Back on Feb 16th of this year, I thought that it would be a good idea to take all of the thoughts and feelings and musings that were rattling around in my head an put them into blog form, in order to give voice to the many other Conan O'Brien fans whom I knew were feeling just as lost as I was. At that time, the wait for his return seemed interminable. Now, leaping forward through the time and space of all that has occurred since my first "Waiting for Coco" blog, the journey seems to have flown by in a blur of tour buses and Twitter accounts and soapy desks and squirrels and Taurus SHOs and one great big red pompadour. Like most long treks, it is both a relief to find our way to the finish, and shock to see how far we've come. There is joy intermingled with sadness, excitement laced with snippets of fear. This is it, for good or bad, for all it's worth, we are here. We've arrived. Nov 8th, 2010 (that's this year, folks.) The day the wait for Coco ends.
It is impossible to arrive at such a long-anticipated day and not reflect on the milestones we've passed along the way. Did we really stay up until all hours of the night, voting for Conan to be one of Time's most influential persons of the year, pausing only pop back on the I'm With Coco board to share amusing captchas? (My personal favorite was "ask McCann.") Could we possibly have found the guts and gumption to email folks at NBC to tell them what a mistake they made, or later Fox, to tell them what a catch our Mr. O'Brien would be? (And then TBS swooped in out of the blue for the win.....who had THAT on their radar??) Could I have actually witnessed entertainment history being made when his comedy tour sold out in hours with not one word of official promotion, and was I honestly lucky enough to have gotten tickets? (I was, and my husband and I were in a daze watching the tour come alive right before our eyes.)
There were so many other moments - the 60 minutes interview, the Live Coco Cam, the epic TBS promos, the crazy contests, the Bley, the music, the fun, the tears. If you want to relive them all in chronological order, feel free to pop back and peruse some of the past "Waiting for Coco" blogs. It's a trip, it really is, to see how "I'm With Coco" evolved from a grouping of outraged and lost fans into an army of rejoicing Coconuts, all of us preparing with glee for tonight's viewing. Once again, for the umpteenth time in nine months, we get to be ringside as entertainment history is made. I don't dare to even try and guess what kinds of things will be crossing my TV screen in a mere matter of hours.....If I have learned anything about Team Coco, it is that they can take the highest expectations and exceed them well beyond anything my little imagination can conjure. All I can say for absolute 100% certain is that tonight, Conan is going to have fun on television. And I am going watch. And I am going to love every laugh, and remember not to take a one of them for granted.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
The "Wait" is almost over....
My goodness, fellow Coconuts, Cocofiles, Conandos, and Soldiers in the Conan Army. Look how far we've come. The wait for Coco has now ticked down to one month. 31 short days until we can park our posteriors on our respective couches and watch our Ginger Giant make his glorious return. Or, for a select and VERY lucky few, 31 days until the seats of Stage 15 on the Warner Bros. lot are filled with an audience poised to witness television history unfold before their very eyes.
What a trip it has been, eh fellow travelers of Coco Road? We've seen beards, bands, tours, Tweets, squirrels, an inflatable bat, the 60 minutes interview, trunk-yogurt, Jim Carrey dressed as Superman, an appendix scar, a chair shaped like a high-heeled shoe, Time Magazine, the most glorious washing of a desk in the history of desk washing, string dancing, Bieber-dissing, a huge-ass sub sandwich, and now a blimp. An honest-to-God blimp. It is orange and everything. We've experienced much wonder since January 22nd of this year, and it only looks as if it will get better, OH SO MUCH BETTER, from here on out. Every day opens up new and exciting opportunities to enter and enjoy the world of "Conan." (The show. And kind of the person, although we should respect his privacy and refrain from actually "entering" his anything.) Do things this awesome-arific really exist in the sad and bogus world in which we live? I say we dare to believe it. It might be cynical not to.
On a personal note, I have slowed way down on writing these blog-posts, my words lamenting the absence of our hero. Why? Because actually, they really aren't needed anymore. On kind of a nostalgic whim, I read back through all 30+ posts, the first written on Feb 16th when we were in TOTAL darkness about Conan and his future, the following posts documenting the milestones between those unsure days and these amazing ones. At that time, with so much uncertainty, I felt that a blog would help us to gather our thoughts, to make a game plan, and to patiently wait for the next bit of news. I felt like I was providing a service of sorts....putting voice to some of the feelings we were all having. Reading back on some of them....boy, I was pissed! Wow. I barely recognize myself in some of the rants. But that anger needed to be vented, in order to get me, get us, from then....to now.
The "now" portion of our journey is amazing. We have a new show on the horizon with tons of photos, commercials, and behind-the-scenes sneak-peeks to keep us occupied in the meantime. And that brings me to the biggest (and bestest) reason I that I don't write so much anymore....Aaron Bleyaert, our beloved Bley (or Bley-Bley, or Bley-Bear, or whatever you like best) is the world's most amazing and talented blogger, and he keeps us up on any and every detail of any and everything that is going on with Conan, the show, or life in general. Any attempt by me to reiterate his info would fall flat in comparison. Like a deflated blimp. Sadness.
