If you're anything like me (first of all, God help you), then you've noticed that The Jay Leno Show is slowly starting to morph into the old Tonight Show.
Thankfully, Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel finally put the last nail in The Jay Leno Show's coffin by giving the big faced host his own desk.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]
TheTonightShowWithJayLeno-related stories
Howie Mandel improves The Tonight Show, er, The Jay Leno Show
The Jay Leno Show: Robin Williams
"I guess obviously you've downsized. You had to sell the desk." -- Robin WilliamsLeno's had a couple of nights now to get a feel for what kind of show he wants to do, and figure out how to stay relevant in prime time. Most of the feedback that I've seen from people who saw it hasn't been very positive. They're disappointed that it feels so much like The Tonight Show.
If one of the ways he's trying to differentiate himself is by having longer comedy bits and fewer guests, then I think that's backfiring a bit because every single comedy video he's shown has gone on way, way too long. It's as if they're trying to create internet viral-worthy videos like Saturday Night Live has with their "Digital Shorts," but they're missing the mark.
Continue reading The Jay Leno Show: Robin Williams
Conan O'Brien wants to pimp-slap your ride
Does your ride lack a certain something that all good cars should possess, like brakes? When you drive to work, do the ambulances and fire trucks pull over to the shoulder to let you pass?
Is your vehicle so old that Jesus co-signed the lease?
Maybe it's time you traded that clunker in, not for a bounced government check or another clunker some guy in a $1,000 suit conned you into buying. Maybe it's time you traded it in for two pounds of C4 and 30 spools of Primacord.
Conan O'Brien premiered on last night's Tonight Show the funniest car related sweepstakes since AMC tried to give away a Pacer: one lucky American will get to blow up their car on national television.
Continue reading Conan O'Brien wants to pimp-slap your ride
Letterman has the last laugh on Palin's "Jokegate"
Not only did the "Fire David Letterman" crowd completely fail at their attempt to oust the late night host from his desk chair, but they actually helped him. That makes them the least successful protest effort since 1977's memorable campaign to "Keep Pies Away from Anita Bryant." I believe it had something to do with preventing the spread of diabetes.
Variety reports that Letterman surpassed The Tonight Show in the ratings for the first time in nearly three-and-a-half years while the whole Palin family "Jokegate" debacle was still slowly being scraped off the fan.
Continue reading Letterman has the last laugh on Palin's "Jokegate"
Point/Counterpoint: Letterman's joke about the Palins was just that
A lot of dissecting and exploratory surgery has been done on the jokes that David Letterman made about the Palin family. Even after Dave apologized and Palin accepted, people still want to perform a comedy autopsy to figure out what Dave's intent was and why Palin was so vocal in her reaction to it.The problem is it's an unnecessary surgery and it fails to attack the root of the problem while the real cancer spreads like a California wildfire. E.B. White once said about such procedures that, "Analyzing humor is like dissecting a frog. Few people are interested and the frog dies of it." The only reason this frog hasn't died is because someone wants to keep it alive and no one has dared to touch the heart.
This is the side I will debate in the never-ending Letterman vs. Palin "Joke-gate" controversy while our very own John Scott Lewinski will offer a rebuttal later in the day that a public figure's children should always be off-limits.
Continue reading Point/Counterpoint: Letterman's joke about the Palins was just that
Some 'uh-ohs' bubble up behind the scenes of The Jay Leno Show
You gotta love the ol' rumor mill. It sleeps less than Amy Winehouse. Conan O'Brien hasn't even finished his first week as the new host of The Tonight Show and the insiders are already churning out rumblings about Jay Leno's new show.
Some sources close to the network and The Jay Leno Show told Kim Masters of The Daily Beast that Leno is slowly growing unhappy with his new time slot and the changes that are being made to the new show by the network. There are even concerns that the stress of the situation is starting to take a toll on the host's health.
Continue reading Some 'uh-ohs' bubble up behind the scenes of The Jay Leno Show
Conan eases back into late night with The Tonight Show
Conan O'Brien's return to late night television as the fifth host of NBC's The Tonight Show (six if you count comedy genius Ernie Kovacs) felt like a jogger who is pacing himself for a long marathon.
That might sound like a bad review. But compare that to Conan's constant high energy Late Night and that makes The Tonight Show a Jack Russell Terrier on at least three Starbucks espressos.
Conan put aside the puppets and characters for his opening night on the Universal Studios lot for a very enjoyable transition to the new Tonight Show that's sure to get better in the months and years to come.
Continue reading Conan eases back into late night with The Tonight Show
Point/Counterpoint: The Tonight Show will fail Conan O'Brien
Here comes the response to Mr. Zaino's prediction that Conan O'Brien Irish eyes will smile for a long time to come on NBC's The Tonight Show. It's possible the whole deal could turn into a lament.My argument:
- It seems more like The Tonight Show isn't the best marriage for Conan O'Brien, rather than the host being wrong for the show. From SNL to The Simpsons to his own Late Night, O'Brien was a driving force in some of the most cutting edge network comedy of the last 15 years. But, The Tonight Show isn't about "cutting edge." It's about something mildly entertaining to watch before folks tuck into bed. It's a waste of O'Brien's chops -- though you can't blame the guy for knocking down the paycheck.
