A New York bar owner riffed with Conan O’Brien in 90 seconds of viral video she says changed her life

A Brooklyn bar owner saw her life change overnight after riffing with Conan O’Brien for 90 seconds in a now-viral video. 

Debbie Shields, 68, of Bed-Stuy, had just transferred from the A train to the F when she and her friend Tony came across the comedian, who was filming a segment for Kareem Rahma’s viral Subway Takes. 

‘[Tony’s] a big fan of Conan,’ she told The New York Times. ‘I said: “Well, you hold the seat for me and I’m going to go sit next to him.”’

‘So I walked up and I walked past him. I said: “Hey, Conan.” He said: “Hey, how you doing?” And I sat down and went on from there.’ 

In the viral video, Rahma asked the comedian if he knew Shields, to which he jokingly told his host that they were married a long time ago. 

‘Right, a long time ago. We got two kids,’ Shields said, playing into the ruse. 

‘How are they, by the way? I haven’t visited,’ O’Brien shot back. 

‘They’re fine. One’s in medical school, the other one’s in jail,’ she said without missing a beat. 

‘I’m sorry I’ve never sent any money,’ he said.

‘It’s okay, they still love you,’ the Confessions Bar owner said. 

As the two continued to play into their joke, O’Brien laughed like a schoolgirl as others watched the spontaneous moment unfold. 

‘You were my happiest marriage, that was the best year and a half of my life,’ O’Brien said. 

‘I’ve heard that from my other three husbands too,’ Shields quipped, sending the comedian into a fit of giggles. 

The less than two-minute interaction skyrocketed Shields to fame, with people now coming into her bar just to catch a glimpse of New York’s hottest comedian.  

‘One minute and 29 seconds changed my life,’ the mother-of-three told CBS News. 

Now, she’s considering pursuing comedy, especially at her own bar, where she hosts weekly comedy nights. 

‘I do go onstage and introduce the comedians, but that’s my limit,’ she told the Times. ‘I just might do [start doing stand-up], because it sounds interesting.

‘I love to make people laugh. I love to have fun. I love to enjoy life, because life is beautiful. It’s what you make it.’ 

The entrepreneur said she even laughs at funerals, causing her friends to say they can’t be seen together, she told CBS. 

Since the clip was posted to social media, Rahma has visited the bar, where he took a photo of the two together. 

As for O’Brien, Shields said he might stop by for karaoke on Saturday. 

‘He says he can clear a room with his singing, so watch out,’ she told CBS. ‘It should be very interesting.’ 

And even if he doesn’t make his way to the Bed-Stuy bar, he’s already left his mark. On the menu, Shields now serves a drink called The Baby Daddy O’Brien.  

The Daily Mail has reached out to Shields for comment.