"Tonight Show" Host Conan O' Brien Recovering After Head Injury

Conan O' Brien, the new host of NBC's The Tonight Show, was injured during the taping of his Friday (September 25) show. The injury reportedly happened while he was participating in a stunt that was to have been included on that night's broadcast. O' Brien, 46, suffered an undisclosed head injury. However, O' Brien was in well-enough shape to quip later that day that the "Last thing I remember I was enjoying the play with Mrs. Lincoln, and the next thing I knew I was in bed being served cookies and juice," NBC states on its website.

O' Brien Not New to On-Air Stunts

O' Brien has been the subject of many on-air stunts, several of them highly physical in nature. A number of O' Brien's stunts include becoming momentarily airborne and crashing into or through objects. NBC has not yet reported the nature of the stunt O' Brien was doing when he injured his head.

Many fans of The Tonight Show have been concerned about O' Brien's health since his Friday head injury. The Associated Press has since reported that O' Brien was feeling better soon after his injury. Currently, he is slated to return to hosting The Tonight Show Monday, September 28, with guests Drew Barrymore, Joe Talamo, and musical act Paramore. There is no information as of press time about any statements O' Brien may be making about the injury when he returns on Monday.

Another Health-Related Tonight Absence in 2009

This is not the first time in 2009 that a Tonight Show host has been forced to leave the desk because of health issues. As EOnline brings to mind, former Tonight Show host Jay Leno, 59, had to cancel the taping of two shows after being admitted to a hospital when he did not feel well in April. Leno now stars in the new NBC program The Jay Leno Show, airing weeknights 10 P.M. Eastern Standard Time.

Leno was the second-longest-serving host of The Tonight Show, which he helmed from 1992 through 2009. He took over the popular NBC program after Johnny Carson finished a 30-year run as host. Before Carson, Jack Paar hosted for five years. In 1954, Steve Allen became the first host of The Tonight Show.

Resources

Associated Press. "Conan O' Brien OK After Hitting Head in Show Stunt." September 26, 2009. September 27, 2009. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jl3jWOw5MggNnb8eBHiPdTTcx0tQD9AV744O0

E Online. "Jay Leno Spending Tonight in the Hospital." April 23, 2009. September 27, 2009.
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b120373_jay_leno_spending_tonight_in_hospital.html

The Tonight Show with Conan O' Brien. September 27, 2009. http://www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com/insider/2009/09/25/tonights-show-will-be-a-repeat/#more