Leno with Michele Obama

The late night talk show wars just keep on giving.  

This weekend Jay Leno was the emcee of the Washington correspondent’s dinner. This is the annual dinner where politicians, celebrities and comedians make jokes about the President and politicians.

Even though Leno was the host, I thought President Obama had some one of the best jokes of the night.

The President pointed out Leno as “the only person whose ratings fell more than mine.” He followed that up by saying he was glad he was appearing before Jay took the podium…”because we’ve all seen what happens when you take the time slot after Leno” in reference to the whole Conan O’Brien time slot/ratings fiasco!

Rimshot! Bam!

Conan tells his side on "60 Minutes"

Sunday night, Conan O’Brien appeared on “60 Minutes” for his first interview about the whole “Tonight Show” debacle. Conan said if the roles had been reversed, he would have never acted like that toward Leno.

You know what? I believe Conan. He’s a stand-up stand-up.

But hey, O’Brien got paid $30 million in a buyout. And he’s going to have a new show on TBS. Hard to feel too sad for him (though he looked pretty depressed about the whole thing.)

Leno took more flak when David Letterman, appearing on “Live with Regis and Kelly,” piled on with even more dismissive shots at Leno. Dave’s rants were very pointed and direct; if you ever hoped that Dave and Jay may have decided to be friends again, you can forget it. Letterman is still seething about the whole affair, how Conan was treated by NBC and by Leno.

Why so angry?

Because its exactly what NBC and Leno did to Letterman so many years ago. Letterman is especially angry after Leno went on “Oprah” and said both he and Conan “got screwed by NBC.”  Like Dave says, how exactly did Leno get screwed?

Leno just wants everyone to like him.

And you know what, since he’s moved back to the 11:35pm timeslot, his ratings have mostly returned, knocking Letterman back again.

I’m not a Leno fan.

But I think its time for Letterman to shut up about his late-night rival. It’s beneath him to keep ragging on the guy. Especially with the ratings swing, it makes Dave look like a sore loser.

And Dave is so much better than that.

Trolling the entertainment headlines, thought I would share some of the highlights…(or lowlights when it comes to Donald Trump.)

Here ya go…

Trump Says ‘Amazing Race’ Doesn’t Deserve Emmy Wins

The Hollywood Reporter did an interview with “the Donald” where he takes shots reality show Emmy fave ”Amazing Race.” 

This guy wants an Emmy...and he'll insult anyone to get it!

The article says he wants an Emmy so badly for “The Celebrity Apprentice” that he’s gone public with his opinion that CBS’s “Amazing Race” only wins because the producers know how to play politics.

Trump declared, “It’s a shame that ‘Amazing Race’ keeps winning, because it doesn’t deserve to win it. It wins every year because they know how to politic the Emmys.”

Regarding the Emmy voters, Trump says, “They’ve lost credibility. Instead of shows that deserve to win, they pick ‘Amazing Race.’ It’s a very sad commentary.”

Yeah Donald, telling the Emmy voters they’ve lost credibility in your eyes is one way to curry their favor. An Emmy for “Celebrity Apprentice?” You’ve got to be kidding… 

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Conan O’Brien Ban from TV Ends Sunday Night

The New York Times reports Conan O’Brien will give his first interview since leaving “The Tonight Show” to “60 Minutes” on Sunday night.

While O’Brien has kept to his NBC exit-package agreement that he not have any print or TV interviews before May 1, the comedian “flirts with the restrictions” imposed by NBC that he not disparage NBC or Jay Leno, according to “60 Minutes” correspondent Steve Kroft.

The piece will focus on O’Brien’s thoughts on his decision to depart NBC rather than concede to the network’s plan to push back his show to allow Leno back on the late-night schedule.

Still, Kroft says “60 Minutes” needs to be creative to promote the interview since O’Brien can’t appear on TV before Saturday. “I think we’ll just show me talking to him and have to blank his face out,” Kroft said

Man, NBC just keeps taking the shots when it comes to messin’ with late night talk show hosts (Conan this year, Letterman last decade.) But I guess NBC gets the last laugh…Leno’s ratings are doing better than Conan’s. But down from before the late night fiasco.  

