Conan O'Brien's set has been robbed.
The 57-year-old presenter has been broadcasting 'Conan' from Los Angeles' Largo at the Coronet nightclub in a bid to help the venue amid the coronavirus pandemic and revealed during Monday's (26.10.20) show that thieves had "broke in" and not only stole several laptops, which were used to conduct Zoom interviews, but also the programme's clapperboard, a wooden device that helps synchronise sounds and pictures.
Speaking to his comedy sidekick Andy Richter, Conan said: "Someone broke into our little theatre and took some of our equipment. We got robbed, Andy. Robbed!
"And whoever broke in here had to stare at 350 cardboard cutouts of exuberant fans in the eyes and say, 'Hey, don't mind me. I'm going to steal some s***.' "
After learning from producer Jason Chillemi what the culprit had taken, Conan added: "That's the lowest. I can't think of anything lower.
"Okay, the laptops — fine. [But] you took the slate? That's crazy."
But Conan was also able to see the funny side, joking about what has become of the show because "no one breaks into 'The Tonight Show' and steals all the equipment."
He laughed: "What happened to us? We've become this garage band that drives around. We've got our van and we parked it in an alley, and someone broke in and took our amps.
"What is that? This doesn't happen to the other talk show hosts. What kind of new low is this for us. Man, just for the laugh alone, maybe it's worth it."
The comic announced in July he'd be broadcasting from the famed comedy venue, opting to have guests call in via video link and for fans to submit photos of themselves to be part of a fake audience.
He said at the time: "I got started doing improv at the Coronet in 1986 and I’m glad we’ve figured out a way to safely keep that theatre going during this lockdown."
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