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.

So NBC is pulling the plug on the Jay Leno Show primetime experiment.

NBC pointing fingers at their two stars?

And in typical NBC fashion, the network has effectively screwed up two of the best things that it has going for it –  Leno and Conan O’Brien.

Listen, I’m not gonna cry for a couple of guys that are guaranteed millions of dollars a year. But they do deserve better.

I’ve always found Conan hilarious. But Jay’s humor over the past decade has been a little soft.

Getting mistreated by NBC may make him funnier.

Remember when David Letterman, working at NBC, tried to offer his new GE bosses a gift basket? He and his camera crew were escorted from the building! It was great TV…and hilarious.

Cranky Dave has always been funny, but his humor got a helluva lot sharper (and better) when he went after the goofball bosses at NBC. 

Last week Leno took some uncharacteristic but hilarious shots at NBC when word got out that his show was going to be yanked from primetime. I thought it was some of the funniest stuff I’ve seen from him in years. It was GREAT!

Maybe Jay can learn from Letterman. A cranky Jay is a funnier Jay.

*****

BTW, if NBC is pulling Jay Leno out of prime…what the heck are they gonna put at 10pm? Can they do three hours of “The Biggest Loser” Monday through Friday?

*****

Did you see the Cowan family from Bunker Hill, Indiana on “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” on Sunday night?

I had the chance to talk to mom Heather Cowan last week by phone. Sweet lady and a very deserving family.

If you didn’t get to see it, you should be able to watch it on the ABC Video Player on-line at TheIndyChannel.com.

Desperate Housewives

I got a call from a viewer the other day that asked why Sunday’s episode of “Desperate Housewives” did not feature previews of the next episode.

Unfortunately, I had to deliver the bad news…”Desperate Housewives” will not be back with a new episode until next year!

Don’t worry, it sounds worse than it actually is.

“Housewives,” like most other TV series will return with new episodes - in January.

It’s the TV series winter hiberation period. You’ll notice when a show produces and airs a “Christmas” or holiday episode, that’s a sure sign the show is going into re-runs, or the less offensive “encore episode” mode.  (In “Housewives” case, a big disaster/cliffhanger usually proceeds a break.)

Because of the staggeringly high cost of producing TV shows (millions of dollars for a single episode!) the TV networks generally only produce about 22 episodes, sometimes only 18 eps of some shows, per year. These episodes are then spread out to air from late September through late May.

New episodes will run in the four weeks of Nielsen “Sweep” periods when Nielsen monitors who’s watching what shows. Those “sweeps” air in November, February and May.

So when you do the math you can figure out pretty quickly that you need to schedule the shows with repeats built in. 

And since TV viewing is affected by holiday schedules and vacations, it seems pretty logical to schedule blocks of repeats throughout the month of December.

So if you have a bunch of shows saved on your Tivo, the holiday season will be a great time to catch up!

***** 

The cast of "V"

I also heard some groans when ABC aired teasers for “V” and ”FlashForward” announcing the final episodes of the year. Same deal. Except these two terrific shows will not return in January but in March. 

By waiting until March to bring back new episodes of “FlashForward” and “V,” it will allow for both shows to air uninterrupted through the end of the season. ”FlashForward” will return on Thursday, March 4, 2010 (8:00-9:00 p.m), and “V” on Tuesday, March 30, 2010 (10:00-11:00 p.m., moving to its new timeslot following “Lost” (which debuts in early February!!!) 

That’s good news. I was wondering if ABC was going to subject “V” to the American Idol juggernaut at 8pm on Tuesdays. That’s good. Replacement programming for the current time periods will be announced shortly.

BTW, “Glee” on FOX will be taking an extended break. I understand that it will not return until APRIL!

****

A new job for Cuomo?

Following up on the ABC News post I did earlier this week, apparently ABC NEWS will make JuJu Chang the newsreader on Good Morning, America.

It’s reported that Chris Cuomo is moving up to co-anchor “20/20″ with Elizabeth Vargus on Friday nights.

