Conan O’Brien’s highly anticipated travelogue series, ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go,’ has finally debuted on the Max streaming service. With its premiere coinciding with O’Brien’s birthday, the show not only offers a welcome dose of laughter but also arrives at a convenient time for those contemplating renewing their Max subscriptions.
The premise of ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ is simple yet effective. Each episode features O’Brien venturing to a new corner of the globe, wholeheartedly embracing the local customs and culture. Think of the remote segments that were a staple of O’Brien’s late-night talk show, particularly during its TBS iteration from 2010 to 2021. However, in this new series, the celebrity guests and banter with Andy Richter take a backseat, allowing O’Brien to fully indulge in his comedic antics in foreign lands.
While ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ doesn’t delve deeply into the history or intricacies of the places O’Brien visits, that’s not its intended purpose. Instead, it focuses on capturing O’Brien’s comedic genius as he navigates unfamiliar and often amusing situations. O’Brien’s willingness to embrace foolishness for the sake of a good laugh is what makes the show so entertaining. From showing up in full Viking gear at a Viking village recreation in Norway to dramatically exaggerating a fall during a soccer practice in Argentina, O’Brien’s commitment to comedy knows no bounds.
The episodic structure of ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ ensures that viewers never get bogged down in any one location for too long. If O’Brien’s conversation with a Scandinavian dating expert doesn’t tickle your funny bone, just hang on until he’s off visiting a fish farmer in the far north of Norway. Prior familiarity with O’Brien’s previous work certainly enhances the viewing experience, but even newcomers to his comedy will find plenty to enjoy in this travelogue.
With only four episodes in its first season, ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ is a quick and easy binge that can be easily knocked off in an evening or two. Whether your Max subscription is on the brink of expiration or not, this show is worth checking out. And who knows, if enough people tune in, Warner Bros. Discovery might just consider greenlighting a second season, giving viewers another reason to reconsider renewing their Max subscriptions.
