Conan O’Brien Warns Late-Night TV Declining, Calls Stephen Colbert Essential

Conan O’Brien was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame, where he addressed the ongoing transformation and uncertain future of late-night television amid the rise of streaming platforms. He acknowledged the seismic changes reshaping the industry but emphasized that the core elements—talent, connection, and storytelling—remain intact. While O’Brien predicted that traditional late-night TV, as known since the 1950s, would disappear, he expressed confidence that influential voices like Stephen Colbert’s will continue to thrive, evolving into new formats under their own control. O’Brien highlighted the success of contemporary shows like Abbott Elementary and Hacks as evidence of Hollywood's enduring creative vitality. He also reflected humorously on the original role of late-night TV as a distraction for college students before the internet era. The discussion included recent tensions surrounding Colbert’s show ending and his public exchange with President Donald Trump, underlining the politicized atmosphere impacting late-night television today.