Bill Tull was absolutely essential in creating the identity of Late Night for Conan and company. He made their silly ideas manifest. What an incredible person he was. May he rest in peace.
Especially since I'm quite sure he could have gone to a props warehouse and bought or rented a plastic animal skeleton. But that would have seemed too easy!
After hearing this podcast, I don't feel so bad when he poured beans down his pants. It felt like the producers forced him to do a bit, but now we know, he's a ride or die person who probably said "Why not, I'll do that" 🤣
Ill never get tired of Bill Tull stories. As a guy who has often been that go-to guy to build crazy things on short deadlines, its so heartwarming to know that its something people remember and care about.
This show worked as long as it did because there was clearly fountains of love pouring out of it. Conan's self-deprication is a smokescreen for his connection to his crew, that has persisted through the years. That why he's the best. Edit: and God bless Bill.
Seeing Robert Smigel being fiercely emotional talking about those times, about Conan and Bill Tull and all the people that got involved and worked on the show through the years... It's just fantastic: a journey in the past. Conan and his team wrote a beautiful page to the television, and to the entertainment in general.
The interaction, respect and love between Conan and Smigel is priceless. Two hilarious people who feed off one another. Great comedy that deserves to be appreciated. Thank you.
I've always wished I could be a fly on the wall during those late night SNL writing sessions. Imagine being in a room with Conan O'Brien, Robert Smigel, and Bob Odenkirk all bouncing ideas off each other.
I remember laughing to the point of crying because of a bit called “asphyxiate me elmo” and the look of the prop was so ridiculous and devastating that it made me laugh so much. The props were so great Bill!!
"Take a margarita, hand it to my wife in bed, BOOM: frozen margarita." Bill Tull's Budget Cinco de Mayo Tips was one of the biggest laughs I've had watching Conan. RIP.
Bill's Inside Conan episode was great. Just based on the appearances he made on Conan's TBS show, Bill had the "vibe" of a disapproving dad. Obviously he loved the show, he loved his job, and he must have loved Conan, since he stuck around for so long and made the cross country trip to keep working with him, but there was something about his stage presence that made it seem like he would be reluctant to put together a stupid prop for a writer's silly idea. But on Inside Conan, he showed that he was just as committed to the silliness as everyone else on the show. He said that he still had one of the Jesus figurines on his desk that he had made ages ago for an "Actual Items" sketch, and that he stole the "Walker, Texas Ranger" lever from NBC's storeroom to give to Conan when they went to LA. Something that Bill talked about that I guess even Robert and Conan didn't know, is that when he assembled that sheep skeleton, he didn't just dig up the bones and put them together. He had to dig up several sheep carcasses, boil them, and scrape all the fat and sinew off the bones so that they would be clean enough to be on TV. RIP Bill Tull. So many of our lives and childhoods would not have been the same without his brilliant work.
The Inside Conan with Bill Tull was one of the absolute best! I've been watching since '93 and I really loved the bits with Bill. This trip down memory lane with Robert Smigel was so sweet. Us super fans really do notice the folks behind the scenes and I'm so happy for those lucky and talented people 🥰🥰🥰 Also....Conan porn please 🤣🤣🤣
I love Conesy SO MUCH He started hosting when I was 13 and I fell for him right away Nobody has mastered silliness like he has I really want to meet him someday I'd hug him and tell him Thank Youuuu for sharing all the comedy for the past 3 decades ❤❤❤
When two of the world's greatest humorists remember you so fondly and honestly...you did something right. Rest in Peace. The world turns a little slower now, and Mr. Tull is not forgotten... Well done...
Those first 2 seasons were awesome, I loved all the goofy sketches, and I'd tell everyone "actually Conan doesn't suck!" all the time back then as a kid. Our home was also a Nielson Household so I'd make sure the show was on to try to help the ratings, and I'd use the VCR to record nearly every sketch for the first few seasons (until I went off to college and didn't have a TV for a while). Conan's 12:30am show was immediately hilarious, the sketches and bits never needed to find it's footing, they had it from day one. Conan was nervous as an interviewer of course (and he improved exponentially over the years), but the comedy bits were great and Conan handled those well.
