Conan O'Brien's Former Abode

In this series, we chat with the freshmen who were lucky enough to land dorm rooms that once housed Harvard’s most famous almuni.

Today, we’re looking at the Holworthy dorm room that was once occupied by Conan O’Brien '85 and currently is the home to Alice X. Wang '14, Camille Z. Coppola '14, Rainjade A. Chung '14, and Barr Yaron '14.  The three-room suite is a gorgeous space with wooden floors, high ceilings, and a non-functional brick fireplace that warms the décor.

The roommates told us that when they discovered they were living in O’Brien’s old room, they were extremely excited. “I think we all posted it as our Facebook statuses right away,” Wang said.

Here are some excerpts from our conversation:

When you discovered that you were living in Conan O’Brien’s room for the first time, did you:

a. Grimace and wonder to yourself why humor exists in this world

b. Tell your roommates that you never watch his show because it’s on too late

c. Laugh and consider inviting him to dinner as he is currently unemployed

Chung: What? These are all really weird.

On Sept. 24, 2010, Conan O’Brien tweeted the following: “We shouldn’t name hurricanes. It only encourages them.” What is your favorite hurricane and why?

Wang: That is totally a sensitive subject. I mean, come on, I’m from Houston!

Coppola: Okay, but I’m pretty sure there was a hurricane Camille that destroyed like half of the United States…

On a scale of 1-10, how jealous are your suitemates?

[Shouted from the adjacent connecting suite.]

Marissa C. Friedman '14: I’m kind of jealous but then I feel better because I get to shower in his shower too.

Conan O’Brien lived in Mather House after his freshman year. What house are you hoping to get into?

Wang: Well, I don’t want to offend our future house or anything.

Coppola: Mather has happy hours, and singles, and good house spirit… so, maybe?

Yaron: But of course, whatever house we end up in will be the best house.

Chung: And he [O’Brien] can still come back and have tea with us! And coconuts!

Photo of room courtesy of Alice X. Wang.