Nelly and Joe sat on the steps of a quiet park amphitheater, the evening breeze carrying the faint scent of pine. The sun was dipping below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. Joe was scrolling through his phone, chuckling at something, while Nelly sipped her iced coffee, lost in thought.
โJoe,โ she said suddenly, breaking the silence.
โYeah?โ he replied, not looking up.
โDo you think geniuses are born once in a millennium?โ
Joe paused, lowering his phone. โWhat do you mean? Like, someone so brilliant they redefine the world?โ
โExactly,โ Nelly said, her eyes lighting up. โThink about itโLeonardo da Vinci, a polymath who could paint the Mona Lisa and design flying machines. Mozart, composing symphonies as a kid. Socrates, shaping philosophy itself. Andโฆโ
Joe raised an eyebrow. โAnd?โ
โConan OโBrien,โ Nelly said with a smirk.
Joe burst out laughing. โConan OโBrien? The talk show guy?โ
โNot just a talk show guy,โ Nelly said, leaning forward. โThe manโs wit is razor-sharp. Heโs a master of timing, self-deprecation, and absurdity. Plus, he wrote for The Simpsons in its golden age. Thatโs genius-level comedy.โ
Joe shook his head, still grinning. โI mean, I love Conan, but youโre putting him in the same league as da Vinci and Socrates?โ
โWhy not?โ Nelly countered. โGenius isnโt just about inventing or philosophizing. Itโs about shifting perspectives, making people see the world differently. Conan does that with humor. Heโs like a modern-day Socrates, but instead of questioning the Athenian elite, heโs roasting celebrities and making us laugh at ourselves.โ
Joe leaned back, considering her point. โOkay, but if weโre talking about a once-in-a-millennium genius, shouldnโt they have a broader impact? Like, change the course of history or something?โ
โComedy changes history,โ Nelly argued. โThink about it. During tough times, laughter keeps people going. Itโs a survival mechanism, a way to cope. Conanโs humor isnโt just funnyโitโs smart. Itโs layered. Heโs like the da Vinci of late-night TV.โ
Joe chuckled. โSo, in your book, itโs da Vinci, Mozart, Socrates, andโฆ Conan.โ
โExactly,โ Nelly said, grinning. โThough, if weโre being fair, maybe weโre overlooking some others. Like, I donโt know, Beyoncรฉ.โ
Joe laughed again. โOkay, now youโre just naming people you like.โ
โMaybe,โ Nelly admitted. โBut think about it. Genius comes in many forms. Itโs not always about big inventions or grand philosophies. Sometimes, itโs about making life a little brighter, a little better, for everyone.โ
Joe nodded slowly. โYou might be onto something. Still, I donโt think Conan would put himself in that category.โ
โWhich is exactly why he belongs there,โ Nelly said with a wink.
They sat in comfortable silence for a moment, watching the last rays of sunlight fade.
โYou know,โ Joe said, breaking the quiet, โif Conan ever hears about this conversation, heโd probably make a joke about being compared to da Vinci.โ
โAnd it would be genius,โ Nelly said, laughing.