Dear Conan,
After months on hiatus - you, our bearded red hair refugee - will take the stage on TBS and debut your new show and God willing, your old flaming facial hair. Yes, Build-a-Beard still believes in your whiskers. No surprises here, Mr. O'Brien. You've enticed us with this Entertainment Weekly article on Five Reasons to Tune In Tonight (we could have edited this to one - your beard), where you boldly tease us with - "You’ll get to see whether I kept the beard or not. And I don’t think I’m self-centered, but I think it’s more important to America than this election.”
You wouldn't dare betray us like that and further, would you really rip out the hearts of your beloved 18-34 year old demographic? Wahl Trimmers released a facial hair survey that reported:
Perhaps due to his roots in New York and Boston, residents of the Northeast are most supportive of Conan maintaining at least some peach fuzz on his face at all times (17 percent, vs. 12 percent of the rest of the country). The coveted 18-34-year-old demographic feels more strongly than those 35 and older about preferring many TV hosts being far less clean-shaven, including George Lopez (17 percent vs. 8 percent), Jimmy Kimmel (13 percent vs. 4 percent), Stephen Colbert (10 percent vs. 4 percent) and Jon Stewart (10 percent vs. 3 percent).
Still others have questioned if you will shave your beard on-air. Nonsense. Even The Washington Post advised that you steer clear of the blade - "Don't lose the beard. Sure, it would be all stunt-y to suddenly appear fresh-faced or to actually have your beard shaved off on the air (maybe by first guest Arlene Wagner, proprietor of the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum?). But the beard is part and parcel of your image now. It sets you apart from Leno, Letterman and Stewart. And, hey, if the whole late-night thing doesn't work out, you're all set for Shakespeare summer stock."
Build-a-Beard has been with you during this trying time - we're Team Coco all the way - please keep up the bearded discipline (even if it takes numerous shots of testosterone). Prove to your audience that it truly is about turning on, tuning in, & growing it out.
Looking forward to your show tonight at 11 p.m. ET in all your glistening glory.
All the best,
El Beardo & Riss
Get excited: