May 3, 1993: At a press conference held in New York's famed Rainbow Room, Conan O'Brien addresses the media for the first time as the newly named host of "Late Night." In response to a journalist's question referring to him as a "virtual unknown," O'Brien corrects, "No, sir, I am a complete unknown."
Feb. 28, 1994: David Letterman returns to NBC's Studio 6A for the first time since his departure from the network and appears on "Late Night," officially anointing Conan as his approved heir. He asks O'Brien, "How did you get this job? Was it a theme-writing contest?"
March 3, 1995: In one of the most surreal moments in late-night talk show history, the legendary Frank Zappa's sons, Dweezil and Ahmet, jam with John Tesh -- performing the classic Black Sabbath tune "The Wizard."
Jan. 18, 1996: O'Brien begins his celebrated search for Grady (Whitman Mayo) from "Sanford and Son." When one of the show's writers attempts to cast Mayo in a sketch and repeated calls to his agent go unreturned, the host turns to his viewers for help. A week later, nearly 23,000 phone calls are logged on the "Find Grady Hot Line."
Nov. 27, 1996:Country legend Kenny Rogers fails a blind-taste test to correctly identify his brand of chicken, choosing NBC Commissary chicken over Kenny Rogers' Roasters.
Feb. 13, 1997: The momentous first appearance of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, as the cantankerous canine is booted off of the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. On the same night, booked guest J.Lo (then known simply as Jennifer Lopez) is bumped.
May 14, 1997: Sen. Bob Dole confronts his "Clutch Cargo" alter ego. The audience appears confused as to which Dole is the still photograph.
Aug. 8, 1997: "Late Night" hosts an all-kids audience packed with children aged 6-8. "If the NBC research department is correct, this is our core audience," O'Brien notes. Despite the juvenile crowd, the guest list includes CNN financial expert Myron Kandel. Each time a segment grows dull, a "Boredom Monster" appears. The show ends in a Silly String fight.
Nov. 6, 1997: O'Brien files a remote from Amsterdam and is surprised to meet Ozzy Osbourne in his hotel. The two tour the city together.
Oct. 8, 1998: "Late Night" celebrates its 1,000th show by pleading on-air with potential future guest Sandra Bullock not to cancel her Oct. 14 booking. She doesn't.
Feb. 26, 1999: Bruce Springsteen appears to ceremoniously take his drummer, Max Weinberg (bandleader on "Late Night"), back on the road for the E Street Band's reunion tour. At Springsteen's urging, Weinberg removes his suit jacket and tie as Springsteen and the Max Weinberg 7 rip into "Working on a Highway."
Nov. 9-12, 1999: While taking "Late Night" on its first-ever road trip to Los Angeles, O'Brien and sidekick Andy Richter pitch producer Aaron Spelling a new series, and Conan tracks down several of the actresses who have flirted with him on the air. He then hits on them in their homes.
Dec. 17, 1999: Jim Carrey makes his first-ever appearance on the show, where it is revealed that Carrey is, in fact, the man inside the Masturbating Bear costume.
May 4, 2000: Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, holds an on-air press conference to attack the Pets.com sock puppet for plagiarism.
May 26, 2000: After seven years on the show, Richter bids "Late Night" farewell in a gala send-off, complete with a full-blown musical number and a final staring contest, where he finally beats his boss.
Sept. 14, 2000: Less than two months before a historic general election, Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Joe Lieberman appears on the show and performs "My Way."
Sept. 19, 2001: In an effort to find something in these troubled times that everyone can get behind, "Late Night" shows footage of a baby lifting a cinder block.
May 17, 2002: Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog, unleashes rare invective on the geeky fans waiting in line for the New York premiere of Fox's "Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones."
Sept. 26, 2002: Joe Pantoliano from HBO's "The Sopranos" bets O'Brien $10,000 that his character, Ralphie, will survive the mob drama's entire fourth season. Despite the fact Ralphie was beheaded on Nov. 10, no money changes hands.
Jan. 16, 2003: Guest Tom Selleck is reunited with his first mustache, only to find that it is in a coma. Selleck visits it in a miniature hospital, where the mustache expresses jealousy toward his new mustache. When left alone, Selleck murders the facial hair. He remains a free man today.
April 22-25, 2003: O'Brien welcomes the red-hot band the White Stripes as the show's musical guest for the entire week.
May 15, 2003: "Late Night" broadcasts its entire hour in clay animation.
Aug. 15, 2003: When the biggest blackout in North American history befalls the Northeast and Canada, O'Brien riffs impressively during a cold 10-minute opening with minimal power, no guests and no audience.
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