Dan Levy

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend – Dan Levy (April 20, 2026)

Main Theme / Overview

In this episode, Conan O’Brien sits down with Emmy award-winning actor, writer, and director DAN LEVY, best known for "Schitt’s Creek," to discuss comedy, the legacy and chemistry of Canadian humor, the emotional impact of Catherine O’Hara's passing, navigating fame as the child of a comedy legend, the intricacies of television production, and Dan's new project, "Big Mistakes." Throughout, the conversation is punctuated by warmth, humor, spontaneity, and Conan’s trademark playful banter with his co-hosts Sona Movsesian, Matt Gourley, and David Hopping.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Workplace Antics & Banter ([01:00]–[08:12])

• The show opens with the team riffing on the longevity and outrageous plotlines of "Grey’s Anatomy," leading to playful finger-pointing between Conan, Sona, and David about workplace laziness.
• Memorable digressions about the "Grey’s Anatomy" bomb-in-a-patient plot and the subsequent demise of Kyle Chandler.
  • Quote: "You are a cancer that turns everyone into an indolent clown." — Conan ([03:06])
• Conan’s skepticism and mockery of long-running TV tropes is met with affectionately exasperated rebuttals from Sona and David.
• The segment segues into introducing Dan Levy as the guest.

2. Catherine O’Hara’s Legacy & Canadian Comedy Excellence ([10:32]–[18:41])

• The group reflects on Catherine O’Hara’s recent passing and her unique brilliance.
  • Quote: "She’s impossible not to watch and she’s impossible not to love." — Dan Levy ([11:28])
• Conan shares a personal anecdote about getting punched by Catherine O’Hara after a Paul McCartney joke at SNL 50th.
• Discussion explores why so many comedy greats are Canadian, with Dan pointing to "self-awareness" as a core differentiator.
  • Quote: "A lack of self-awareness is the most boring... Canadians are very aware of how boring they are, and that’s what makes it funny." — Dan Levy ([18:24])
• Conan marvels at the close-knit, supportive world of Canadian comedy — referencing the SCTV and Godspell ensembles.

3. Growing Up Levy & Avoiding the “Leg Up” ([19:47]–[23:22])

• Dan speaks frankly about navigating his father Eugene Levy’s fame, wanting to build his own path, and the challenge of being constantly compared.
  • Quote: "I would, like, walk 10 steps ahead or 10 steps behind...I wanted to trial and error my own skills without the constant comparison." — Dan Levy ([20:32])
• Dan’s desire to carve his own creative identity and do the “torture” of figuring things out independently echoes the value he finds in humility and perseverance.
  • Quote: "You want the torture of doing it completely on your own, but also when you do it on your own, there is a greater satisfaction in the success." — Dan Levy ([23:13])

4. Mother’s Day Gifting Tangent ([23:22]–[26:10])

• Conan and team briefly detour to discuss gifts for Sona, spotlighting his characteristic mix of self-deprecation and boastfulness.

5. The Difficult Road of "Schitt’s Creek" ([28:17]–[30:26])

• Dan discusses the early negative press ("I believe the New York Times called me untalented." — [28:28]), how the show thrived under the radar, and the joy of creative freedom when few are watching.
• Importance of perseverance and letting the audience find the show in its own time.
  • Quote: "We were able to just make the show we wanted...nobody cared...and then it wasn’t until I had finished writing the last episode...that people started to pay attention." — Dan Levy ([29:49])

6. The Magic of Collaboration with Catherine O’Hara ([31:29]–[34:45])

• Catherine O’Hara’s process: rewriting scenes, playing with costumes, and the creative excitement of costuming "Schitt’s Creek."
  • Quote: "She would email them the night before being like, 'Gentlemen, some thoughts'...unbelievable rewrite of the scene." — Dan Levy ([31:33])
• Costume logistics—how the wild wardrobes became an integral part of the characters, especially Moira Rose.

7. Realities of TV Production—Budgets & Keepsakes ([36:01]–[37:47])

• Contrary to myth, the team didn’t get to keep all the designer clothes; most were sold off post-show to balance the budget.
  • Quote: "Do you understand how little that show cost? We had to sell every piece of clothing." — Dan Levy ([36:36])

8. Cultural Pressures & Artistic Integrity Post-Success ([37:47]–[40:44])

• The relentless industry emphasis on "momentum."
  • Quote: "I cannot hear the word 'momentum' ever again. It means nothing to me. Momentum forces people to make bad decisions." — Dan Levy ([38:07])
• Dan’s commitment to quality over rushing into new projects, and honest admission of doing commercials to support the artistic work.
• Quote: "Did I sell Tostitos chips? Absolutely. Do you regret it? Absolutely not." — Dan Levy / Conan ([39:38]–[39:43])

9. Dan Levy’s New Show “Big Mistakes” ([40:44]–[49:12])

• Dan describes branching out beyond his "Schitt’s Creek" persona; his new show is a comedy-crime hybrid about a pastor blackmailed into organized crime.
  • Quote: "It almost felt like you throwing down a gauntlet: no, this is not David [Rose]." — Conan ([43:21])
• Collaborating with Rachel Sennott and Taylor Ortega is highlighted, as well as the thrill of introducing new talent and working with veterans like Laurie Metcalf.
  • Quote: "Taylor is...I'm so excited for people to see her...There's something thrilling about introducing somebody to an audience." — Dan Levy ([48:00])

10. Anxiety, Families, and Comic Inspiration ([49:12]–[52:19])

• Both Dan and Conan reflect on anxiety’s central role in their personal and creative lives.
  • Quote: "So much of what I write about is how families interact with each other under difficult circumstances...If you come from a yelly family, I think this show in particular celebrates yelly families." — Dan Levy ([50:04])

11. Home, Family, and Roots ([52:19]–[55:14])

• Dan discusses living in L.A., shooting in New Jersey, and the bittersweet feeling of his Toronto childhood fading into memory.
• Touching story of Conan’s first meeting with Eugene Levy and the kindness he exhibited, highlighting the Levy family’s reputation for warmth.
  • Quote: "He’s a very sweet man. Yeah...I did not inherit his goodness." — Dan Levy ([55:14])

12. Parting Thoughts & Generational Legacy ([55:49]–[56:54])

• Conan expresses pride and delight in seeing the “next generation” of comedic storytellers succeed.

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Notable Quotes

• Conan O’Brien [01:13]: "I think you’re thinking of a different Conan O’Brien."
• Dan Levy [11:28]: "Every time I see her, even though I wrote the thing, I stop and I watch...she is impossible not to watch."
• Dan Levy [18:24]: "Canadians are very aware of how boring they are, and that’s what makes it funny."
• Dan Levy [23:13]: "You want the torture of doing it completely on your own, but also when you do it on your own, there is a greater satisfaction in the success."
• Dan Levy [29:49]: "We were able to just make the show we wanted...nobody cared...and then it wasn’t until I had finished writing the last episode...that people started to pay attention."
• Dan Levy [38:07]: "Momentum forces people to make bad decisions."
• Conan O'Brien [43:21]: "It almost felt like you throwing down a gauntlet: no, this is not David."
• Dan Levy [48:00]: "Finding somebody who has done the work, found the job, and is ready to go and showing them to the world, that's a thrill."
• Dan Levy [50:04]: "If you come from a yelly family, I think this show in particular celebrates yelly families."
• Dan Levy [55:14]: "He’s a very sweet man. Yeah...I did not inherit his goodness."

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:00] – Dan’s comedic introduction and “Grey’s Anatomy” banter
• [10:32] – Reflection on Catherine O’Hara’s passing and Canadian comedy
• [19:47] – Dan on stepping out of his father’s shadow
• [28:17] – The tough road and delayed success of "Schitt’s Creek"
• [31:29] – Bringing Moira Rose to life & costuming
• [36:36] – TV production finances and keepsake realities
• [38:07] – On “momentum” and artistic choices after success
• [40:44] – Creation and concept of "Big Mistakes"
• [43:21] – Dan’s new show and playing against type
• [49:12] – Comedy, family dynamics, and anxiety as creative fuel
• [52:19] – Where Dan calls home now, and the changing nature of “home”
• [55:14] – Conan and Dan on family kindness and legacy

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Memorable Moments

• Conan’s elaborate lampooning of "Grey’s Anatomy" (and Sona’s patient explanations) ([03:01]–[08:12])
• Detailed, affectionate recollections of Catherine O’Hara, including Conan being "punched" over a Paul McCartney joke ([12:09]–[13:43])
• Dan’s description of SCTV, Canadian comedy luminaries, and the almost mythical Godspell cast ([16:24]–[17:12])
• The creative process around Moira Rose’s wardrobe, culminating in stories about intricate costume fittings ([33:04]–[34:49])
• Dan’s candidness about early criticism and struggles with self-worth as Eugene Levy’s son, and how it shaped his career ([28:28], [20:31])
• Joyous stories about introducing new talent to the world in "Big Mistakes" ([47:45]–[48:56])
• Reflection on "yelly families," anxiety, and intergenerational trauma as both challenge and creative treasure ([50:04]–[51:47])

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Episode Tone & Style

The episode is candid, fast-paced, and filled with both affectionate ribbing and genuine vulnerability. Dan Levy and Conan O'Brien mirror each other's wit and humor, but also warmly reflect on tougher topics like grief, impostor syndrome, and the pressures of creative legacy. The tone remains playful throughout—even in serious moments, the humor never leaves the room.

