Late Night with O'Brien Achieves Steady Commercial and Critical Success Through Evolving Sketches

In February 1994, David Letterman made a notable appearance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," which marked a significant turning point for the show. O'Brien reflected on this moment, stating, "It was a morale boost. I'm thinking, If the guy who created the 12:30 thing comes on and says we're smart and funny, let's go." This endorsement from Letterman, a television icon, helped solidify O'Brien's vision for the show and encouraged the team to push forward creatively. Under O'Brien's leadership, "Late Night" gradually gained both commercial and critical success, with popular sketches like 'If They Mated,' 'Desk Drive,' and 'In the Year 2000' becoming fan favorites. A unique staple of the show involved a TV screen that displayed still photos of news figures, with their lips and voices provided by writing partner Robert Smigel, often portraying a humorous, party-loving version of Bill Clinton. However, the show faced challenges in January 1995 when Smigel left as head writer due to burnout. Despite this setback, many observers noted an increase in the show's quality over time, attributing it to O'Brien's evolving comedic performance and the continued development of the show's unique style.