Middle America

Conan had a particularly hilarious time last week with Andy returning from a brief, mid-week hiatus, Conan's former roommate and longtime friend, Jeff Garlin, and Olivia Munn.

Olivia Munn is talking about how her Asian mother would beat her and wonders if perhaps white people don't beat their kids as much? 

Munn: You don't hit your children, do you?
Conan: no, I do not hit my children
Munn: No, white people don't normally hit their children.  But Asians...
Garlin: Haev you been to the South?
Andy: Have you been to Wal-Mart?

Which I found hilarious, as did the audience.  But I can't help but think a Wal-Mart joke would insult a lot of people if it were on The Tonight Show* especially the manner in which it's delivered.  A good portion of the book, The War for Late Night, and a large part of the underlying thesis is that Conan was a bad fit for most of the country , meaning the middle parts, (thought a good fit for the Coasts) where most people live and watch the show (because it comes on at 10:35 p.m. Central Time).

* I've never watched Tonight with any regularity, with Jay Leno hosting most of my life, so maybe I'm wrong. 

Anyways, it was a fun show especially if you're familiar with Conan's and Garlin's roots, but also was a little reminder who the average viewer is.   Conan and Colbert do the best interviews and this was particulary fun to have the primary guest out there b.s.-ing with the secondary guest.