It’s Conan O’Brien versus his ancestral homeland, and the homeland is winning.
At 6’4” and pale as a pint of milk, he towers over every town—and somehow still manages to offend a potential cousin.
The former late-night host returns to his roots—literally, as he tries to track down distant relatives and milk his Irish heritage for all it’s worth.
This is the best Conan O’Brien Must Go episode I’ve seen (but I’m biased — I’m part Irish!).
Thanks to Tim Ferriss for recommending this one in his Five Bullet Friday newsletter. Tim said “This episode made me laugh so hard that my dog was concerned.”
Trailer for “Conan O’Brien Must Go (Ireland)”
You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up
- Conan unveils a “Conan O’Brien Air Pump” at the Barack Obama Plaza in County Tipperary, complete with ribbon-cutting, fake ceremony, and confused tourists.
- Conan’s over-the-top reaction to eating black pudding—he writhed on the floor in mock ecstasy and had to be mopped up by staff.
- Conan lures Bono with a fake “Humanitarian of the Decade” award as part of a wild quest to track him down through Dublin.
Watch “Conan O’Brien Must Go – Ireland”
You can watch it on Max here.
For other streaming options, check out JustWatch.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: na
Director’s Note: The series is created and written by Conan O’Brien, directed by Conan and Jeff B. He’s working with his usual Team Coco crew.
Release Date: May 9, 2024
My Review of “Conan O’Brien Must Go – Ireland”
The Setup
Conan heads to Ireland to meet a fan named Éilish in Galway, appear on an Irish soap opera, and connect with his roots in Galbally.
In between, he somehow ends up launching a branded air pump at a Barack Obama-themed plaza, eating blood sausage on the floor of a restaurant, and attempting to bait Bono with a fake humanitarian award.
More Highlights from the Doc
- He appears on the Irish-language soap opera Ros na Rún in Galway, despite not speaking a word of Irish, and nails the melodramatic stare-downs.
- He sings—and mostly screams—with The Irish Tenors in a musical bit that veers into opera disaster, but in the best way possible.
- Conan tries traditional poetry in a Galway class but ends up delivering a tragic poem about hotel buffet eggs.
- His journey ends on his great-grandfather’s humble farmstead in Galbally, where he reflects on his family’s emigration during the Great Famine.
Cameos
- Paul Mescal briefly appears in a pub, raises a pint, and exits before Conan can even finish his joke.
- Irish poet Rita Ann Higgins spars with Conan in a pub poetry reading.
Lesser-Known Details from the Doc
- The “Conan Air Pump” scene was filmed without prior notice to staff at Barack Obama Plaza—making their baffled reactions 100% real.
- The Bono stunt involved Conan printing a fake award certificate and attempting to present it at multiple Dublin locations where Bono has been spotted.
- The Ros na Rún segment required multiple takes because Conan kept slipping into fake Irish brogue mid-line.
Wrap Up
This episode is Conan at his most unhinged and heartfelt. Equal parts absurd comedy and genuine connection to place, it’s the series’ funniest and most personal outing yet.
Thanks for reading!
Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc