Conaco

Conaco, LLC is an American television production company established in 2001 by entertainer and television host Conan O'Brien. Its name combines “Conan” with “Co,” an abbreviation of “company,” while also serving as a playful reference to Conoco, the petroleum company. The business was created as a production vehicle associated with O'Brien's television work and has primarily developed and produced programs for major U.S. television groups, particularly NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery. Conaco's first credited production was Lost, a short-lived reality program that debuted in 2001. The company subsequently became closely connected with O'Brien's late-night career. It was involved with programs associated with his NBC tenure, including Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. The company's production activities extended beyond O'Brien's own hosting vehicles. Its credits included Andy Barker, P.I., a comedy series starring Andy Richter, and Outlaw, a legal drama centered on a former United States Supreme Court justice who becomes a lawyer. Both series had brief runs. A significant turning point came after O'Brien's departure from NBC in 2010 following the dispute over the scheduling and continuation of The Tonight Show. Under the departure agreement, Conaco was permitted to continue operating through the end of the relevant production season. After that period, the company changed its principal television affiliation from NBCUniversal to Warner Bros. Television, reflecting O'Brien's move to the cable network TBS in November 2010. Conaco then produced Conan, O'Brien's TBS late-night program, helping maintain continuity between his on-screen career and his independent production structure. The company also expanded its work into programming outside traditional late-night talk shows. It produced Eagleheart, a comedy series starring Chris Elliott for TBS's sister network Adult Swim. This demonstrated a broader programming role for Conaco, encompassing scripted comedy and projects made for different audiences within the Warner media portfolio. David Kissinger, a former NBCUniversal executive and son of Henry Kissinger, has served as Conaco's president since 2005. His long tenure provided executive continuity as the company moved from its initial NBC-centered period into its Warner Bros. Television and TBS phase. Publicly documented information identifies Conaco primarily as a television production company rather than as a consumer-facing product brand. Its commercial identity is therefore tied to the development, production, and ownership structure of entertainment programming, especially projects connected to Conan O'Brien. The available reference material identifies untitled stand-up specials for Max as upcoming productions. Beyond its television credits and announced development activity, detailed information about Conaco's staffing, financial performance, headquarters, and current corporate structure is not publicly established in the supplied sources.

Conaco was founded in 2001 by Conan O'Brien as an American television production company. The name is formed from O'Brien's first name and “Co,” a shortened form of “company,” with an additional humorous resemblance to the name Conoco. The company was established to serve as a production entity for O'Brien's television work and other entertainment projects. Its first production credit was Lost, a short-lived reality television program. Conaco then developed a close relationship with O'Brien's NBC programming, participating in the production of Late Night with Conan O'Brien and later The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. During this period, the company also pursued projects beyond late-night television. These included Andy Barker, P.I., a comedy series starring Andy Richter that ran for six episodes, and Outlaw, a drama about a former Supreme Court justice who leaves the bench and starts a law practice. Outlaw was canceled after only a few episodes. The company's corporate position became more significant during the 2010 dispute involving NBC, O'Brien, and the scheduling of The Tonight Show. O'Brien ultimately left NBC, and the departure agreement allowed Conaco to remain in operation until the end of the applicable production season. After that period, the company moved its television affiliation to Warner Bros. Television, then part of the same broader corporate group as O'Brien's new network, TBS. Beginning in November 2010, Conaco produced Conan, O'Brien's TBS late-night talk show. This transition allowed the company to continue supporting O'Brien's principal television vehicle while changing from an NBC-centered production relationship to one connected with Warner Bros. Television and TBS. Conaco also produced Eagleheart, a comedy starring Chris Elliott for Adult Swim, a sister network of TBS. That project broadened the company's profile into scripted comedy made for a different network identity and audience. David Kissinger, a former NBCUniversal executive and the son of Henry Kissinger, became Conaco's president in 2005 and is identified as holding that position in the available reference material. O'Brien remains the company's owner. Public information characterizes Conaco mainly through its program credits rather than through consumer products, retail operations, or a separately marketed service portfolio. The company's listed upcoming productions include untitled stand-up specials for Max. The supplied sources do not establish a detailed current staffing structure, financial profile, headquarters location, or the precise corporate terms of any later production arrangements. Conaco is therefore best understood as a privately held entertainment-production vehicle associated with O'Brien's television and comedy output.

• 2010

  Production affiliation shifts from NBCUniversal to Warner Bros. Television

  [1]Conacoen.wikipedia.org

  After O'Brien's departure from NBC, Conaco completes its permitted NBC production period and changes its primary affiliation.

• 2010

  Conaco begins producing Conan for TBS

  [1]Conacoen.wikipedia.org

  The company produces O'Brien's new TBS late-night program, Conan, beginning with the network transition in November.

• 2005

  David Kissinger becomes president

  [1]Conacoen.wikipedia.org

  David Kissinger, a former NBCUniversal executive, begins serving as Conaco's president.

• 2001

  Conaco is founded

  [1]Conacoen.wikipedia.org

  Conan O'Brien establishes Conaco, LLC as a television production company.

• 2001

  First production credit: Lost

  [1]Conacoen.wikipedia.org

  Conaco receives its first production credit on the short-lived reality program Lost.

An entertainment production company built around Conan O'Brien's television and comedy work, with capabilities spanning late-night, scripted comedy, reality programming, and specials.

• Reality television · 2001

  Lost

  Conaco's first credited production was Lost, a reality television program that had a short run. It represents the company's earliest documented move into television production after its formation in 2001.

• Late-night talk show

  Late Night with Conan O'Brien

  A late-night program associated with Conan O'Brien's NBC career and one of the principal types of programming for which Conaco functioned as a production vehicle.

• Late-night talk show · 2009

  The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien

  Conaco was involved with O'Brien's NBC version of The Tonight Show during his short tenure as host. The program became central to the 2010 scheduling dispute that preceded O'Brien's departure from NBC.

• Comedy television series

  Andy Barker, P.I.

  A comedy series starring Andy Richter that received six episodes with Conaco among its production credits.

• Legal drama

  Outlaw

  A drama about a former Supreme Court justice who leaves the court and establishes a law firm. The series was canceled after only a few episodes.

• Late-night talk show · 2010

  Conan

  O'Brien's TBS late-night program, produced by Conaco after the company's move from its NBC-related production period to an affiliation with Warner Bros. Television.

• Scripted comedy series

  Eagleheart

  A comedy series starring Chris Elliott produced for Adult Swim, a sister network of TBS. The series extended Conaco's work beyond O'Brien-hosted late-night programming.

• Stand-up comedy specials

  Untitled Max stand-up specials

  The company's listed upcoming productions include stand-up specials intended for Max. The supplied material does not provide titles, release dates, performers, or production details.

• 2010

  Shift from NBCUniversal to Warner Bros. TelevisionStrategy

  Background

  O'Brien's departure from NBC after the Tonight Show scheduling dispute changed the network context for his production company.

  Action taken

  Conaco continued operating through the period allowed by O'Brien's NBC departure agreement and then moved its principal television affiliation to Warner Bros. Television.

  Aftermath

  The change positioned Conaco to produce Conan for TBS and to undertake additional Warner-related projects such as Eagleheart for Adult Swim.

  Source

• 2010

  Production of Conan for TBSProduct launch

  Background

  After leaving NBC, Conan O'Brien began a new late-night program for TBS.

  Action taken

  Conaco became the production company behind Conan, which debuted in the new TBS relationship in November 2010.

  Aftermath

  The arrangement preserved Conaco's role in O'Brien's flagship television work while expanding its association with Warner Bros. Television and the broader TBS network group.

  Source

1. 1Conacoen.wikipedia.org