Brian Kiley

Late Night with Conan O’Brien monologue joke writer March, 1994-present


Born approx. 1962

Hometown: Newton, Massachusetts

Education: graduated from Boston College in 1983, majoring in English [1]

Career: Brian Kiley was a seasoned veteran of Boston's stand-up comedy scene before he began working at Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1994. [2]

Brian first caught Conan’s eye during a stand-up routine on the Tonight Show and was recommended as a writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien by Tom Agna, one of Conan’s original monologue-joke writers. Brian notes that you still need to submit samples of your writing to the show and hope that they like it, even if you are recommended by staff. [2] Conan called Brian a very funny person and “really good” stand-up comedian in an interview with Prodigy online.

Brian was credited by Conan for helping him write the article “Why the Red Sox Finally Won the World Series” in the Boston Globe, December 19, 2004.

Writing Awards:
  • Won 6 Writers Guild Awards for Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series as a member of the writing team for Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1997, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006); nominated in 1999, 2001, 2004
  • Nominated for an Emmy every year since 1996 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program as a member of the writing team for Late Night with Conan O'Brien
    • On his Emmy nominations as a writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Brian has said, “We don’t win—but at least we get to go.” [1]
On his Late Night jokes:
  • "When I really like the jokes I wrote for the monologue, I watch the show from the green room, where the guests wait to go on. Sometimes I watch from the hallway, and then sometimes I just wait upstairs." [2]
  • Brian said that the constant pressure to produce fresh jokes day after day "is very draining.” [2]
  • "Some days [Conan] likes everything we give him. On other days he might like only one or even none of our jokes."
  • "Conan will occasionally come up with a joke, or it's not unusual for him to rewrite one or just change it slightly, tweak it, like, 'I would say it more conversationally -- like this.’” [2]
TV Appearances:
  • Performed stand-up on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno 4 times and Late Night with Conan O'Brien 7 times. [3]
  • Other shows Brian has appeared on include The Late Show with David Letterman, Dr. Katz Professional Therapist (playing "Brian" in episode 2.11: "Theory of Intelligence” on May 5, 1996), The CBS Morning Show, Spotlight Cafe, Caroline's Comedy Hour, Comedy On The Road, An Evening at the Improv, and Late Friday (on October 12, 2001).
Links:
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