Conan O’Brien recently reacted to a surprising joke about his “death” featured in HBO Max’s Emmy-winning comedy series Hacks. The reference, delivered by Jimmy Kimmel in Hacks season 4, episode 5 (“Clickable Face”), playfully suggests that Conan is no longer around in the show’s universe—a quip that caught the former late-night host’s attention.
In the scene, Deborah Vance (Jean Smart) tries to book Kristen Bell as a guest for her new late-night talk show, only to be confronted by Jimmy Kimmel’s character who asserts, “I got possession of her as a guest after Conan died.” The joke was an improvised moment by Kimmel, as revealed by Hacks executive producer and co-showrunner Paul W. Downs during an appearance on Conan’s podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.
O’Brien shared his amusement with the joke, explaining, “It’s a very funny joke, and nonsensical… No one questions it. It’s just ‘I get her after Conan died.’ I’m laughing because no one questions it.” The humor resonated with O’Brien, who has transitioned from late-night hosting to podcasting and other projects since leaving The Tonight Show in 2021.
Despite the joke, Downs and his fellow executive producers, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, clarified in the show’s post-episode discussion, Hacks Bit by Bit, that Conan O’Brien is very much alive within the Hacks universe. O’Brien’s longtime assistant, Sona Movsesian, put it succinctly: “Conan is dead if he doesn’t have a talk show,” referencing O’Brien’s departure from traditional late-night television.
The legacy of Conan O’Brien’s late-night career continues to influence Hacks, particularly the storyline of Deborah Vance’s late-night talk show. Paul W. Downs expressed interest in having Conan guest star in a potential fifth season of Hacks, a prospect that excites the comedian. O’Brien himself has expressed willingness to appear on the show in any capacity—even joking that he would be happy to work craft services.
The playful jab by Kimmel stands out as one of Hacks season 4’s most memorable moments, blending meta-humor with genuine respect for Conan’s impact on late-night television. Fans of both Hacks and Conan O’Brien will likely look forward to the possibility of his cameo, which would confirm that the beloved host remains very much part of the series’ world.