Conan O'Brien Reveals His 'Tonight Show' Plans2009-05-26

Conan O'Brien will debut the new "The Tonight Show" on June 1, with first-week guests including Pearl Jam, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Hanks and Ryan Seacrest.

"Ryan Seacrest and I are lovers, so that just makes sense. That is around. The Post, I think, Page 6 already had it," Conan jokes, displaying his irreverent sense of humor.

On the serious side, the heir to Jay Leno, Johnny Carson, Steve Allen and Jack Paar, is aware that he has really big shoes to fill, but he plans on doing that by simply doing what he thinks is funny.

"Johnny Carson, when I met him years ago, told me, 'Just be yourself,'" Conan says. "That was back in 1993. That is basically all anyone who knows anything about these shows can tell you: You've got to do it your way."

Toward that end, Conan plans to import certain things from his "Late Night" show, such as the "Year 2000," "Noches de Passion con Conan O'Brien," and Jim Gaffigan's "Pale Force" comedy bits, while also using the opportunity to do a lot of fresh sketches.

"I want to keep the best of the 'Late Night' show ... a couple of pieces here and there that really worked for us," he adds. "I see no reason why Triumph, the insult dog, can't file reports for us."

Conan says that just the fact that he is now living in Los Angeles makes people laugh, considering him a fish out of water. But also being on the Universal Studios lot, he feels, will present him with a brand new perspective on material.

As for the new set, Conan says that it will be Los Angeles-style art deco, but "elegant," and he will keep his theme song, but it will be "turbo charged."

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