Conan O'Brien risked life and limb yesterday to respond to Newark Mayor Cory Booker, taunting the politician and his city once again.
On Tuesday, Booker officially took issue with a "Newark health-care" joke O'Brien made on "The Tonight Show" last week and banned the comedian from Newark's Liberty International Airport.
In Booker's video, a "Newark resident" shouted, "You gonna need some health care [Conan]! This is Newark you talkin about! You don't mess with Newark, chump!"
On Wednesday night, O'Brien responded to the Booker's video by saying he apologized, then noted Newark's many cultural gems, such as their "beautiful waterfront, thriving art scene, exciting regional cuisine, four-star lodging and world class live theater."
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Of course, as he said that, photos were shown of a dingy bridge, a graffiti'd back alley, a Dunkin Donuts, some burned out cars and a peep show.
The late-night joker then pointed out that he could easily get to Newark by navigating the nations sewer systems because "everyone knows, all sewer pipes lead to Newark."
O'Brien even did a little research and found out that a small section of Newark Airport's Terminal A is actually in neighboring Elizabeth, New Jersey.
"So Mr. Mayor, looks like you need to brush up on your Essex County/Union County geography," Conan chided.
The talk-show host also officially banned Booker from Burbank's airport.
In the end, O'Brien invited the mayor on to his show so they could settle their differences "like gentlemen."
Booker told NBC New York that he thought the bit was "hilarious" and he would respond, again, sometime tomorrow.
This morning the mayor took to his Facebook page to post a poetic message:
"You may write me down in history / With your bitter, twisted lies / You may trod me in the very dirt / But still, like dust, I'll rise / You may shoot me with your words / You may cut me with your eyes / You may kill me with your hatefulness / ...But still, like air, I'll rise. - M. Angelou (Yes Conan our city will continue to rise and, by the way, after last night. . . . Its on!)"
UPDATE!:
Just after 3 p.m. Thursday, Mayor Booker filed a video response to O'Brien's response. Now Conan is banned from all of Jersey and Newark's sister cities, too. This could go on forever....
