Did the Star Search of old at one point reach for the stars and grab… Conan O’Brien?
The first promo (above) for Netflix’s reboot of the retro talent competition lists the late-night TV vet as one of the “greatest stars of all-time” that the original series “launched,” alongside the likes of Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Adam Sandler.
O’Brien, though, was never a part of any previous Star Search incarnation. Either as a rising star, or even as a behind-the-scenes writer of on-camera banter.
Presented with the Star Search promo’s claim, a longtime associate of O’Brien’s told LateNighter, “This is the first I’ve ever heard of anything like that.”
Is the Mandela Effect at play here, and someone at Netflix mis-remembered an audition? Or was O’Brien involved in some small way that until now escaped documentation? LateNighter has reached out to O’Brien’s assorted reps for comment on the Star Search promo’s claim; Netflix has no comment on the apparent discrepancy.
UPDATE: Weeks after this report, Netflix updated the promo to remove O’Brien’s name.
How Conan O’Brien Actually Got His Start
It’s well-known lore at this point that a different figure from late-night gave O’Brien his launching pad: Lorne Michaels. Michaels hired O’Brien to write for Saturday Night Live in 1987. After departing in 1991, O’Brien headed to The Simpsons‘ writers’ room before Michaels plucked him out of relative obscurity to replace David Letterman on NBC’s Late Night.
Star Search has had significant crossover with late-night TV over the years. Ed McMahon, who famously hosted the original version for its entire 1983-1995 run, was of course Johnny Carson’s sidekick on The Tonight Show. Also, when Star Search was (briefly) rebooted in 2003, former late-night host Arsenio Hall served as emcee.
O’Brien, meanwhile, has had brushes with the world of Star Search over the years. McMahon guested on Late Night with Conan O’Brien seven times, including during its first week on air. (Had Conan ever appeared on Star Search, surely it would have been a topic of conversation for the two; it never was.) Paying back the favor, Late Night sidekick Andy Richter served as a judge on Star Search in 1994—an appearance that also serviced a remote segment for Late Night.
‘His Credits Would Barely Qualify Him for Star Search‘
Ironically, in the months leading up to Late Night with Conan O’Brien‘s September 1993 launch, multiple outlets remarked that its host ranked below the typical Star Search contender.
Describing the lack of TV credits racked up by the “mystery man” who had reportedly been dubbed “Conan the Nowhere-ian” in Hollywood circles, New Jersey’s The Record suggested that O’Brien “has probably had less quality air time than the average Star Search contestant.” Newsweek took a similar tack, quipping that “his performing credits would barely qualify him for Star Search.”
Netflix’s attempt to relaunch Star Search for a second time is set to bow Tuesday, January 20, 2026. Actor (and frequent Jimmy Kimmel Live! guest host) Anthony Anderson will host the reboot, which the streamer will air live on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT.
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Before SNL, Conan (along with Greg Daniels) worked a few months on the short-lived replacement for Joan River’s late night show on Fox called The Wilton North Report. My first full-time job in television was on that show.