Love how Conan gets Howard to open up...very real and vulnerable. Sad at the end when Howard begins to sink back into negativity despite his best effort to stand in his great light. I think the weight of his previous 'incarnation' conflicts him--the new and empathetic character struggles with the bad boy who made his bacon. Narcissus at the well he can't turn away from that image completely....it will fuel his career forever.
We want Norm Mcd! And Harry Shearer would be funny.
BTW, I've been getting strange reactions as I ride my bike on the beach path wearing my headphones tuned to your podcast...must be my 'shit-faced' grin which I can't control!