You see, at one time there was an "us" and a "them" in the world of Team Coco. We were separated by gag orders and legal jargon and time. While Bley wrote about what was going on in their camp, I would try to answer with my own tales of the wait. But now, in these last few weeks, our worlds have converged, and there is no "we" and "they." Bley now speaks for all of us, about the goings-on of "our" world. He has brought us into the fold....heck, he even created a "Fan Friday" post wherein we get celebrated! And, a thingy where we can ask Conan questions (which I think is called the "Ask Conan Thingy.") It's like we have so much access, listening to me drone on would be redundant and sad. And redundant. So I will allow Bley to weave his magical tales of television, and I will sit down and enjoy the show. (Not to say that I might not pop up now and again, to share my thoughts....but I promise to make them relevant. And short. Oh God yes, short would be wonderful.....)
What a trip it has been, eh fellow travelers of Coco Road? We've seen beards, bands, tours, Tweets, squirrels, an inflatable bat, the 60 minutes interview, trunk-yogurt, Jim Carrey dressed as Superman, an appendix scar, a chair shaped like a high-heeled shoe, Time Magazine, the most glorious washing of a desk in the history of desk washing, string dancing, Bieber-dissing, a huge-ass sub sandwich, and now a blimp. An honest-to-God blimp. It is orange and everything. We've experienced much wonder since January 22nd of this year, and it only looks as if it will get better, OH SO MUCH BETTER, from here on out. Every day opens up new and exciting opportunities to enter and enjoy the world of "Conan." (The show. And kind of the person, although we should respect his privacy and refrain from actually "entering" his anything.) Do things this awesome-arific really exist in the sad and bogus world in which we live? I say we dare to believe it. It might be cynical not to.
On a personal note, I have slowed way down on writing these blog-posts, my words lamenting the absence of our hero. Why? Because actually, they really aren't needed anymore. On kind of a nostalgic whim, I read back through all 30+ posts, the first written on Feb 16th when we were in TOTAL darkness about Conan and his future, the following posts documenting the milestones between those unsure days and these amazing ones. At that time, with so much uncertainty, I felt that a blog would help us to gather our thoughts, to make a game plan, and to patiently wait for the next bit of news. I felt like I was providing a service of sorts....putting voice to some of the feelings we were all having. Reading back on some of them....boy, I was pissed! Wow. I barely recognize myself in some of the rants. But that anger needed to be vented, in order to get me, get us, from then....to now.
The "now" portion of our journey is amazing. We have a new show on the horizon with tons of photos, commercials, and behind-the-scenes sneak-peeks to keep us occupied in the meantime. And that brings me to the biggest (and bestest) reason I that I don't write so much anymore....Aaron Bleyaert, our beloved Bley (or Bley-Bley, or Bley-Bear, or whatever you like best) is the world's most amazing and talented blogger, and he keeps us up on any and every detail of any and everything that is going on with Conan, the show, or life in general. Any attempt by me to reiterate his info would fall flat in comparison. Like a deflated blimp. Sadness.
You see, at one time there was an "us" and a "them" in the world of Team Coco. We were separated by gag orders and legal jargon and time. While Bley wrote about what was going on in their camp, I would try to answer with my own tales of the wait. But now, in these last few weeks, our worlds have converged, and there is no "we" and "they." Bley now speaks for all of us, about the goings-on of "our" world. He has brought us into the fold....heck, he even created a "Fan Friday" post wherein we get celebrated! And, a thingy where we can ask Conan questions (which I think is called the "Ask Conan Thingy.") It's like we have so much access, listening to me drone on would be redundant and sad. And redundant. So I will allow Bley to weave his magical tales of television, and I will sit down and enjoy the show. (Not to say that I might not pop up now and again, to share my thoughts....but I promise to make them relevant. And short. Oh God yes, short would be wonderful.....)
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I get a little pissy at 1am....
You know those "days" that you have? Not really super bad days where you drive past a cemetery and think "lucky bastards...." Not the kind of days that make you drink or cry or hit things....No, that would actually bring release and relief and you wouldn't be up at 1am, furiously pounding your keyboard while simultaneously eating nacho cheese dip straight from the jar. I am talking about the irritating days, the annoying days, the days that buzz and drip and drone and rub just enough to make you realize that you NEED comfort. You need to surround yourself with the things that make you happy and safe. And then you find that someone ate all the chocolate chip cookies, and your comfy sweat pants are dirty....AND THERE IS NO CONAN O'BRIEN ON TV ANYWHERE!! And there won't be any Conan O'Brien on TV for something like 81 days. Then you get this little facial tick, this little twitch in your eye. You can actually feel your heart pounding in your chest. It's not fair, a voice screeches in your mind. Not fair, not fair, not fair!!