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This recap covers all major content and will be valuable for both fans of "Schitt’s Creek" and those interested in comedy, creativity, and family dynamics.

Transcript

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[Dan Levy]

hi, my name is Dan Levy, and I'm feeling thrilled, titillated, excited, stimulated. Jesus to be Conan o' Brien's friend.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think you're thinking of a different Conan o'. Brien.

[Dan Levy]

I'm just feeling really good right now.

[Conan O'Brien]

Fall is here Hear the yell Back to school Ring the bell Brand new

[Sona Movsesian]

shoes Walking loose Climb the fence Books and pens I can tell that we

[Conan O'Brien]

are gonna be friends I can tell that we are gonna be friends hey, everybody. Welcome to Conan o' Brien Needs a Friend. And I sit here quite proudly with my good friend Sonam of session. Hey, Sona.

[Sona Movsesian]

Hi. Hi.

[Conan O'Brien]

And of course, David. Hopping. Hello. We were chatting just before the podcast started about different things that we were excited about. And then, David, you were electrified because you said. And you had a huge smile on your face. You said, they just renewed Grey's Anatomy.

[Dan Levy]

I know.

[Conan O'Brien]

For what?

[David Hopping]

Season 23.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. This show started, I think, shortly after the end of the Civil War. Whole casts have aged out and died.

[David Hopping]

There's only three originals left.

[Conan O'Brien]

I know, but how could this show still be going? And I don't mean to be ignorant or. And I'm so happy that people love Grey's Anatomy, but I was unaware that it was still.

[David Hopping]

It's still kicking and I'm still watching.

[Matt Gourley]

Okay.

[David Hopping]

I started it at Warner Brothers when Sona gave me permission to watch TV. I watched the first 14 seasons.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wait a minute. Hold on a second. Wait a minute. Hold on a second. Sona was my assistant.

[David Hopping]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And then you were supposed to help her and she gave you permission to watch.

[David Hopping]

I'll never forget it, Sona. Because I was so at Warner Brothers. Sona was on the second floor with you.

[Conan O'Brien]

This is for the TBS show?

[David Hopping]

Yeah, yeah. I was up on the third floor. So anytime you needed something, Sona would call me. And one day she called, and she was like, hey, you know, if you're up there waiting for me to tell you to do something, like, feel free to watch Netflix. And I said, great. And I watched 14 seasons of Grey's Anatomy.

[Conan O'Brien]

You are. You are a cancer.

[Sona Movsesian]

What the fuck?

[Conan O'Brien]

You are a cancer that turns everyone into an indolent clown. You instructed him, and he didn't just watch one show or half a show. He watched 14 seasons.

[Sona Movsesian]

This is your work environment. You are the boss. You set the tone.

[David Hopping]

It comes from the top.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes, it does.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't think so. I think that there is a. The tone I set. I'm a very hard worker. I'm very intense. And then you come along, and everyone around me.

[Sona Movsesian]

Are you being serious? You say, I understand you work hard.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Sona Movsesian]

But you're not. You're not a serious person. Like, I walk. Excuse me.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm very serious.

[Sona Movsesian]

I walked into the Oscar rehearsal, and you asked everybody there if they all smell garlic. You said that to a room full of people I've never met before. Hey, dude. He's like, hey, what's that smell? Is that garlic? And you looked over at me.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're killed with all the seat fillers. Yeah, they love my. My riffs about you. Anyway, you. Let's get back to you and how you've failed me. So you got him to watch. So you watched 14 seasons of Grey's Anatomy. Well, guess what? You have, like, 35 more seasons to go.

[David Hopping]

That's kind of incredible.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, how do you think this show will end? There's a theory that when Grey's Anatomy does end, humanity will end.

[David Hopping]

I thought maybe you were going to have a real theory there first.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, there's a theory that it's been around as long as Earth has been orbiting the sun. Sure, I know you think the sun orbits the Earth, but that's not the case. It's insane how long it's been going for.

[Matt Gourley]

I know.

[David Hopping]

Isn't it incredible? I mean, as long as Meredith Gray is on our tv, what else could we want?

[Conan O'Brien]

Which one is Meredith Gray?

[David Hopping]

Ellen Pompeo.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. And they're still doctors. Has the show morphed into now they live in a tree house or something? A lot of shows that have been on that long morph. And now they live on a dude ranch and they're not doctors. Is that happening?

[David Hopping]

No, but the Amount of, like, just natural disasters and awful things.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's what kind of stuff happens.

[David Hopping]

Like, there's a whole really intense shooter episode. There's a plane crash episode when a

[Conan O'Brien]

plane crashes into the hospital.

[David Hopping]

Not into the hospital. All the doctors are on a plane and the plane crashes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, what are the odds of that?

[David Hopping]

I know.

[Sona Movsesian]

Mm.

[David Hopping]

There's a ferry episode where they, like, all start to drown.

[Conan O'Brien]

What? All of them are on a ferry. So the doctors from the hospital all said, let's take a ferry. And then it's the first ferry that's gone under.

[David Hopping]

And that's an early one.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay.

[David Hopping]

Yeah, almost. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, the important thing is it seems to bring people a lot of joy. I'm trying to make this a positive thing.

[David Hopping]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I know I came across a little bit when I started out as, like, how could Grey's Anatomy still be going?

[Sona Movsesian]

I said the same.

[Conan O'Brien]

But that's a terrible attitude for anyone to have.

[Sona Movsesian]

No, I said the same thing. I also watched it when it first came out, and they lost me. When they blew up Kyle Chandler, that's when I was like, I'm out.

[Conan O'Brien]

I thought they.

[Sona Movsesian]

With a bomb.

[Conan O'Brien]

What?

[David Hopping]

And.

[Sona Movsesian]

And they blew him up with a bomb.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, but give me the context. When you said blow up, I assumed it was some kind of explosive. Don't just say there was a bomb.

[Sona Movsesian]

How?

[Conan O'Brien]

They blow him up. They blow him up with the bomb. How did Kyle Chandler blow up?

[Sona Movsesian]

There was an explosive in a person that they found during surgery.

[Conan O'Brien]

And why was the person. Why would a person have a bomb in their body and then check themselves into the hospital? Answer that.

[Sona Movsesian]

David. Do you remember?

[David Hopping]

I don't remember.

[Sona Movsesian]

No. He needed. The person needed surgery. You just have to. You have to go.

[Conan O'Brien]

The person needed surgery.

[Sona Movsesian]

The person needed.

[Conan O'Brien]

And the person didn't know that three years earlier he had swallowed a caramel covered bomb that was stuck in his rectum? I'm just. Explain this to me.

[Sona Movsesian]

So they're doing the surgery, and then the girl feels something, and then they're like, oh, my God, it's a bomb. You have to stay still. So she just had to stay there with her finger on the bomb so it wouldn't go off. And then they called the bomb squad, and then the bomb squad got everybody safe. And then while he's walking away with the bomb in his hand all like, quietly, he. Kyle Chandler.

[Conan O'Brien]

But he's on the bomb squad. Yes. Oh, I thought he was a doctor. And they handed him.

[Sona Movsesian]

No, he's a. He's on the bomb squad.

[Dan Levy]

Okay.

[Sona Movsesian]

And he's we're like, oh, my God, everyone's clear. He's walking away. And then as he's walking away, it just explodes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Do they cut to shoes that are empty but they're smoking?

[Sona Movsesian]

It's not a cartoon.

[Conan O'Brien]

I wish it was a cartoon. And guess what? It sounds like a cartoon. So someone checked in for surgery, had a bomb in them that they didn't know they had?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

They call in the bomb squad. And who's in the bomb squad? Kyle Chandler. The coach from Friday Night Light?

[Dan Levy]

Hell yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Coach Chandler. And he says, I'm an expert on bombs. Well, I think I'll take this with me home. I'll just go jogging home now. Who walks away with a bomb? You know, I'm sorry, I don't mean to neg on this wonderful show that people really like.

[David Hopping]

Oh, there's a great musical episode too.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, there isn't. There's no way there's a musical episode.

[David Hopping]

There's around a table doing surgery while singing how to Save a Life by the Fray.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. And they find a bomb. I feel something hard. Oh, my God, it's a bomb. We better get Kyle Chandler. Oh, no, he blew up.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, man.

[Conan O'Brien]

I just sneeze because I'm allergic to bad plots. How do they break a story on that show? How does the writer room say, I've got it. There's a bomb in this patient? Why? Don't worry about it.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, no.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, listen to all you fans of. What's it called again?

[David Hopping]

Grey. Grey's Anatomy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Grey's Anatomy, Season 77. Remember the first season, that was a good one. When President Hoover stopped by and he said, I think there's a depression coming. And by the way, I think I have a bomb in my colon. All right, well, guess what? My guest today, and this is. No, there don't. There's no transition here. No, my guest today is an Emmy award winning actor, director and writer, a real writer who starred as David Rose in the hilarious series Schitt's Creek. Now you can see him in the new Netflix show Big Mistakes. Very, very happy this gentleman is with us today. Dan Levy. Welcome. I gotta say one thing up front. It's not what we're going to talk about initially, but I. David, my assistant here. Hi. He. He. He downloaded. We were sent a few of your episodes of your new show, big Mistakes. And we watched a couple of them yesterday and I was immediately. Every time we finished one, I go like, another one?

[David Hopping]

Yeah, I'd be like, next.

[Matt Gourley]

I mean, my.

