Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Denis Leary

February 23, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • Conan O'Brien and Denis Leary discovered they are related and share roots in Worcester, Massachusetts. 
  • The podcast production team experimented with removing physical cue cards for guests to stop distracting paper-fidgeting noises, only to find producer Matt Gorley was the culprit during the segment. 
  • Denis Leary expressed that the funniest parts of *Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend* are the arguments and insults directed at Conan by Sona Movsesian and Matt Gorley. 
  • The Boston comedy scene, characterized by vitriolic and angry performers like the one described, contrasted sharply with the quiet, precise, haiku-like humor of Stephen Wright, whom Denis Leary knew from Emerson College. 
  • Denis Leary and Conan O'Brien share Worcester roots and discovered they are related, leading to a discussion about their shared background and the talent pool emerging from Emerson College, including the founding of the Emerson Comedy Workshop. 
  • Denis Leary credits early exposure to Monty Python, Richard Pryor, and George Carlin as the 'atomic bomb blast' that shaped his comedic sensibilities, contrasting with the positive influence of a specific theater nun who helped him secure a scholarship to Emerson. 

Segments

Podcast Production Quirks
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(00:02:12)
  • Key Takeaway: Conan O’Brien noticed that guests fidgeting with physical cue cards was distracting, leading the production to switch to displaying the opening line on a wall screen.
  • Summary: The production team attempted to eliminate distracting noises caused by guests handling the physical cue cards by displaying the opening line on a wall screen. This change immediately caused producer Matt Gorley to fidget loudly with his own paper card during the first test run. Conan O’Brien humorously demanded a formal apology from Gorley for the crinkling noise.
Worcester Roots and Family Ties
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(00:01:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Denis Leary opened the interview by stating he feels he doesn’t need to try to be Conan O’Brien’s friend because they are already related, specifically cousins.
  • Summary: The initial exchange confirmed the shared heritage between Conan O’Brien and Denis Leary, stemming from Worcester, Massachusetts. Leary mentioned that his family’s roots, like O’Brien’s, are centered around Worcester, with O’Brien’s grandfather having directed traffic there. This shared background reinforces their existing connection beyond the podcast.
Irish Heritage and Upbringing
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(00:31:09)
  • Key Takeaway: Denis Leary described his mother’s distinction between ’lace curtain Irish’ (her class aspiration after moving to Brookline) and ’triple-decker Irish’ (their working-class Worcester roots).
  • Summary: The conversation explored the cultural nuances of Irish identity in Massachusetts, contrasting the family’s humble beginnings with the mother’s desire to be considered ’lace curtain Irish.’ Leary recounted childhood memories of eating unhealthy, boiled Irish food and witnessing cultural norms like considering beer separate from hard liquor.
Boston Comedy Scene and Abrasiveness
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(00:50:28)
  • Key Takeaway: The inherent abrasiveness and vitriol found in the Boston comedy scene, exemplified by comics who grew up in that environment, contrasts sharply with Conan’s initial audience reaction.
  • Summary: Conan recalled booking Boston comics early in his career whose performances were characterized by pure anger and aggression, shocking his audience. Denis Leary noted that this abrasive style is ingrained in the local culture, comparing it to growing up in a ‘sea of lava.’ The segment also touched upon the early, quiet comedy of Stephen Wright at Emerson College.
Denis Leary’s Charity Work
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(00:17:23)
  • Key Takeaway: Conan O’Brien was praised by Denis Leary for his exceptional kindness and generosity while participating in the annual Comics Come Home concert for the Cam Neely Foundation in Boston.
  • Summary: Leary highlighted that O’Brien was incredibly nice to everyone backstage, including his family, during the charity event held at the TD Garden. The concert supports the Cam Neely Foundation, which has been running for 29 years to benefit the Boston hospital. Leary noted that the city’s strong support for the Bruins and Cam Neely contributes to the event’s massive success.
Health and Diet Contrasts
