Conan O’Brien goes viral for loudly cheering Academy chairman Frank Scherma

A distracting moment during today’s Emmy Awards ceremony set tongues wagging on social media, with Conan O’Brien the surprising culprit.

Conan O’Brien made a splash at the 2021 Emmy Awards.

The late-night icon, 58, attended the illustrious award ceremony honouring the best of the best in television today and drew eyes and cameras when Television Academy Chairman and chief executive Frank Scherma came on stage.

The businessman was set to speak about the television industry at large and shortly after being introduced, Scherma began to laugh, seeing O’Brien in the audience.

Soon he broke into laughter, as did many others in the room.

Eventually, viewers were given a look at what exactly was causing the stir: O’Brien loudly cheering for and enthusiastically saluting Scherma from the audience.

Conan is the best part of this show and he hasn't even been on stage. pic.twitter.com/jZfEFo6C5f

— av clark (@annevclark) September 20, 2021

“Thank you, Conan,” Scherma said.

The seemingly unscripted moment went viral and viewers took to Twitter to share their thoughts on the moment.

“I f**kin love Conan,” wrote a fan. “Dude trolling the Emmy president was great #Emmys.”

“Conan is the best part of this show and he hasn’t even been on stage,” said another.

A fourth added: “Conan is an American treasure.”

Even comedian Wanda Sykes weighed in, writing: “Conan is giving no F’s tonight!”

Conan is giving no F’s tonight!😂

— Wanda Sykes (@iamwandasykes) September 20, 2021

Conan made another surprise appearance when Stephen Colbert’s live election special won an award for Outstanding Variety Special (live).

O’Brien hopped on stage and cheered before disappearing. In the virtual press room after earning the award, Colbert joked that he asked O’Brien to join him onstage.

Conan O’Brien went rogue at today’s ceremony. Picture: Getty Images/AFP.

“Conan’s the kid who is graduating who doesn’t give a single f**k,” wrote a viewer alongside a screenshot of O’Brien standing on the stage.

“OH GOD CONAN IS BACK AT IT AGAIN,” tweeted another.

A fan suggested: “#Conan is either not getting invited again or he’s just sealed his next hosting gig … #Emmys.”

OH GOD CONAN IS BACK AT IT AGAIN🤣 pic.twitter.com/SEMXYH2nkl

— Kolton (@thenarddog1115) September 20, 2021

O’Brien’s show Conan, which wrapped its final season earlier this year, was up for an Emmy this year for outstanding variety talk series.

The award ultimately went to Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

In his acceptance speech, John Oliver called out O‘Brien by name.

“Like many of us in this room, I was kind of rooting for Conan, so this is bittersweet,” Oliver admitted.

“Thank you so much, Conan, for 30 years of inspiring comedy writers.”

Oliver later encouraged viewers to watch clips of both O‘Brien and the late Norm Macdonald’s work.

This article originally appeared on Fox News and is reproduced here with permission