I love watching Conan interview A listers and the most popular celebrities in the world - but this kind of conversation is my favorite. Inspiring and heartwarming and very funnyyyy
I've been waiting for Robert Smigel as a guest & finally my wish came true! Every work he has done like the Insult Comic Dog, The Dana Carvey Show & of course, Conan's Show, have all been my favourite sketch comedy shows, which all cracked me up, b/c his dark comedy/sense of humour are so similar to mine -- I love it! I hope to see more of his work b/c if anyone that can me laugh hard it's Robert Smigel & including Conan too! 🤣😂😆
3:35 Bill Tull was an honorable Ferengi at heart, it seems. He believed in the Great Material Continuum and that passion clearly worked wonders for the show.
This is why conan was and still is true comedic and artistic genius. It takes people who truly believe in what they're doing to make a project no matter what kind, truly beautiful and to make what's trying to be given to people actual art. Beatles needed George Martin among countless others. For certain things, diy things and such this isn't always the case but diy things that become well known there's almost always a cast of believers behind the scenes that sometimes are willing to go above and beyond but usually only if they truly believe what they're doing means something to them as well. Support art if you believe in it and you can! This is a really important aspect of conan that to me always I knew at some level had to have been true for it to continue and evolve. ✌️ and ❤️
Watching and listening to this and absolutely tearing up b/c I remember being in high school and setting my VHS to record Conan and watching the show when I got home from school the next day. It was an amazing time. I'm so happy to hear that Conan and Robert had people behind them that believed just as much as we did.
Smigel's Triumph joke at the Star Wars premiere "which button do you press to call your parents...?" Is one of the funniest, if not THE best, jokes ever in late night. 😂😂😂
I watched Conan's LATE NIGHT show from the first episode onward. The early episodes were so good because they were so fresh and raw! I never knew what to expect from Conan and company, so I had to tune in every night to find out! I was never disappointed. I even managed to come see a taping of the episode once with guests being Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Michael Palin with musical guest being a very pregnant Cyndi Lauper! Was so much fun! Biggest surprise for me was seeing Conan in-person because he was much taller than I would have thought back then. He did a great Elvis warm-up too!
I distinctly remember seeing the dancing Stanley cup because it changed how I saw comedy for the rest of my life. When that cup came out, I sarcastically thought, "Oh wow, this is original." Then the cup sat down on the audience steps to reveal his tighty whities and I was in shock. I didn't know you could do that! It was at that moment that I realized Conan and his writers were something special and I instantly became a life long fan. Thank you to Robert for sharing that story, for Bill being Bill, and everyone at Team Coco. Love you all!
I remember Bill's tips for gifts and that hilarious deadpan delivery of "boom, here it is." So sad to realize he's been gone, his work will always be remembered and appreciated at least. It's so fascinating hearing these behind the scenes stories from the early years of the show.
The props in Conan's sketches were sometimes hilariously slapped together, but every single one of them was integral to the visual gags. Bill Tull never missed.
Talking about all the stuff willing to go the extra mile reminds me of LaBamba sitting in the honey without even a second thought. They are willing to do anything for the show.
As they were bouncing back and forth that idea of the porn clip with the furniture talking I'm imagining it with this late 90's VHS image fuzziness to it and laughing at how funny and insane it would be.
Smigel and Downey, were probably the most affective 2 comedic source guys in comedy who didn't show their faces, over decades. At least to me, they along Norm MacDonald were major sources of enjoyment over years. Conan too, I should add. Performing is of course the delivery and what is remembered, but the comedy always starts with the writer and their minds. Kind of like actors get all the fame and praise, when they are just the vessels for the content thought up by writers.
