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.

Michael’s sister LaToya, brother Jermaine, his mother  and other family members were on hand to particpate.

The finale to “Thriller” was especially cool, seeing the dancers perform that famous, oh so iconic zombie dance again on the ballroom floor.

Only downside…Natalie Coughlin got voted off.

Bummer.

****

I got a Blu Ray player a couple months ago.

Big fun..."Transformers" on Blu!

So Tuesday I gave it a little work out.

Did I say little? I should say big. Massive. HUGE.

I rocked out to “Transformers Revenge of the Fallen” just out on DVD and Blu Ray.

You know the plot. Big robots fight. A lot. Shia LeBuef runs around. Megan Fox….well, she looks hot.

This is a movie that you turn off the brain and just let the bombast wash over you. The visuals are big. The sound literally shakes the house.

The movie was directed by Michael Bay (”Pearl Harbor,”"Transformers,” and other loud movies) 

Bay’s movies get knocked by some critics because they are so big. I think they are big fun!

This is what Blu Ray was made for.  

David Letterman did a recent Top Ten list I thought pretty funny.

It’s definitely worth sharing!

Enjoy!

Top Ten Signs Your Toddler Watches Too Much Television

10. He’s got a satellite dish on his crib

9. Wants Neil Patrick Harris to host his birthday party

8. Can count to 10/9 central

7. At bedtime, asks you to read him the Nielsen ratings

6. Instead of security blanket, clutches a Shamwow

5. Keeps wanting to know why grandpa “got canceled”

4. He weighs 135 pounds

3. Thinks the capital of Montana is Hannah

2. Constantly implores you to have your pet spayed or neutered

1. His first words were, “Your local news starts now!”

Courtesy of The Late Show with David Letterman

I have a good friend in the public relations business in Indianapolis that has simple advice for his clients caught in a tight spot – Tell The Truth.  And be quick about it.  No spinning allowed.

But I don’t think he would have advised David Letterman to handle his indiscretions they way he did.  Letterman, allegedly being extorted by a CBS employee, did tell the truth, using his late night show last Thursday to admit that he had sex with several female employees who worked for his production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated.  He’s continued over the past few days to continue addressing the issue with comedic asides, not the contrition one would expect.

So far, there hasn’t been a lot of fallout. It’s great for ratings.  I’m sure CBS would have preferred it happening in November.  That’s  when the next important Nielsen sweeps period occurs.

It’s a serious issue. Even though the Worldwide Pants employees have not complained, the risk of claims that they were coerced because of fear of losing employment or favor opens a path that makes lawyers drool.  And, the other employees start seeing disproportionately favorable treatment to other employees, based on you-know-what.

The alleged extortionist has an attorney whose public statements this week sound like Letterman (and CBS) are in for a very uncomfortable 2010.

The public, so far, is giving Letterman a pass. I’m sure Bill Clinton and Mark Sanford are chuckling right now.  Not to mention Sarah Palin.

A RANT…AND A RAVE - Letterman’s Problems 

Okay, it looks like David Letterman is guilty of bad judgement.

Dave in control of the controversy>

It’s nasty, ugly and uncomfortable to watch. But its especially disconcerting to see a very private individual like Dave have to endure the very public judgements from all of us. That’s my rant. It doesn’t look like he broke any laws…sounds like he may have broken some hearts. 

It’s sad. But that’s life. That’s my rant.  

My Rave…only Dave Letterman can turn his own misfortune/embarassment of being black-mailed into some hilarious jokes and compelling TV. Sure he takes shots at politicians that fool around. And the irony is not lost on him. He deals it out on himself just as readily. Self deprecation has never looked so great (and been so funny.)

A RANT – Jon and Kate …JUST SHUT UP ALREADY!

Are you with me on this? Can these two just please, please, please take their divorce OFF LINE and stop using the airwaves to attack each other? Kate goes on the Today Show to complain about Jon draining their bank account! Jon counters by appearing as a regular on “The Insider” telling America that Kate is lying!

STOP IT NOW PLEASE!

A RAVE – “Modern Family” rocks!

It’s the best new comedy…hell, I will go so far as to say it IS the best Comedy on TV right now! “30 Rock” hand the Emmy over to this show now.

A RANT – Why my cable company doesn’t understand the term “customer relations”

Is that a surprise?

Nah. Shouldn’t be. But here is a kick in the head. My family was notified this week that our cable company is raising the rate for our internet connection. They send us a generic letter notifying us of the rate increase. But the letter only says the new higher rate will begin November 1. The letter does NOT say what the new rate will be. The letter says we have to call to find out.

Okay…so we call. And here is the kick in the head: the operator says the rate is definitely going up on November 1. But they (the cable company) have not yet decided what the new rate will be. They won’t be able to tell us for a couple of weeks. Why? Who knows?

Okay…and oh, by the way, if you want to know what the new, higher rate we (the cable company) want to charge you, you will have to find it in your time to call back to find out what the new higher rate will be. But not until right before the new rate will be official. (Maybe you will forget.)

Okay…that’s a kick in the head.

See ya Debi...

A RAVE – “Dancing” Kicks off TWO couples!

When I heard Tom Delay could not continue on “Dancing with the Stars” on Tuesday night, I thought they would just boot him and call it a day. Nope. These guys actually kicked someone else off the show! WOW. Especially glad to see it was Debi Mazar was the one that got booted.

A RAVE – smart people are funny people on “The Big Bang Theory”

“Modern Family” may be the best comedy…but this clever sitcom is great fun.

A RAVE- Geico on a roll

They started with the Cavemen.

Then it was a talking Gekko.

 Now it ’s a shockingly simple concept; a stack of money with a goofy pair of eyes and a faux smile pasted on.

Simple, yet so iconic. 

simple...yet iconic

These guys get marketing (or at least their advertising agency does.)

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!