Conan O'Brien Saw Late-Night Trouble After Viral 'Hot Ones' Appearance

The former late-night host says he realized the genre was in deep trouble after his hugely popular YouTube interview.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Comedian Conan O'Brien revealed that he knew late-night television was in trouble after his viral 2024 appearance on the popular YouTube series "Hot Ones," where celebrities answer questions while eating increasingly spicy chicken wings. O'Brien said the massive viewership and low production costs of "Hot Ones" compared to traditional late-night shows made him "profoundly understand that late night shows are in trouble." The news comes as Stephen Colbert's long-running "The Late Show" is set to end in May, and Jimmy Kimmel's show was briefly pulled off the air last year after his comments about the alleged assassin of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk.

Why it matters

O'Brien's comments provide insight into the challenges facing the late-night television genre, which has seen declining viewership and increasing competition from online platforms. His perspective as a veteran of the industry lends credibility to the notion that traditional late-night shows may be on the decline, with factors like production costs and the rise of more accessible online content playing a role.

The details

O'Brien appeared on "Hot Ones" in 2024, and the episode has received over 15 million views on YouTube. He told The Hollywood Reporter that seeing the massive viewership and low production costs of the show compared to traditional late-night programs was a "moment the scales fell from my eyes" in realizing the genre was in trouble. O'Brien had a nearly 30-year career in late-night, hosting "Late Night" on NBC from 1993 to 2009 and briefly hosting "The Tonight Show" before moving to TBS. Meanwhile, Stephen Colbert's long-running "The Late Show" is set to end in May, and Jimmy Kimmel's show was briefly pulled off the air last year after his comments about the alleged assassin of conservative pundit Charlie Kirk.

  • Conan O'Brien appeared on "Hot Ones" in 2024.
  • "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" is set to end in May 2026.
  • Jimmy Kimmel's show was briefly pulled off the air in September 2025 after his remarks about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk.

The players

Conan O'Brien

A veteran comedian who hosted late-night shows on NBC and TBS for nearly 30 years before leaving the genre in 2021.

Stephen Colbert

The host of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," which is set to end in May 2026.

Jimmy Kimmel

The host of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," which was briefly pulled off the air in September 2025 after his remarks about the alleged assassin of Charlie Kirk.

Brendan Carr

The head of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) during the Trump administration.

David Ellison

The CEO of Skydance Media, which purchased CBS parent company Paramount.

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What they’re saying

“That was the moment the scales fell from my eyes. If a guy can do World Series numbers with overhead that looked, to me, to be about $600, and you have every big star lining up to do his show or Chicken Shop Date ... that's when I profoundly understood that late night shows are in trouble.”

— Conan O'Brien (The Hollywood Reporter)

“We were out, a few Emmys ago, and he kept saying, 'I want you to know there's a lot of fun to be had when this is over, so don't feel like you need to stay.' It almost hurt my feelings, but he was just being kind. He Dutch uncle'd me.”

— Stephen Colbert, Host, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (The Hollywood Reporter)

“I'm of the mind that yes, these shows are going away and will become something else. But I don't like when other malign forces intervene, because they're trying to curry favor. That pisses me off.”

— Conan O'Brien (The Hollywood Reporter)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

O'Brien's comments highlight the challenges facing the late-night television genre, with the rise of more accessible and cost-effective online content posing a serious threat to the traditional model. As the industry evolves, it remains to be seen what the future holds for late-night shows and how they will adapt to changing viewer preferences and the shifting media landscape.