Conan O’Brien Must Go … All the Way to the Emmys

Conan O’Brien‘s captivating series, “Conan O’Brien Must Go,” features the comedian and talk show host traveling the globe to immerse himself in diverse cultures and meet intriguing new friends. Premiered on Max in April, the first season spans the picturesque landscapes of Norway, Argentina, Thailand, and Ireland. Garnering significant acclaim, the series has earned O’Brien two Emmy nominations: Best Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special and Best Nonfiction Writing.

Currently, “Conan O’Brien Must Go” leads the odds for the Best Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special category at the 2024 Emmys. With 82/25 odds, the show is favored over contenders like “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.” (39/10 odds), “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” (4/1 odds), “How To with John Wilson” (9/2 odds), and “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy” (9/2 odds).

Among major media outlets, six out of eight experts predict a victory for “Conan O’Brien Must Go.” These include Ben Travers (Indiewire), Christopher Rosen (Gold Derby), Eric Deggans (NPR), Jazz Tangcay (Variety), Joyce Eng (Gold Derby), and Susan King (Gold Derby). Meanwhile, Clayton Davis (Variety) believes “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” is the show to beat, and Ray Richmond (Gold Derby) backs “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.”

Additionally, nine out of eleven Gold Derby Editors anticipate a win for O’Brien in the Best Hosted Nonfiction Series or Special category, with 22 out of the Top 24 Users also supporting the Irish comedian’s series. As the Creative Arts ceremonies approach on September 7 and 8, viewers still have time to make their own Emmy predictions.

Gold Derby is not currently predicting the Best Nonfiction Writing category, but the writers of the Ireland episode of “Conan O’Brien Must Go” (O’Brien, Jessie Gaskell, Matt O’Brien, and Mike Sweeney) will compete against writers from “How To with John Wilson,” “Jim Henson Idea Man,” “The Jinx — Part Two,” and “The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy.”

The show’s first season holds a striking 94% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Stephen Rodrick (Variety) praises it as a “keeper,” highlighting that the show succeeds because O’Brien engages earnestly with his newfound friends. Daniel Fienberg (Hollywood Reporter) describes the show as “smartly stupid fun,” while Tania Hussain (Collider) lauds it for its heart, humor, and entertaining appeal.

O’Brien is no stranger to Emmy wins, having collected four awards for prior endeavors. He won for writing “Saturday Night Live” (1989) and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” (2007), and for creative achievements with “The Team Coco Sync App” (2012) and “Conan Without Borders” (2018). However, he has yet to secure a program Emmy. Could “Conan O’Brien Must Go” be the groundbreaking series that brings him this elusive accolade? Stay tuned, Coco fans.

Source: Gold Derby, Variety, NPR, Hollywood Reporter, Collider