[Conan O'Brien]

My job is I maybe Watch the first one.

[Dan Levy]

Right.

[Conan O'Brien]

And then, yeah, I was like, next. Next. And I was like the hamster with the cocaine power.

[David Hopping]

I just left in the office when we were done.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, I just wanted more.

[Dan Levy]

That's what we were hoping for. So that's.

[Matt Gourley]

You are. Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

You want me to be a rat and addicted to cocaine?

[Dan Levy]

All of the above.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's. It's really funny and we will talk about that in a bit. But I'm so happy because I'm a massive Schitt's Creek fan, as we all are. And then when I heard that you were up to something, another series, I was disappointed. Very excited. Oh, prepared to be disappointed.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I love how your mind works. Because that's how my mind works.

[Dan Levy]

Exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

So I was disappointed.

[Dan Levy]

That's right.

[Conan O'Brien]

Certain that you would die. Wait, what? No.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, my gosh.

[Dan Levy]

Expecting the worst. Yeah, sure. And it delivered across the board.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, my God, what a tragedy and what a travesty. No, I'm so glad that you are back making more ridiculous fun. And you're so good at it.

[Dan Levy]

Thanks.

[Conan O'Brien]

And just thrilled to have you here.

[Matt Gourley]

So happy to be here.

[Conan O'Brien]

I saw you recently. Not to bring the room down, but I saw you very recently at a very sad event that was also uplifting, which was Catherine Oharas. You know, the gathering for Catherine. That's right. And I want to offer my condolences to you because we all lost this amazing person in Catherine, but you had this relationship that's probably gone on your whole life with Catherine. I mean, you made this incredible role for her in Schitt's Creek, but all of us, that's just one of those losses that I still can't quite fit into my head.

[Dan Levy]

And the crazy thing about it is that I'm still like, you know, I go on Instagram and her face is there and Moira's clips from the show are all over the place. And I. Every time I see her, even though I wrote the thing, I stop and I watch. And I'm watching not for anything that I did, but I'm watching because she is impossible not to watch.

[David Melmed]

Yeah, she really is.

[Dan Levy]

And she's impossible not to love. And she's. It's impossible not to laugh with her in anything she does. And it is like an unimaginable loss.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah. No, wait.

[Dan Levy]

She was just irreplaceable talent and an irreplaceable person, really.

[Conan O'Brien]

I may have mentioned this, but at the SNL 50th, it's. It felt totally arbitrary to me. Unless they Were just had an Irish section, but I showed up and they gave me my seat, and I sit down and then there's an empty seat next to me. And then who's assigned there? But it's Catherine o'. Hara. And I had the time of my life with her.

[Dan Levy]

She is the greatest company. Yes, she was. So she's the greatest seatmate. She's the greatest dinner companion. She was the greatest conversationalist. She was endlessly curious and humble and deeply, deeply funny.

[Conan O'Brien]

Also, she has this. Had this way of instantly. Again, I don't know if this is. Cause I'm part of that sick Irish tribe, but she had this way of immediately becoming like an older sister to me. So I'm sitting next to her and we're going back and forth and bullshitting in between sketches. And then finally, at the end of the show, Paul McCartney comes out. It's like a surprise, but he comes out to sing like the end of Abbey Road. And I just next to Catherine went. And she said, what? And I said, this guy's never good. And Catherine, like, punched me. She's like, oh, shut up. You know, I'm like, I don't. I don't. I know her. But I didn't know her well enough to get punched by her. But yes, I did.

[Dan Levy]

That's also a stunning Catherine o' Hara impersonation.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Dan Levy]

She had a very sort of.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, there was a.

[Dan Levy]

There was a throatiness to her that was so gruff at times. And yet she played like Lola Heatherton and Moira Rose and had this like, unbelievable elegance, yet sometimes could just be like, oh, God, yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Suddenly lose her words.

[Dan Levy]

She also knew when something was not funny.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Dan Levy]

Hence your Paul McCartney joke.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I just wanted to be.

[Dan Levy]

She knew when to bring it back to reality.

[Conan O'Brien]

I wanted to be the one person who ever said that when Paul McCartney came out, I just wanted. I thought, there's. No one's ever done it. I'm going to do it.

[Dan Levy]

I'm sure that was the reaction you were looking for.

[Conan O'Brien]

Exactly.

[Dan Levy]

Let's go on a limb with this Paul McCartney joke and see how it reacts.

[Conan O'Brien]

I wanted to cather. I wanted to get punched by Catherine o', Hara, and my dream came true. But this segues nicely into something that has always puzzled me. And at the event for Catherine, the former Prime Minister Trudeau was there.

[Dan Levy]

That's right.

[Conan O'Brien]

At one point, I find myself talking to him after the ceremony, and I just said, why? Why are Canadians. What is it? Is it in the water? What is it? About. And I know it's a question. That's a second.

[Dan Levy]

I thought you asked him why he was there.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah,

[Dan Levy]

again, I don't know if that would fly with. I don't know, maybe I did.

[Conan O'Brien]

So when I saw him go and someone next to me said, what's the problem? And I said, he's never good. No, I asked him, what is it about so many of my comedy heroes? I grew up watching your dad, Joe Flaherty, Catherine o', Hara, I mean, Marty Short, the whole crew. I watched them on sctv and I was a religious devotee of how smart and funny and great about what a

[Dan Levy]

brilliant show that was.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I also try to, I try to get younger people to understand there's so much smart, cutting edge stuff that can come from any angle at you now. It just didn't exist then. And SNL was great and monolithic, but SCTV shows up shortly afterwards and it is more like the Internet comedy of today. It was maybe 50 years. This felt like it was 50 years ahead of its time. And I just fell in love with it and I, I was. And then, you know, working in comedy, I've just. Every time I work with Canadians and they're so fast and funny and I'm wondering, you're growing up. Was it in Toronto?

[Dan Levy]

Where did you grow up in Toronto.

[Conan O'Brien]

Toronto. And can you explain what this whole thing is?

[Dan Levy]

Well, I mean, my, my dad and Catherine had, have this philosophy that it's actually not an instinct, it's not a categorically Canadian thing. It's just Canadians who have succeeded have just like, there's a lot of Canadian enthusiasm around them.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay.

[Dan Levy]

But statistically speaking, I mean, I think there are a lot of very successful specifically Canadian comedians.

[Conan O'Brien]

I believe that statistically it's off the charts. Meaning I'm not satisfied with the explanation that no, there are funny people in every country and somehow Canadians just support. No, I've worked with way too many. All the kids in the hall guys, Mike Myers are just the. It's an endless list.

[Dan Levy]

And it's also pockets of very funny Canadians that have found each other at these points in their lives. And I, you know, go. One of my big like genie wishes would be to go back and watch some of those early Second City nights. Um, right. You know, John Candy, Andrea Martin, Catherine o', Hara, my dad Marty and then, you know, Gilda. Yep. And I mean, then you get into the Godspell of it all, which I would have killed to have seen.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, that's the show we all want to go back and hang out at. Because. Because it was. It's like every important scientist or every great painter in the Renaissance somehow got together and worked on one painting.

[Dan Levy]

It was insane.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's how it felt. This one production of Godspell, everybody was in it. I mean, everybody. And it has, like, legendary status.

[Dan Levy]

The very first movie I ever made was with Tina Fey. And I was so nervous. And at a break, she came over and she was like, I want to talk about Godspell in Toronto. And instantly I was set at ease.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

So it's. It's.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's.

[Dan Levy]

Yes, there are funny Canadians, but there's also, like, these pockets of unbelievably brilliant Canadian funny minds that have somehow found their way into the international sort of zeitgeist. I think it's because we live above America, which is inherently sort of a very prideful freedom. And, you know,

[Conan O'Brien]

you'll have freedom if it kills you. We're firing a freedom bomb at you.

[Dan Levy]

It's like, what? We can't relate, you know, we don't have that kind of hubris. So as. As a place that is sort of wanting to be very different than America, but knowing that it is not quite as powerful.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

There is an inherent sort of self awareness.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Dan Levy]

That is in the water. And I believe self awareness is what makes the people funny.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes.

[Dan Levy]

It's a lack of self awareness is the most boring people you meet are completely unaware of how boring they are.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. Yes.

[Dan Levy]

Canadians are very aware of how boring they are, and that's what makes it funny. Do you know what I mean?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. No, that's it. I believe that we know what's going

[Dan Levy]

on and we can talk about it. God, I love being Canadian.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's sounding pretty good right now. I want to be Canadian.

[Dan Levy]

I'm clutching that passport.

[Conan O'Brien]

I got my wife and I got invited, I'm sure, to that lake area where everyone has their little cottages. Yeah. And muskokas. And sitting on a dock and watching a boat pull up. And, you know, Catherine jumped out of the boat with her husband Beau. And your dad's there, and people like the cast of SCTV is jumping out of a boat to sit with me on a dock while Marty pours us drinks. And I left my body. I left my body drinking probably a rum and.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Rub and ting. And of course, I remember it was like 2 o' clock in the afternoon and Marty's like, time for rum and ting. And I noticed he shouts about everything, of course. Tony, my boy. Rum and ting. And then a boat pulls up all my heroes are on one boat. They all get out, we're sitting on the dock, I leave my body and I'm looking at myself thinking, that guy's hot. No.

