drawing from current news stories and issues. The monolog was sometimes accompanied by clips and brief comedy skits, in addition to occasional interactions between O'Brien and Richter, and the audience. Sketches and comedy bits One or more comedy bits followed the monolog. Following the monolog, some comedy bits (such as those based on video clips) were presented from the monolog stage. Following the first commercial break, additional comedy sketches were typically presented from the desk area. Some sketches were original and appeared only once. Occasionally an additional sketch would air between the first and second guest. Before taping Before the show is being recorded and while the audience fills up audience seats warm-up comedians Gary Cannon or Jimmy Pardo would usually warm up the crowd before the show. 2019–2021: Half-hour format In May 2018, O'Brien and TBS announced the show would be reformatted into a 30-minute show, with a looser structure starting 2019. In January 2019, O'Brien gave a more detailed description of the new format of his show. It would not feature a band or a desk area, and for the first time as host of a talk show, O'Brien would not be wearing a suit. He commented, "I really don't miss the desk. It started to feel like I'm doing someone's taxes." The last hour-long regular episode aired on October 4, 2018. The new reformatted version premiered on January 22, 2019, on TBS. O'Brien's first guest for the new-look show was Tom Hanks. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program switched to a remotely-produced format from O'Brien's home beginning March 30, 2020. In July 2020, it was announced that Conan would continue with this format, but would now be filmed with limited on-site staff from the Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles and no studio audience — making it the first American late-night talk show to return to filming outside of the host's residence (albeit still not from its main studio). O'Brien explained that "I got started doing improv at the Coronet in 1986 and I'm glad we've figured out a way to safely keep that theater going during this lockdown." Episodes on location October 31 – November 3, 2011: taped at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Guests included Jimmy Fallon, Hugh Jackman, Matthew Broderick and Louis C.K. June 11–14, 2012: taped at the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois, as part of the TBS Just for Laughs