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More “Housewives?”

Deadline.com says ABC is considering renewing “Desperate Housewives” in a two-season deal which may mark the end to the show’s run after eight seasons.

“Creator/executive producer Marc Cherry already has a deal in place with producing studio ABC Studios for three more years. If “Desperate Housewives” indeed ends its run after eight seasons, he is expected to focus on development in the final year of his deal,” according to Deadline.com.

Deadline also says Patrick Dempsey from “Grey’s Anatomy” may not want to continue with the program beyond his deal through next season. If the show loses more of its key players, it may take a page from “ER” and reinvent itself with new main characters.

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“Supernanny” Ready to Retire? 

Variety reports that Jo Frost, the star of “Supernanny” she’s thinking about ending her stint on the show.

“It feels like the right time for me to end my reign as the Supernanny. I’ve lived out of a suitcase for the past five years, visiting 47 states for the show. It’s time to settle down in one place for the time being,” Frost said.

Variety says ABC said that no decision has been made but that the network has already placed a 13-episode order for the 2010-11 season.

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More “Lost” for the Finale Week!

The two hour pilot episode of “Lost” has been scheduled to air on ABC and RTV 6 the night before the two hour finale!

The two-hour pilot, directed by JJ Abrams, will air from 8-10 p.m. on May 22 on RTV 6. The enhanced episode will include pop-up facts about the show and the episode.

Currently, the final week of “Lost” includes eight hours of “Lost” programming, including the two-hour final episode and an hour-long Jimmy Kimmel special with the cast and producers that will air following the series conclusion.

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GMA sets Summer Concert Line-up

“GMA’s Summer Concert Series” kicks off on May 21 with the Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato performing songs from the highly anticipated “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam.”

 If you are going to be in New York City, all concerts are free and open to the public and will take place live during “Good Morning America,” Fridays from 7:00 – 9:00 a.m on RTV 6.

Additional dates and acts will be announced throughout the summer. Concerts scheduled-to-date include the following:

· May 21: Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, Camp Rock 2

· May 28: Sugarland

· June 4: Diddy

· June 11: Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan

· June 18: Miley Cyrus

· June 25: Alicia Keys

· July 2: Mary J. Blige

· July 9: To Be Announced

· July 16: The GO-GO’S

· July 23: Sheryl Crow

· July 30: Black Eyed Peas

· August 6: To Be Announced

· August 13: Jonas Brothers and Demi Lovato, Camp Rock 2

· August 20: Rihanna

· August 27: Lady Antebellum

Kate, look at what a smile can do!

I can’t believe I’m writing this…but I’m actually now rooting for Kate Gosellin to do well on “Dancing with the Stars.” (Do well…not win.)

Just a few weeks ago, I wanted her to get kicked off first. She was/still is the worst dancer.

But this week, for the first time, I actually saw her smile…and I’ve had a change of heart.  She actually looked like she was having fun. Kate, the one with the perpetual frown, smiled.  She even admitted she had fun, at least a little.

Maksim Chmerkovskiy, the serious but popular dancing professional paired with Erin Andrews this season, summed up his feelings about Kate pretty succintly when he told the Insider “She needs to lighten up. It’s “Dancing with the Stars”…have fun.”

Kate, if you show us you can have fun without whining about how tough your life is as a working mom (with multiple TV shows and plenty of cash rolling in) we’ll support you.

It’s amazing what a little smile can do to change how you see someone.

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Conan O’Brien announced this week that he’s taking his show to cable channel TBS beginning in November.

Smart move. A poll of Fox affiliates released this week shows he would not have been greeted with open arms by Fox stations. THey didn’t want him.

Here’s a couple reasons why cable will work for Conan.

First, he will air at 11pm, before Dave and Jay. 

Secondly, and more critically, his level to succeed is so much lower with a show on TBS. Expectations to deliver an audience on cable are much, much different than Dave and Jay’s broadcast homes. Conan won’t come close to delivering big audiences like Jay and Dave…but he will probably do just fine with the younger demos that do prefer him.

My only question…is Andy Richter part of his new deal?

I hope so.

