How to Think on One's Feet Like Conan O'Brien

Conan O'Brien has made a career out of thinking on his feet. His commendable quick wit allows him to deliver quips off the top of his head that consistently generate laughs on his late-night talk show, "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." Some might say that Conan was born with a gift for laughable line delivery, but you too can cultivate an O'Brien-style sense of wit.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Practice improv. When Conan started out in the entertainment industry, he regularly performed with improv groups around Los Angeles. There's no question that improv is one of the best ways to exercise quick wit and think on your feet.

2. Be self-deprecating. Conan frequently makes fun of his own hair, paleness, and even his jokes that bomb. If Conan tells a joke that fails to elicit laughter from the audience, his follow-up hurt facial expression and downcast eyes usually will.

3. Go with the flow. When an unidentifiable alarm went off in the studio during a live taping of his show, Conan turned the annoying incident into an opportunity for comedy. He joked about the incident as it unfolded, and then filmed a follow-up segment in which he confronted the security guard responsible for the mishap.

4. Use physical comedy. Conan enhances his off-the-cuff remarks by the hilarious facial expressions that accompany them. A Conan comment might not be that funny when you read it on paper, but can be completely transformed when combined with his contorted facial expressions.

5. Throw insults aside. When it comes right down to it, Conan's humor is pretty benign. When he pokes fun at someone, Conan will focus on something absurd and random about the person rather than get personal or mean-spirited.