Last Saturday we saw Conan O'Brien perform at The Palms in Las Vegas.
I have to admit that this "Legally Prohibited From Being Funny On Television Tour" is littered with great ideas both new and recycled (from the good old Conan-On-TV days). Conan O'Brien is nothing if not clever and inventive. His silly and (at times) twisted sense of humor has gotten us hooked-on-Conan for so many years. Yet as I watched him often not-so-gracefully jump, gallop, and wiggle from one act to another, two main thoughts floated around in my head, bouncing off the padded insides of my skull:
"Wow! Conan O'Brien is definitely human... in fact, I think he's really out of his element." was the first which gracefully lead into the second thought: "Comedy is really really hard." I often have this second thought. Usually it follows seeing a spectacular performer or one who just can't get it right... Secretly, I've always wanted to be funny, perhaps do some stand up, entertain people with jokes... Usually my attempts at being funny are followed by this second thought...
Conan's transitions were rough, his timing was at times off so the punchline was delayed which made the joke more clever than funny. "That would have been so funny if it wasn't so... smarty pants." I caught myself thinking at one point. The very thought made me realize that I wasn't fully invested in the act any more which brought me to the "Conan is human" thought and finally to the "it's hard to be funny" thought.
Conan seemed out of his element. He admitted candidly that this was the very first time anyone had ever paid to see him perform.
Perhaps one of the greatest treats was seeing Conan O'Brien perform music. The man is quite talented and his love for music simply illuminates him when he is playing. I'm certain that it didn't hurt one bit that the band accompanying Conan was absolutely amazing. On the giant screen over Conan's head we could see the band members pointing and laughing along to jokes they must have heard dozens of times. Yet no amount of distractions, whether it was a self-pleasuring panda or a giant blow up (tacky) dragon-bat, could keep them from staying on top of their game and making some beautiful live music.
With an instrument in hand whether it's a guitar or he's sitting behind the keyboard, Conan looks comfortable and even sexy, I have to admit. Without it, he can be bit clanky and awkward like a marionette. Especially when he is making fun of his own physique by erratically throwing around his long Jack Skellington-esque limbs.
I left the show hopeful! Conan, in his failure to be the master of that live stage, made me aware of how much hard work, practice and dedication goes into every act. I'm sure that by the 10th city, all the glitches will be fixed, the transitions smoothed over, and the jokes polished. But I'm glad, I didn't see his 10th or 32nd performance. I'm glad I got to see his first, possibly his worst performance of the tour, the one that made him most nervous.
There is no doubt about it, the man is brilliant, he's funny, clever, and extremely talented. Yet, it is comforting to know that he is not perfect, that he too gets nervous.
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