Conan O’Brien Wants Jason Bateman to Be His Friend

Hey there, Smartlist listeners.

Conan O'Brien here.

Wanted to let you know I recently had your very own Jason Bateman on my podcast, Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend.

We talked about Jason's roots as a child star, his breakout role on arrest development, and of course his fellow Smartlist co-hosts, Sean and Will.

Here's a little taste of what we got up to.

You know, the question is, are you Conan O'Brien's friend if you aren't invited to his Christmas party?

And you know, there's so many strangers.

Hundreds of people.

We've straightened this out.

You don't know.

Now, thousands are invited to the Christmas party.

I invite thousands and about 50 come.

Listen, we're going to just, because this has been a thing.

And then I went on Smartlist recently,

you know, about you coming to the Christmas party.

And it was a thing for a while.

You claim you weren't invited.

I was shocked that there was a Christmas party.

That the Christmas party had been going on for years.

But I think you were shocked that Christmas was celebrated.

Because you're such a Grinch.

That Christmas had something to do with your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I was like.

Well, listen, the point is, you, you know, let's talk about Smartlists.

It's a juggernaut.

You guys are.

It's a pretty hard pivot.

It's a real, I mean, that was a four-wheel slot.

Can I say something?

Right?

I just broke my hip pivoting.

But no, the point I'm trying to make is.

Of you three guys,

you got Will Arnett, you got Sean.

Is it Hayes?

Yeah, I think it's H-A-Z-E.

Okay.

And then you're Jason Bateman.

Bateman.

Okay, there's the three of you.

And you're the one that I have trouble getting a beat on.

I got to say.

You're the one.

You're squirrely.

You're squirrely, Bateman.

I've always had a problem getting a beat on you.

A huge fan of yours.

I adore you, but I can't get a beat on the guy.

I can't.

Because you can sense that I'm not sure why I'm there.

And I don't really, I'm not really sure if I,

I don't get it.

I don't understand why people listen to it.

I get that Will and Sean are appealing fellas.

That's why they're two of my best friends.

And we're not doing anything more than just the drivel that happens when we're in a car together or at a dinner or how, I just don't think that that's monetizable.

Right.

That you should ask for people's attention to listen to that.

Yep.

That you

can monetize.

I agree with it about your podcast.

i agree because i've checked it out and i'm i'm like i can't believe that this is something people i mean this what we're doing here you've got a full you've got an array of talent here and you're you've honestly put my glasses on you even we disagree with that you've done some prep right i can see questions there no no this is your medical history

you've got a handsome studio you've got cameras around this is very professional yeah also on a zoom also can i just point out I've been interviewing people around the clock since 1993.

I'm a seasoned professional.

Exactly.

When Muhammad Ali was to boxing, I am to interviewing.

You need lifts.

But yeah, you guys with this, you know, RNA is

a little bit more.

But, but in,

yes, but

Will, at least Will has just sharp dagger humor.

He's got a darkness that's fun to follow.

Yes.

A voice that's not bad to listen to.

Oh, I buy whatever truck he's selling.

Right?

Yeah.

I mean, as long as it's professional grade.

He's got an opinion and he'll let you know it.

Yep.

Sean P.

Hayes is sure, is just pure sunshine and

is curious and is warm.

And I don't, I don't, I'm trying to find the lane that I'm supposed to be in, which is the area in between those two, which I guess is just sort of listening and asking questions that I think the normal guy wants to know.

Yeah.

You know?

Yeah.

And so I feel I'm easily replaceable.

Yes, yes.

I was going to say the same thing.

I was going to say, I'm glad you said it.

No, no, no.

I think you could come, you could go.

Right.

You know, which is kind of what I do in whatever the hell I do on camera, too.

I'm trying to just kind of be us.

To hear the rest of the episode, as well as other great conversations I've I've had with folks like Amy Poehler, Adam Scott, Ben Stiller, and more, check out Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend wherever you get your podcasts.