Conan O’Brien Reveals PTSD Triggered by HBO’s Hacks Portrayal of Late Night TV

Conan O'Brien has expressed that watching the fourth season of the HBO Max series "Hacks," which delves into the late night talk show world, triggers a sense of PTSD for him due to its accurate portrayal of experiences reminiscent of his own tumultuous late night career. The show, which features Jean Smart as a stand-up comedian making a comeback on late night TV, resonates with O'Brien's memories of his highly publicized departure from NBC's "The Tonight Show" in 2010 and the challenges he faced during that period. O'Brien praised the series for authentically capturing the behind-the-scenes pressures of late night television, including the stress of research and audience feedback. A humorous moment in the show involves a fictional scenario where Jimmy Kimmel claims "custody" of actress Kristen Bell after "Conan died," a joke O'Brien appreciated for its wit and subtlety. Despite the challenges he faced, O'Brien has successfully reinvented his career with his podcast network and hosting the Oscars, and he acknowledged the show's creators for hitting key emotional nerves, suggesting they "got it right." Hacks co-creator Paul W. Downs noted the difficulty of creating a show about late night TV, emphasizing the real stress of producing such content, which adds to the show's authenticity.