I end up listening to this usually fabulous Conan podcast (including THIS episode) in my Honda CRV hybrid with its Bose audio system and its 12 speakers. I watched today on my PC to make sure it was the incredible Smigel. My problem is I can't always figure out who's on the podcast in a segment because the infotainment system doesn't display that while I'm monitoring my hybrid fuel performance. The audio quality on that Bose is terrific...but do I need to put a dash-mounted tv above my touch screen so I can SEE who the hell is making me laugh?? -Baffled in Buffalo
From remembering Bill Tull to Conan getting ganged up by network execs to him hallucinating during a porno shoot, these wild tangents that the podcast get through are giving me emotional whiplash lol
Bill passed away in July 2022. You can tell how much he meant because he was top of mind to mention for Robert.
Top of mind to mention for?
Bill was my Godfather and we miss him very much, thank you so much for this! ❤❤❤
He was also your uncle
@@stagehand1995 Lmaooo.Condolences to you Hayley
My condolences to you and your family ❤
Bill Tull was the man! The prop skits were the funniest, I watch Bill Tull's Budget Tip clips all the time and laugh every time.
Bill having to get the security guard's phone number so he could acquire the silver bowl was like a side quest.
They should make a GTA style game, but its about a late night show and you have to do all these different crazy quests for the show.
@@mushieslushiehonestly, yes. Sorta Larry Sanders behind the scenes wacky stuff. I'd love that.
They could call it Jordan Schlansky's Various Tasks.
@@GohTakeshitaYeah, you play as Jordan, but the whole game is in Italian only.
@@GohTakeshitaonly after you prepare your character in various ways
Bill Tull was absolutely essential in creating the identity of Late Night for Conan and company. He made their silly ideas manifest. What an incredible person he was. May he rest in peace.
Digging up bones on a farm at night is a whole new level of dedication.
Especially since I'm quite sure he could have gone to a props warehouse and bought or rented a plastic animal skeleton. But that would have seemed too easy!
Farm bone visions was probably just another day
I loved Bill’s budgeting tips
"Boom..."
Yes! Loved those, they were hilarious 😂
"Tired of paying too much for diarrhea?"
The Scraps where he does Cinco de Mayo - I think about that all the time. "High cost of naps got ya down?"
After hearing this podcast, I don't feel so bad when he poured beans down his pants. It felt like the producers forced him to do a bit, but now we know, he's a ride or die person who probably said "Why not, I'll do that" 🤣
Ill never get tired of Bill Tull stories. As a guy who has often been that go-to guy to build crazy things on short deadlines, its so heartwarming to know that its something people remember and care about.
Seen 👍
This show worked as long as it did because there was clearly fountains of love pouring out of it. Conan's self-deprication is a smokescreen for his connection to his crew, that has persisted through the years. That why he's the best.
Edit: and God bless Bill.
I just love how Conan really takes the time to honor all the people that worked/helped him with the show.
RIP Bill Tull, I still go back to those skits all the time! He truly embodies the spirit of Conan's comedy.
Seeing Robert Smigel being fiercely emotional talking about those times, about Conan and Bill Tull and all the people that got involved and worked on the show through the years... It's just fantastic: a journey in the past.
Conan and his team wrote a beautiful page to the television, and to the entertainment in general.
Having Robert and Conan together is as good as it gets
The interaction, respect and love between Conan and Smigel is priceless. Two hilarious people who feed off one another. Great comedy that deserves to be appreciated. Thank you.
I remember his first year. I was in the military, stationed in Alaska, the show was epic.
I am so glad that the Cosmos brought together Conan and Smigel.
I've always wished I could be a fly on the wall during those late night SNL writing sessions. Imagine being in a room with Conan O'Brien, Robert Smigel, and Bob Odenkirk all bouncing ideas off each other.
I remember laughing to the point of crying because of a bit called “asphyxiate me elmo” and the look of the prop was so ridiculous and devastating that it made me laugh so much. The props were so great Bill!!
TEAM COCO please Keep Bill Tull's stories alive, share more about his days with Conan!
R.I.P. Bill Tull 😢
Hi salsal🌹🌹
How are you doing?
