'Late Night Show' Host Conan O'Brien Says the Set in Largo Was Robbed — Here's What Happened
On Monday, television personality Conan O'Brien revealed the sad news that the theater they were using to film the “Late Night Show” was burglarized. He made the announcement on an episode of the show.
Conan O'Brien, 57, and his crew thought they were doing the right thing when they moved the “Late Night Show’s” set to Largo. The star has been hosting his series at the famous Los Angeles Theater situated at the Coronet nightclub.
Moving the show there was to help entertainment venues who were badly affected by the outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease. In a recent episode of his show, he shared how they were burglarized at the new venue.
Conan O'Brien at the 26th Annual Beat The Odds Awards on December 1, 2016, in Beverly Hills, California | Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
In July 2020, O'Brien announced that his show would be filmed from the historic theater known for hosting stand-up comedy, the Largo. The show was hosted without a live audience to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus disease.
Instead, he asked fans to send through their photos which were turned into cardboard cutouts which were used as the audience. The star also shared how he’d started doing improv at the same theater in 1986.
Speaking in his normal seat this week, the comedian addressed the robbery sharing his shock about the incident with his comedian partner, Andy Ritcher. The sidekick was seated in the stands with the 350 cardboard cutouts of fans that were a replacement for a real live audience.
O’Brien was surprised that the robber was still brave enough to steal their equipment in the room full of cutouts that looked pretty real. The show’s field producer, Jason Chillemi, shared what the thief managed to get away with.
Chillemi, who was standing close to the cardboard audience, revealed how some laptops were taken by the criminal. He also noted how the thief got away with the show’s clapperboard or wooden slate.
O’Brien couldn’t help but laugh at the thought of the criminal taking the wooden device. A clapperboard is a device that producers use to help to synchronize the picture and audio while on set.
The comedian could understand the point of stealing their laptops, which they used for the show’s Zoom calls, but he found the clapperboard theft “crazy.” He also complained about how no one broke into “The Tonight Show” to steal from them.
Conan O'Brien noted how it was a new low for the show while laughing with Chillemi.
Joking further about their demise, O’Brien questioned how they’d gotten to that point. He likened his show to a garage band that has a van that they park in an alley before someone breaks in and steals their amps.
The television show host noted how it was a new low for the show while laughing with Chillemi. Making light of the situation and trying to find a silver lining to the incident, O’Brien stated:
"Man, just for the laugh alone, maybe it's worth it."
O’Brien was the first late-night host to move his show from his house to another location with the aim to go back to full production. He actually took over hosting the “Late Night Show” in 1993 from the legendary David Letterman.
The “Saturday Night Live's” executive producer, Lorne Michaels, revealed why the star had gotten the post over other comedians. Michaels shared how the Harvard graduate was able to get the gig because of his perfect timing with comedy, his wit, and his brainpower.