Conan O’Brien vs. Newark Mayor Cory Booker
Talk show host Conan O’Brien has been having a lot of fun lately at Newark’s expense, which has led to a (mostly) mock feud between the famous late-night personality and Newark Mayor Cory Booker.
O’Brien recently told “Tonight Show” audiences that the mayor was establishing a program to improve the health of the city’s residents. He then deadpanned: “the health care program would consist of a bus ticket out of Newark.” O’Brien then did a video bit in which he praised the city’s “thriving arts scene” (while showing a graffiti-scarred wall); its “four-star lodging” (shots of abandoned, gutted, rusting vehicles); and its “world-class live theater” (a peep show).
O’Brien ended the segment by threatening to form an alliance with the mayors of nearby towns, which would create “a geographic toilet seat around the city of Newark,” making it possible to flush the city down the figurative bowl.
In response, Mayor Booker came out with his own YouTube video, declaring that O’Brien was banned from flying out of Newark Liberty International Airport. In another video, the Mayor announced that the television host was banned from entering New Jersey altogether. Even Secretary of State Hilary Clinton weighted in as a mock peace negotiator.
O’Brien announced on his show on Monday that Mr. Booker is set to appear on Friday’s “Tonight Show” to settle their feud. If you are a resident of Newark, we want to hear from you! Tell us about all the good things that are happening in your neighborhood. Whether your son’s high school football team won a game or your company is giving back to the community, we want to hear it all! What makes Newark, NJ and the surrounding communities a great place to live? Help weigh in on the issue so that Conan can go pick on someplace else!
Filed in: Local Community Edition.