That’s a good gig for Cuomo as “20/20″ has grown into the #1 show in the Friday at 10pm time period.

Part of the reason for the news magazine’s success? Jay Leno’s failure.

Jay Leno is driving viewers away from NBC.

Ouch!

Joanna Krupa should make it to the finals!

Okay, we’ve seen the men.

After Tuesday night’s extravaganza, we’ve now seen the women of season 9’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

And I think we’ve seen a glimpse of who will make it to the final weeks!

Last week I predicted that Macy Gray would be voted off first. (Watching Tuesday it will be deservedly so. )

I now think Ashley Hamilton may also get the boot on Wednesday night. 

For the guys, Aaron Carter is probably one of the best dancers. But I wonder if he has the fan base to take him to the finals? In listening to the buzz from conversations around work, on the radio etc, I’ve heard many women ding on his  perceived attitude. He does come across a little immature. If women don’t support him, he’s toast.

Donny Osmond is gonna finish even better than his sister, Marie. (Though I should note my wife is quick to point out that the men have it easier as the women have tougher moves to make.)

I think the snowboarder, Louie Vito will make it far.

For the women, singer Mya is a contender. Olympian Natalie Coughlin will make it far. But the highlight of the night was Kelly Osbourne (and her wacky family.) And guess what? She danced really well, too!

Along with model Joanna Krupa, who was fantastic, it is obvious the women are going to dominate this season! 

 ****

What happened to the Leno lightning? Last week he was #1 at 10pm. This week, it’s a much different story.

The difference? Now the Jay Leno Show has competition…and he’s tumbled. Monday night’s episode on WTHR Channel 13 delivered less than a quarter of the audience he had just a week earlier. 

That could be a problem.

*****

This may be hard to believe but Heather Locklear has been a TV staple for decades.

“TJ Hooker” and ”Dynasty.” Sitcom work on “Spin City” in the 90’s.

Cox stars in "Cougar Town"

But now she’s returning to series TV in the new CW reboot of her 90’s hit. That’s right, Heather’s returning to “Melrose Place” later this fall. Amanda’s back.

I wasn’t a big fan of “Melrose” (though the episodes I did see, Locklear stole the show!) But how can you not like Heather!

****

Speaking of faves from the 90’s, a “Friend” returns tonight. 

Courtney Cox (What happened to using Arquette-Cox?) is headlining a new sitcom on Wednesday nights. The show is called “Cougar Town” and its a raunchy, fun comedy. It’s from the Creator and Producer of “Scrubs” and it’s hilarious. But like I said, it can be a little crude.

Check it out.

Like clockwork, Beatlemania is back…again!

I think this commercial for Beatles Rock Band is great.  In case you haven’t heard, the new video game is now available in stores along with newly remastered versions of the entire Beatles catalog.

The spot is a digital marvel combining footage of the fab four from the Abbey Road era with present day crowds. Very cool. Very “all together now.” 

The Rock Band release shows great marketing. Just like the Beatles themselves.

Now I certainly don’t mean that in any cyncial or critical way. The Beatles are remembered forty plus years later not just because of great marketing. That helps. But they are really remembered because their original product is so damn good. The lads from Liverpool were masters of marketing. But its really all about the music.  

I happen to believe the Beatles were/are/and will be the best rock band ever. Period. Their music, even in its earliest days was great. Catchy, hummable and so memorable.

As they matured, we could hear the Beatles grow as musicians. They grew up (and we grew up with them.) They expanded and developed their themes, lyrics and musicality.

Their music never stopped moving ahead. To listen even to their simplest songs reveals a much more sophisticated experience. The best art is like that…it works on so many levels all at once.

****

The real King of Late Night

On the eve of Jay Leno starting his new primetime talk show next week, New York Magazine has published what I think is one of the most interesting articles I’ve read about Hoosier David Letterman and his amazing talk show career.

Check it out here. Great reading.

Makes me proud of my fellow Ball State alum!