I looked forward to Bills skits, he had me in stitches!❤ RIP
"Take a margarita, hand it to my wife in bed, BOOM: frozen margarita." Bill Tull's Budget Cinco de Mayo Tips was one of the biggest laughs I've had watching Conan. RIP.
That wife in bed joke saved the whole bit at the end.
Bill's Inside Conan episode was great. Just based on the appearances he made on Conan's TBS show, Bill had the "vibe" of a disapproving dad. Obviously he loved the show, he loved his job, and he must have loved Conan, since he stuck around for so long and made the cross country trip to keep working with him, but there was something about his stage presence that made it seem like he would be reluctant to put together a stupid prop for a writer's silly idea. But on Inside Conan, he showed that he was just as committed to the silliness as everyone else on the show. He said that he still had one of the Jesus figurines on his desk that he had made ages ago for an "Actual Items" sketch, and that he stole the "Walker, Texas Ranger" lever from NBC's storeroom to give to Conan when they went to LA. Something that Bill talked about that I guess even Robert and Conan didn't know, is that when he assembled that sheep skeleton, he didn't just dig up the bones and put them together. He had to dig up several sheep carcasses, boil them, and scrape all the fat and sinew off the bones so that they would be clean enough to be on TV. RIP Bill Tull. So many of our lives and childhoods would not have been the same without his brilliant work.
The Inside Conan with Bill Tull was one of the absolute best! I've been watching since '93 and I really loved the bits with Bill. This trip down memory lane with Robert Smigel was so sweet. Us super fans really do notice the folks behind the scenes and I'm so happy for those lucky and talented people 🥰🥰🥰 Also....Conan porn please 🤣🤣🤣
Hi Carrie🌹🌹
How are you doing?
@@GeorgeMoore55heyy
Sure hope Bill got his fishing rod back from Hulk Hogan..
Link itttt
@@PleasantlyDisturbing Doesn't need to link it. We know exactly what Drakith is talking about.
@@VideoNozoki but seriously, Hulk should give Bill his fishing rod back.
They need to put all of Bill's appearances from the TBS show online for people to enjoy. It's how I got (ex) friends into Conan and his comedy.
This is the reason late night worked. This kind of work ethic and spirit is incredible.
I love Conesy SO MUCH
He started hosting when I was 13 and I fell for him right away Nobody has mastered silliness like he has I really want to meet him someday I'd hug him and tell him Thank Youuuu for sharing all the comedy for the past 3 decades ❤❤❤
I love Conan talking to his friends about behind the scenes stuff, I could listen for 7 hours.
That story about the silver bowl is awesome. Bill, you are a legend
When two of the world's greatest humorists remember you so fondly and honestly...you did something right.
Rest in Peace.
The world turns a little slower now, and Mr. Tull is not forgotten...
Well done...
Those first 2 seasons were awesome, I loved all the goofy sketches, and I'd tell everyone "actually Conan doesn't suck!" all the time back then as a kid. Our home was also a Nielson Household so I'd make sure the show was on to try to help the ratings, and I'd use the VCR to record nearly every sketch for the first few seasons (until I went off to college and didn't have a TV for a while).
Conan's 12:30am show was immediately hilarious, the sketches and bits never needed to find it's footing, they had it from day one. Conan was nervous as an interviewer of course (and he improved exponentially over the years), but the comedy bits were great and Conan handled those well.
RIP to the legend Bill Tull. I loved him during those Scrapisodes which were the funniest bits BTS that made me laugh to no end 😂
New York was the best place for Conan O’brian show because New Yorkers are crazy and like off the wall comedy.
As a New Yorker I fully agree, Late Night Conan was the golden age of late night.
I love watching Conan interview A listers and the most popular celebrities in the world - but this kind of conversation is my favorite. Inspiring and heartwarming and very funnyyyy
I loved watching Bill's bits on Conan. I still do. R.I.P. to a Great Man.
Robert Smeigel is a comedy GOD. In college we worshipped this man! And we still do, and always will. Love you guys.