And that is when the little selfish elf that lives in deep your brain tunnels his way to the surface. He isn't happy. He didn't want to share those cookies. He stamps his foot when he discovers no one else did laundry to wash the sweats. He is so impudent and childish that you hate to mention the Conan thing. The silence is deafening as he considers this information. His face turns from pink to red to purple while a huge vein pops out on his forehead. No Conan? NO CONAN??? As he screams his terrible rages, he starts ripping and throwing and destroying everything in his path. WHY NOT?? WHERE IS CONAN?? You explain that he had to leave TV for awhile, that it wasn't his fault, and that he will be back in November. NOT SOON ENOUGH cries the elf, now in a full-body fury, throwing furniture and ripping up family photos. I WANT HIM NOW!!! Amidst the tornado of feathers and torn paper and elfin spit, you realize that being ugly about it isn't going to solve anything. Calmly, you talk the elf down from the ceiling fan, offer him other cookies (not chocolate chip, but made in a hollow tree, of course) and gently coax him back into the deep recesses of your mind. Oddly, despite the the ruckus and the drama, you do feel a lot better. You decide that some things, some very special people, are worth the wait. You also decide to work on a better metaphor than the stupid elf thing, because it was pretty damn weak, even by 1am standards...
And that is when the little selfish elf that lives in deep your brain tunnels his way to the surface. He isn't happy. He didn't want to share those cookies. He stamps his foot when he discovers no one else did laundry to wash the sweats. He is so impudent and childish that you hate to mention the Conan thing. The silence is deafening as he considers this information. His face turns from pink to red to purple while a huge vein pops out on his forehead. No Conan? NO CONAN??? As he screams his terrible rages, he starts ripping and throwing and destroying everything in his path. WHY NOT?? WHERE IS CONAN?? You explain that he had to leave TV for awhile, that it wasn't his fault, and that he will be back in November. NOT SOON ENOUGH cries the elf, now in a full-body fury, throwing furniture and ripping up family photos. I WANT HIM NOW!!! Amidst the tornado of feathers and torn paper and elfin spit, you realize that being ugly about it isn't going to solve anything. Calmly, you talk the elf down from the ceiling fan, offer him other cookies (not chocolate chip, but made in a hollow tree, of course) and gently coax him back into the deep recesses of your mind. Oddly, despite the the ruckus and the drama, you do feel a lot better. You decide that some things, some very special people, are worth the wait. You also decide to work on a better metaphor than the stupid elf thing, because it was pretty damn weak, even by 1am standards...
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Oobla-dee Oobla-dah, life goes ooo-nnn
In cartoons, when the characters are waiting for something exciting to happen, they simply stare at the clock and the hands start to spin wildly. Or, they watch as the calendar pages fly off the wall while the seasons flicker past outside the window. This wonderful trick of time does not translate as well to real life. I've been staring at my calendar as hard as is possible, concentrating on getting the days to start blurring toward November, when Conan and crew will premiere their highly anticipated new show on TBS. And so far, nothing. Nada. For a month to "fly by," it takes roughly a month to do so. Bugs Bunny can suck my big fat carrot.
However, it does seem kind of foolhardy to wish precious time away. Life is, as the t-shirts so introspectively put it, short. Would I really want to be able to push a mystical "fast forward" button and get to November 8th immediately? What about all of the "stuff" that I would miss along the way? No, we Coconuts have lives to lead, and while we are very excited to see what our Fearless Leader has in store for us, we have actual "things" to do between now and then.
I personally am just about to embark on a family trek from our homestead in Oregon to the vast wonderland that is the Yellowstone National Park. We are packing up lock, stock, and Nintendo and cramming our minivan full of people and crap and we'll be off on a grand adventure that we'll one day speak of fondly.....I hope. We are also venturing down to California before returning to hearth and home. Our kids will have a lot to say in their "What I did over Summer Vacation" essays, and my husband and I will have more souvenir doo-dads to hang on the wall and admire while we get drunk. And when it all is over and done, we will be THAT much closer to November.
Before the summer is over, we plan a few little local excursions, including a visit to the county fair, a picnic at a historic fort, some beach trips, and a matinee movie or two. And when all of that has passed into memory....we will be even THAT much closer to November.
September will bring lots of excitement around here as we prepare to return to school - the kids to their respective grades and me as the assistant to a brand-spanking new teacher in our building. Also, before the month is out, our daughter will turn six years old! My gosh, she's growing fast. And while she's blowing out the candles on her princess cake, I will will quickly calculate the days until November arrives.
October is always a very full month, what with Halloween costumes to buy and pumpkins to carve and candy to eat (er, purchase.) The Fall decorations will come out, the leaves will start to turn their gorgeous autumn colors, AND IT WILL FINALLY FRICKIN' ALMOST BE NOVEMBER!!
And when November does dawn, when the calendar page finally flips to that auspicious month, we will all collectively celebrate....while wondering how it arrived so quickly. Life truly can be a "blink and you miss it" kind of situation. Maybe Bugs Bunny knew what he was talking about after all. Stupid wise-ass rabbit....
However, it does seem kind of foolhardy to wish precious time away. Life is, as the t-shirts so introspectively put it, short. Would I really want to be able to push a mystical "fast forward" button and get to November 8th immediately? What about all of the "stuff" that I would miss along the way? No, we Coconuts have lives to lead, and while we are very excited to see what our Fearless Leader has in store for us, we have actual "things" to do between now and then.
