When Legends Collide: Stephen Colbert and Conan O’Brien’s Backstage Brawl Shocks Late-Night Fans
Stephen Colbert and Conan O’Brien have crossed paths many times throughout their long careers in comedy, but few moments captured the late-night world’s attention like their infamous street showdown with Jon Stewart during the 2007 writers’ strike. What began as a tense standoff in television quickly turned into a legendary piece of comedy history.
At the time, the late-night shows had gone dark, forced off the air while writers fought for better pay and protections. When the networks decided to bring their shows back without writers, hosts like Colbert, O’Brien, and Stewart faced the daunting task of carrying full programs without the witty, scripted material audiences were used to. Instead of letting the moment break them, the trio leaned into their improvisational roots.
The result? A mock rivalry that spilled onto the streets of New York City. Colbert, armed with his trademark bravado, O’Brien with his self-deprecating absurdity, and Stewart with his biting wit, staged an over-the-top “brawl” in front of cameras. The bit went viral before “viral” was even a regular part of pop culture, instantly cementing the three as comedy warriors united in chaos.
For Colbert and O’Brien, the sketch also highlighted just how much history they shared. Both cut their teeth in improv and sketch comedy—Colbert with Second City in Chicago and O’Brien as a writer on Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. That grounding in unscripted performance gave them the ability to thrive when the traditional machinery of late-night television stalled.
Now, with Colbert preparing for his dramatic exit from The Late Show, fans are looking back at moments like that street brawl as reminders of why he stood out in the first place. His partnership with O’Brien, whether in playful rivalry or mutual admiration, has long underscored the connective tissue of late-night comedy. And with O’Brien’s own resurgence thanks to his podcasting success, some are wondering if the two might find a way to reunite once again—perhaps this time without a strike to force their hand.
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