Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Staff Review With Laurie Kilmartin
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Mar 19, 2026 Laurie Kilmartin, stand-up comedian and TV writer known for sharp bits and awards-show scripts. She talks about her path from college swimmer to performing nightly standup. She explains writing for others versus writing for herself. She shares how Oscars material is prepared and how touring hones stage instincts.
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How Laurie Found Standup After Leaving College
- Laurie Kilmartin described dropping out of college, leaving UCLA swimming, and discovering standup after a personal breakdown.
- She started performing in San Francisco clubs like the Holy City Zoo where mentors like John Cantu coached new comics.
Writing For Someone Else Requires Voice Separation
- Writing for another performer's voice requires separating your personal material from jokes tailored to them.
- Laurie says jokes she writes for Conan or others would never work in her own act about motherhood.
Keep Award Show Material Flexible Until Show Night
- Keep jokes flexible and expect rapid change up to showtime because news cycles shift quickly.
- Laurie notes many jokes ready in advance still may be scrapped in the last three weeks before the Oscars.