I personally am just about to embark on a family trek from our homestead in Oregon to the vast wonderland that is the Yellowstone National Park. We are packing up lock, stock, and Nintendo and cramming our minivan full of people and crap and we'll be off on a grand adventure that we'll one day speak of fondly.....I hope. We are also venturing down to California before returning to hearth and home. Our kids will have a lot to say in their "What I did over Summer Vacation" essays, and my husband and I will have more souvenir doo-dads to hang on the wall and admire while we get drunk. And when it all is over and done, we will be THAT much closer to November.
Before the summer is over, we plan a few little local excursions, including a visit to the county fair, a picnic at a historic fort, some beach trips, and a matinee movie or two. And when all of that has passed into memory....we will be even THAT much closer to November.
September will bring lots of excitement around here as we prepare to return to school - the kids to their respective grades and me as the assistant to a brand-spanking new teacher in our building. Also, before the month is out, our daughter will turn six years old! My gosh, she's growing fast. And while she's blowing out the candles on her princess cake, I will will quickly calculate the days until November arrives.
October is always a very full month, what with Halloween costumes to buy and pumpkins to carve and candy to eat (er, purchase.) The Fall decorations will come out, the leaves will start to turn their gorgeous autumn colors, AND IT WILL FINALLY FRICKIN' ALMOST BE NOVEMBER!!
And when November does dawn, when the calendar page finally flips to that auspicious month, we will all collectively celebrate....while wondering how it arrived so quickly. Life truly can be a "blink and you miss it" kind of situation. Maybe Bugs Bunny knew what he was talking about after all. Stupid wise-ass rabbit....
Monday, June 21, 2010
I am doing MUCH better now......Sorta......
If you are a returning reader of this blog (yeah right Valerie, like people come BACK) then you may remember that waaayyyyy back in March I wrote a little something about the big-chinned entity who naturally evolved as bad guy from the whole Tonight Show fiasco, and how some folk are able to maturely and rationally regard said villain. I also revealed that I am not one of those people. I lack the chromosome which allows the turning of the other cheek. I envied then, as I do now, the ability to go merrily forward without an ill thought for this individual. However, I am happy to report that in the three+ months since I first wrote those words, I have grown in many ways. While I still do carry an immense and intense burning hatred deep in the bowels of my....well, bowels....I have learned to move forward. I can go for days without ranting and raging. I can pass white-haired gentlemen without tripping them to the ground and beating them about the face and chin with their own cane. I can use the proper names for bathroom duties without substituting the scoundrel in question's name...(i.e. "I just took the biggest Leno you've ever seen, it took THREE flushes!") So I do believe that under normal circumstances, I am actually doing very well. Normal circumstances being those in which "That Guy's" name or visage do not pop up. Especially unexpectedly. And believe me....they do.
Take for instance this past Saturday. My dear Hubby and I loaded the kids into the minivan, and we took a nice country drive to visit Hub's dear Granny on the occasion of her 85th birthday. The party was held at my husband's aunt's farmhouse, which boasts rolling green hills and large, lumbering Walnut trees. The weather was perfect, the kids played happily with their cousins all day without incident, the food was divine, the family drama was nil...(Even though Granny DID try to sucker me into a conversation about how good other people look after losing a lot of weight. I simply stuffed my cupcake in my mouth and nodded....) It was, by most definitions, a perfect day. As the afternoon wound into evening, we started loading the kids into our respective vehicles and circled around for one last BS session before hitting the road. Someone brought up a TV show, then another was mentioned, and finally Hub's uncle asked if any of us were BBC America's "Top Gear" fans. We all assented that indeed we were. We started offering up our favorite episodes, etc. That was when Hub's uncle innocently announced "You know, Jay Leno says that it is his favorite show."
Here is how I saw things. My own universe stopped in that second. Everyone else around me continued to talk and laugh, in kind of a warped slow-motion-y way. The conversation continued on, away from that one horrible off-hand mention, but it had been enough to make my brain miss a gear change, and I was grinding in neutral. It was then, as I struggled, that I took note of my husband. He had frozen. He was looking at me with an expression that was a mixture of terror and dread. He did not know what I was going to do or say. I imagined he was envisioning a Hulk-like metamorphosis wherein I would start throwing cars. Suddenly, my brain popped back up to speed and I was once again smiling and laughing, moving myself far, far away from that horrendous yet unknowing mention. I was proud of myself. And I could actually hear my husband's sphincter muscles relax. (Not a pretty sound, BTW)
So I guess I can say that yes, I am doing fine living in a world where that person's name or even image may appear at random. He may be lurking in an innocuous stack of Trivial Pursuit cards, or in a magazine article, or even in a nice family conversation following a sweet birthday party in the countryside. I am becoming stronger, better prepared. Mature, even.....
But I swear to God, if anyone even happens to pause on THAT show while flipping channels, I will rip their spinal cord out through their nose and use it as a jump rope.
Just sayin'.