[Dan Levy]

God, the sun has done wonders.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's what happens every time I leave my body. I'm like, check out that ass. Wait, are you looking at your own ass? Your ass isn't good. Well, still no, I. But I was. I just couldn't believe it. I just couldn't. I couldn't believe the whole thing. And then what's lovely about this whole story is that I know that you growing up were very conscious of not wanting to be part of your dad's light and make your own thing and do it your way, which is in some ways harder, I think, if you.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Because you talk about when you were a kid.

[Dan Levy]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I don't know where I read this, but you were a kid and if people were paying attention to your dad, you didn't want to be part of that.

[David Melmed]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

Is that true?

[Dan Levy]

I would, like, walk 10 steps ahead or 10 steps behind. I really didn't like. Well, I was like, really insecure as a kid too. And I think having a parent who is, like, well known and particularly in Canada, that ethnic CTV alumni are just like kind of royalty.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, they're like 10 Wayne Gretzky's walking around. Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

Yeah, that's exactly it. And people would come up and the attention was just so kind of awkward. And so, yeah, I never really paid attention to it. And then I got into the theater program in high school and would never ask my dad for any help and really wanted to do it on my own. I just think when you grow up under somebody who is so good at what they do, a lot of the trial and error of being a child of somebody who is good at what they do is trying to discover whether you are also good at the thing that you're excited about. And if you happen to be excited about the thing that your parent does, it makes it even harder.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

Because you're constantly in comparison. I remember taking a second city class, improv class in Toronto in front of a 5 foot by 6 foot photo of my dad in costume.

[Conan O'Brien]

It was like, Bobby Bitman.

[Dan Levy]

Who's Bobby Bitman?

[Conan O'Brien]

Bobby Bitman. Okay. A giant Bobby Bitman looking at me, giant.

[Dan Levy]

Like, how are you in a thing with the red suit? And I was. And people were like, gosh, you look a lot like Eugene Levy. And I thought, I can't take these classes anymore. I can't do this. Because also Failing at improv in front of a photo of your father who didn't fail at improv is worse than never having done it. It's worse than failing at a thousand things. So I. I just. I never really. When. When I. I got a job at mtv, I didn't tell them who my dad. I just didn't want anything to do with him.

[Conan O'Brien]

Right.

[Dan Levy]

Because I revered him so much, but also because I wanted to trial and error my own skills without the constant comparison of is it as good as Bobby? And slowly but surely, I built a name for myself in Canada, very unbeknownst to the audience that I was my father's son. And then when shits happened, I felt like I felt confident enough in my own point of view in what I was bringing to the table to ask him to collaborate, and I just had to get to that place by myself.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I think it's almost like you had to do, like, a. A walkabout or a desert sojourn where you figure these things out. And it's interesting because.

[Dan Levy]

But also, being Canadian, you don't want the leg up.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

You want the torture of doing it completely on your own, but also when you do it on your own, there. There is a greater satisfaction in the success.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. I want to talk about Mother's Day. You came to mind. You're a mom.

[Sona Movsesian]

I'm a mom.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm the godfather to your two boys.

[National Debt Relief Announcer]

Yep.

[Conan O'Brien]

Maybe the most important adult figure in their lives.

[Sona Movsesian]

Oh, okay. I don't remember there being a Godfather's Day.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, it's a good. It's a good point. There should be. But that's not what I want to talk about, David. And I wanted to get you something, and so I thought, hey, you know, we're big fans of Macy's, and Macy's online gift guide has some great ideas. And so I asked David to check that out and come up with some notions for you.

[Sona Movsesian]

Well, that's really nice. Thank you, David.

[Dan Levy]

Of course.

[Matt Gourley]

And I thought it was gonna be

[Sona Movsesian]

a really nice thank you, David. I mean, he did the legwork.

[Conan O'Brien]

My money.

[David Hopping]

And you're gonna be happy because we didn't get you just one thing or two. We got you three things for Mother's Day.

[Matt Gourley]

That's pretty nice.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yay. All right.

[David Hopping]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

I was afraid.

[Sona Movsesian]

This is really nice. Thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

I was afraid this would spoil you getting three things, because next year you'll be like, now I want four. But anyway, David.

[David Hopping]

All right, if I can have your attention to the screen. The first thing for Mother's day. We got you a Michael Kors Nolita large hobo shoulder bag.

[Conan O'Brien]

Michael Kors, you know, that's good stuff.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, I like hobo stuff, too.

[David Hopping]

I feel like you need a big bag.

[Sona Movsesian]

I do.

[David Hopping]

A lot of things to carry.

[Conan O'Brien]

And also Sona likes to go to a restaurant and maybe take a few rolls or a dessert and sometimes a salt and pepper shaker that'll fit nicely into this Michael Kors bag.

[David Hopping]

Next up, we have the Oracle jet automatic espresso machine by Breville.

[Conan O'Brien]

That is nice, Breville. Great machine. And look at that thing.

[Dan Levy]

It's gorgeous.

[David Hopping]

Any. Any coffee you want.

[Sona Movsesian]

You're cool with this? Because this is 2000.

[David Hopping]

I have the car and he's cool with it.

[Sona Movsesian]

Thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

I didn't know it was that much, but I don't mean to say that much because that's Breville. That's quality stuff.

[Sona Movsesian]

That is good. I don't even drink coffee, but I just want it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, also, wouldn't that look cool on your counter?

[Sona Movsesian]

It would.

[Conan O'Brien]

And also doesn't. Your husband doesn't drink coffee.

[Sona Movsesian]

He does, but he doesn't drink, like, fancy coffee.

[David Hopping]

Until now.

[Conan O'Brien]

Until now.

[David Hopping]

And the third thing, we got You A Mezzards 10.1-inch T Digital Calendar and photo frame.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. He asked me, how big should it be? And I said, do they have 10.1 inches? And he said, actually, they do that.

[Sona Movsesian]

So.

[David Hopping]

And now you can. You can think, you know, Conan's calendar. If you want to know what he's up to.

[Conan O'Brien]

If you want to know what I'm up to, which you don't seem that interested in these days.

[Matt Gourley]

Not at all.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I still employ you. It's weird.

[Sona Movsesian]

I still have access to all that information. I just choose not to look at it.

[Conan O'Brien]

These are great gifts. These are all for you for Mother's Day.

[Sona Movsesian]

Well, thank you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Or does she choose one?

[David Hopping]

We said all three.

[Sona Movsesian]

Thank you, David.

[Prolon Announcer]

I'm trying to think.

[Conan O'Brien]

Next time. I didn't say yes to all three.

[David Hopping]

You give a lot of parameters.

[Conan O'Brien]

I really didn't. But you could use common sense. That's always the best parameter.

[David Hopping]

Sona means so much to you. And it's Mother's Day.

[Conan O'Brien]

Sona, I want you to have these. Oh, thank you, Conan. And a big thanks to Macy's. They've got this great online gift guide. And, David, thanks to you for doing what I probably should have done on my own.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

But I'm too entitled.

[David Hopping]

Keeps me employed.

[Conan O'Brien]

All right, there you go. Let Macy's be your guide to gifting. For Mother's Day, shop now online or in store. Spring is the season for closet cleanouts. Perfect time to narrow down your wardrobe to pieces that are well made and easy to wear all the time. That's where Quince comes in. With Quince, you get fabrics that feel elevated, fits that are well thought out, and pricing that actually makes sense. I'm tired of pricing not making sense.

[Sona Movsesian]

Me too.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm like, this makes no sense. Quince works directly with ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen. So you're paying for quality, not brand markup. Everything's designed to last and make getting dressed easy. Now, David, tell us about your Quint experience because you've had a terrific one.

[David Hopping]

I got the men's cotton peak knit blazer and navy, and I got a pair of the men's Italian leather cap toe oxford shoes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. And what is it about these Quint's clothes that really pop for you?

[David Hopping]

It's honestly just like, probably the best quality that I can actually afford.

[Conan O'Brien]

You have, you have been better dressed lately. I will say that. And I'm not putting down the way you used to dress before quints, but I'm glad Quince came along. That's all I'm going to say. So refresh your wardrobe with quince. Go to quince.comconan for free shipping and 365 day returns. That's almost a full year now. Available in Canada too. I'm glad I like Canada. I'm glad they're getting some Quince clothes. Go to Q U I n c e.comconan for free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.comconan if you're looking for new ways

[Prolon Announcer]

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[Conan O'Brien]

Schitt's Creek. Initially, the reviews were mixed. Were mixed. And. And you were taking some heat for like, oh, is this, you know, I

[Dan Levy]

believe the New York Times called me untalented.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oof. Yeah. What the.

[Dan Levy]

Well, and the.

[Matt Gourley]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

In the review. In the review of season one. And the problem with doing press around something when these articles are coming out is you then have to swallow the fact that the new Everybody is reading the New York Times.

[Matt Gourley]

Yes.

[Dan Levy]

Reading like I don't know if it was the Word was untalented. But that was the takeaway that I took from it. It was not kind.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

And then you kind of had to go and be like, I'm really excited about the show that I'm making. Anyway, cut to six years later, they wrote a glowing review of our final episode. And you sometimes just have to keep working to prove yourself. And I'm fine with that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. I mean, this is funny because you mentioned this with the. In Canada, you don't want a leg up. You almost want the punishment. I realized that I had kind of a self hating thing that was very comfortable with the punishment early on. Sure. And then when things turned around, by the time they turned around, I felt much more confident because I felt like I hadn't been floating along on a lot of hot air. Certainly. And it can feel beneficial, you know, to walk through that in the beginning.

