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Conan’s ‘Show Zero’: 5 Minutes of Kooky Fun

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It seems that Conan O’Brien and his crew are having a lot of fun over at TBS, constantly experimenting with one crazy idea after another. Makes you wonder about the kid-in-a-candy-store goofball fun those Conan staffers seem to be having day in and day out.

For his latest trick, Team Coco hyped an Internet-only look at his new talk show called “Show Zero,” that was described as dress rehearsal for what’s to come. It turned out to be nothing but a 5-minute romp through the familiar conventions of late night talk, with frequent mentions of Diet Coke’s sponsorship. It was filmed entirely in a conference room at the TBS offices (Conan‘s actual set is being kept hidden until Monday’s debut episode), and features Andy Richter and a handful of others. There’s even what amounts to a cameo appearance by Jim Parsons of The Big Bang Theory, as “Show Zero”‘s main guest.

I think it’s worth watching just to see Team Coco’s hyper comedic energy at play.

Conan Trounces Leno & Letterman

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All eyes were on Conan O’Brien Monday night — and that’s not a figurative statement. TBS‘ debut of Conan defeated both his Tonight Show rival Jay Leno and fellow Leno roadkill, Late Show‘s David Letterman.

Conan’s premiere pulled in 4.2 million viewers, with 3.3 million in the 18-49 demographic. Leno managed 3.5 million, with less than 1 million in the key demographic — a very telling statement about who his show appeals to. Letterman did close to Leno’s numbers, with 3.4 million viewers, and a marginally better 1.3 million in the key demographic.

It’s typical for the premiere of any new show to bring in more viewers than the series will be able to hold onto in the long run, and Conan also benefited from all of the drama surrounding Lenogate, with more than a few people (such as myself) tuning in just to see what O’Brien would say about the fiasco in hindsight. Just how much those ratings dip as the season unfolds is the real question.

Still, the sense of revenge over at Team Coco must be sweet. O’Brien tweeted on Tuesday, “It feels great to be back. To all my fans: Thank you. You are the reason this happened.”

Conan Offers Early Preview Online

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Conan O’Brien continues his experiments with various forms of media to promote his upcoming show on TBS. On the heels of his 24-hour “Live Coco Cam” webcast last week, Conan’s crew is putting together “Show Zero,” a sort of dress rehearsal for the new show that’s airing online a week ahead of the show’s launch.

Conan debuts on Monday, November 8th, but “Show Zero” will be webcast on TeamCoco.com, YouTube, and Facebook, on Monday, November 1st at 11:pm EST / 8:pm PST. Conan will host, with help from Andy Richter and his new “Basic Cable Band.” The preview show will also feature some surprise celebrity guests. 🙂

It’s Conan’s Big Night

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Even if you’re not a late-night watcher, you’ve got to be at least a little curious. I never watch late-night shows, but I’m planning to tune in.

The drama that seemingly ended months ago when Conan O’Brien was booted from The Tonight Show by NBC so that Jay Leno could return — a move that has not seen a boost in ratings for the show — either gets a new chapter or an epilogue tonight when Conan debuts on TBS. O’Brien’s not expected to address Lenogate, as he’s expressed repeatedly his desire to move on and leave the past behind. Still, one can’t help but wonder what his new show will be like, and if he’ll get in a jab or two at Leno and/or NBC’s expense.

O’Brien’s new set has been shrouded in utmost secrecy, and won’t be unveiled until the show debuts tonight at 11:pm EST. The Hollywood Reporter posted the few first details about it, which reveal that the audience capacity is smaller than his Tonight Show set, but bigger than his Late Show. The article also reveals that Emmy award winning set designers John Shaffner and Joe Stewart designed the set, and that the backdrop depicts a hand-painted backdrop of the California coast line with inset fiber optic lights.

All eyes will be on TBS tonight at 11. Will yours?

Conan & Foursquare Team Up With Flying Blimp

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We are just weeks away from Conan O’Brien‘s return to late night television with his new show on TBS, which debuts November 8th. Team Coco and Foursquare have teamed up to create an eye-catching promotion that will build excitement for the new show: a blimp.

The huge, orange blimp is flying over the east coast during October, and fans are encouraged to check in with Foursquare when they see it in person, which unlocks a special “Conan Blimp” badge created just for this promotion. You can track its movements via a live map and blimpcam at the Conan Blimp website, or follow its updates on Twitter.