Late Night
Nov212005
Filed Under Late Night
The New Yorker review of The Colbert Report takes note, of all things, of the amount of applause the two get when coming back from commercial, calling it “something masturbatory” to leave all the adulation in. Then they reference Portnoy’s Complaint
As Colbert might say, “They don’t get it.” First, the show is live to tape, which means that whatever happens goes right on air, save if they go long (as guest Matthew McConaughey once disturbingly did in telling a story of the sexual habits of his pet goat). Plus, the audience IS that enthusiastic, possibly because nothing else in media demonstrates their level of frustration with the current administration. (Also, because Jon, from all reports, is quite personable with them during the show.) The show in general even resists going for applause, preferring as all comics should, laughs.
It’s a weird thing to point out (and possibly an even sillier blog post), but it would have been far more interesting, comedically, to talk about Colbert inhabiting a character for a half hour and how that affects the show, than about how people seem to enjoy it too much.
Jul222005
Filed Under Late Night
Though others may not agree with me, I think The Daily Show’s new set fits the tone the show has evolved into perfectly.
The Daily Show was originally a well-mixed but Frankenstein hybrid of news parody, news magazine parody and talk show. As the show has focused it’s targets on news media and politics, the interview topics have been more serious. The casual couch and the celebrity guests it was meant to feature have become to stick out a bit. Maybe the couch worked at first to be a place where politicians could let their hair down, but as the interviews have turned to be more serious in topic (and sharper in satiric bite), The Daily Show has had less reason to repeat the late night talk show mold.
By having everything delivered from the desk, The Daily Show fully imitates the news shows it satirizes. Much of the show is a brazen critique of news media and by turning the set into something you would see on CNN, Fox News or MSNBC, you make it clear who your targets are. You don’t see guests on those channels lounging on couches talking about world affairs. When you’re attacking something by using its voice and mannerisms, it’s vital to get the imitation as close to perfect as possible. The new set does exactly that, making the jokes that much more pointed.
As for the three huge flat panel monitors… eh.
Updated: This LA Times article also makes a good point about how going sans couch may make Stewart a more focused and targeted interviewer. Example being the conversation with Bernard Goldberg (one of the most talked about TDS interviews in recent memory).
May042005
Filed Under Late Night
When I said that it was difficult imagining any show following The Daily Show could escape its shadow, I should have added “unless made by the Daily Show itself.” A Stephen Colbert pundit show is a fantastic followup and such a natural that, in retrospect, Greg Giraldo never had a chance.
One of my favorite traits about Colbert as a performer (besides his ability to make his signoff “Jon” get a laugh almost every time) is that he’s not afraid to look like an asshole. He’ll straight-facedly state any manner of exaggerated moralism even if it includes racial, homophobic or sexual taunts. He’s perfect for a send-up of windbags who perform similar “public services” seriously.
I was wondering what the format would be. With the Daily Show’s high profile, it’d be pretty hard to ambush guests with in-studio conversations with a crazed opinionated host ala Crossballs. Guests who appear will pretty much know what they’re getting into. This doesn’t seem to be a difficulty for the faux newsmagazine pieces of The Daily Show, but with Colbert already starting in character rhetoric (he dismissed an appearance by Stewart on the show calling it “liberal claptrap”), it’ll be interesting to see who will play along. No matter what, he’ll have himself to play with in a segment called “Worthy Opponent” where he will debate himself. (See, already high-larious)
The Daily Show made a promo for The Colbert Report a while back, perhaps when they were just working out the concept. For a taste of what Colbert’s brand of justice might be like, click here. (Real)
Apr252005
Filed Under Late Night
Tough Crowd might be back… sorta. The same producers from Tough Crowd have a new pilot at comedy central featuring discussion on the day’s events. Rather than Colin Quinn hosting, Greg Giraldo will be helming the show… his second show as he still a part of the Hollywood newsmag parody Gone Hollywood, which is also at consideration at Comedy Central. Instead of four panelists, three. And the format: discussion, discussion and man on the street bit. Oh, and a new name. But still, it’s Tough Crowd… sorta. (As Tough Crowd was Politically Incorrect… sorta.)