[David Melmed]

Absolutely.

[Conan O'Brien]

And find your way to feel very

[Dan Levy]

lucky about the fact that nobody really watched Schitt's Creek until it was done. So we were able to just make the show we wanted. How rare is that?

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

To make six seasons of a TV show with absolutely no expectations from an audience. Nobody cared. We were hustling till the end. And then it wasn't until I had finished writing the last episode of our sixth season, the series finale, that people started to pay attention. So we had this wonderful kind of window where due to, you know, luck and circumstance, we were able to stay on the air for six amazing seasons.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

But nobody cared.

[Conan O'Brien]

But also so.

[Sona Movsesian]

But I cared.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm glad you cared. But also, what's nice is now they're done and we are a culture now. I think there is upsides and downsides to the modern streaming world we live in. A big upside is shows that I love, like an Arrested Development or a Schitt's Creek. They're there for me at all times. And you can go through and you can page through them like having a classic novel around the house. It's really lovely. And I remembered thinking this before she passed. I remembered thinking it was such a nice thing for Catherine to have that role during that last decade of her life where she was playing someone who was beloved because people love the character and they're really getting to see yet another way that she's really funny and she was very proud of it. And I think people were always coming up to her saying, we love you on Schitt's Creek. It was such a nice thing for her that you. You made happen.

[Dan Levy]

She made it happen. I just made sure That I was prepared.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay.

[Dan Levy]

That's really what it came down to. Like so much of Moira Rose was. Yeah, as, as is every character she, I mean, you know, Seth Rogen was talking about this recently about, you know, how the amazing thing about Catherine is they, she would email them the night before being like, gentlemen, some thoughts about the scenes we're shooting tomorrow. And it would be a full top to tail rewrite. And as soon as he said it, it was like, I got those emails, gentlemen. It always started with gentlemen, some thoughts. And then it unbelievable rewrite of the scene. And that is what the amazing, all the great Catherine roles were when she found collaborators that wanted to give her that platform, you know, because she had so much to offer and she was so. The way that she thinks is so on another level that as a writer you can't get into her head. So all you can really do is set the table, wait for the email, gentlemen, some thoughts. Read the scene and say, fuck yeah. You know, and like, just be prepared, you know. She told me how she wanted to look on the show. My job was to make sure that in a wardrobe fitting we had everything that would excite her.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, this I have to break in. Cause you just brought up a topic that came to my mind, which is the wardrobe for the show was, you know, a star of the show as well.

[Matt Gourley]

Sure.

[Conan O'Brien]

And it always reminded me a little bit of Gilligan's island where the premise was these people get together for a three hour tour, a storm hits, they're washed up on an island, and every time you see the howls, they're wearing these absurd different outfits. And they just said, yes. They brought a trunk of their clothes with them on a three hour tour. And it was a trunk that was like out of Hogwarts. We could laugh in it. There's Belgian armor in there, there's Shakespearean garb, every single thing you would ever need. And I remembered having that thought about Schitt's Creek, which is they had money and then.

[Dan Levy]

But got to keep every piece of clothing and somehow store it in a

[Conan O'Brien]

motel, very small motel, often booked up.

[Dan Levy]

So in our mind, all of their clothes were stored in the upstairs above the lobby of the motel. But also, I love that's how we rationalize it.

[Conan O'Brien]

But I love that, I love that you do seem to me like someone who does his homework. I'm sure you were doing all of the character work and figuring out down to the smallest detail, well, what is.

[Dan Levy]

But to that point, those clothes did so much of the character work. For us, all I had to do was make sure the racks looked good and they were nuts. And that we had, you know, huge sky high heels and like knee high boots and mini skirts made out of latex. And at some point there were some. I would source these designer pieces that sometimes required us to contact the designer to find out how to put them on. There's a dress that Catherine wears.

[Conan O'Brien]

You enter through the arm, no joke.

[Dan Levy]

There's a very classic scene where Moira Rose is being photographed in a field by a character we called Sebastian Raine, who was played by Francois Arnaud, who is now of heated rivalry fame. And she is in a latex dress that had to be tied with a shirt underneath. And we couldn't figure out how to tie the latex because putting a tie around latex is like rubber rubbing against rubber. So at one point there were like four people around Catherine, like one with a foot on her back, one trying to tie the latex. I'm like swirling around her being like, can you breathe? Are you feeling good? Is everything okay?

[Conan O'Brien]

Misting her.

[Dan Levy]

And that was when Catherine was like at her most excited.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Levy]

When the costumes were so insane that it took five people to put them on. And then boots that were laced up that took 10 minutes. And then she'd walk onto set. You would hear kind of gasps from the crew because they never knew what she was gonna show up wearing and looking like, depending on the wigs as well. And it was the joy of seeing Catherine excited. There is no greater joy for me.

[Conan O'Brien]

But also, I mean, you got to wear great stuff.

[Dan Levy]

I wore a lot of drop crotch pants and they were all really comfortable, actually, so that's all you can ask for. I mean, wearing double faced cashmere in the dead of summer in Toronto, outside was tough, but I won't complain about it.

[Conan O'Brien]

We all pay our dues.

[Dan Levy]

That's exactly it.

[Conan O'Brien]

I always heard that Sarah Jessica Parker owned like, her deal when she was making Sex in the City was she gets to own all the dresses and that, but they're in a massive warehouse somewhere and she owns them all and they're. And I'm thinking, I hope you had that deal with Schitt's Creek.

[Dan Levy]

Are you fucking crazy? Do you understand how little that show cost? We had to sell every piece of clothing.

[Conan O'Brien]

Sure, yeah.

[Dan Levy]

To pay off the debts that the show had. Even in our sixth season.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wow.

[Dan Levy]

We got no cash. It was like slim pickings from the very beginning. And then incremental, sort of. I think it's like a standard 15%, whatever it is that your budget can increase. But, you know, 15% on like a pile of shells and a feather is not giving you much. So we had to sell it all. I kept four looks. I kept four of Katherine's looks, four of Annie's looks, and four of my looks. Unfortunately, my dad's suits we can just buy in a store, but. So I have some. The retrospective will be small, but I do have some of those.

[Conan O'Brien]

So the museum is going to be like a little nook in a mall.

[Dan Levy]

It'll be a corner.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Here they are, the four outfits. That's right.

[Dan Levy]

Moths got to them. But it's fine. They were kept in my parents basement in Toronto where they still are in a plastic bin.

[Conan O'Brien]

So we'll see how the show ends. And I know that people are probably all saying to you, as they do in this business, or really any business, once you have a success, hey, what's the next thing? That's right. And I have never known what the next thing is. And go into like a weird, slovenly.

[Dan Levy]

I did say to my wonderful team of people, I cannot hear the word momentum ever again.

[David Melmed]

Right?

[Conan O'Brien]

Right.

[Dan Levy]

I don't. It means nothing to me. Momentum. I feel like is is a word that forces people to make bad decisions.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wow, that's good.

[Dan Levy]

I just. And yet this is an industry that's like, you're hot, you're hot, you're hot. What about this? And someone says yes, and you do it and suddenly you're spread too thin. We see it all the time. I don't know. I feel like I've been lucky enough to really care about the quality of the work. Because to me, if what I'm putting out there isn't good, then why am I doing it?

[Conan O'Brien]

Right?

[Dan Levy]

You know what I mean? I worked at a bakery and a video store. I can go back if I have to. Oh, the video store.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wow.

[Dan Levy]

You can trim that, right?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, we can't.

[Dan Levy]

I worked on a TikTok.

[Conan O'Brien]

We're put down on a loop. Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

It's not fun.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

And there's no, I mean, you know, to work on things you don't care about. It's just not fun. So I would rather take the time and risk the lack of momentum.

[Conan O'Brien]

Right.

[Dan Levy]

And put something out that continues to, like, excite people, then take every opportunity and not be maybe even the best fit for the opportunity that crosses my path.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. It's a really interesting point you make about momentum, because that is a thing you gotta strike while the iron is hot. You know, you just Had a hit movie. You've gotta write a book instantly.

[David Melmed]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And no.

[Dan Levy]

Did I sell Tostitos chips? Absolutely.

[Conan O'Brien]

Do you regret it?

[Matt Gourley]

No.

[Conan O'Brien]

You do not?

[Dan Levy]

Absolutely not. I was making a Canadian TV show.

[Sona Movsesian]

Okay.

[Dan Levy]

Even at the end, we weren't making like.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, it's different.

[Dan Levy]

So when Tostitos. I love a Tostitos chip.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know what? Anyway, can I just say one other thing? It's a good chip. It's a good chip. Are you a great chip?

[Sona Movsesian]

Preparing yourself for eventually becoming.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm thinking. I'm just putting it out there that if Dan wants to do something with

[Dan Levy]

me and the tortillas again, the, like, the humble side of myself is like, don't make it seem like you didn't take the. You know.

[Conan O'Brien]

Right.

[Dan Levy]

The ads. I took the ads. I enjoyed them. I was able to make them my own.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes. Well, to me, the great revenge is if you can make one of those things funny and in your voice.

[Dan Levy]

That's it.

[Conan O'Brien]

Then it becomes something you would have made anyway.

[Dan Levy]

Exactly.

[Conan O'Brien]

Which is always the dream. That is the dream. But I'm just curious. You're in this period then, where you need to think, you need some time, and time goes by and you've worked on other things, but then this idea comes along and did you have this idea, this show idea? This show idea?