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(00:40:02)
  • Key Takeaway: Conan O’Brien vividly recalled a moment of intense anger at a health-conscious California resort breakfast because it lacked bacon and eggs, illustrating his lifelong struggle with high cholesterol.
  • Summary: Leary and O’Brien contrasted their family’s traditional, unhealthy Irish diets—characterized by fried ham and boiled vegetables—with modern health consciousness. Leary shared an anecdote about his mother refusing to eat steamed salmon and broccoli, preferring traditional fish and chips, and later mistaking an avocado for a kitchen appliance color.
Boston Comedy Scene Icons
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(00:51:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Lenny Clark is considered a Mount Rushmore icon of Boston comics, known for his loud presence and resemblance to Fred Flintstone.
  • Summary: The Boston comedy scene featured intense performers whose style contrasted with Stephen Wright’s quiet delivery. Lenny Clark hosted a talent show where Stephen Wright performed, highlighting the diversity in the local comedy landscape. Clark is described as a loud, iconic figure in Boston comedy.
Emerson Comedy Workshop Origins
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(00:53:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Denis Leary co-founded the Emerson Comedy Workshop because upperclassmen monopolized acting roles, creating an outlet for comedy-focused students.
  • Summary: Leary started the comedy group with friends to gain stage time, as the standard acting curriculum favored juniors and seniors. The group was inspired by SNL, Python, and Pryor, attracting significant talent. Notable alumni include Mario Cantone, David Cross, and writers for The Simpsons.
Childhood Influences on Comedy
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(00:53:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Denis Leary’s early sense of humor was shaped by his sarcastic parents and the revolutionary impact of Monty Python and Richard Pryor.
  • Summary: Leary’s parents were very funny and sarcastic, fostering a humorous environment at home. Seeing Monty Python was described as an ‘atomic bomb blast’ that redefined what sketches could be. Richard Pryor and George Carlin further influenced him by discussing local, relatable topics like Catholic school.
Impact of David Bowie’s Style
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(00:55:42)
  • Key Takeaway: David Bowie’s androgynous presentation was a shocking, paradigm-shifting moment for Leary, similar in impact to the comedy influences.
  • Summary: Leary experienced a similar ‘what is this?’ reaction to David Bowie as he did to early SNL, noting Bowie’s androgynous style. This artistic shift felt ‘clean’ and suggested new possibilities for self-expression. This influence even humorously affected his high school skirt length choices.
Catholic School Nuns’ Influence
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(00:59:02)
  • Key Takeaway: While most nuns were cruel, Sister Rosemary Sullivan at St. Peter’s was instrumental in Leary’s life by helping him secure his Emerson scholarship.
  • Summary: Leary expressed deep-seated fear of mean nuns who physically punished students, noting that parents often sided with the nuns. However, Sister Rosemary Sullivan actively helped him by providing information about the Emerson audition process. This nun’s intervention changed the course of his life by facilitating his entry into Emerson.
Shooting ‘Going Dutch’ in Ireland
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(01:03:36)
  • Key Takeaway: The series ‘Going Dutch,’ based on a closed Dutch army base, was shot entirely in Ireland for logistical and landscape compatibility reasons.
  • Summary: The show is set on a real Dutch base where drugs and prostitution were legal, which has since closed down. Ireland was chosen because its landscape matches the Netherlands, allowing production to avoid bureaucratic issues in Amsterdam. The project is executive produced by Leary’s son, Jack, who often gives his father directorial notes.
Worcester Family Connection
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(01:06:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Conan O’Brien and Denis Leary confirmed they are related through shared Worcester roots, tracing connections through the Reardon and Daily families from Cork.
  • Summary: The two share a strong connection due to their Worcester, Massachusetts, heritage. The connection appears to stem from the Reardon side of O’Brien’s mother, linking to the Leary family’s origins in Cork, Ireland. This relationship is distant, unlike O’Brien’s closer familial ties to Sona Movsesian’s family.