Conan O’Brien Looks Back On ‘Intense’ SNL Days: “I Regret Being So Intense”

Conan O’Brien took a trip down memory lane on his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, reflecting on his days as a writer for Saturday Night Live. Joined by Tom Hanks, Conan shared stories from his three years at SNL, where he was a writer from 1988 to 1991. Now 61, the comedian admits that he sometimes wonders if he pushed himself too hard in those early days, missing out on the fun.

“People always say no regrets. I regret being so intense about that job. Yeah. I was way too intense, and I think I robbed myself of some fun that I could have had. I did have a lot of fun, but I think I could have had more fun. And I think I could have maybe written there a little longer if I didn’t make it such a grind for myself,” he shared.

Though he laughed off his departure by joking, “Jay Leno came and took my job at SNL! No, I burnt out,” the experience still holds a special place in his heart.

Tom Hanks, who has hosted SNL 10 times, could relate. He told Conan that SNL is unlike any other show, especially for the writers who get to be “on the floor producing.” Tom quipped that a writer “is over there in between sweating bullets and vomiting out of anxiety…telling Sting how to do a comedy bit…” According to him, it’s “the great power of it. You get to produce the thing that you wrote then and there.”

Conan recalled how working with legendary guest hosts was a surreal experience, especially since he was only 26 at the time. “You get to SNL, you write a sketch and Steve Martin’s gonna be in it. 

While reminiscing, Tom mentioned the physical toll SNL takes, even on seasoned stars like himself. “You do have to learn how to survive physically when you do the show,” he said, remembering the whirlwind energy of the show. His strategy for his latest hosting gig?

In his words: “The last time I did it, I told everybody who was in charge of me, particularly our wardrobe and stage manager people, I said, ‘I want you to understand that my goal on this week’s hosting duties is to take as few steps as possible. So I am going to come here, and I will get dressed, and where can we get dressed next time? Because I don’t have to walk all the way back here. I’m going to take as few steps.”

Both Conan and Tom agreed that Saturday Night Live is, as Tom put it, “a young man’s game.” For them, it was a fast-paced, unforgettable experience, filled with laughter, hard work, and a whole lot of heart.