, which is why, you know, some friends.

[Conan O'Brien]

You make things with people, which is always. The magic is we. This is a group of us. If you have a good audience, you can make them part of it. I like. I think it's coming from a family.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I like to do things with people.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That's another example of why I love this man.

[Conan O'Brien]

And.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And now you gotta say my name.

[Conan O'Brien]

Because they might be confused.

[Matt Gourley]

Oh, he's pointing to me.

[Ryan Reynolds]

No. Gail Cone Cone. Has anyone ever gone cone cone.

[Conan O'Brien]

They've never gone cone cone.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Let's not do that. The reason I. That you. You don't. You don't punch down, like, it's not your vibe, and it's a good.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, no. I would very much like to be the best target. Yes.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Me, too. Like, I. I've done it. I did it once in. In. In my life, and I deeply, deeply regretted it. And I. It was 22 years ago, and it was such a lesson they'll never forget. And I said something late night, but it was a little bit like when the. Just the comedian or the guy with the microphone starts picking on someone, you're just like, they don't have a microphone as well. Well, it's not fair, you know, and it's. And it just. That land. That. That was a left a mark that I'll never, ever. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

You can't think you've really hurt someone's feelings. You can't. As Crazy as it sounds. And you're in comedy if you really think you've hurt someone's feelings. Unless it's Mussolini or Stalin.

[Ryan Reynolds]

How did you know?

[Conan O'Brien]

You have trouble. Like, you can't sleep. You know, you wake up and you're.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Just, you know, wide away. It was. Yeah. And the person. It gets worse. I wrote a long note to the person afterwards, and I said, I don't know why that came out of my mouth. And it was because I'd seen them, like, the couple days before near the apartment I was renting in Santa Monica. This is so long ago. And I wrote a long letter to him, sent him a case of champagne. I don't know. I was young. No one drinks champagne. Right. I don't know. And later I read a story about his wife saying that he fell off the wagon back in June, and.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, no.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. No, it was. I didn't, I had no idea. This was before. You don't just Google stuff. Someone, like, I didn't know.

[Conan O'Brien]

So you mocked him, and then your apology was to send him the substance that he had successfully kicked me.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Like, I really. And then. So that's where I got the lesson to never apologize.

[Conan O'Brien]

Never. And if you're listening right now, ground, don't apologize.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, no, no. I, I, he's fine and wonderful and, and may I say thriving.

[Conan O'Brien]

But, yes, I will tell you that I have had the same thing, just like twice in my career, where I said something, it just slipped out of my mouth. I'm doing a volume business. It got back to me that the person's feelings were hurt and it felt like I had been shot. And I wrote a letter and sent it to them. Like, I'm so sorry that you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, that means every. I mean, as parents, you see. I mean.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And I do that all the time with the kids. If you like, if you get down, kneel down to their level and you say, hey, when we. Last night, when you wouldn't, you know, go to bed and you did all that, the sorry street art on the wall. I could have handled that better. And I wasn't great. I wasn't good at dadding. And I'll even do the do over. I'm like, can I try? Can you make some more street art? Fuck over there, but on the paper. And I will come in and I'll do it again. Better.

[Conan O'Brien]

Love it. You're asking for a retake.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, basically, that is what I'm doing. I'm imposing.

[Conan O'Brien]

So again, who doesn't want a child actor sociopathic monster.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Let's say skip. Let's skip showbiz and just enroll you straight into cocaine right here. And then go into showbiz with all your injuries. Emotional injuries. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

We have to wrap this up because we've kept you for too long and you're a man in demand. Ryan, you are one of my favorites. I say that at the end of every podcast. I know sometimes I'm talking to absolute criminals in jail and I say you're one of my favorite people and I believe you're innocent. Of those 19 murders.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Which you would confess to.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jay Leno Fel. We were all looking for the Hampton.

[Conan O'Brien]

Inn, pushed him down that hill.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Who doesn't look for a Hampton Inn when you're.

[Conan O'Brien]

Ryan, you are so fast. You are so fast and so funny and making so many people happy. And I'm thrilled that we could spend time today and hang out.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I've never seen four hours go by as fast as it just did. No, I'm serious. This is one of those things where I could tell in your voice, it's time to wrap it up. And I got genuinely sad because I, you know, you are an idol of mine. You are somebody who I've watched and dare I say that the risk of overpraising, look up to and always have, always will, because you're kind, you have integrity, and that doesn't mean it costs you subversive comedy or any of those things. All that edge is there, and it is a high bar you set. You always have. And that's why I did the Jay Leno thing. I just. I fucking snapped.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't know what you're talking about. I forget everything before 2010. It's all gone.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But you didn't forget my wire numbers. Cayman Islands.

[Conan O'Brien]

Ryan, thank you so much and God bless. I bless you and I am a God, so God bless you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, I know. You are a deity. Deus. What is that? Is it. Isn't there that.

[Conan O'Brien]

No. Deus is the thing you stand behind when you talk.

[Matt Gourley]

Co modified code.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, hey, at least we got. At least we stopped the landing going out. That's the important thing.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Also, we talked about. About a lot of Canadians. Thank you for that.

[Conan O'Brien]

You. I'm saying. And there's a huge trade imbalance here.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah, we're going to work on that. We're going to. We're going to have a caucus. Is that what we say? We caucus on it?

[Conan O'Brien]

We're going to do that.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Legislative branches, your worship in Canada. That's a fun one. You have to Say your worship to the judge.

[Conan O'Brien]

Do you have the little honor of Canada yet? Have you had that?

[Ryan Reynolds]

I do have it, yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know who one of the people I think wrote the letter was? Lauren.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's nice.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's a nice man. I think he. He won't admit to it.

[Conan O'Brien]

All right, sir.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Go with.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Thank you, guys. Thank you all.

[Conan O'Brien]

Go with. Blessings.

[Matt Gourley]

Conan o' Brien needs a friend With Conan o' Brien, Sonam of Session and Matt Gourley Produced by me, Matt Gourley executive produced by Adam Sachs, Jeff Ross and Nick Leow. Theme song by the White Stripes incidental music by Jimmy Vivino. Take it away, Jim. 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 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 669-5872 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.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Real businesses rely on Spectrum business. Get the fastest, most reliable Internet starting at $40 a month when bundled and backed by the Spectrum commitment. Find a plan that's made for your [e-mail] business restrictions apply. Services not available in all areas.

[Conan O'Brien]

Meet Flip.

[Ryan Reynolds]

She's one half of a Flip flop. That's me who got left behind at Celebration Key, Carnival's exclusive paradise in Grand Bahama.

[Sona Movsesian]

I chose to stay here.

[Conan O'Brien]

It really is paradise.

[Ryan Reynolds]

So now Flip spends her time lounging on the beach, swimming in the lagoon and eating. The only thing more impressive than my.

[Sona Movsesian]

Appetite are all the dining options.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yeah. Have you tried food service to your cabana?

[Sona Movsesian]

Ooh, yum.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Flip.

[Conan O'Brien]

Where'd she go?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Book your cruise. Vacation to Carnival Celebration Cay, a paradise you'll want to lose yourself in. Ships registry, the Bahamas and Panama.