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Is there a reason one LOST cast member is NOT in this picture?

Finally, the LOST Finale on Sunday, May 23 is getting bigger! ABC has announced they are now going to feature a two hour retrospective show leading into the two hour finale that begins at 9pm.

But the big LOST news…ABC has released the final “official” cast photo that is titled “Final Flight.” 

It features many of the actors sitting in the shell of a crashed airliner. 

But what makes it truly “Beatles-Abby Road” curious is that one of the key cast members in NOT in the photo.

Look closely…

Actor Henry Ian Cusick who plays Desmond is NOT among those pictured. 

Hmmmmm….is this a clue?

Also, some actors are standing and some are sitting. Another clue?

This is fun. And this is why I love “LOST.”

A classy Conan signs off!

From his days writing on Saturday Night Live through Late Night with Conan O’Brien and finally his abbreviated stint on the Tonight Show, Conan O’Brien left NBC after about twenty years. 

He left giving them a gift…probably his highest ratings ever on The Tonight Show.

It was a classy exit with O’Brien thanking the network for the opportunity to host the Tonight Show. He was funny and emotional. Particularly cool how he finished playing electric guitar with an all-star band with Will Ferrell as the front-man? Hey, that’s comedy, baby.

I’ll miss Conan. But he’ll be back. (And hopefully Andy Richter will return with him as his trusty sidekick, too.)

I’m sure Leno’s ratings will improve over Conan’s when he returns to the 11:30 timeslot. But I know I personally have even less interest in watching him again.

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This isn’t a sports column. But like many of you, I spent most of Sunday watching Football.

I can’t imagine any football team beating the Colts in the Super Bowl.

Watching the NFC Championship as the Vikings and Saints literally pummelled each other, I thought “these guys aren’t going to have anything left for the Super Bowl.”

Colts fans, we should savor the team Indianapolis has created. 

But even with the AFC Championship and even if they pull out a Super Bowl victory, I will still find it hard to forgive the team for NOT going for the perfect season.

They earned it. They deserved it.     

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BTW, did you see the extended commercial for EA Games impressive looking new game “Mass Effect 2″ in the NFC game? Stunning. And impressive looking. My in-laws and I we’re glued to it.

Hopefully we'll see you in September, somewhere

A RANT – The Late Night Battle over “The Tonight Show.”

 

I’ve found  the shots Conan O’Brien has taken at NBC executives hilarious. As you might guess, I’m with  Team Coco.

Letterman, you’ve got the lead at 11:35p. So when Leno takes back “Tonight” don’t blow it.

ANOTHER RELATED RANT – NBC’s Intellectual Property Claims

In his deal to leave NBC, the network is reportedly claiming “the intellectual property rights” to bits and routines the comic has used on his network shows over the past several years. Meaning that if and when Conan pops up on another network or cable outlet with a new show that he can’t take signature bits like “In the Year 2000,” “Triumph the Insult Dog,” and the masterbating bear.

Like Conan himself said the other night on his show, the fact someone is calling those routines “intellectual property” is the biggest joke yet.

NBC, you ARE the Biggest Loser!

A RAVE – Craig Ferguson is a Hoot!

Forget all the other late night drama, this guy following Letterman is the real deal. Funny, insightful, even sometimes hilariously profound. But I did say Funny first cause this Scot (now an American citizen) is one wickedly funny comic. 

A RAVE – The Ultimate Trailer Show on HDNet

An entire show of new movie trailers. In HD. It’s cool. And to top it off, they throw in an old trailer from a classic movie at the end.

A RANT – 3D is not for Me.

The push for 3D is the next big in technology?

Not for me. I like the super-sharp HD images…not blurry three dimensional imagery. Thanks but no thanks.

A RAVE – 1,000 Ways to Die

Yep, it’s what it sounds like…a show that  features vignettes about people dying in various and unusual bad ways. It’s a Spike TV favorite. Grim reenactments that feature people doing stupid things that ends with someone dying. Who knew dying could be so much fun…kinda like those “Darwin lists” that come out each year, this is gruesome but funny viewing. Especially the animations that showcase how the person died. Crude and funny at the same time.