Mike Sweeney head writer for Late Night with Conan O’Brien 2000-present; staff writer 1995-2000; warmup comic 1993-2000 The following pictures are from the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences event An Evening with 'Late Night wtih Conan O'Brien' on May 18, 2005 Portrayed Late Night characters Abraham Lincoln/Todd (a character who couldn’t believe that Conan wasn't gay)/Various Late Night fans might recognize Mike Sweeney as the man standing at the podium next to executive producer Jeff Ross during the show. Birthday: February 4 Wife: Cynthia Education: Rutgers-Newark: State University of New Jersey (undergraduate degree) [1] Graduated from Fordham University School of Law in 1982 [2] Former Occupation: Worked as a lawyer for over 3 years, until 1986; worked at Liberty Mutual Insurance Co. in New York [2] While practicing law, Mike also performed stand-up comedy in the evenings. He says, "I stopped practicing law [in 1986], when I started making $100 a week in comedy. I wasn’t scared; I was excited. I really didn’t think I was meant to be a lawyer." [2] Soon after leaving law, Mike was doing stand-up comedy seven days a week with no vacations, until he got a job in 1993 as the warmup comic at Late Night. [2] Still appears at various comedy events in and around NYC 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 Quotes About Mike: Described as “quite possibly the nicest man in New York” in New York Magazine Comedian Demetri Martin, former writer for Late Night, has said Mike Sweeney is "one of my favorite people." (The Gothamist, October, 2005) Late Night Career: Was hired to do the studio audience warm-up for Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1993 to rev up the audience for the Max Weinberg 7, Andy, and Conan. In 1995, he was finally hired as a staff writer. [2] He continued to do the audience warm-up until he was crowned head writer in 2000. (Brian McCann currently does the audience warm-up.) Why was Mike chosen as head writer by Conan? "Well, we're both tall and we're both Irish" says Sweeney. He admits, "[Head writer] was a job I never had my eyes on. They made me do it. The other head writer [Jonathan Groff] left." [2] As head writer at Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Mike hires new writers for the show and works very closely with Conan. Around noon everyday at work, Conan “huddles with Mike Sweeney. They put their heads together not just on that afternoon's show but on future shows.” [3] On being head writer: "Being head writer is not just writing but a lot of managerial stuff. I mostly figure out what the [main] comedy piece will be. I read everything. I edit stuff and offer ideas. Conan weighs in, too." Some of Mike’s other writing duties: The writers type out their jokes for bits such as “Celebrity Survey” and “New Characters”, print them, and bring them to Mike's office. Mike reads them aloud to the writers and looks for their reactions. If not enough jokes make the writers laugh, they go back to their offices, write more, and return to Mike with new jokes. [4] A bit idea first must be approved by Mike, but it can still get cut during rehearsal. [1] Mike writes sketches for the show if needed, such as if there is unfilled time on the show. [5] On writing sketches that Conan doesn’t particularly love: "[Conan] will rip something to shreds in a way that you're laughing as you're being eviscerated.” [6] On writing for the show in general: "I don't see my family during the week. I usually go in at 10 a.m., and I get out between 10 and midnight." The upside: "I'm making more moola. The [other] good thing is I get nine weeks off a year." [2] "There are hairy days," admits Sweeney. "There are days when they're loading the audience [into the studio], and we're in Conan's dressing room, frantically rewriting." [6] Mike's thoughts on Conan: "He's really funny around the office.” [6] "He loves performing for us." [6] “He's a great ad-libber.” [2] “He's the quickest guy in comedy -- and I've been around a lot of quick comedians.” [2] "I feel like he really loves writers. He totally understands where everyone is coming from . . . He knows we're like trapped animals that have to produce." [6] Random Fact: After doing a remote for Late Night at Foote, Cone, & Belding (a New York advertising agency) in early 2000, Conan called upon Mike to "make sure you get everyone's address and phone number” involved in the sketch at the agency, to which Mike replied, “It’s the blond, isn’t it?” This eventually led to the marriage of Conan and an FCB advertising copywriter, Liza Powel. [7] Past Writing/TV Jobs: lended his voice for Comedy Central’s show Crank Yankers in 2002 [8] wrote for The 39th Annual Grammy Awards in 1997 with host Ellen DeGeneres wrote for the TV show "Short Attention Span Theater" (aired 1989-1994) Article: Court Jester Turned Comedy Writer (2003) Got more info or a correction? Please email me.