Conan O'Brien Apologizes To Germany (in German) for war in Iraq (Action Item?)

4/3/03 | Self

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

Most everyone, by now, is aware of Peter Arnett's firing from NBC/National Geographic. If this weren't enough, I was surprised that another well-known employee of NBC has created (a much unnoticed) stir.

I was flipping channels last night and stumbled upon "Late Night With Conan O'Brien", about 10 minutes into the show.

Conan was staring into the camera and started musing about how the United States has only 48 allies in this war. The audience did not laugh and I, too, took Mr. O'Brien to be serious with his comments.

It gets worse. Without much of a pause, after mentioning that he took German in school, Mr. O’Brien proceeds to apologize in GERMAN (there are sub-titles in English at the bottom of the screen) ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED STATES, FOR THE WAR IN IRAQ. The band starts to play while he speaks.

First of all, I thought, 'what is the apology really for'? And, secondly, why apologize "on behalf of the United States"? Does NBC represent the United States? I’m all for free speech, of course; however, that does not mean that there will not be consequences for outrageous, anti-American spittle.

If you wish to see this particular episode of "Late Night", Comedy Central is scheduled to rerun the episode tomorrow (Friday, April 4, at 1:00 p.m. EST).

Anyone feel that O'Brien crossed the line and should be released from his own show, for his ridiculous remarks, or am I going overboard?

Would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

Contact info (if you wish to write):

National Broadcasting Company (NBC)

Phone: (212) 664-4444 (couldn't find a 1-800 number)
Email: LateNight@nbc.com

Mail:

Viewer Relations
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10112

[JennysCool]

I have a hunch that was a joke. Conan is a comedian.

[Bogey78O]

He said that? No shi(p)?

[Maedhros]

It's a joke, confirmed by the fact that he said it in German.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

No joke. No April Fools on April 2. I've seen parts of his show before -- many times. He was serious.

[JeepInMazar]

Let's panic.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

If it was a joke, it certainly wasn't very funny. I say it's a GO for action.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"It's a joke, confirmed by the fact that he said it in German."

One would think, but he was ripping on the U.S. and its allies, in this war, big time, last night.

[Rushian]

Sounds like to me it was sarcasm and the "reductio ad absurdum" of the German position.

[Scothia]

I've never founbd Conan O'Brien in the least entertaining or funny anyway. He always reminded me of the very immature, annoying kid in 8th grade who was just a general jerk and thought he was much wittier than he really was.

If he actually did this, I would support a move to dump his show for good. But then, I never watch him, so perhaps my opinion isn't that relevant.

[JennysCool]

When he said we had "only" 48 allies, I'm sure that was a stab at the Germans and French. And having the band playing while he's talking in German? It's a joke.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"Sounds like to me it was sarcasm and the "reductio ad absurdum" of the German position."

I thought about that too, but it was presented without an ounce of sarcasm. And I know < \sarcasm > all too well.

[Bullish]

I released him from his show myself about 3 years ago. His constantly juvenile bashing of Bush was just too much to take after a while.

Nowadays, he can count me out as a viewer, in fact I'd stare at a test pattern for an hour before I would ever tune into his show .

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"When he said we had "only" 48 allies, I'm sure that was a stab at the Germans and French."

If I hadn't seen it, I would think the same thing. I have a good gauge on humor, and I've seen bits and pieces of Conan's show, many times, since 1993, and I did not detect an ounce of humor in his presentation.

[timm22]

I was flipping channels last night and stumbled upon "Late Night With Conan O'Brien", about 10 minutes into the show.

Having not seen his show on that night, I can't really say if he was serious or not.

But keep in mind that he always has some kind of joke sketch or series of gags at about the time you started watching (10-15 minutes into the show, right after his opening monologue.) Also keep in mind that he often uses sarcasm in his humor.

[Bullish]

Of course it's a joke. But his constant bashing of anything, or anybody that's conservative becomes un-funny very quickly.

O'Brien is a Clinton loving Boston liberal through and through.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

"Also keep in mind that he often uses sarcasm in his humor."

I'm aware of his typical sarcasm, which is all the more reason I'm stumped at what he said and how he said it.

I will walk on glass on my knees if someone watches at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow and can honestly say they feel he was being sarcastic or trying to be funny.

[Richard Axtell]

Did he actually give an apology in German? Or was it some bogus war-movie schtick babbling, like Sid Caesar used to do, which was guite funny, actually. I know ein kleine bischen Deutsch,... and he would have said something like "Verzeihung, mein Deutsche freunden. Es gibt mir viel angst uber den Amerikanische schuld fur den Iraqi Krieg... etc." Anyone have the actual transcript?

[A University Student]

I too did not see the incident last night, but I have seen the show many times. When he tries to be serious, and is really joking, he'll always give himself away by cracking up a couple seconds later.

[tuna_battle_slight_return]

walk crawl, obviously, not walk.