"Team CoCo" Rally Today at NBC Tower

By Karl Klockars in Arts & Entertainment on Jan 18, 2010 8:45PM

Independent of our collective Team Conan feelings here on the -ist staff, it's important to remember the revelry and lunacy that Conan O'Brien brought to Chicago when he came to town back in May 2006. When was the last time Leno brought the Tonight Show to our fair city? (Honest question - it's been a while, hasn't it?) Chances are good that some of the attendees in the audience from that week-long stand will be out in front of NBC Tower this afternoon at 4:30 for the "I'm With Coco" gathering to support Conan in his epic battle of good versus evil incompetence. Among others, the Tribune brings us the tale of Mike Mitchell and the Little Facebook Group That Could:

[C]ourtesy of Mitchell's social networking, O'Brien's biggest Chicago supporters will hold a rally at 4:30 p.m. Monday on NBC's Michigan Avenue doorstep to deliver a message to the network. "NBC, I think, has already made their mind up," said Mitchell, 27, a Los Angeles-based freelance illustrator. "Maybe (the protest) is more of a thing to show that there's a lot of Conan fans."...Mitchell wants rally attendees to wear orange, bring signs and be civil.

In the meantime, while you're putting together your "F LENO" signs this afternoon, why not remind yourself of how much Conan (and Andy Richter) love Chicago? Remember when then-Senator Barack Obama visited Conan during his week-long run at the Chicago Theatre in 2006?

And remember when they hung out at the Lincoln Restaurant and Resi's Bierstube? Ah, memories.

Now, if someone were to form a "Conan should go to FOX for a dollar a year and stick NBC with paying the remainder of his salary" rally group, we would probably be more in favor of such a gathering.

That said, if you do feel motivated to show your solidarity with Mr. O'brien this afternoon, try to remember there is other stuff happening in the world. Consider taking half the time you spend in front of NBC Tower this afternoon and applying it to, oh, say, anything at all that actually matters.