Take for instance this past Saturday. My dear Hubby and I loaded the kids into the minivan, and we took a nice country drive to visit Hub's dear Granny on the occasion of her 85th birthday. The party was held at my husband's aunt's farmhouse, which boasts rolling green hills and large, lumbering Walnut trees. The weather was perfect, the kids played happily with their cousins all day without incident, the food was divine, the family drama was nil...(Even though Granny DID try to sucker me into a conversation about how good other people look after losing a lot of weight. I simply stuffed my cupcake in my mouth and nodded....) It was, by most definitions, a perfect day. As the afternoon wound into evening, we started loading the kids into our respective vehicles and circled around for one last BS session before hitting the road. Someone brought up a TV show, then another was mentioned, and finally Hub's uncle asked if any of us were BBC America's "Top Gear" fans. We all assented that indeed we were. We started offering up our favorite episodes, etc. That was when Hub's uncle innocently announced "You know, Jay Leno says that it is his favorite show."
Here is how I saw things. My own universe stopped in that second. Everyone else around me continued to talk and laugh, in kind of a warped slow-motion-y way. The conversation continued on, away from that one horrible off-hand mention, but it had been enough to make my brain miss a gear change, and I was grinding in neutral. It was then, as I struggled, that I took note of my husband. He had frozen. He was looking at me with an expression that was a mixture of terror and dread. He did not know what I was going to do or say. I imagined he was envisioning a Hulk-like metamorphosis wherein I would start throwing cars. Suddenly, my brain popped back up to speed and I was once again smiling and laughing, moving myself far, far away from that horrendous yet unknowing mention. I was proud of myself. And I could actually hear my husband's sphincter muscles relax. (Not a pretty sound, BTW)
So I guess I can say that yes, I am doing fine living in a world where that person's name or even image may appear at random. He may be lurking in an innocuous stack of Trivial Pursuit cards, or in a magazine article, or even in a nice family conversation following a sweet birthday party in the countryside. I am becoming stronger, better prepared. Mature, even.....
But I swear to God, if anyone even happens to pause on THAT show while flipping channels, I will rip their spinal cord out through their nose and use it as a jump rope.
Just sayin'.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
A dozen dozen days.....
According to the ever vigilant Coco countdown calendar thingy found here on this wall (as well as the Teamcoco.com site) we have ticked ourselves down to 144 days until the big TBS show. Upon reading this number, my mind immediately flashed back to grade school multiplication tables - 144 is the square of 12. Twelve sets of twelve, a dozen dozen. Or, to be even more exact, a gross. But to state that our wait is gross would not sound as upbeat as I would like. I do not wish nauseate, but to inspire. We have some time to kill, people.....it's time to start brainstorming.
Lucky for us, a big chunk of the wait takes place over the summer months. There is always lots to do during long, hot summer days. Hiking, swimming, biking......my family is planning a couple of fun road trips and lots of trips to the library, the beach, the playground. We are also planning at least one yard sale to pay for some of that fun. The days will be easy to fill. But, oh - those summer ni-iiighhhts......(Sorry, I'm a bit "Grease" nerd) Usually, in the cool of a summer evening, with the kids fast asleep, my hubs and I would settle in with an icy beverage and.....watch Conan on TV. Which was always possible, because heck - he was always on late night TV. Except now he's not. Which sucks.
Our options for our summer evenings now consist of:
1) Other late night programming: This is a big "maybe." If Letterman has a good guest we might tune in, and possibly will hold on through Craig (or at least his monologue) Don't even think to ask about "other" late night shows, especially that one. You know the one. I'd rather shoot myself in my own foot, clean and cook said foot, and eat it with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
2) DVDs and/or movies. Another maybe. We do have all the episodes of MASH on DVD (awesome!) and we can always throw in some Python or a good classic 80s comedy for guaranteed laughs. I can almost bet that not one of these choices has a self-pleasuring panda or an S&M Lincoln.....*sigh*
3) Sex. Yeah, sure, there's always that. Not too many laughs, usually, so maybe during a somber time. This is the option where S&M Lincoln might actually make an appearance.....kinky, I know, but boredom breeds freakishness. That explains the existence of most of the cast of Jersey Shore.
4) Sleep. My favorite of the options. I do enjoy a good night's sleep. An added plus is when the sleep contains Conan related dreams. Then, it is actually kinda sorta like I got to watch him on TV....unless it is a weird dream where he is driving a giant robot Andy through the streets of Paris, knocking down the Eiffel Tower and beating tourists with bagettes. Which actually sounds like it could make a pretty entertaining remote.....(Note to self, Tweet idea to Bley)
There are other various ways to kill the time: Reading, eating, playing on the internet.... Somehow that chunk of time that precedes bedtime gets filled. I've even been known to do a late-night load or two of laundry....hold me back, Nadine!! The thing is, though, that no matter what we end up doing to fill the void, that damned red elephant is always in the room. We aren't watching Conan, but we would be if... If. That one little world holds a whole world of meaning. If only things were different, if the bad stuff hadn't gone down. But it did, and things are what they are. There is no Conan O'Brien on late night TV, and there won't be until November. To employ once again the great and learned words of inventor Sir James Dyson - "It sucks."
