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Leslie Jones Returns

Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend

Hosted by Conan O'Brien

1h 3m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

Conan O'Brien and Matt Gourley open the episode by dissecting the lethargic pace of reality television shows like Love Island and Love Is Blind, questioning why millions of Americans tune in to watch attractive people lounge around. Comedian Leslie Jones then returns to the podcast for a chaotic, high-energy conversation. Jones banters relentlessly with Conan about his pale Irish complexion, pitches an elaborate crime thriller movie plot where she plays a vigilante serial killer who targets abusive men, and praises Saturday Night Live cast member Kenan Thompson as the ultimate grounding force of the show. Finally, Jones shares hard-earned life wisdom about embracing personal growth, surviving tough times, and why unused volcanoes should be repurposed for public discipline.

  • Reality television formats like Love Island and Love Is Blind often feature extremely static, sedentary behavior rather than active competition. 8:43
  • Going through difficult life experiences and emotional fire is essential for building personal resilience and maturity. 47:03
  • Self-appreciation and recognizing one's unique value are necessary steps toward finding genuine joy and community. 48:51

Chapters

  1. 0:00
  2. 1:19
    Conan's Confession About Leslie Jones

    Conan reveals his conflicted feelings about having Leslie Jones as a friend, setting the stage for their banter.

  3. 2:03
    Host and Guest Introductions

    Conan, Matt Gourley, and the assistant David Hopping introduce themselves and explain Sona's absence.

  4. 2:44
    Love Island Critique Segment

    Conan and the crew dissect Love Island, critiquing its lack of activity and comparing it to other reality shows.

  5. 8:00
    Sunburn Metaphor and Comedy Skit

    Conan and Leslie engage in a playful skit about sunburn, using it as a metaphor for their friendship dynamic.

  6. 12:00
    Leslie Jones Returns and Backstory

    Leslie Jones joins the show, shares her past as a comedian, and discusses her desire to be Conan's friend.

  7. 14:00
    Conan's Past and Future Aspirations

    Conan shares personal anecdotes about his past, future plans, and his relationship with Leslie.

  8. 30:22
    Serial Killer Persona Discussion

    Leslie reveals her fascination with serial killers and outlines a fictional storyline she wants to create with Conan.

  9. 40:49
    Keenan and SNL Reflection

    Leslie and Conan reflect on Keenan's influence at SNL and discuss the importance of long-term cast members.

  10. 46:46
    Episode Intro and Host Greeting

    The episode opens with the host welcoming listeners and setting the stage for a conversation with Leslie Jones.

  11. 51:46
    Scams, AI, and Identity Theft Awareness

    The conversation shifts to the rise of AI‑powered scams, the prevalence of identity theft, and the promotion of LifeLock protection.

  12. 53:08
    Mental Health and BetterHelp Promotion

    The hosts discuss mental health awareness, the benefits of therapy, and advertise BetterHelp as an accessible online platform.

Highlights

  • 3:08

    Critiquing Modern Reality TVinsight

    Conan expresses utter bewilderment at Love Island, noting that contestants do virtually nothing except sit around and move between nearby rooms with silly names.

  • 13:52

    Sunburns and Restraining Ordersinsight

    Leslie ruthlessly roasts Conan for his extreme pale skin, joking that the sun sexually assaults him daily and suggesting he file police reports.

  • 20:38

    The Ideal Man Fantasystory

    Leslie describes her ideal man as resembling a lanky, bearded terrorist or carpenter, before admitting that her celebrity crushes rarely live up to reality.

  • 31:29

    Pitching a Vigilante Moviestory

    Leslie pitches an elaborate crime thriller plot where she plays a vigilante who tortures and murders men who abuse their partners.

  • 40:04

    The World Cup of Chuckle Gettersdebate

    Conan compares his comedy career to elite soccer players like Lionel Messi, leading Leslie to burst out laughing and call him completely delusional.

  • 41:23

    Praising Kenan Thompsoninsight

    Leslie and Conan discuss Kenan Thompson's legendary tenure on Saturday Night Live, highlighting his calming, grounding presence amidst a high-stress work environment.

  • 1:01:43

    Proposing Volcano Disciplineinsight

    In a deadpan comedic escalation during her political rant, Leslie passionately argues that society should start throwing criminals into active volcanoes.

  • 1:12:30

    Embracing Life Through Hardshipstrategy

    Reflecting on her personal growth, Leslie encourages listeners to stop avoiding hardships and instead view mistakes as essential levels in a video game.

Quotes

  • “I do that all the time. I'm like, oh, these bills, these bills.”
    Conan O'Brien · 0:10
  • “I was, I think you were talking.”
    Conan O'Brien · 8:13
  • “You know, and I tell everybody this all the time, please just go through the fire.”
    Unnamed speaker · 46:57
  • “Love can only be hate. Hate can only kill itself. Love multiplies.”
    Unnamed speaker · 48:54
  • “You just, you won't know the fucking difference.”
    Unnamed speaker · 58:02
  • “The hope now is just because it's, everything is just so played out.”
    Unnamed speaker · 55:28
  • Liberty Mutual 0:27–0:43
  • Granger 1:04–1:12
  • T-Mobile 24:45–25:58
  • Quince 26:35–27:53
  • White Claw 28:22–28:23
  • LifeLock 52:18–53:03
  • BetterHelp 53:53–55:03
  • SiriusXM 1:11:59–1:12:06
  • Nurtac 1:12:19–1:13:05
  • PNC Bank 1:13:18–1:13:43

About this episode

Comedian Leslie Jones feels so conflicted about being Conan O’Brien’s friend. Leslie sits down with Conan once more to discuss the qualities of her ideal man, aspiring to catch a serial killer, her friendship with Kenan Thompson, her new HGTV show Roast My Rental, and more. For Conan videos, tour dates and more visit TeamCoco.com. Got a question for Conan? Call our voicemail: (323) 362-2295.

Transcript

0:00
1:03:52

14,107 words · 8 speakers

Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

Topics

  • Love Island
  • Apple
  • Miller Lite
  • The White Stripes
  • Apple Watch
  • Apple cider
  • Fitbit

Page updated · transcript and summary are machine-generated