On Comedy Writer Mount Rushmore with his hand up a rubber dogs ass. 100%
Bill Tull was the best! There will never be another like him.
I just wanna give Robert cred for mentioning usenet :D Dude's definitely in touch with what was going on at the times ^^
Bill's tips were always hilarious. Especially since half of them were just him drinking lol.
omg i forgot about those. BOOM!
I've been waiting for Robert Smigel as a guest & finally my wish came true! Every work he has done like the Insult Comic Dog, The Dana Carvey Show & of course, Conan's Show, have all been my favourite sketch comedy shows, which all cracked me up, b/c his dark comedy/sense of humour are so similar to mine -- I love it! I hope to see more of his work b/c if anyone that can me laugh hard it's Robert Smigel & including Conan too! 🤣😂😆
Bill Tull, the Bill Brasky of Late Night.
I remember Bill Brasky.
TO BILL TULL! 🍻
3:35 Bill Tull was an honorable Ferengi at heart, it seems. He believed in the Great Material Continuum and that passion clearly worked wonders for the show.
Smigel's tombstone is going to have a picture of Triumph saying "dees ees a great tombstone.......FOR ME TO POOP ON!! "
This is why conan was and still is true comedic and artistic genius. It takes people who truly believe in what they're doing to make a project no matter what kind, truly beautiful and to make what's trying to be given to people actual art. Beatles needed George Martin among countless others. For certain things, diy things and such this isn't always the case but diy things that become well known there's almost always a cast of believers behind the scenes that sometimes are willing to go above and beyond but usually only if they truly believe what they're doing means something to them as well. Support art if you believe in it and you can! This is a really important aspect of conan that to me always I knew at some level had to have been true for it to continue and evolve. ✌️ and ❤️
Watching and listening to this and absolutely tearing up b/c I remember being in high school and setting my VHS to record Conan and watching the show when I got home from school the next day. It was an amazing time. I'm so happy to hear that Conan and Robert had people behind them that believed just as much as we did.
Smigel's Triumph joke at the Star Wars premiere "which button do you press to call your parents...?" Is one of the funniest, if not THE best, jokes ever in late night. 😂😂😂
I love how much Bob clearly loves and deeply misses Bill and that whole crew. He’s a good dude.
I watched Conan's LATE NIGHT show from the first episode onward. The early episodes were so good because they were so fresh and raw! I never knew what to expect from Conan and company, so I had to tune in every night to find out! I was never disappointed. I even managed to come see a taping of the episode once with guests being Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Michael Palin with musical guest being a very pregnant Cyndi Lauper! Was so much fun! Biggest surprise for me was seeing Conan in-person because he was much taller than I would have thought back then. He did a great Elvis warm-up too!
I distinctly remember seeing the dancing Stanley cup because it changed how I saw comedy for the rest of my life. When that cup came out, I sarcastically thought, "Oh wow, this is original." Then the cup sat down on the audience steps to reveal his tighty whities and I was in shock. I didn't know you could do that! It was at that moment that I realized Conan and his writers were something special and I instantly became a life long fan. Thank you to Robert for sharing that story, for Bill being Bill, and everyone at Team Coco. Love you all!
Bill Tull was a legend.
I remember Bill's tips for gifts and that hilarious deadpan delivery of "boom, here it is." So sad to realize he's been gone, his work will always be remembered and appreciated at least. It's so fascinating hearing these behind the scenes stories from the early years of the show.
thanks for sharing Behind the Scene stories! ^_^
The props in Conan's sketches were sometimes hilariously slapped together, but every single one of them was integral to the visual gags. Bill Tull never missed.
RIP Bill. You are very missed. Unrelated: I really hope that Lorne will do the podcast at some point, maybe on one of Conan's trips to NYC.
Almost every time Smigel opens his mouth, I crack up, like full out belly laugh. Nobody has ever done that in my 41 years.
Love Bill Tull, RIP!!
Please just Conan, Smigel, Sona and Matt. But Wow Smigel and Conan are amazing together, they need a podcast together!
Thank you for your service Conan’s staff.
