Jake Walker makes the inevitable Kimmel/Conan comparison. The difference is that when Conan started on Late Night,
he'd never starred in his own show before. He'd barely even performed
on TV before. He'd been a writer and had done a few bit parts on SNL,
but that was his first time in the spotlight. So, true, he was an
annoying, tic-ridden nervous wreck for the first, what, five years? (As
opposed to the annoying, tic-ridden vet he is now...) But with Kimmel's
years of on-camera experience, you'd think he'd have his act together a
little better. Sure, it was basic cable and it was relatively
low-pressure, but it's not like he's a rookie. Not to mention that
Conan had some funny writing straight out of the gate. (Not only was
the opening "Ya better be as funny as Letterman!" sketch a classic, it
instantly set the tone for everything that's come since.) They actually
gave him stuff to do and say. Whereas Kimmel's up there going, "So,
Snoop, kill anybody today? Heh heh heh," and then he does some shots.