A bar owner in New York City has shared that her unexpected encounter with comedian Conan O’Brien on the subway has significantly impacted her life. Debbie Shields, who runs Confessions Bar located in Bedford-Stuyvesant, appeared briefly on the popular show “SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma” during her commute on the F train in an episode released on Tuesday.
“One minute and 29 seconds changed my life,” Shields told CBS News New York.
While riding the subway, Shields noticed Rahma and O’Brien filming the segment, which features interviews with passengers. She introduced herself and quickly became part of the fun, cleverly joking along with O’Brien.
“I said, ‘Save my seat. I’m going over,’” she recounted.
Sitting next to Rahma, Shields hit it off with O’Brien, playfully pretending they were former spouses with two sons—one in medical school and the other incarcerated.
“I’m sorry I haven’t sent any money,” O’Brien jokingly apologized, to which Shields replied, “That’s OK, don’t worry I still love you.”
Her quip about O’Brien’s pictures being scattered throughout the house sent O’Brien into fits of laughter. “They have your hair, that’s OK, we’ve figured it out and what we draw in,” she added.
After their playful banter, O’Brien formally introduced himself, complimenting Shields as “so funny.” He joked about having had the happiest marriage with a stranger on the subway, claiming it was “the best year-and-a-half of my life.” Shields humorously noted, “I’ve heard that from my other three husbands too.”
The interaction has garnered 1.3 million views as of Sunday. When the laughter died down, Shields took the opportunity to promote her bar, joking that she had “kicked” O’Brien out twice, which caused him to laugh again.
When Rahma asked if they could score free drinks at her bar, Shields replied, “He’s my babies’ daddy, he’ll get two.”
With her newfound fame, Shields expressed how this viral moment was a refreshing change from her usual subway experiences, where she would often hear people say, “Get out of the way, old lady.” Now, she’s greeted with “I saw you on TV. We love you.”
Since the airing of the episode, Confessions Bar’s Instagram page has gained over 7,000 followers, according to SocialBlade. The bar has also introduced a drink named “The Baby Daddy O’Brien,” complete with an orange garnish.
Shields has been acknowledged online for her humor, with many praising her quick wit. Comments from viewers included sentiments like, “That lady was a comedy gem,” and “Conan always talks about how his fans are hilarious, but this spontaneous interaction really shows it.”
