Conan O’Brien has been a talk show host since 1993, but he began his career in comedy as a writer: first at the Harvard Lampoon while in college, then eventually at Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Given that he is such an accomplished comedy writer, it might be surprising to learn that his current talk show staff includes over a dozen writers. How can you explain this using the material covered in the chapter? Is Conan not capable enough a writer to write his own show, or is there some other explanation? Suppose none of Conan’s writers are as funny a writer as he is; is it still possible that hiring a writing staff makes the show funnier? 852