Conan ending late-night TBS run in 2021, will pivot to weekly variety series on HBO Max

The longest-running late-night host in TV is saying goodbye in 2021. Sort of.

Conan O’Brien’s CONAN will end its TBS run in June 2021. But O’Brien will keep making TV, with a new weekly series forthcoming on HBO Max.

Here’s the press release!

After an extraordinary 28 years as a late night television host including a ten-year, critically-acclaimed run on TBS, Conan O’Brien will extend his relationship with WarnerMedia with a brand new, weekly variety series on HBO Max.  As one of the most prolific late-night hosts, O’Brien will conclude TBS’ award-winning nightly talk show “CONAN” at the end of its tenth season in June 2021. His signature travel specials, “Conan Without Borders,” will continue. 

“In 1993 Johnny Carson gave me the best advice of my career: ‘As soon as possible, get to a streaming platform.’ I’m thrilled that I get to continue doing whatever the hell it is I do on HBO Max, and I look forward to a free subscription,” says O’Brien.

“28 years is a monumental achievement in late-night television,” said Brett Weitz, General Manager for TNT, TBS and truTV.  “We’re incredibly proud of the groundbreaking work that Conan and his team have accomplished during the 10 years at TBS and are so glad that we will continue to have his presence on our air with the ‘Conan Without Borders’ specials.  We celebrate his success and are glad to see it grow across our WarnerMedia family.”

“Conan’s unique brand of energetic, relatable, and at times, absurdist, comedy has charmed late-night audiences for nearly three decades. We can’t wait to see what he and the rest of Team Coco will dream up for this brand new, variety format each week,” said Casey Bloys, Chief Content Officer, HBO and HBO Max.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

View all posts by Sean L. McCarthy →