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A New York City bar owner said her viral subway interaction with comedian Conan O’Brien “changed her life” as the spontaneous encounter took the internet by storm.
Debbie Shields, who owns Confessions Bar in Bedford-Stuyvesant, made a brief appearance on the viral “SubwayTakes with Kareem Rahma” during her commute aboard the F train in the episode published Tuesday.
“One minute and 29 seconds changed my life,” Shields told CBS News New York.
Shields spotted Rahma and O’Brien shooting the episode — which consists of Rahma interviewing guests on board a moving subway car — and introduced herself as she brought the show to a halt with her fast-witted riffing alongside the former talk show host.
“I said, ‘Save my seat. I’m going over,’” she said.
Shields sat down next to Rahma and instantly hit it off with O’Brien, running with the joke that they were married a long time ago and shared two sons, one in medical school and the other in jail.
“I’m sorry I haven’t sent any money,” O’Brien quipped, as Shields took the joke and ran with it.
“That’s OK, don’t worry I still love you,” she said.
“Your pictures are everywhere in the house,” Shields fired back, earning a belly-busting laugh from O’Brien. “They have your hair, that’s OK, we’ve figured it out and what we draw in.”
O’Brien claimed he had the happiest marriage with the subway stranger, adding that it was “the best year-and-a-half of my life.”
“I’m trying to tell you, I’ve heard that from my other three husbands too,” Shields said.
The video has been viewed 1.3 million times as of Sunday.
After the two broke character, O’Brien formally introduced himself, telling Shields she was “so funny.”
Shields took the lull in the conversation to advertise her bar, revealing she had to “kick” O’Brien out twice, breaking the comedian into another round of laughter in less than a minute.
Rahma asked Shields if they could get a free round of drinks if they showed up to her bar.
“He’s my babies’ daddy, he’ll get two,” she said.
Shields beamed at her virality saying it was a much needed change to her everyday life.
“It used to be them pulling up saying, ‘Get out of the way, old lady,’” Shields said. “Now it’s, ‘I seen you on TV. We love you.’ I love you, too.”
Confessions Bar gained over 7,000 followers on its Instagram page since the “SubwayTakes” episode aired, according to social media tracker SocialBlade.
Confessions Bar has also introduced a new drink in honor of O’Brien, called “The Baby Daddy O’Brien” that features an orange garnish.
Shields also earned recognition from across the internet, where people praised the businesswoman for her humor.
“That lady was a comedy gem,” one user said.
“You just know Conan LOVED ridding with that woman SO much,” another added.
“Conan always talks about how his fans are hilarious, but this spontaneous interaction really shows it,” a third fan said.