[Dan Levy]

Well, in between that show, I made a very small movie called Good Grief for Netflix, which was exactly what they wanted me to make after the success of Schitt's Creek, A small film on the rumination of grief, just examining the small ins and outs of how a group of friends deal with.

[Conan O'Brien]

You want laughs?

[Matt Gourley]

We got laughs.

[Dan Levy]

And I was so aware of it at the time when I pitched it, too. You know, you're looking at very kind executives being like, oh. And then. And that's it. Okay, great. And they made the movie. And I was so happy because it got me through such a hard time in my life. And I'm so proud of the film. But, yes, now we are back to comedy.

[David Melmed]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

And I'm Again. But I do think if you have curiosity, you have to. I think that's why the second album from an artist is always kind of the experimental one.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

Because when they have success in one area, like a record, you'll listen to an unbelievable record, like Jagged Little Pill, for example. And then you have supposed Former Infatuation Junkie, which is, like, similar, but very different. But I think you need the freedom to play in another area to show yourself that you have the ability to do other Things because the industry can make you feel like, oh, you're that guy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Levy]

So that's what you do, and you'll do that. And I did. I got, like, really a lot of scripts where I was asked to play essentially a worse written David Rose. And I was like, I did that better than this. So I don't want to do that again. I want to tell a small story about friends who are dealing with grief, and then I'll get back to the comedy. But I have to know what else is out there in order to feel confident enough to come back into the space that gave me everything I have now and be excited to come back to it. Right.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I mean, as I said earlier, David and I were watching a couple of the episodes and really enjoying it. It's really funny. And the first thing I noticed before the show even began is that this is something that you worked on with Rachel Sennett.

[Dan Levy]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I thought immediately, like, well, love Dan, love Rachel very much. Looking forward to this. And then didn't disappoint. You know, it was really funny.

[Dan Levy]

I'm really happy with it.

[Conan O'Brien]

And you know, what's interesting is right away it's revealed that your character is a pastor, like, in the first frame. And it almost so felt like you throwing down a gauntlet. Like, no, this is not David.

[Dan Levy]

This is it. It's not David.

[Conan O'Brien]

It's not Dave. It couldn't be farther from David Rose. You. And it was so, so smart because in this one fell swoop, you're like, oh, he, this is. No, by, by making him a pastor, you're a completely different person.

[Dan Levy]

That's right. It was, you know, I, I, it wasn't even a conscious thing. I think it was just curiosity. I wanted to do something different. I never get the opportunity to be part of a crime thing. You know, it's just not, I guess, what people see me as so part of what was exciting to write the show. And when I thought about, like, well, when you commit to tv, it can potentially be a long, exciting journey, but a long journey. You better like what you're writing, otherwise you're in trouble. And the idea of finding a way through both comedy and crime felt really exciting to me because it's so far from my comfort zone. The idea of being blackmailed into organized crime is a horrible phobia that I

[Conan O'Brien]

have, I don't know, specific phobia.

[Dan Levy]

I don't know where, you know, what

[Conan O'Brien]

it is I've ever heard of.

[Dan Levy]

Generally speaking, I hate being trapped in things.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

So the concept of being blackmailed into organized crime. You are stuck. You're not getting the chances of you getting out of that situation.

[Conan O'Brien]

There's one way out, and it's not good.

[Matt Gourley]

It's not good.

[Dan Levy]

And if you're me in that situation, you're done. Bye. Bye. So that felt exciting. And I brought the idea to Rachel. She loved it. We worked on it for eight months and wrote the pilot in a night. And it was just great. It was so fun to act. It was so fun to write.

[Conan O'Brien]

I have to talk about. Your sister is played by Taylor Ortega, and she's really funny. And I was not as familiar with her. I didn't know Taylor. And I'm watching her with you in this show, and it feels like a real brother sister thing. It feels very real. And one of the things I think works so well is you are so good when your character is in peril and desperate. You're so funny doing not even quiet desperation, but you play that so well. And what you've put yourself into, consciously or not, is a situation where you are always in terrible peril.

[Dan Levy]

That's right.

[Conan O'Brien]

From maybe six minutes, five minutes into the show, you're in peril. And then the show just keeps turning the crank. So you keep getting funnier and funnier and funnier as you're in more and more peril. And of course, you have this sister, Taylor, who's very different from you and, you know, more assertive and. But also, she's really funny in these situations. And the fact that you two still bicker when your lives are at risk made me really happy.

[Dan Levy]

So that, to me, was the. Was what is the show? Yeah, it's like, you know, playing with the audience in terms of saying, okay, what if this were you and your sibling? You wouldn't change the dynamic just because of the circumstance. You would be bickering in the back of a truck.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, well, this is. You're pointing out one of the situations, and I don't think I'm giving away too much. It's just a little thing that gives you a sense of the show is you guys are. Are in the back of a truck. You're in great peril. And then you see an opportunity to flee, so you start to run. She starts yelling at you that it's not a good idea. You start. Stop. Start yelling back at her that it is a good idea. And you two are fighting about whether or not you should flee while the bad guy comes back. And I thought the. The fact that sibling. Sibling bitterness and bickering overrides the instinct to live. That made me really happy.

[Dan Levy]

That's the joy of the show.

[Conan O'Brien]

These are two people that will, if they're forced to get into a common grave, will be arguing with each other about who should get shot second as opposed to first.

[Dan Levy]

Yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I feel like, okay, you've got a lot of Runway with that idea.

[Dan Levy]

Oh, it's. That's always like, the greatest realization when you're, like, deep into a season and you're like, oh, we're just getting started, you know, like, that's the fun. And in finding Taylor again, it's like, I had this with Annie in shits.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

Finding somebody who has done the work, found the job, and is ready to go and showing them to the world, that's a thrill.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

One of the many thrills of this show, you know, working with Laurie Metcalf. One of the.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, who's who, by the way.

[Dan Levy]

Unbelievable.

[Conan O'Brien]

She's your mom. And she is. Even when she's doing the subtlest thing, she's absolutely hilarious. And, you know, the insufferable mom is a character that's been played a million times. And then Laurie Metcalfe does it, and you're. It's a whole new thing.

[Dan Levy]

It is. And she's so good. And it was. I mean, I've been a fan of hers for, you know, like, it goes back and back and back. But, yeah. You know, Taylor is. I'm so excited for people to see her. I'm so excited for her to get what she's worked so hard for. You know, I think that's. It's. There's something thrilling about introducing somebody to an audience, because so often now it's like, you can't greenlight a show unless it's a stacked cast.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

So to continue to tell stories with relatively up and coming actors is, for me, is thrilling. I include Laurie Metcalf as a relatively

[Conan O'Brien]

up and coming actor. You know, this was the project where I finally found out this is her breakout. She's arrived.

[Dan Levy]

I'm so excited for her.

[Conan O'Brien]

You've talked a bunch in the past or in interviews about anxiety, feeling insecure when you're growing up. And this is a topic that fascinates me because, like it or not, I think we probably have to accept that that's an essential ingredient sometimes to the mixture.

[Dan Levy]

Sure.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I can't explain why that would be the case. And I feel like I'm legitimizing that kind of anxiety or those kinds of mental issues, but at the same time, I also think that was a big part of my situation coming along. And if I had to do it again and didn't have that, I'm not sure I wouldn't be here.

[Dan Levy]

There are certain ingredients, albeit painful ingredients, that are necessary to, in my case, to the storytelling.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

So much of what I write about is how families interact with each other under difficult circumstances. And if you come from a yelly family, I think this show in particular celebrates yelly families. I think of people who don't come from yelly families will probably watch this in shock and horror, but if you come from a yelly family, it is a celebration of the fact that anxiety and nerves manifest in very loud aggression between people. And if I didn't experience that and inherit it, I wouldn't be here today.

[David Melmed]

Right.

[Dan Levy]

So as hard as it is, there does come a point. I think age is a big part of it, too. Like, I'm now 42. I don't care as much as I did when I was 20. When I was 20, everything was consequential.

[David Melmed]

Yeah.

[Dan Levy]

And so when everything is consequential and you are an anxious person, you will worry about everything because you're so unaware of how little it matters in the end. So now I think I get to look back on my own experiences and kind of the experiences I've had with my family and all of that kind of stuff and celebrate it instead of continue to. I'm a less anxious person than I am now. And I do actually think at the core of the show, it's an examination of what we inherit, what that kind of ancestral trauma that kind of trickles down from, in this case, like, matriarch to Laurie to the kids. You know, the very first scene of

[Conan O'Brien]

the show,

[Dan Levy]

Nona is dying, and she's a yeller. And then you instantly see that this yelling streak has just found its way through three generations of this family. And all we try to do as a generation below is push back against what we're inheriting. And sometimes you can do it, and sometimes you can't. You just have to let it happen. But it's fun to be able to, like, write about the minutiae of anxiety and how it. It affects people. I think it's endlessly entertaining.

[Conan O'Brien]

Now, where do you. So when you're making the show, is the show made in Canada? Is it made in New Jersey? In New Jersey. Okay, so where do you live? And I need an address.

[Dan Levy]

I'm. Well, I have been in LA and relocated to New York City to make the show that's so cool. And we shot in New Jersey and it was very exciting to be back on the East Coast. So what to you is seasons is

[Conan O'Brien]

home when you think of going home, is that Toronto? Is it LA now?

