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Conan O’Brien Was Forced To Drag His Guest Away From The Studio Audience Twice During The Same Interview

Highlights

  • Conan O’Brien is an entertaining talk show host who can control his guests and audience.
  • Roberto Benigni’s infectious energy and enthusiasm made for a memorable appearance on O’Brien’s show.
  • O’Brien had to physically drag Benigni away from the studio audience twice during the interview.

For a talk show host to be considered one of the best, they need to have certain attributes. Most notably, they need to be able to entertain their guests and their fans. On top of that, if the host wants to become rich, they have to be able to control their guests and audience.

Between his love for flirting with his guests, his quick wit, and more, Conan O’Brien definitely is entertaining. On top of that, O’Brien has proven he can control his guests and audience, which is why he became rich. After all, O’Brien once proved that he would go so far as to drag a celebrity away from his studio audience twice during an interview if he had to.

Conan O’Brien Had To Drag Roberto Benigni Away From His Studio Audience

When the movie Life is Beautiful was released in 1997, it became a critical and commercial sensation. As a result of that massive success, the movie’s star, director, and co-writer, Roberto Benigni was introduced to film fans all over the world.

Via: Cecchi Gori Group

While making Life is Beautiful was a crowning cinematic achievement for Benigni, he also quickly became known for something else. During Benigni’s public appearances, his manic comedic energy and seemingly never-ending enthusiasm became infectious for viewers.

How successful was Life is Beautiful, according to The Numbers?

Production Budget:

$20,000,000

Domestic Box Office:

$57,598,247

International Box Office:

$171,777,114

Worldwide Box Office:

$229,375,361

When Benigni appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1998, his enthusiasm resulted in a truly strange situation. After all, by the time Benigni’s interview was over, O’Brien had been forced to drag the actor away from his studio audience twice.

Conan O'Brien Was Forced To Drag His Guest Roberto Benigni Away From The Studio Audience
Via: Commons licenses

From the moment that Benigni walked out on O’Brien’s stage, it was clear this wasn’t going to be the typical interview. Instead of walking over to greet O’Brien as every other celebrity did, Benigni made his way over to the band and walked in a circle to their music.

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Once Benigni finally made his way over to the typical interview area, he began by greeting O’Brien’s co-host Andy Richter. Instead of shaking Richter’s hand or even hugging him, Benigni leaped into the co-host’s arms and briefly hung off his body.

Benigni then walked over to O’Brien, who looked completely delighted with how the actor was acting. O’Brien then played into Benigni’s energy by giving his guest a big hug and lifting him into the air.

After O’Brien finished hugging Benigni, it was then that the actor turned to the studio audience for the first time.

Conan O'Brien in 2003
Via: Instar

At first, Benigni turned to greet the audience with the kind of glee that most people save for the moment they reunite with a loved one they haven’t seen in years. If that wasn’t enough, Benigni then blew a kiss to the audience, who also seemed delighted to see him.

Finally, Benigni ran over to the studio audience and seemed especially interested in two of them. After stepping up and leaning over a railing, he kissed those two audience members. At that moment, O’Brien went out into the audience to drag Benigni away for the first time.

The only way that O’Brien could ensure that Benigni came with him was by lifting the actor and carrying him. As enthusiastic as ever, Benigni commenced waving at the audience as O’Brien carried him away.

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Once O’Brien brought Benigni over to the interview area, he began trying to talk to the actor. However, Benigni had other things in mind as he began by asking O’Brien how he was doing before he began praising Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

“This is the most lovable show I’ve ever seen in my life. Very lovable… Everything is talking about love, no? Everything, this table, this couch, you! We’re all about love.”

After continuing to talk about love and expressing his admiration for O’Brien and Richter, Benigni gestured toward the audience again. Worried he would have to corral Benigni again, O’Brien exclaimed, “No. Stay! I’m afraid you’re going to run away again.”

Roberto Benigni looking delighted
Via: Instar

O’Brien then began talking to Benigni about how much he loved Life is Beautiful. Following that, O’Brien attempted to ask Benigni about the Oscars, sometimes looking to Richter for help getting the actor to answer his questions.

Unfortunately for O’Brien, he eventually lost all control of his guest. After O’Brien cited a poll about how much people loved Benigni at the time, the crowd went wild. That resulted in Benigni getting out of his chair and running over to the audience again.

O’Brien then followed the actor and more forcefully carried Benigni back to the interview area once again. O’Brien then concluded the interview as he commented on not being able to keep the conversation on track.

How Did Conan O’Brien React To His Roberto Benigni Interview?

A few months after Conan O’Brien had to carry Roberto Benigni away from his audience, he went on to joke about the actor.

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During Late Night with Conan O’Brien’s time on the air, there were several recurring bits. One of those bits featured photos of celebrities appearing on a screen with their mouths replaced by Robert Smigel who impersonated them. During one of these segments, Smigel impersonated Benigni.

As O’Brien tried to interview Smigel’s version of Benigni, he bega talking about how much he loved O’Brien. This seemed like an obvious reference to Benigni talking about love during his earlier appearance on O’Brien’s show.

Conan O'Brien looking amused
Via: Instar

O’Brien went on to ask Smigel’s version of Benigni about how he would act if he won an Oscar. Throughout the rest of the interview, Smigel as Benigni continued to talk about how much he loved people.

How did Life is Beautiful perform at the Oscars, according to the Academy Awards’ website?

  • Best Picture (Nominated)
  • Best Director (Nominated)
  • Best Actor in a Leading Role – Roberto Benigni (Winner)
  • Best Original Screenplay (Nominated)
  • Best Foreign Language Film (Winner)
  • Best Film Editing (Nominated)
  • Best Music, Original Dramatic Score (Winner)

Finally, Smigel as Benigni went on a rant about how much he would hate people if he didn’t win an Oscar. Like all of O’Brien’s bits, the way Benigni was mocked during this segment appeared to be all in good fun.

Source: NewsFinale

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