On Monday, Conan O’Brien hosted a segment on his self-titled TV show, which called out Gosho Aoyama’s iconic Detective Conan. Beginning with a gag about Google searches, O’Brien launched into a comedic tirade as he explained that searches for “Conan” in Japan pulled up the plucky crime-solving hero.
From there, O’Brien compared himself to the Kaito Kid, raising evidence in old photos and even the way Conan’s signature pose mimics “the same douche-baggy expression” he’s done for years.
Through his ramble, O’Brien traced the character’s history and legacy, talking up the franchise’s 24-year history and its impact, briefly bubbling over the adaptations, the cafes, and other fan relics. Conan’s show-stopper, though, his coup de grâce, so to speak, came about as he raised a map of a city known informally as “Conan Town.” For the uninitiated, Conan Town is a part of Japan’s Hokuei-cho in Tottori prefecture, which originally made up Gosho Aoyama’s birthplace of Daiei Town. The region is a tourist attraction, which is decked out with Case Closed signage, landmarks, and more.
Now, where was I…? Oh! Right!
Conan caps off his farcical argument with a quick demand of restitution. Specifically, he demands that three trillion yen ($27,165,300,855.71 USD) be sent to “the More Famous Conan” in Burbank.
It’s a tongue-in-cheek bit which, while short, is playful and embodies that madcap sense of humor that O’Brien is known for.
This isn’t the first time that Conan O’Brien has found himself drawn into the anime realm. In 2009, O’Brien and co-host Andy Richter traveled to ADR studio Bang Zoom! to deliver their own takes on dubs for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex and Blood: The Last Vampire.
Ghost in the Shell
Blood: The Last Vampire
Prior to his big break as show host, O’Brien worked as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. He wrote what many regard as the most memorable episodes in The Simpsons‘ 29-year history, including Marge Versus the Monorail and Homer Goes to College.
Source: YouTube (Team Coco) – Thanks to Eric L. for the heads-up!
