Conan O’Brien’s the best talk show host we’ve still got, but he sees the writing on the wall. As we previously reported, his TBS series will pivot to 30-minute episodes when it returns next year, focusing less on guests and music than comedy. That means no more musical guests and, sadly, no more La Bamba or Mark Pender. Last night’s episode marked the last with Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band, and TV’s favorite ginger bid the outfit a heartfelt adieu before jamming out with them one last time.
Calling the band “a daily source of joy in my life,” Conan reflected warmly on how the band playing his wedding in the bitter cold of Seattle in January, and also how they stuck by him “at the most perilous moment of my career when I was left without a show and feeling pretty alone.”
He concluded, “I can say this with confidence—I have been graced with the most versatile, loyal, and joyously effervescent band in the history of television. To put it very simply, I love these guys.”
After allowing Vivino to jam with the band for a bit, Conan joined them for a Chuck Berry cover. Watch both his farewell and performance below.
O’Brien will spend the winter months on his first live tour since 2010. He’ll also launch a podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend, and see the launch of an online archive of his late night tenure.