BOOM! Bill Tull
I think we need a drunk history style episode about the life and career of the legendary Bill Tull with Conan staff as the guest
Boom!! Rest in Power Bill
Always loved when Mr.Tull would show up. Thanks for the laughs, RIP.
Man, Bill was such a boss!
The Comedic Mount Rushmore - without question - HAS to have both of these gentlemen on it
Talking about all the stuff willing to go the extra mile reminds me of LaBamba sitting in the honey without even a second thought.
They are willing to do anything for the show.
The Smigel episodes are top notch!
As they were bouncing back and forth that idea of the porn clip with the furniture talking I'm imagining it with this late 90's VHS image fuzziness to it and laughing at how funny and insane it would be.
Bill Tull deserves the "Macgyver Caliber: Life-time achievement award".
My freaking idols. ❤
Talked to the hot security guard, boom - silver bowl.
Robert is right, the ep with Bill and John is one of the best on Inside Conan
This is such a fantastic episode
Take a prop master. Give him witty lines to say. Boom. Legend.
Outstanding ! chuckle Brothers and sisters!
Damnit... I'm beginning to wonder, should Conan take on the SNL production, when Loren gives in??? Could he return to the small cast origin?
Hi treborre🌹🌹
How are you doing?
10:44 Almost describing the TV Funhouse show on Comedy Central
Sona is such a vibe! Love her chemistry with Conan.
I'm a huge fan......Fuc!@#$% Sucks to just find out he passed! 🙏🏼 RIP Bill. He was hysterical on the show
Bill in Sandwiches We Remember is still comedy I depend on 😅 Miss his reactions & spot on details
Smigel and Downey, were probably the most affective 2 comedic source guys in comedy who didn't show their faces, over decades. At least to me, they along Norm MacDonald were major sources of enjoyment over years. Conan too, I should add. Performing is of course the delivery and what is remembered, but the comedy always starts with the writer and their minds. Kind of like actors get all the fame and praise, when they are just the vessels for the content thought up by writers.
Honestly Bill going to crazy lengths to build props should be a short series.
Look at these two ! This is comedy nerds heaven.
Just hard to believe he's gone...dude looked like a warrior and should have lived to 100 😪
Sona being very Ed McMahon in this clip. You are correct sir, yes!
Hey, now
Smigel speaks of the audience properly. I was 15 or so, and I INSTANTLY was drawn to Conan.
Bill Tull sounds like the Jim Henson of late night.
I end up listening to this usually fabulous Conan podcast (including THIS episode) in my Honda CRV hybrid with its Bose audio system and its 12 speakers. I watched today on my PC to make sure it was the incredible Smigel. My problem is I can't always figure out who's on the podcast in a segment because the infotainment system doesn't display that while I'm monitoring my hybrid fuel performance. The audio quality on that Bose is terrific...but do I need to put a dash-mounted tv above my touch screen so I can SEE who the hell is making me laugh?? -Baffled in Buffalo
I'd love to see them work together again. I'd love to work with a team like that.
This was both beautiful and hilarious.
Awe conan choked up on Bill.
Bill: Take a ring light. Take it to your back. Boom. Halo.
4:00 haha lol that sounds like a fever dream RPG quest
this is a great interview🤣🤣🤣
I just found one of my new favorite Conan lines…
“The pizza’s watching and rubbing it’s pepperoni nipples”
From remembering Bill Tull to Conan getting ganged up by network execs to him hallucinating during a porno shoot, these wild tangents that the podcast get through are giving me emotional whiplash lol
You have no idea how much I laughed at the food porn bit here. I was laughing like a seal in my car. Drivers were probably concerned about me
Conan in different countries on HBO Max? I hope you went to South Africa 🇿🇦. That’s a country where I could see Conan having a good time.
I was just watching remotes of Conan in Ghana. He’s the man of the people.
10:47 Aw man
This was just wonderful!
Bill Tull and that president of Boliviguay guy are my all time favorites.
Please post the whole interview
Schmiegel in Islander hat-so cool!