Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Andrew Sanford | News | July 22, 2026
Some of the best-designed characters can be recognized by their silhouette. If you see the shape of Mickey Mouse, you know that it is Mickey Mouse. The same could be said for Bart Simpson or Batman. Their designs are so precise that even the slightest change could render them unrecognizable in a way that will bring about feelings of dread and confusion, both of which were feelings fans felt when they laid their eyes on the newest episode of Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend.
Conan O'Brien may not have been drawn by some overworked artist from the 30s, but he is a recognizable figure nonetheless. He's a gigantic man, but what also makes him stand out is his shocking red hair, which has, for years, been done up in a pompadour. It's his thing! So much so that at one point in Toy Story 5, his character sports the hairdo in an imagination sequence, and it is immediately recognizable (though, to be fair, my wife didn't catch it and couldn't understand why I was laughing so much until I explained it to her later).
So, imagine the dismay of fans who recently turned on Conan's show to find him looking like a man who's about to go try out for his neighborhood doo-wop group. He looks like Conan's meaner, crazy twin brother who would get introduced on a soap opera during sweeps. The man looks less like a talk show host and more like someone waiting outside the entrance for autographs. I'm not the only one to throw jabs at Conan's look, and his team has shared some good ones on social media.
Look, it had to be acknowledged. I haven't listened to the episode yet, so I don't know if it gets brought up. He only has the hair during the interview, and Molly Shannon doesn't seem like the kind of person who would take him down a peg, but Sona Movsesian? Matt Gourley? They're waiting to pounce. If it's been addressed by the social team, hopefully it's brought up again in a wraparound during the show. If it was already addressed, somebody will likely be a good egg and share the link with a timestamp in the comments.
Now I also want to know why his hair was like that. Was it for a movie or other role? Maybe he just got out of the shower? Or perhaps this is a look at Conan's next phase in his life? No matter the reason, fans are confused, scared, a little hungry, sleepy probably, and possibly the slightest bit aroused. So, ya know, not that different from usual.
