When Conan O’Brien worked SNL security, and nabbed us.

“Alexa. Are you OK?”

Her fluorescent light was blinking sporadically as we finished up dinner. To our surprise, she admitted to being a bit annoyed … at, of all people, Conan O’Brien.

Really.

The late night host just wrapped up his 11-year run at TBS, and she had never been invited on. She said that’s what had her feeling down.

But there’s an upside. As Alexa awkwardly went quiet, I was reminded of the time that same Conan O’Brien tried to physically remove me and my friends from a Saturday Night Live rehearsal.

Really.

It was 1991, and my friend’s brother — Chris Farley — was new to the SNL cast. Chris’ two-room apartment, where we stayed, was a few blocks from Times Square. Despite snowstorms hitting Chicago and New York City that Friday night, we all eventually arrived. It got fun. It got late, and then Chris sternly reminded us he had rehearsal in the morning. We were actually invited to meet him there later.

That night, four of us slept on one pull-out couch. Like pre-teen pals at a city slumber, we barely got to sleep before elbowing and giggling our way awake with the rising sun. Rousted by our muffled hoots, Chris bounded from his bedroom like, well, Chris Farley. He heatedly and hilariously scolded us for waking him so early. We felt bad but, really, what could we do?

Around mid-day on Saturday, hours after Chris left the apartment, we arrive at Rockefeller Center and make our way toward studio 8H. At some point, our path is suddenly blocked by security. A tall, lanky redhead is frantically waving his hands (and hair) at us and bellowing, “NO, no, no young men. Restricted area. This is as far as you go. Absolutely not fellas…”

Of course, none of us recognize him. This was a good two years before the unexpected career turn that put Conan prominently in front of the camera — for the next 28 years. Remember, it was soon after David Letterman defected to CBS that NBC introduced Conan as the host of their new late night talk show. No one knew who he was.

“We’re supposed to…” “But my brother…” Kevin Farley kept trying to plead our case, but the unknown Conan wouldn’t have it. At one point, it even started to get a little physical. Yet, amid the dramatic tussle, Conan’s Irish eyes were smiling. Something was up, and Chris had to be within earshot of it all.

Sure enough, Chris bursts out of a pocketed wall, bellyaching at the plug-in prank he skillfully orchestrated. His older brother Tom, who also lived in NYC and served as our trusted Gotham guide, pops up right behind him.

Alright, you got us. Nicely done. Yes, a bit unsettling. But very funny. Laughs all around.

The whole bit was really a Farley family embrace. Chris and Tom enlisting Conan to set up their younger brother Kevin, and his buddies. Just another zinger in the life of a seriously funny family.

For us friends, we were still a bit dizzy as Chris more formally introduced us to Conan, a young SNL writer at the time. Then, Chris sweetly apologized to us for his morning eruption.

Apology? This is the best day of our lives.

At dress rehearsal, Conan slips away and we get a lucky glimpse of legendary SNL announcer Don Pardo. Later that evening, in the hypnotizing tenor for which he was known, Pardo would joyfully introduce guest host Joe Mantegna, “…with musical guest Vanilla Ice”.

Camera back on Conan. As we know, he too has become a late night legend. For three decades, he’s won over an array of audiences with his own acerbic style — fearlessly silly yet boldly sophisticated, a bobble-headed goof and an eye-winking renaissance man.

Oh, and he absolutely loved Chris. Check out the sidesplitting Chris appearances on his early shows.

With all the seasons and success, Conan still seems to be the same peppy soul who jumped at the chance to prank a few giddy Midwesterners making their way to the big show. And thanks to a peculiar Alexa meltdown, I now more fully appreciate our fleeting interaction with that very funny man.

By the way, Conan still has his own podcast network and will apparently soon launch a variety series on HBO Max. So, he’s still going strong — which is nice, nice baby.