So this becomes the perfect time to once again thank the great Skinny Freckled gods that there exists an "I'm With Coco" fan site. Not only do we entertain each other, we are all on the same path to TBS in a dozen dozen days. There are now, as of yesterday (or the day before if you are a stickler for time zones) officially ONE MILLION of us. The Coco Army grows stronger. If only we had some place to hang our pith helmets. 144 days is a long time to march in circles.
Lucky for us, a big chunk of the wait takes place over the summer months. There is always lots to do during long, hot summer days. Hiking, swimming, biking......my family is planning a couple of fun road trips and lots of trips to the library, the beach, the playground. We are also planning at least one yard sale to pay for some of that fun. The days will be easy to fill. But, oh - those summer ni-iiighhhts......(Sorry, I'm a bit "Grease" nerd) Usually, in the cool of a summer evening, with the kids fast asleep, my hubs and I would settle in with an icy beverage and.....watch Conan on TV. Which was always possible, because heck - he was always on late night TV. Except now he's not. Which sucks.
Our options for our summer evenings now consist of:
1) Other late night programming: This is a big "maybe." If Letterman has a good guest we might tune in, and possibly will hold on through Craig (or at least his monologue) Don't even think to ask about "other" late night shows, especially that one. You know the one. I'd rather shoot myself in my own foot, clean and cook said foot, and eat it with fava beans and a nice Chianti.
2) DVDs and/or movies. Another maybe. We do have all the episodes of MASH on DVD (awesome!) and we can always throw in some Python or a good classic 80s comedy for guaranteed laughs. I can almost bet that not one of these choices has a self-pleasuring panda or an S&M Lincoln.....*sigh*
3) Sex. Yeah, sure, there's always that. Not too many laughs, usually, so maybe during a somber time. This is the option where S&M Lincoln might actually make an appearance.....kinky, I know, but boredom breeds freakishness. That explains the existence of most of the cast of Jersey Shore.
4) Sleep. My favorite of the options. I do enjoy a good night's sleep. An added plus is when the sleep contains Conan related dreams. Then, it is actually kinda sorta like I got to watch him on TV....unless it is a weird dream where he is driving a giant robot Andy through the streets of Paris, knocking down the Eiffel Tower and beating tourists with bagettes. Which actually sounds like it could make a pretty entertaining remote.....(Note to self, Tweet idea to Bley)
There are other various ways to kill the time: Reading, eating, playing on the internet.... Somehow that chunk of time that precedes bedtime gets filled. I've even been known to do a late-night load or two of laundry....hold me back, Nadine!! The thing is, though, that no matter what we end up doing to fill the void, that damned red elephant is always in the room. We aren't watching Conan, but we would be if... If. That one little world holds a whole world of meaning. If only things were different, if the bad stuff hadn't gone down. But it did, and things are what they are. There is no Conan O'Brien on late night TV, and there won't be until November. To employ once again the great and learned words of inventor Sir James Dyson - "It sucks."
So this becomes the perfect time to once again thank the great Skinny Freckled gods that there exists an "I'm With Coco" fan site. Not only do we entertain each other, we are all on the same path to TBS in a dozen dozen days. There are now, as of yesterday (or the day before if you are a stickler for time zones) officially ONE MILLION of us. The Coco Army grows stronger. If only we had some place to hang our pith helmets. 144 days is a long time to march in circles.
Monday, May 31, 2010
The wait isn't over....but baby, it's better!
It has been a while since I posted to this blog, almost a full month.....I've had people ask if I was done writing about "Waiting for Coco" since, in some ways, we are not waiting anymore. He has come back to us on many fronts: He's on tour, he's signed a deal to TBS, he can be interviewed on television and in newspapers and magazines. Yes, in a lot of ways we have our Conan O'Brien back. And yet I do still feel obliged to keep watch, and keep reporting on the process that will eventually bring Coco back to our late night screens. Until he is delivered safely where he belongs, unharmed and unhinged, I can't let that last relieved breath escape my orange-tinted lips ( Gloss or Cheetos? I'll never tell!) And so the wait goes on.....although I do have to say, much has changed...
For a long while, we the Conan fans were surviving in what could only be described as a desert - dry and barren, devoid of any signs of our beloved funny man. We'd sit in the quiet of the evenings, watching the tumbleweeds blow by as we recounted story after story, and shared clip after hilarious clip. Then, a little sustenance would trickle in: We'd get to read daily Conan Twitters, and we had our insider updates from our beloved Aaron Bleyaert. Sometimes news would come to us via our own Mike Mitchell, and sometimes we had to rely on the media to let us know that yes, Conan was still alive and kicking. We had a fight ahead of us, we desert dwellers. We had to inform NBC of what a huge mistake they had made, and we had to show other perspective networks what a catch our Mr. O'Brien would be. We had to dispel the mountains of misinformation that were floating around, shoot down the Leno fans who thought they knew ANYTHING.... If a poll was posted online we would descend like hyenas on a lame zebra to prove to the media outlets that Conan's fans were forever loyal. If NBC dared try to promote their Favorite Son in any way that was at all open to public opinion, they got it by the truckload. And it wasn't pretty. But it was always funny. Conan's fans are, if nothing else, always funny.