The real test for this will be if the fans on cringehumor.net (who organized a Save Tough Crowd campaign which I now suppose kinda succeeded) embrace it. The site’s operator, Patrick Milligan attended and reviewed one of the pilot tapings. He mentions Greg Giraldo’s audience warmup request to not hear that the show’s just “a second rate Tough Crowd.” Patrick promptly calls it ”Tough Crowd lite.” He waxes quite a bit about the show is pretty tight and rehearsed as opposed to the anything-could-happen nature of Quinn’s show. (He also curiously mentions that many of Colin’s old regulars want to have nothing to do with the new show.) But he admits there’s lot of “smooth comedy” there and hopes it makes it on the air, but in an hour format on Friday rather than paired with The Daily Show.
As for what should follow The Daily Show? Appealing to the political/socially interested viewer is a good instinct. Tough Crowd itself became too much about watching the comedians crack on each other rather than the day’s events. Having a comedic discussion with substance has still only been done well by Bill Maher. Even if you think the man is smug, he still can be funny and hold an intelligent conversation about an issue at the same time. Maybe Giraldo can too. The Daily Show stature has gotten so strong, it’s hard imagining any show following it could escape its shadow. Doubly so anything political. So personally, I’m hoping “Gone Hollywood” is something equally satirical about our mind-numbing celebrity culture.
Mar172005
Filed Under Late Night
The race to be the heir apparent to the heir apparent for the Tonight Show starts now. Onion writer Joe Garden has started a campaign to take over for Conan O’Brien on Late Night when the Harvard grad heads to the Tonight Show in 2009. Not many details are forthcoming yet, but Joe is offering a clearing house for old monologue jokes, with prices that appropriately show how beaten targets like OJ, Michael Jackson and the Dell Guy are. He promises a blog that previews his 2009 monologue and a future theme song.
The Sound of Young America radio show had a recent podcast with an interview with the would-be successor, where Joe vocalizes how he intends to kickstart the “brand of Joe Garden.” Despite nude photos of himself on the Onion site and a predilection to licking co-workers like a cat for 30 minutes, his writing background may well shine past such moral failures. But check votejoegarden.com and decide for yourself.
Mar072005
Filed Under Late Night
Since Jay Leno may end up testifying in the Michael Jackson case, there’s a gag order limiting what he can say about the trial. As has been suggested, Leno is using others to tell his Jacko jokes for him until the matter is clarified. But wouldn’t it have been nice to see some kind of accord between Late Night shows that Michael Jackson jokes are done. Let’s just ignore it and mine other territory.
Monologue jokes, to me, are the ultimate in non-funny funny. They have no surprise… they play off well-worn caricatures that everybody knows. And worse, they don’t really say anything about the subjects they target.
An example: Star Jones is often slammed in late night for being fat (in admittedly inventive ways, on Conan he jokes that one of Star’s furs extincts three species). Weight’s a traditional target, so these jokes could be about anyone. Think of another fat personality and you have essentially the same jokes.
On a recent Daily Show, Jon ran a clip of Star referencing how late night comics often make jokes about her weight. Jon quickly clarified that he’s never jokes about her weight, rather that she “lives three feet up her own ass.” And that target is a far better one. Not only is it more specific to Star, it also captures the lack of self-awareness and ego that makes her so reprehensible. Who cares if she’s fat? Being fat has nothing to do with what’s wrong with her and her behavior.
I’m glad to see Leno is being inventive in how he’ll target Michael Jackson, but I can’t help but wish he’d use as an opportunity to pick other targets far worthier of gags.
Jan242005
Filed Under Late Night
I would state this is such a void in the comedy world, but Carson was so good to his word about retiring that to most of the public and the industry, the void was already there. And that’s admirable. The fact he just left with grace, didn’t look for applause in a society where it increasing seems everyone wants fame and attention, it’s absolutely refreshing.
His only public contributions since 1992 seem to be a couple of New Yorker casuals and those recently announced monologue bits for Letterman. From my reading, the only reason why they ended up in the media was the small circle of friends Carson kept in touch with encouraged him to contribute his talent. It sounds like the act of a young comic trying to make his way in the business, except absent of any of the ambition and done for the pure joy of creation.
More ruminations as they come, but here’s a collection of links (some from TVTattle):
NY Times: Obiturary
NY Times: Carson Never Stopped Writing Jokes.
NY Times: Carson’s Last Monologue
NY Times: Goodbye to Carson’s Tonight Show from 1992
MSNBC: TV Died when Carson Left “Tonight”
Salon: Johnny Carson Profile from 2001
Salon: Quotes from Others on Carson (A good example of why Carson was private - much classier way of living.)
New Yorker Profile
NPR Remembrance
Slate’s Celebration of Carson as “Naughty Genius”
Official Johnny Carson Web Site
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