[Dan Levy]

It's la.

[Conan O'Brien]

La, yeah. Okay, That's. It's because I think that I'm always fascinated by that because home used to be Boston for me, but it's not anymore because I've been gone too long.

[Dan Levy]

And I think the more that the hometown changes, the less you can relate to it. Like, I was just in. I just came from Toronto yesterday night, and I look around and it's just not the place that I grew up in. So when you look around and the place doesn't reflect the memories that you have, all you have are the memories. It becomes less and less about the actual place. So my life now is in Los Angeles. Most of my friends are in Los Angeles, and that is home. The hometown is a memory at this point.

[Conan O'Brien]

But also, I think even though my

[Dan Levy]

parents are still in my family house.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, oh, Is that true?

[Dan Levy]

In Toronto right now?

[Conan O'Brien]

Same house all these years?

[Dan Levy]

Same house, yeah.

[Conan O'Brien]

By the way, your mom's really funny.

[Dan Levy]

She is very funny. Arguably funnier than my dad.

[Matt Gourley]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. Who, by the way.

[Dan Levy]

And he'll admit that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, I've tell your dad all the time. I've never found him amusing.

[Dan Levy]

That's right.

[Conan O'Brien]

And his eyebrows go up. No, he is such a lovely man. And I met all these people for the first time when I did a Aspen. They asked me, would you come out to do the Aspen Comedy Festival? And this is just when my show had kind of clicked in and it was starting to gel.

[Dan Levy]

I remember being, like, younger and thinking that was the coolest thing, the Aspen, that he got to meet you.

[Conan O'Brien]

Oh, wow.

[Dan Levy]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, you got that wrong. But I remember they said, conan, will you. We want someone to interview all the SCTV greats. And I thought, this is a. Make a wish. Like, I must be dying. And no one told me. But I went and talked to everybody and interviewed them and did my preparation, and we did the thing. And when it was over, your dad said, hey, everybody. Everyone was starting to disperse, and your dad, like a camp counselor, said, hey, everybody. I think Conan put a lot of work into this and did a really nice job. And I think we should give him a round of applause. And I thought, what a, like, incredibly nice man to do that.

[Dan Levy]

That's so nice.

[Conan O'Brien]

You know, like, he was taking care of me.

[Dan Levy]

Right.

[Conan O'Brien]

He saw, like, wait a minute, this Guy, let's, before we all go, let's make sure we do this and that always. That touched me a lot at the moment.

[Dan Levy]

He's a very sweet man. Yeah, he's a very, like, soft, well intentioned, sweet person. I did not inherit his goodness.

[Conan O'Brien]

It says that here in your information.

[Dan Levy]

Like, he just. It is. I can't just, I can't explain it. And the number of people that come up and are just like, your dad is so nice. And I'm like, I know, but I can't help you. And you are also something.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, the show is big mistakes. It's really funny. And I'm very happy for you. Thank you. And please come back anytime. And also, you're part of this. I get, I say this a lot, but I get very excited when I meet and get to hang out with even briefly younger talent. That's part of this whole ecosystem. And the fact that is, you know, because we've had Rachel here. Oh, yeah. And having you here. And I'm just always very pleased when I get to be around this whole, what I consider to be a childlike generation that's doing really good work. It makes me happy.

[Dan Levy]

Like, I get to relax that compliment. Simply the youth factor, because I don't think I'm young at all.

[Conan O'Brien]

Guess what? I am now. I love that I am at a. I'm at a vintage now, where I'll meet what I think is a kid and say, I think this kid's really coming along and I want to help this kid. And someone will tell me, they're 55. That's their third hip. That's right.

[Dan Levy]

I'm so glad I invest in facials. You know what I mean? It's good to keep.

[Conan O'Brien]

Whatever you're doing, keep doing.

[Dan Levy]

Anyway, I appreciate that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Thank you. This was great. Thank you so much for doing it.

[Dan Levy]

Thanks for having me, everybody. Appreciate it. Thank you.

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[Conan O'Brien]

All right, we gotta get to the bottom of something. Recently on a podcast episode, it came to my attention because Blay was babbling and blurting and. Blay, you mentioned that your mom does your taxes. It was then revealed to us that, well, she doesn't do your taxes. She takes. She calls another tax Service.

[Matt Gourley]

She uses TurboTax.

[Conan O'Brien]

She uses TurboTax to take care of your taxes? Yeah, it's fantastic for you.

[Matt Gourley]

That's right. She demands to do it, by the way. I just want to make that clear. I'm not ask her to do it. She gets upset when I even toss the idea out of me.

[Conan O'Brien]

Understood.

[Matt Gourley]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

And that's not what we're going to go after here.

[Matt Gourley]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

What I want to investigate is you brought up at a certain point that you. You write off your various. I'm going to call them trinkets, doodads. What do you call them? Memorabilia, I would say arcana.

[Dan Levy]

This style feels this.

[Matt Gourley]

It feels reductive. They're. They're objects of power that I love to.

[Conan O'Brien]

What are we talking about?

[Matt Gourley]

So listen, listen, you.

[Sona Movsesian]

I like.

[Matt Gourley]

I'm a collector. I like stuff. I'm a collector of great items and things. Like, things.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm going to give you a great channeling Jordan. A collector of great.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah, I just.

[Matt Gourley]

I want swords.

[Conan O'Brien]

Like battle swords.

[Matt Gourley]

Okay. Yes. Like I bought a really cool Batman statue.

[Conan O'Brien]

Statue of Batman.

[Matt Gourley]

That's right. A Batman statue done by. In the style like Sergio, you know, the mad. The MAD magazine guy.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah. I think it's Aragonis, I believe.

[Matt Gourley]

Aragonis. That's right. I have a number of swords. You know, flamethrower. I just got an ax. But not just.

[Conan O'Brien]

But also, not just weapons. You also have like stuff relating to

[Matt Gourley]

various things you're into, whether dinosaur egg, a brontosaurus egg.

[Conan O'Brien]

A real one.

[Matt Gourley]

That's right.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay.

[Matt Gourley]

And you know, meteorites. I have several, like three or four meteorites. I have a cool. It's actually 70 million years old. It's a whale. Vertebrae.

[Conan O'Brien]

Sure.

[Matt Gourley]

It's a giant. Yeah, it's kind of like the size of two.

[Conan O'Brien]

So it shouldn't have said coffee can. I shouldn't have said memorabilia. You collect shit and you have a lot of shit.

[Sona Movsesian]

It.

[Conan O'Brien]

And yeah, you write it off because you said you managed to mention it on the podcast. Well, for the podcast, how do we use it?

[Matt Gourley]

Because it's, it's the basis of comedy bits like this. Today I listed 20 things and also, like. So for instance, some.

[Conan O'Brien]

You're buying summer s'.

[Matt Gourley]

Mores. I brought my. I bought a big broadsword at the

[Conan O'Brien]

Renfrey, which was your idea. Here's my point. I don't say, wouldn't it be cool if someone here had a broadsword and you said, I happen to have one. And you brought it in and then you were able to write it off. You go out and buy stuff and then you insert it into the podcast so that you can then write it off. And that's why I brought in Mr. David Melmed, who is our attorney, who's helped us many times in the past. I sense fraud.

[David Melmed]

I don't know about fraud. About fraud.

[Matt Gourley]

See, there we go.

[David Melmed]

But, but, but, but in terms of what the IRS may be looking at, we're talking about section 162 of the.

[Dan Levy]

Jesus.

[Conan O'Brien]

Internal Revenue Code. 162. What is section 162?

[David Melmed]

Ordinary and necessary. Expenses can be deductible. Now, I guess the question is, are those ordinary?

[Dan Levy]

Sure.

[Conan O'Brien]

Montesaurus egg.

[Matt Gourley]

Are they necessary? It says, and necessary. And is comedy necessary to this podcast?

[Conan O'Brien]

Wait a minute, wait a minute. It's not comedy. A bronchosaurus egg is not comedy until you foist it upon the podcast. You barrel your way into the podcast and say, look at.

[Sona Movsesian]

I got.

[Conan O'Brien]

I got a brontosaurus egg. And we're all like, what the are you talking about?

[Matt Gourley]

Let's let Melman fish. What's the rest of the law?

[Conan O'Brien]

Let Melman finish. When you don't like the way I'm going, go ahead.

[David Hopping]

I like the way to. You're going.

[Conan O'Brien]

Going.

[Matt Gourley]

Let's.

[David Melmed]

In connection with the podcast.

[Matt Gourley]

Yes.

[Dan Levy]

Okay.

[David Melmed]

All right. So let's take your brontosaurus egg, for example.

[Matt Gourley]

Right?

[Dan Levy]

Let's.

[David Melmed]

Let's get past the ordinary and necessary. If you didn't bring it into the podcast, would someone bring it up? Or is this something that you're doing to get a write off?

[Conan O'Brien]

And.

[David Melmed]

And I'm not going to put you on the. I'm just.

[Conan O'Brien]

How do they know I have a

[Matt Gourley]

bronze or a sake if I don't bring it in?

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, okay, but he's mentioned it.

[Dan Levy]

We all mentioned.

[Conan O'Brien]

Wait a minute. This is becoming an insane who's on first routine.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yes.

