Staff Review With Laurie Kilmartin

Conan O'Brien interviews Laurie Kilmartin, a stand-up comedian and writer who's worked on his shows and now coaches him through testing Oscar monologue jokes in small LA comedy clubs. They discuss her career origins, the craft of joke-writing, live refinement processes, and the chaotic creativity of Oscars prep.

From Personal Crisis to Stand-Up

Kilmartin traces her comedy start to a rough period after dropping out of UCLA, where she swam competitively during a rebuilding phase but quit amid personal struggles. Seeing strong stand-up acts inspired awe, but mediocre performers on the same bill sparked realization: "Wait a minute, that person's a cookie." This gap motivated her to begin in San Francisco's scene at places like the Holy City Zoo. There, bartender John Kantor—a former porn star, Native American with a wild backstory, and early mentor to Robin Williams—offered stage timing tips and encouragement, though typical of class instructors who always suggest "one more session." She distinguishes writing packets for shows like Tonight Show, Late Night, and Conan's TBS run, landing the latter as her third try. Touring with Conan let him see her evolving stand-up, sharpening her eye for his material.