Tag Archives: late night tv

Laughing live

I was in the audience for last night’s Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.

Now, I’ve been lucky enough to see a lot of shows live here in New York City. Live with Regis and Kelly, Millionaire, Late Show with David Letterman, Conan (back in the day), Silent Library. Heck, I’ve already been to Anderson Cooper’s new daytime talk show.

I’m kinda spoiled.

But Jimmy Fallon has played hardball with me. You see, I had tickets to Late Night in March but had to cancel last minute due to work commitments.  When I called to let them know — and I did call — they thanked me profusely…and then placed me on a ‘no reservations list’ for two months.

Thanks, Jimmy.  Thanks, Mr. Nice Guy.

But last night’s Late Night was easily the most fun I have ever had as part of a live audience.  Jonah Hill killed in his interview.  I have never been so surprised or laughed so hard.  Plus, Jimmy featured Hashtags — who doesn’t love Hashtags? — and a new episode of the “Jersey Floor.”  I even liked the musical guest Elbow.  (Look them up; they’re really good.)

So, I forgive you, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, for your archaic cancelation policy.

You funnied the fume right out of me.

Xmas in a box

The late night shows debuted their holiday decor this week.

You can tell a lot about a host by his tinsel.

Dave, Jimmy and Jimmy have gone the more traditional route — the scatter of lights, poinsettias, a tree or two.  Their sets look festive in the way you might expect.  Heck, they may be using last year’s decorations.

Who would notice?

You  will definitely remember Conan’s. His approach to trimming the set this year is more akin to projectile vomiting.  His stage makes Clark Griswold’s house look dark and neglected.  Dinosaurs.  Giant sandwiches.  A robot rabbi.

It’s gawdy and fabulous, but people with pacemakers best beware.

In sharp contrast, Craig Ferguson’s stage still suffers from bad lighting and leaks from the rain.  He seems filled with the Christmas spirit, but his budget extends only to a small, lighted desktop tree — that he plugged in with a flourish — and a Santa cap for Geoff Peterson, his robot skeleton sidekick.

Funny.  After watching both shows, I realized I preferred the simplicity of Craig’s display.  It has that authentic Charlie Brown quality, whereas Conan’s feels like the need to show off…to splatter his ego and budget all over the place to prove that he is back in the game.

Rudolph syndrome, no doubt.

Chill, CoCo.

Morning show

Yesterday a friend’s status on Facebook read, “Monday is a lame way to spend one-seventh of your life.”  I’m sure we all agree.

It’s the beginning of the work week for most.  Alarms going off again.  Rats racing.  Blood pressures rising.

Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

But what makes Monday mornings particularly difficult for me is…there’s no late-night TV on the DVR to watch with my breakfast.

I know most of the world starts their day with “Today” or “Good Morning America” — I used to as well.  But for the past year, “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” and “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” on DVR are my morning shows of choice.

And I have to say — that’s the kind of programming you need to face the work day.  Creative.  Silly.  Irreverent.  Outrageous.  Laugh-out-loud funny.  Craig’s robot skeleton army.  Jimmy’s Twitter hash tags and award-worthy TV show spoofs.

Not another boring interview on the effect of airborne viruses on skim milk.  (I mean, come on.)

I’ve had a friend accuse me of being a bit obsessive about late-night television.  Now, unless I’m wrong and…please correct me if I am, ‘obsession’ is practically a psychiatric term…concerning people who don’t have anything else but the object of their obsession — who can’t stop and do anything else. Well, here I am stopping to tell you this. Okay? So would you please try and be a little more precise instead of calling a person something like ‘obsessive?’ *

So, don’t take my word for it.  Give it a whirl; see what you think.  Set your DVR.  Go to bed and get some sleep.  Then have your Cheerios with Craig and Jimmy.

It will make Monday — and every work day — go down a bit easier.

Note: In a sad twist of fate, both “Late Night” and “The Late Late Show” are in reruns this week.  I feel the clouds a’gatherin’…

* “Broadcast News,” 1987