- Due to lazy NBC programming ideas, O'Brien's popularity could be damaged by his predecessor. No, Jay Leno is in no way out to sabotage his protege. But Leno's upcoming prime time, pre-news lead-in to The Tonight Show seems like overkill. Will audiences want to watch "Leno's old Tonight Show" followed by "O'Brien's new Tonight Show?"
Continue reading Point/Counterpoint: The Tonight Show will fail Conan O'Brien
Leno dominates the ratings one last time
Coming as no surprise to anybody, the final performance of Jay Leno on The Tonight Show absolutely slaughtered the ratings of the rerun of The Late Show with David Letterman. Given the enormity of the event, it's a good thing Dave just decided to hang it up and show a rerun that night in the first place.I've made no secret of the fact that I've always preferred Letterman to Leno, but even I can see how Leno's laid-back, straight-forward presentation style seems more palatable with mainstream America than Dave's snark and wit. But then, I've never had anything resembling mainstream tastes.
Jay now moves to 10 P.M. and Conan takes his place as Letterman's direct competitor. Leno's style does suit the more family-friendly hour he's been placed at. Starting Monday we'll learn whether it was the man or the name-brand built by Leno and those before him that kept people watching The Tonight Show.
Conan talks to reporters about "feeding the dragon" on the new Tonight Show
The world's armchair TV executives proudly proclaimed that the only way Conan O'Brien's cavalcade of foul-mouthed puppets and surreal pop culture mechanes could work every night at 11:30 p.m. is with a potent injection of Ritalin (present executive included).
O'Brien noted, however, that television has broken the time barrier.
"I think especially now, people don't watch an episode of Lost when they are supposed to watch it," he said during a recent conference call. "DVRs changed everything. The Internet has changed everything. People are getting it off Hulu and watching shows on their iPhone. What's most important to me with The Tonight Show is it needs to be funny so people can experience it at 11:30 or watch it the next morning while they're eating their oatmeal."
Continue reading Conan talks to reporters about "feeding the dragon" on the new Tonight Show
Barack Obama's Presidential addresses ... who loves ya, baby?
The networks have been getting their collective panties in a bunch over Barack Obama's need to go on television every time gravity starts to effect the Dow Jones Industrial Average.
They claim it not only screws up their schedule, but it also costs them millions in advertising revenue. Normally, I'd say that anything that keeps more advertising from pouring out of my TV and infecting my eyeballs with its sludge of persuasion (brought to you by the makers of the Gelatin of Ignorance and the Gas of Shame) is a good thing, but they do have a point.
And unlike most TV talking heads, past and current White House Chiefs of Staff or people who donated half of their brain to science (that last one may be a redundancy), there are two sides to every story. So here's a breakdown of the lovers and the haters of the Barack Obama TV brewhaha.
Continue reading Barack Obama's Presidential addresses ... who loves ya, baby?
The curious case of Conan O'Brien - VIDEO
Conan O'Brien's final Late Night ended on a bold note, one that didn't involve animals doing things that would get humans arrested or Abe Vigoda being the best damn Abe Vigoda he can be. In fact, the only way it was remotely funny is if you are one of those douchebags who heckles a comic for building a serious moment or still thinks yelling "Do 'Freebird'!" in between songs at a concert is funny. You know who you are.
It was a serious and heartfelt moment for a show that some naysayers claim is already too silly and asinine for its audience. He put these stuck-up snobs in their rightful place and taught all who watched an important lesson about being true to yourself, especially in the face of those who say it's a big mistake.
And this from a show that features a bear that masturbates on cue. Suck on that, Hallmark Channel.
Continue reading The curious case of Conan O'Brien - VIDEO
The Masturbating Bear... who loves ya baby? - VIDEO
The last week ever of Late Night with Conan O'Brien was bound to include a few shockers. And while I'm still hoping that one of them won't be the failure to launch of Andy Richter's homecoming, another bigger staple came to an end and was probably followed by a long nap and an anthill of shame and loneliness.
Conan held a going away sketch for one of the show's most popular and least marketable characters, the Masturbating Bear.
If you haven't seen this infamous character "in action," feel yourself (not that way sicko) among the fortunate because it's one of the most hilarious and personally shameful moments you will ever experience in your life. Greater even than your prom, your cousin's drunken wedding and your first college beer party where you woke up with one less eyebrow combined.
Continue reading The Masturbating Bear... who loves ya baby? - VIDEO
How are the written shows faring against the non-written shows?
Variety has an interesting piece about how the television shows that have writers are faring against the shows without. To my personal chagrin, Leno is still beating Letterman in the ratings. Also, Conan O'Brien's show is topping the ratings of Craig Ferguson.What does this say? Are the NBC shows so entrenched in American culture that it wouldn't matter if Shakespeare were writing Letterman's monologue?
Continue reading How are the written shows faring against the non-written shows?
Press Kits Unwrapped: The Prisoner
Ask TV Squad: Eureka, The Prisoner and more!
TV Squad Ten: Cartoon women who should have Playboy centerfolds