[Conan O'Brien]

No, I wouldn't have said, you know, what this podcast needs is a broadsword, or what it needs is a brontosaurus egg. I would never bring up any of those things. And they're not comedy in and of themselves. You are buying this stuff because you love it. And then you're saying, I gotta get this stuff onto Conan's podcast. And then you're claiming that it was a necessary part of your job. That, to me, feels all backwards.

[Dan Levy]

It could. Well.

[David Melmed]

So I'm going to go a little deeper on this.

[Matt Gourley]

Let's let the law decide.

[David Melmed]

I'm going to go a little deeper. So there's really two sides to this, Right. There's talent. Right. And company expenses. So if he's bringing this on as on air talent, using the mic, that's one thing. If you are, for example, using this as a company expense or an expense that the company would. That that could eat into the net revenue of the podcast.

[Matt Gourley]

So can I ask a question?

[David Melmed]

Yes.

[Matt Gourley]

In terms of company expenses. So you're saying if I were to use the sword to defend Conan off Mike, that's a company expense.

[David Melmed]

No, it would have to be in connection with the podcast itself.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's what I'm saying.

[Matt Gourley]

Like, he comes in to do the podcast, and I'm using. I'm defending him physically from attackers.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm seeing why you're not a lawyer now. It's now apparent to me. I'm just ask a question.

[Matt Gourley]

Socratic method. All right. You know what I'm saying?

[David Melmed]

Yeah, I do.

[Matt Gourley]

So.

[David Melmed]

So the act itself is not deductible. Right, but. But the. But. Right. So you coming in with your sword. Yes, but us sort of cleaning up that mess could be deductible.

[Conan O'Brien]

So I'm just saying, like, that mess.

[Matt Gourley]

But I'm saying, like, okay, there's two things. There's talent, right? Yes, there's talent. Okay. Conan fell asleep. Also, to make Conan safe.

[Conan O'Brien]

I didn't fall asleep. I just got super sad.

[Matt Gourley]

When we were in Altadena, when we recorded summer s' mores and I brought in my sword part, we did a bit where we could hear wild animals that were crazy screaming in the distance. Right?

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah.

[Matt Gourley]

So could I argue to the irs, I'm there to defend Conan no, boy, no.

[Conan O'Brien]

Being crazy.

[Matt Gourley]

You think that people don't write stuff off in crazy ways. I just.

[Conan O'Brien]

Weaving, you know. Hold on a second. I don't treat the IRS that way. But I guess you like to bob and weave and try and trick Uncle Sam out of his rightful due.

[Matt Gourley]

Dilaw's got his scratch. He doesn't need my couple bucks.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay, you got to settle down. I'm going to take you off mic for a little bit.

[Matt Gourley]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

I wish I had a button that silenced Blay.

[Matt Gourley]

Okay.

[Conan O'Brien]

And I would use it so routinely I might have just put a bunch of books on top of it. I'll stop talking. I want a silence blade button right here. And then I'm going to build permanent structures on top of it. I'm not comfortable with this interpretation. I do think we all need to pay our fair share. I think that those things you're buying, they bring you pleasure, they bring you joy. I haven't unreleased the button yet. This is the button. And when I touch it, you have.

[Sona Movsesian]

I have a question too.

[Dan Levy]

When you're done.

[Conan O'Brien]

Okay. You'll have the floor after me and then. And then anyone else who wants to play. But anyway, yeah, I guess my issue is these are his hobbies. And then through the grace of some God we don't understand who works in mysterious ways, he has access to this podcast and he's bullied his way up to a mic and now he's inserting himself into the show and saying, hey, you know what I was thinking about this morning? I was thinking about the Scarlet Witch's cape. That's what I was thinking about. I'm like, the Scarlet Witch. Yeah. She's a Marvel heroine. I was thinking about her cape and I bought one. Let's have fun talking about that. It all feels manipulative.

[Matt Gourley]

Sure.

[Conan O'Brien]

It feels sinister and it feels like it is. I don't know. It doesn't feel like it's. In the spirit of the law.

[David Melmed]

It's a bit overreached.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yes, yes, it's overreaching. And then. Let me. Hold on. We'll get to you Blay eventually. I don't know what month, but we'll get there. Sona, what do you want to say?

[Sona Movsesian]

I wanted to say all of these things are what make Blay Blay.

[Conan O'Brien]

I know.

[David Hopping]

Yeah.

[Sona Movsesian]

So. And you've mined a lot of that from him, who he is. You've talked about his watches a lot. You've talked about the fact that he has a giant wall size printout of his face in his apartment.

[Conan O'Brien]

Yeah.

[Matt Gourley]

We don't need to. We don't need to give him more ammunition.

[Sona Movsesian]

What is Blay without the dinosaur eggs?

[Conan O'Brien]

But listen, but listen. I can see his watches. I can see these things. And Blay doesn't need to work at making himself seem more ridiculous or man childy. He doesn't need to work at it. It's all. This is my problem sometimes with Blay is that he should just trust in his natural nerdiness and his natural Peter Pan syndrome, you know? No, this is all the stuff that you have. It's natural. And I can. I can see that you wear a different ironic watch every day that never costs more than $3 and often doesn't have hands on it, so you can't tell time because you've got nowhere to be. I can see all this shit myself. I don't need help. But when you come in and your plan is, today I'm gonna dominate the podcast with my brontosaurus egg that I just bought.

[Sona Movsesian]

Then.

[Conan O'Brien]

I smell a rat. I smell a rat.

[Matt Gourley]

Can I speak? Yeah, okay.

[Dan Levy]

Okay, I.

[Matt Gourley]

Here's what I want to say. I think it is to Sona's point. We do. There's a lot. We come up with a lot of bits on the spot on this podcast. And yes, I have a lot of cool stuff. All right?

[Conan O'Brien]

No, you don't.

[Matt Gourley]

No, you don't have a lot of cool stuff. Fine, fine, fine, fine. But my point being, I have this stuff anyway. I think it. I think it's a. What I want to say is I don't go into you have it anyway way.

[Conan O'Brien]

Well, I think you may want to said that way.

[Matt Gourley]

No, listen.

[Conan O'Brien]

Freeze, freeze.

[David Melmed]

You may want to revise that.

[Conan O'Brien]

Go ahead.

[David Melmed]

You don't. If you had it anyway, you probably couldn't deduct it, but. So I'm giving you a chance to.

[Matt Gourley]

But what I'm saying is like this. What I'm saying is.

[Conan O'Brien]

Do you want to fix what you just said?

[Matt Gourley]

I'll. I'll say this. I'm not going to fix it because it's honest. I have a sword, okay? Right? I have a sword many times. And I'm going to the Ren Faire. All right? And I'm at the Ren Faire and I'm like, like, oh, man, I should get a sword and bring it in because it could be a good comedy bit. So I buy another sword and that's what I'm writing off because it's for a comedy bit. I'm not writing off the one I already have. I'm like, I'm taking things from my life and heightening them to use a comedy trick.

[Conan O'Brien]

Why do you think this show needs so much help with comedy?

[Matt Gourley]

I don't think it needs help.

[Conan O'Brien]

Why do you think this show

[Dan Levy]

is

[Conan O'Brien]

bereft of all entertainment unless you go out and buy a feathered helmet and bring it in to save us.

[Matt Gourley]

I.

[Conan O'Brien]

To save poor coat. No, no, no, Brian.

[Dan Levy]

No, no, no.

[Conan O'Brien]

Think of a thing.

[Matt Gourley]

That's.

[Conan O'Brien]

That's project I bought. I just bought some underwear made of caramel at a ren fair.

[Matt Gourley]

I would buy that. That's projection. I do not do that as a producer. I like to give my host a buffet of choices from which he can. From which he can pick and choose. Maybe he's going to. Maybe I'm offering Mac and cheese.

[Conan O'Brien]

Maybe.

[Matt Gourley]

And when we. When we're saying what, what should we do for a segment? And Sona says, oh, this happened to me. Me hopping is like, this happened to me. I say, hey, I just bought a sword at the rent fair. What do you think about this? Sometimes you, you, you choose from my bucket. Sometimes you choose from others. And if you choose from my bucket, then, you know, I. It's all works out. What I do is, can I live for this podcast? Can I write off stuff? I live my life in service of this podcast. That means buying my edibles.

[Sona Movsesian]

You can't stop edibles.

[David Hopping]

You talked about going to Disneyland with your kids.

[Sona Movsesian]

Yeah. Can I write that?

[Dan Levy]

Okay.

[Matt Gourley]

All right.

[Conan O'Brien]

I'm gonn favorite phrase, which is there's a lot to unpack here. That's for you, Liza. Stop saying it. And we are going to continue this in another episode because this is vital. Vital to the American interest.

[Podcast Outro Announcer]

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 Session, Jeff Ross and Nick Leow. Theme song by the White Stripes. Incidental music by Jimmy Vivino. Take it away, Jimmy. Our supervising producer is Aaron Blair and our associate talent producer is Jennifer. Samples, engineering and mixing by Eduardo Perez and Brendan Burns. Additional production support by Mars Melnick. Talent booking by Paula Davis, Gina Batista and Brit Kahn. You can rate and review this show on Apple Podcasts and you might find your review read on a future episode. Got a question for Conan? Call the Team Coco hotline at 669-587-2847 and leave a message. It too could be featured on a future episode. You can also get three free months of SiriusXM when you sign [e-mail] Conan and if you haven't already, please subscribe to Conan o' Brien Needs a Friend Wherever Fine Podcast podcasts are downloaded.

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[Dan Levy]

Mmm.

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