Through it all, we would regroup on a daily or even hourly basis at our "basecamp" - the I'm With Coco message board - to exchange info, share stories, and get updates on the latest news. I was on the board when Conan Tweeted for the first time, when the tickets for his (at that point unconfirmed) tour went on sale, when the TBS deal was announced. I shared in the excitement of other lucky "Legally Prohibited" ticket holders, and commiserated with those who were not so lucky. I debated the merits of TBS over Fox, dissected the meaning behind RIKSHAZ9LIRK, marveled over photos of dolphin-kissing and gas-pumping. I vented in anger over Leno's pathetic TV interviews, media comments, and "jokes" that were hurtful not just to Conan but to we, the fans. I tried really, really hard to not be cynical, although at times it was extremely difficult, and to be kind, which I found some days to be impossible. And through it all there was an army of others just like me, parked firmly on that desert floor, drinking up whatever drops we were given and always looking forward toward whatever the next day might bring.
Then, even as we were firmly entrenched in our Conan drought, we noticed a change on the air. Of course, a huge shift occurred when the tour started. Suddenly we had first-hand accounts, photos, and even videos of this man we had been deprived of for so long. When I first heard his voice, live and in person at McCaw Hall in Seattle, I nearly wept....not only from joy, but from relief. It was so good to hear him saying new words, making fresh jokes. He was no longer stuck in the exile of videos from comedy moments past. He was, in front of my very eyes, creating new and hilarious moments. It was almost too much to absorb. I still struggle with convincing myself that my memories weren't some crazy and fantastic dream....
And then - the floodgates broke!! Just a few shows into his tour, the gag order imposed by NBC expired, and suddenly Conan was not only appearing in our cities but right on our computer screens and even our TVs! The first TwitPic he sent out that showed his face brought an avalanche of comments and speculation on IWC.....Soon word hit the board that Conan would actually be interviewed on the prestigious news magazine "60 Minutes." At almost the same time, we saw his image splashed across the pages of Time Magazine. We, the shell-shocked Conan fans, went from near dehydration to near drowning overnight. It was a lot to process.
Immediately, the backlash smacked us out of our stupor. From many different directions, some expected and some surprising, came criticisms of all sorts - negativity spawned from the "60 Minutes" piece, bad reviews of the tour, sarcastic dismissals of the TBS deal. Although the bad press was actually pretty scarce, the reports would be repeated on the board many times an hour, with us rehashing them over and over. It was hard not to take the harshness personally. After believing in this person for so long, the offhand and often misinformed slams would sting like arrows to the heart. It was hard not to feel frustrated and at times even deflated. How could they be kicking this man again?? How could they not see how amazing his journey was? Again, it was hard to keep the cynicism at bay......
But, Conan showed himself to be a man of his word. He didn't let the bastards get him down one tiny iota. He worked hard. He stayed kind. And amazing things DID happen. One by one, reviews came out that were positive.....heck, even glowing. The TBS deal, a surprise at first, showed itself to be a wonderful fit, and Steve Koonin, TBS President, became a friend and a recipient of thousands of gushing "thank you" cards. Experts on everything related to television politics came out to say that the claims Conan made were true, and the arguments made by NBC were flimsy and unfounded. There was a feeling of vindication in the air.
In what I believe to be one of the best things to result from the past few months, we the fans have been granted access to the world o' Conan that we would have never previously expected. Aaron Bleyaert (our beloved Bley) has kept us updated with behind the scenes stories and photos, and has allowed us to post comments back to those on the road, making it feel like we are all personally involved in this tour ( and not in a "crazed stalker" way.) We are actually encouraged to share in the fun. Also, many on tour, including the writers and band members, have started Twitter accounts, keeping us entertained with their daily adventures, misadventures, photos, and inner thoughts. These folks, who a couple of months ago we knew only by name and maybe from skits on TV, have become "friends" to a great number of us. It is such an amazing synergy.... We fans sending the love to the guys and gals on tour, and them sending it right on back to us. As a fully grown and unmedicated adult (with kids and everything) I unabashedly admit that I do love this whole crazy bunch of folks. Now not only do I consider myself a Conan fan, but more a fan of "Conan & Co." They are all wonderful, funny, kind, and off their collective nut. What's not to love, am I right?
And so yes, the wait for Coco continues, but now it has an entirely different feel. Instead of being isolated and concerned, we are united and determined. No more shall we wonder what will happen to our hero, or when, or how. Now, we can simply marvel in the awesome things that he has achieved for himself.....and maybe, just a little bit, we can feel pride in the fact that we never gave up on him, we never forgot. I hope he knows that. I truly do.
For a long while, we the Conan fans were surviving in what could only be described as a desert - dry and barren, devoid of any signs of our beloved funny man. We'd sit in the quiet of the evenings, watching the tumbleweeds blow by as we recounted story after story, and shared clip after hilarious clip. Then, a little sustenance would trickle in: We'd get to read daily Conan Twitters, and we had our insider updates from our beloved Aaron Bleyaert. Sometimes news would come to us via our own Mike Mitchell, and sometimes we had to rely on the media to let us know that yes, Conan was still alive and kicking. We had a fight ahead of us, we desert dwellers. We had to inform NBC of what a huge mistake they had made, and we had to show other perspective networks what a catch our Mr. O'Brien would be. We had to dispel the mountains of misinformation that were floating around, shoot down the Leno fans who thought they knew ANYTHING.... If a poll was posted online we would descend like hyenas on a lame zebra to prove to the media outlets that Conan's fans were forever loyal. If NBC dared try to promote their Favorite Son in any way that was at all open to public opinion, they got it by the truckload. And it wasn't pretty. But it was always funny. Conan's fans are, if nothing else, always funny.
