Movie #80- "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop" (2011)

Jay Leno is the vanilla ice cream of comedy.  I can understand why some may enjoy his humor because he offers a safe, straight forward option.  I like my comedy with an edge... willing to bend or break some boundaries.  I was a David Letterman fan.  The early days of "Late Night" brought several classic moments to late night television, smashing through the fourth wall with crazy stunts, characters, and guests.  It was disappointing when Letterman didn't get "The Tonight Show", switching networks in the process.  Enter Conan O'Brien.
I remember Conan being an unknown.  He had been a writer for "The Simpsons" and "Saturday Night Live", with minimal performance experience.  The early reviews were brutal and for the first few years, he constantly appeared to be on the verge of cancellation.  I liked Conan and Andy because of the exuberant attitude they brought to "Late Night".  While Dave could be prickly at times, Conan and Andy had an anything goes vibe.  Conan finally achieved his dream of "The Tonight Show", only to have the rug pulled from under him.
A man without a show (or any ability to appear on television for six months), Conan took Andy and the band on the road for a 40-plus show tour.  If you're expecting to see the stage show in "Conan O'Brien Can't Stop", you'll be disappointed.  Glimpses of what happened on stage appear throughout the movie, but the main focus is the construction of the show and Conan's need to perform.  It's not a hidden fact, as Conan admits to it repeatedly.  He has captured the desire to perform and simply can't stop.
You see the writers coming up with ideas for the show, which is a combination of music and comedy.  Conan is shown as a devoted father, trying to explain his absence to his kids due to the tour.  But not all is smiles.  The tour takes a toll on him.  Unscheduled appearances and meet-and-greets make him less than agreeable.  His drive for an audience overcomes his exhaustion.  I'm close in age to Conan and I can easily see how a tour in that manner would make you insane.
I wish more of the stage show was used in the film, and maybe a little less of the fandom.  It is an interesting look into a comedy tour, with a side of narcasissm.

Rating: 7/10
Movies I've previous seen: 6
First time viewings: 74