Conan O'Brien was name-dropped in Hacks' take on late night has even has echoes of Conan's short-lived stint hosting The Tonight Show.

Hacks' executive producer, co-showrunner, and star Paul W. Downs was a guest on Conan's podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, and they discussed Jimmy Kimmel's joke in Hacks season 4, episode 5, "Clickable Face," which Downs says Kimmel improvised. Conan was gleeful about his supposed death in Hacks, and he explained to Downs why he was so ticked by the joke. Check out O'Brien's quote and the video below:

There’s a scene where… (laughs) It’s a very funny joke, and nonsensical… Deborah is trying to steal a guest away who would’ve been on Kimmel, and Kimmel’s confronting her and saying, “Look, I get this guest. You don’t get this guest.” She’s trying to get Kristen Bell on her show, and Jimmy Kimmel confronts her and says, “You don’t get Kristen Bell ‘cause she always does my show… I got possession of her as a guest after Conan died.”

And you know what I loved about it is that it’s said, and no one questions it. It’s just ‘I get her after Conan died.’ And it’s just like, it’s understood, and I’m laughing because no one questions it.

What Hacks Meant By "Conan Died"

Conan Thinks He's Dead In Hacks' Universe

Almost as funny as Jimmy Kimmel's improv that "Conan died," is O'Brien taking his demise literally in Hacks' universe. Conan thought Hacks killed him off, which he has no problem with. However, Paul W. Downs was quick to correct Conan that O'Brien is very much alive in Hacks' universe. Downs and his fellow executive producers, Lucia Aniello and Jen Statsky, confirmed that Conan is not dead during Hacks Bit by Bit, their post-show discussion.

Conan's assistant, Sona Movsesian, grasped the meaning of Jimmy Kimmel's joke better than O'Brien did: "Conan is dead if he doesn't have a talk show." In 2021, Conan walked away from his lauded career in late night after 28 years to concentrate on his hit podcast, as well as other opportunities like hosting the Academy Awards and his Max travel series, Conan O'Brien Must Go. However, Paul W. Downs was clear that Hacks wants Conan to guest star, possibly in season 5.

Our Take On Hacks' Conan O'Brien Joke

Hopefully, Conan Appears In Hacks Season 5

Jimmy Kimmel saying "Conan died" on Hacks was one of the most memorably funny lines in season 4, partially because it was so unexpected. Conan O'Brien's late night legacy is an inspiration for Deborah Vance's storyline in Hacks season 4, and Paul W. Downs said as much on Conan's podcast. Conan being name-dropped is not only fitting, but Kimmel's barb was hilarious because Conan himself joked about his 'demotion' from late night host to podcaster in the opening credits of Conan O'Brien Must Go narrated by Werner Herzog.

Hopefully, Hacks can bring Conan O'Brien on in season 5.

Conan said he's willing to play any role in Hacks, including working at craft services. However, Hacks must surely want O'Brien to play himself, just has he has in other TV comedies like 30 Rock. Conan O'Brien is as big a fan of Hacks as Hacks' creative team are of Conan. Hopefully, Hacks can bring Conan O'Brien on in season 5, at the very least, to eliminate any remaining doubt that Conan is alive in Deborah Vance's TV universe.