MANHATTAN — “Bring it on, Coco!”
That was Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s message to late-night funnyman Conan O’Brien, who returned to his old stomping grounds Monday for a week of taping in the Big Apple, two years after transplanting to L.A.
Appearing as a surprise guest on the TBS show, Bloomberg challenged O’Brien to take the "just-invented" New York City Citizenship Test, quizzing the carrot-topped former "Tonight Show" host in a carefully rehearsed Q&A.
“What is New York City’s nickname?” “What is Sixth Avenue also known as?” asked the mayor, who looked thoroughly awkward throughout the exchange.
O’Brien answered without skipping a beat.
“Name the five boroughs of New York City,” he challenged next.
“Manhattan, Brooklyn, Yankee Stadium, Starbucks and Robert DeNiro,” O’Brien joked.
“Are you talking to me?” the mayor demanded.
“Yes I am!” O’Brien replied, before making a joke about Derek Jeter’s sexual conquests and the many meanings of the phrase, “Get Outta Here” in New York-ese.
After being declared an honorary citizen of New York, O’Brien turned the tables on Hizzoner.
“I answered several questions about New York, now it’s your turn, Mr. Mayor,” he said.
“Uh oh,” said the mayor, who quickly put on his best tough guy act. “Ok, Bring it on, Coco,” he challenged. Coco is O'Brien's nickname.
Bloomberg’s task: Translating hypothetical news stories into New York Post headlines:
"A legendary New York rapper causes harm to an Australian Dog?"
“Diddy in Dog House Over Dingo Damage,” the mayor said.
"Al Pacino gets into a fight in a Starbucks?"
“Fra Pacino Fracas," the mayor quipped.
“I, Conan O’Brien, lose control out on the town and get into a car accident with Sylvester Stallone?”
“That’s easy. Red-head ruckus rowdy rooster Rambo — ramrods Rambo,” said the mayor, tripping over his tongue.
Earlier in the show, O'Brien spent time enjoying the things he's missed most about the city, first working as a Chinese food deliveryman and later donning a disguise and showing up in the outdoor crowd at a Today Show filming.
Conan's other guests included current "Late Night" host Jimmy Fallon and comedian Reggie Watts.
