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Conan O’Brien’s Iconic Dance Defies SNL Creator’s Wishes

2/21/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Conan O’Brien's iconic "string dance," a quirky act where he pretends to pull invisible strings, has drawn the ire of SNL creator Lorne Michaels. In Susan Morrison's biography, it’s revealed that Michaels urged O’Brien to abandon the move during his Late Night tenure, yet O’Brien held on, keeping it alive until 2021.

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Story summary

Conan O’Brien's iconic "string dance," a quirky act where he pretends to pull invisible strings, has drawn the ire of SNL creator Lorne Michaels. In Susan Morrison's biography, it’s revealed that Michaels urged O’Brien to abandon the move during his Late Night tenure, yet O’Brien held on, keeping it alive until 2021.