Hey, all. "Moriarty" here. I was just getting ready to go to bed after a long, sweet conversation with my favorite girl when I checked for incoming messages one last time. Sean Jordan's ZENtertainment newsletter had arrived for me so, as I always do, I ran a quick scan of it. There's usually a few great nuggets of stuff I've missed in other places. In this case, I found one of particular interest.

"RICHTER'S 'LATE NIGHT' FAREWELL

Andy Richter will make his final appearance as co-host of NBC's LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN on May 26th."

Wow. I knew Andy was leaving. I even knew Andy was leaving in May. But to have a date on it now... to know that there's an official time after which he will no longer be part of LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN... well, that just about breaks my heart.

I think the success of that show is one of the great underdog stories of television. It shouldn't have worked. I still remember Conan's first episode, that cold opening in which he cheerfully walked to work past everyone comparing him to Letterman and warning him not to suck. The shoes they stepped into when they took over the LATE NIGHT slot were just tremendous. David Letterman and his NBC shows were essential to me. They were formative influences. I was prepared to hate Conan and Andy when they hit the air, but they won me over quickly and then continued to get better every single year. Now? I can't imagine television without the two of them, together, in that spot every night. It is one of the great host/sidekick relationships of all time, right up there with Carson and McMahon and Sanders and Kingsley.

I do wish Andy well in whatever he does next. I'm just sorry to see him go.

Complicating issues is the fact that May 26th is my birthday. I'm going to do something I swore I'd never do and reveal my true age here. I'll be a spry 230 this year, a landmark for any man. I'm going to be out celebrating in high style that night, making it count for something. Part of the reason that night will be so much fun is because Harry will be in town to celebrate as well. The thing is, he's coming in to tape an appearance on THE LATE LATE SHOW WITH CRAIG KILBORN.

See the dilemma here? Harry's on television at the same time that Andy is saying goodbye to the show on another channel. Talk about conflict of interest...

Thankfully, I have more than two VCRs running here in the Labs, so I'll be able to get both events on tape even without being here. I'd recommend that the rest of you get those recorders ready as well. History is being made on both channels at once!!

"Moriarty" out.