It's a brand new night

Tonight was Conan's first show. I have to admit, watching him on the Tonight Show can only be equated to watching your team's top pitching prospect, who you followed throughout the minors and watched in Triple A, knowing that it was just a matter of time before he got the call to big show, make his major league debut. From the Simpsons, to the Late Show we knew this was going to happen and it's really, I think, a generational moment to see Conan take over the Tonight Show.

I was a bit nervous. As everyone knows Late Night is much different from Primetime and would NBC let Conan do the show his way or would they try to tamper with him to make him more "pleasing" to older audiences. So far though it seems as if they're letting Conan be Conan.

The opening skit for the show was great. Conan leaves NY but can't grab a cab so he runs across the U.S. When he gets to the studio he can't get in - cut back to the keys on the windowsill in NY. Lots of directions this can go for comedic effect, and what they choose will set the tone. Conan walks back off screen saddened. The door remains in view and then from off screen, a bulldozer drives right through the door and studio wall. Great start.

Max Weinberg is there, which I knew but I guess I missed the memo that Andy Richter was coming back. When he announced Conan I got really excited. Conan got a huge applause, "pop" as it's referred to in the wrestling game. It's obvious that the audience is aware of who he is, which I guess was a concern of NBC with regard to their usual demographic. After quieting the audience down, Conan introduces Andy and welcomes him back.

Another skit, showing Conan leading a Universal Studio tour. Crowd shots showing someone didn't get his humor, while others are just cracking up. At one point he got the crowd on the tour chanting "circle, circle" as the driver did donuts on the Universal lot. Then Conan took the tour "off-road" through L.A. before stopping at a 99 cent store to buy gifts for everyone on the tour. Great stuff. As the skit ends and they cut back to the studio the studio audience is chanting "circle, circle". And that's when I realized, things are going to be alright.

Just one thing could have made it better - someone yelling out "Vroom Vroom party starter."

Good luck Conan. We're all happy for you.