Conan O'Brien was born.
Conan Christopher O'Brien ( born April 18 , 1963 ) is an American television host , comedian , and television producer . O'Brien was born in Brookline , Massachusetts , and was raised in an Irish Catholic family . After writing for several comedy shows in Los Angeles , he joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live . A virtual unknown to the public , O'Brien 's initial Late Night tenure received unfavorable reviews and remained on a multiweek renewal cycle during its early years . Known for his spontaneous hosting style , which has been characterized as `` awkward , self-deprecating humor '' , O'Brien 's late-night programs combine the `` lewd and wacky with more elegant , narrative-driven short films ( remotes ) '' .