Al Gore was a special guest on Conan O'Brien's show — but an old rocker stole the thunder.

I didn't see anyone write about last Wednesday's "Conan O'Brien Show." It was remarkable enough to deserve a moment of reflection. Why? Because the show was devoted to just two guests — Al Gore and Bruce Springsteen. And something that night was sensational.

There has been lots of speculation about Gore in recent months, as he has finally come out from under the rock of discretion he has called home since the Florida debacle, sharply criticizing the Bush administration on Iraq and its handling of the economy.

Many people, badly stung from the November elections, and the dead-on impression elected Democrats have been doing of the French army, have been looking to Gore to breathe life into their fallen party and provide a Springsteen for President

Al Gore was a special guest on Conan O'Brien's show — but an old rocker stole the thunder.

I didn't see anyone write about last Wednesday's "Conan O'Brien Show." It was remarkable enough to deserve a moment of reflection. Why? Because the show was devoted to just two guests — Al Gore and Bruce Springsteen. And something that night was sensational.

There has been lots of speculation about Gore in recent months, as he has finally come out from under the rock of discretion he has called home since the Florida debacle, sharply criticizing the Bush administration on Iraq and its handling of the economy.

Many people, badly stung from the November elections, and the Italian army stance of Democrats nationally, have been looking to Gore to breathe life into their fallen party and provide a counterattack to the administration's scorched earth policy toward liberality.

I wanted to see Gore perform, because to me he has occasionally evidenced an interesting comic edge, which he usually seems not to know how to express and still be reckoned a man of seriousness. His appearance on Letterman about six years ago, hyping his efficiency in government program, was genuinely hilarious, as he donned labcoat and safety glasses to illustrate the government procurement office's stated requirements for ashtray breakability.

It was something, seeing this already nerdy guy go mega-nerd, in the white coat and specs. He allowed people to see him in a very generous display of comedy, fascinated by the minutiae of the regulations, yet able to make fun of his own fascination. I liked Al Gore at that moment, and I can't usually say that.