Q & A with Conan O'Brien

Here's a quality interview that starwars.com did with Conan.

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May 01, 2007

Conan O'Brien is in San Francisco this week, hosting NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" from the city by the bay. Tonight, his guests include Star Wars creator George Lucas. Earlier, he paid a visit to Lucasfilm's Presidio-based headquarters and scoped out the work of digital artists at Industrial Light & Magic (watch the video here). Starwars.com caught up with O'Brien and tested his Star Wars mettle to see just how big a fan he is.

What is your first Star Wars memory?

I went with my brothers to see the first Star Wars movie in 1977. It was then and there I decided to one day build my own Death Star and tyrannize the galaxy.

Were you the kind of kid who would play with Star Wars toys? What was your first toy?

I once sent four stormtroopers to my sister's Malibu Barbie Dream House. They ransacked the place and interrogated Barbie for over two hours.

Which Star Wars film is your all-time favorite and why?

As a real aficionado, my true favorite is the obscure, never released Episode 2A: The Passive-Aggressive Email Chain of the Sith.

Obviously you have the best hair in our galaxy, but which Star Wars character has the best hair and why?

Chewbacca -- George Lucas revealed to me personally that Chewie has one massive comb-over that starts at his lower back.

Which character do you think could fill in for you on your show if you were to swap lives?

Boba Fett -- if a guest cancelled at the last minute, he could go out, capture David Arquette and bring him back to the studio encased in carbonite.

Why do you think the Star Wars films are referenced so much in pop culture in movies and TV shows?

It may have something to do with the fact that they've been seen by over a billion people worldwide. That or it's an amazing coincidence.

Which character do you identify with the most in the entire Star Wars saga and why?

Princess Leia -- because I almost made out with my brother once, too.

Which character do you think is the most-underrated and under-appreciated and why?

Salacious Crumb! He laughed at everything Jabba the Hutt said even when Jabba's material was sub-par. He'd make a great sidekick.

What is your favorite Star Wars moment in all the films?

It had to be when the Empire has to halt construction of a shield generator because of a carpenters' strike. Those scenes with Darth Vader haggling with a shop foreman are priceless.

How has Star Wars, or sci-fi/fantasy movies and comics in general, influenced your work?

In the early years of the show, I interviewed all my celebrity guests accompanied by a sweeping John Williams score. I'd still be doing it today if Max hadn't pissed off the string section.

Why are you proud to call yourself a Star Wars fan?

The Star Wars movies are visually stunning, vastly creative and have influenced generations of bright young people. Plus, if George Lucas cancels his appearance on my show, I'll be stuck talking to the creator of the BeastMaster series.

Having Triumph the Insult Comic Dog entertain fans in line to see Attack of the Clones was brilliant! What was your favorite moment in that segment?

When Triumph asked the fan dressed as Darth Vader which button on his chest plate calls his parents to pick him up.


What did you think of "Saturday Night Live" comedian Bill Hader's tauntaun impression he did on your show awhile back?

It was the best tauntaun impression I've ever seen on the show. It blew Martha Stewart's out of the water.

You once interviewed Harrison Ford and showed him his role in the classic "Star Wars Holiday Special." What are your own thoughts about the show?

It was just further proof that network television can screw up anything. As for Harrison Ford, during the commercial break, he dug his thumb into my carotid artery and said, "If you ever show that again, it's lights out, Irish."

What was your favorite part of visiting Lucasfilm/ILM when you were here in San Francisco?

The part when Lucas took me into a glass elevator. It smashed through the roof and he told me the entire chocolate factory was mine. That poor man has lost his mind.

How did you get involved in the "Robot Chicken: Star Wars" special, and why are you excited about the voice acting role?

Seth Green has been a good friend to our show. He called me personally and I was really pleased with the result. The guys at "Robot Chicken" are really talented and are a lot of fun to work with.

Since you often have cameos in hit TV shows, what would you like your role to be if you were in the upcoming Star Wars live-action show?

I'd like to play an alien bounty hunter who has a reality show on FOX. He arrests white trash Ewoks, Wookiees and wampas at low-rent Florida motels.