I know everyone will be writing about this in the coming week, but I just had so much emotion I had to expunge a bit.

As you may know, if you read my website archives, I love different kinds of struggles, and I love it even more when it’s done gracefully and classily. Last night, before Conan called out Will Ferrell, he made his thank you’s to NBC, his staff, and the fans. This part really choked me up:

“…All I ask of you, especially young people…is one thing. Please don’t be cynical,” O’Brien said. “I hate cynicism — it’s my least favorite quality and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you’re kind, amazing things will happen. I’m telling you, amazing things will happen.”

As if that weren’t badass enough, he introduces Will Ferrell, who in turn invites him to grab a guitar and come do a cover of Freebird with Billy Gibbons, Beck, and the Tonight Show Band.