Through it all, we would regroup on a daily or even hourly basis at our "basecamp" - the I'm With Coco message board - to exchange info, share stories, and get updates on the latest news. I was on the board when Conan Tweeted for the first time, when the tickets for his (at that point unconfirmed) tour went on sale, when the TBS deal was announced. I shared in the excitement of other lucky "Legally Prohibited" ticket holders, and commiserated with those who were not so lucky. I debated the merits of TBS over Fox, dissected the meaning behind RIKSHAZ9LIRK, marveled over photos of dolphin-kissing and gas-pumping. I vented in anger over Leno's pathetic TV interviews, media comments, and "jokes" that were hurtful not just to Conan but to we, the fans. I tried really, really hard to not be cynical, although at times it was extremely difficult, and to be kind, which I found some days to be impossible. And through it all there was an army of others just like me, parked firmly on that desert floor, drinking up whatever drops we were given and always looking forward toward whatever the next day might bring.
Then, even as we were firmly entrenched in our Conan drought, we noticed a change on the air. Of course, a huge shift occurred when the tour started. Suddenly we had first-hand accounts, photos, and even videos of this man we had been deprived of for so long. When I first heard his voice, live and in person at McCaw Hall in Seattle, I nearly wept....not only from joy, but from relief. It was so good to hear him saying new words, making fresh jokes. He was no longer stuck in the exile of videos from comedy moments past. He was, in front of my very eyes, creating new and hilarious moments. It was almost too much to absorb. I still struggle with convincing myself that my memories weren't some crazy and fantastic dream....
And then - the floodgates broke!! Just a few shows into his tour, the gag order imposed by NBC expired, and suddenly Conan was not only appearing in our cities but right on our computer screens and even our TVs! The first TwitPic he sent out that showed his face brought an avalanche of comments and speculation on IWC.....Soon word hit the board that Conan would actually be interviewed on the prestigious news magazine "60 Minutes." At almost the same time, we saw his image splashed across the pages of Time Magazine. We, the shell-shocked Conan fans, went from near dehydration to near drowning overnight. It was a lot to process.
Immediately, the backlash smacked us out of our stupor. From many different directions, some expected and some surprising, came criticisms of all sorts - negativity spawned from the "60 Minutes" piece, bad reviews of the tour, sarcastic dismissals of the TBS deal. Although the bad press was actually pretty scarce, the reports would be repeated on the board many times an hour, with us rehashing them over and over. It was hard not to take the harshness personally. After believing in this person for so long, the offhand and often misinformed slams would sting like arrows to the heart. It was hard not to feel frustrated and at times even deflated. How could they be kicking this man again?? How could they not see how amazing his journey was? Again, it was hard to keep the cynicism at bay......
But, Conan showed himself to be a man of his word. He didn't let the bastards get him down one tiny iota. He worked hard. He stayed kind. And amazing things DID happen. One by one, reviews came out that were positive.....heck, even glowing. The TBS deal, a surprise at first, showed itself to be a wonderful fit, and Steve Koonin, TBS President, became a friend and a recipient of thousands of gushing "thank you" cards. Experts on everything related to television politics came out to say that the claims Conan made were true, and the arguments made by NBC were flimsy and unfounded. There was a feeling of vindication in the air.
In what I believe to be one of the best things to result from the past few months, we the fans have been granted access to the world o' Conan that we would have never previously expected. Aaron Bleyaert (our beloved Bley) has kept us updated with behind the scenes stories and photos, and has allowed us to post comments back to those on the road, making it feel like we are all personally involved in this tour ( and not in a "crazed stalker" way.) We are actually encouraged to share in the fun. Also, many on tour, including the writers and band members, have started Twitter accounts, keeping us entertained with their daily adventures, misadventures, photos, and inner thoughts. These folks, who a couple of months ago we knew only by name and maybe from skits on TV, have become "friends" to a great number of us. It is such an amazing synergy.... We fans sending the love to the guys and gals on tour, and them sending it right on back to us. As a fully grown and unmedicated adult (with kids and everything) I unabashedly admit that I do love this whole crazy bunch of folks. Now not only do I consider myself a Conan fan, but more a fan of "Conan & Co." They are all wonderful, funny, kind, and off their collective nut. What's not to love, am I right?
And so yes, the wait for Coco continues, but now it has an entirely different feel. Instead of being isolated and concerned, we are united and determined. No more shall we wonder what will happen to our hero, or when, or how. Now, we can simply marvel in the awesome things that he has achieved for himself.....and maybe, just a little bit, we can feel pride in the fact that we never gave up on him, we never forgot. I hope he knows that. I truly do.
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