Here's Why Lisa Kudrow Once Told Conan O'Brien 'You're No One'

The "Friends" star meant it as a compliment, as O'Brien was about to helm his first talk show, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien."

Lisa Kudrow still remembers telling Conan O’Brien in 1993 that “You’re no one.”

The “Friends” star was notably dating O’Brien at the time and meant it as a compliment, as he was about to helm his first talk show, “Late Night With Conan O’Brien,” and replace David Letterman. Kudrow felt that fact alone should inspire O’Brien with confidence.

“I don’t know how much we talked about it,” she told Vanity Fair for an oral history of O’Brien’s first year. “I just knew, ’You’re trying to replace David Letterman. No one replaces David Letterman. You’re no one. It can’t be anybody that an audience would know.”

Letterman was already an industry veteran who had hosted late night shows since 1982. O’Brien was a witty “Simpsons” scribe who had yet to prove himself on camera, but brilliantly acknowledged that pressure in the hilarious opening sketch of his debut episode.

NBC reportedly considered hiring writer and comedian Garry Shandling before choosing O’Brien, which the network presumably regretted when the first season resulted in shoddy reviews and bad ratings. The fresh-faced host was nearly deemed a failure — until 1994.