Conan O'Brien Reveals 'SNL' Regret—'I Wish I Could Go Back in Time'

Comedian Conan O'Brien has discussed one of the regrets he continues to hold from the years that he worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live.

In 1988, years before he rose to fame, the TV personality landed a coveted job on the NBC show. He remained in the role until 1991, when he went on to become a writer on the long-running animated series The Simpsons.

During a recent episode of his podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, the former late-night talk-show host spoke with his guest, Hollywood actor Tom Hanks , about his time on SNL, saying he wished he had made more of his stint.

"I wish I could go back in time," O'Brien said. "People always say no regrets ... I regret being so intense about that job. I was way too intense, and I think I robbed myself of some fun that I could have had."

"I did have a lot of fun," O'Brien told Hanks, who has hosted SNL 10 times. "But I think I could have had more fun, and I think I could have maybe written there a little longer, if I didn't make it such a grind for myself."

O'Brien praised Lorne Michaels, the comedy sketch show's creator and producer, for the "brilliant" way in which he worked with the writers.

"I had only worked about three years in television before that, but no one had let me near anything. You get to SNL, you write a sketch, and Steve Martin's going to be in it. And then Lorne says, 'Well, go in and tell Steve how it should be done and what you're thinking. And then go and talk to the props people about how the restaurant should look.'"

Recalling his lack of life experience at the time, O'Brien raised laughs as he quipped, "I thought, I'm 26—I've never been to a restaurant."

After leaving SNL, O'Brien worked as a writer and producer on The Simpsons from 1991 to 1993. In 1993, the comedian got his big break in front of the camera when he became the host of Late Night With Conan O'Brien , a show he helmed until 2009.

O'Brien then briefly succeeded Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, a role he held for almost eight months between June 2009 and January 2010 before being ousted following a public fallout with the network over a time-slot clash. Leno returned to the show and hosted it for another stint until 2014. Jimmy Fallon is the current host.

Following his departure from NBC, O'Brien hosted the talk show Conan, with his run on the TBS hit coming to an end in June 2021 after 11 years.

O'Brien's 28 years on late-night TV means he's had one of the longest runs as a talk-show host in the history of American television, placing him ahead of Oprah Winfrey and Larry King, though just behind Johnny Carson and David Letterman.

Earlier this year, O'Brien fronted the Max travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go, which saw him travel to Argentina, Ireland, Norway and Thailand. It was announced in May that the show was renewed for a second season.