It looks like you're watching Conan O'Brien's regular weeknight show.
He's sitting at his studio desk with sidekick Andy Richter nearby when they launch into a conversation about ways to combat California's drought--as only Team Coco can.
You may not have a talking toilet or want to bathe your children at the carwash, but environmental activists and state water officials are hoping the newly released series of six public service announcements will inspire viewers to action.
When Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed the drought emergency in January, he asked Californians to cut back water use 20 percent, a goal which in many communities has proven difficult to meet. Officials have warned that without further voluntary water saving, another dry winter could lead to mandatory conservation measures.
"Conan O'Brien's call for conservation will help us spread the message to even more Californians," said Mark Cowin, director of the California Dept. of Water Resources.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
The Team Coco spots were produced in partnership with the state's drought awareness program, Save Our Water, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), a non-profit environmental advocacy organization.
"Conan and Andy, true to form, offer their unique twist on how to cut water in our daily lives," said Steve Fleischli, director of NRDC's water program. "Mixing humor and advocacy is an effective eay to reinforce the message that we can all do our part."
In the six spots, Team Coco offer a series of suggestions, including:
*Testing your toilet for leaks
*Replacing your lawn with drought-resistant landscaping
*Putting a cover on your pool to reduce evaporation
*Saving dirty dishes for a big load in the dishwasher instead of individual hand washing
*Using a carwash instead of your driveway
*Going easy on showers
"I haven't showered in weeks," O'Brien reveals tongue in cheek, before exulting in the punchline: "My odor has started to attract raccoons," eliciting a high-five from Richter.
In another spot, after Richter objects that he's "too lazy" to conserve, O'Brein convinces him there are "lazy" ways to do so, such as not handwashing your dishes and your car.
The drought is proving a magnet for star power. Last month, the Save Our Water Campaign released a PSA Lady Gaga was inspired to record while shooting a music video at California's Hearst Castle.
"I'm a native Californian and I don't waste water," proclaims rocker Sammy Hagar in the spot he recorded.
A transplant to California, O'Brien is from Massachusetts, and for two decades, his late night program was based in New York City. His current program, which airs weeknights at 11pm on TBS, is recorded at the Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.
"Let's all do our part to save water," O'Brien urges his audience, before the more serious voice-over announcer asks in her tagline, "What's your 20 percent?"
