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Conan O'Brien says old-style TV writers' rooms won't return but expects comedy to adapt

Speaking at Bloomberg's Screentime event, Conan O'Brien said the era of large, well-funded writers' rooms is over, while predicting creative people will find new ways to make comedy.

2 outlets · 1L · 1C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: The Hollywood Reporter
Image: Deadline

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The story, neutrally told

Conan O'Brien spoke at Bloomberg's Screentime event about changes in comedy and television writing. Asked whether comedians lose something by having fewer chances to work in writers' rooms, O'Brien called it a "real problem" and said "Things are changing." O'Brien said the days of long writers' room seasons and well-paid young writers having meals paid for are "not coming back".

O'Brien joked that during the early days of their late-night career, writers whose meals were paid for ordered lobster and champagne. Deadline linked the remarks to a WGA West report showing 27% fewer writers working in 2025 than in 2022. Asked by Bloomberg's Ashley Carman whether late night has become bad business, as CBS argued when ending The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, O'Brien gave no yes or no answer. They said NBC became more cost-conscious over their 17 years there, likening the shift to "Detroit and automobiles".

O'Brien described themself as a "53 percent optimist" and said creative people will find ways to make things and that talented people will profit. On their future, O'Brien, whose SiriusXM deal for Team Coco is said to keep them employed until 2027, said they had not yet thought about what comes next and that "all will be well."

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Leads with O'Brien's optimism about comedy's future, using the "53 percent optimist" quip, and gives space to the late-night business debate.
Emphasis
Industry upheaval, networks' cost-cutting, CBS and Colbert, the Detroit analogy and new online comedy.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not mention the WGA writer-employment figures or O'Brien's SiriusXM contract and future plans.
Charged language
“53 Percent Optimist”“upheaval”
For example
“The podcaster and former late night host weighs in on the upheaval in the industry.” — The Hollywood Reporter
“It’s a little like Detroit and automobiles.” — The Hollywood Reporter

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Leads with a wistful angle on the decline of writers' rooms and the lobster anecdote, backed by data on falling writer employment.
Emphasis
WGA West data, O'Brien's career history, their SiriusXM deal and uncertainty after 2027.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not cover the question about late night being bad business, CBS and Colbert, or the "53 percent optimist" remark.
Charged language
“laments”“good ol’ days”
For example
“Conan O’Brien remembers the good ol’ days but warns things are changing.” — Deadline
“The WGA West’s latest report showed that there were 27% fewer writers working in 2025 than in 2022.” — Deadline

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.