LATE SHOW NEWS #190 February 10, 1998 by Aaron Barnhart Speculation was rampant last week that Norm Macdonald would attempt to bail early from his "Saturday Night Live" contract, which expires in May. A report appeared that said Macdonald had met with NBC West Coast head Don Ohlmeyer -- the genius who thought to replace Macdonald and producer James Downey at "Weekend Update" with Colin Quinn and a writer with exactly one week's worth of good material -- and that the two men were negotiating Macdonald's imminent departure. Norm cancelled a conference call last week to promote his appearance on Monday's ESPY awards broadcast, suggesting that the "SNL" discussions were getting too hot to discuss with reporters. Macdonald reportedly is itching to get into movies while his name recognition and public sympathy are at all-time highs. Some have hoped that Macdonald would become part of that long-rumored Howard Stern production for CBS, but seeing as how that's vaporware and Norm is actually starring in a movie that will be released later this year, Hollywood seems the more likely option. Look what it's done for Greg Kinnear, nominated today for Best Supporting Actor in "As Good As It Gets" ... A more malicious rumor surfaced Tuesday regarding Tom Snyder and his future on CBS' "Late Late Show." Joe Adalian reported in the New York Post that Snyder told his boss, Dave Letterman, he might not renew his deal with Worldwide Pants after this year "because of continuing creative differences with executive producer Peter Lassally." Lassally wants the show to be more "celebrity-driven" while Tom wants more "breaking news" segments, according to Adalian's source. This seems faintly ludicrous to anyone who remembers Snyder on CNBC, who has great affection for some of the old celebrities that never appear anymore on talk shows. (Think Betty White or Rosemary Clooney.) At any rate, neither Snyder and Lassally would comment for the record on Tuesday about the Post's report, but the show's spokesman said both men were "highly amused" at the notion of any great friction between them ... Speaking of unfounded reports, by now you realize that Letterman was only kidding when he said guitar queen and CBS Orchestra player Felicia Collins had run off to Nagano, Japan. She was off on business, according to the show ... And it's the revenge of McGee's! The theme restaurant Sullivan's that opened next to the "Late Show" front entrance on Broadway, and had Paul Shaffer as an investor, has been shuttered. It displaced McGee's (named for one of Ed Sullivan's cameramen), which had been in that location for 16 years before its closure in 1995. But now the windows are papered over and there's a goodbye note on the front door. *** Reader mail: Eric H., who saw that "Blues Brothers 2000" finished a pitiful fourth at the box office in its first weekend of distribution, writes, "I think one reason why the movie did so bad in the box office was because the promotion for the film made it seem as though blues music is the most popular type of music in America. The fact is, really, no one sees a movie just because it's about a certain type of music. The little money that the movie did make was probably a result of the fact that the Blues Brothers are a icon of the late "SNL" eara that was marked with such excellent performers." James Lamb writes, "NBC is in serious trouble if Don Ohlmeyer thinks this new guy equals funny on 'Weekend Update.' First off, an unfunny racial joke no more than 20 seconds after I flipped to the channel reminded me why I swore off 'SNL' two years ago ... No offense to Colin, but he reminded me of an ex-high-school-jock-football player pulled from a trailer park and asked to read bad jokes off cue cards. It wasn't entirely his fault, most of the writing stunk, but even stuff that could have been funny wasn't" ... And Alan S. Dalinka writes, "Just thought I'd update you on the *new* line situation at 'Late Show with David Letterman.' On Monday (2/3/98), I arrived at the Ed at 4 p.m. for the evening taping, the third show I've attended since Dave's move to CBS. With my pre-numbered ticket, I expected to get in line in front of the theatre as they used to do in the days when the pages numbered the tickets in the afternoon. Instead, the pages directed us to cross 52nd Street and line up outside the Roseland Ballroom backdoor. ... At 4:15 p.m. the pages opened the back door to the ballroom and we were herded inside, where we found a warm old ballroom waiting for us, complete with free Hot Chocolate. It was in the ballroom that we were (eventually) assembled into ticket order number and then marched 2-by-2 across 53rd and into the front door of the theatre. No outdoor waiting time was required this time. My pre-numbered tickets (#27 & #28) resulted in first-row seats in front of the band and the resulting guitar pick thrown by Will Lee." *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY Exclusive to LATE SHOW NEWS Tu 2/10: In 1976, on "Saturday Night Live," in John Belushi's third samurai sketch, "Samurai Divorce Court," Mr. and Mrs. Futaba are ordered by judge Peter Boyle to divide all their assets -- including their daughter Bingo. We 2/11: In 1972, after two and a half years battling The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson," "The Merv Griffin Show" leaves the world of late night TV. Undaunted, Griffin takes his show back to daytime a few months later where it thrives from 1972-86. Th 2/12: In 1985, Johnny Carson surprises his "Tonight Show" audience by shaving the beard he'd been sporting of late. "I had to do it when a little old lady said that she had confused me for one of the Smith Brothers." After an awkward moment of silence, Carson notes "You know, the cough drop guys." Uproarious laughter. Fr 2/13: In 1993, on "Saturday Night Live," Adam Sandler performs a love song to his "Red Hooded Sweatshirt" with help from musical guests Paul and Linda McCartney. Earlier in the show, Chris Farley interviewed McCartney, in an episode of "The Chris Farley Show." This clip was shown last December as "Saturday Night Live's" memorial to Farley. Sa 2/14: In 1990, the Valentine's Day edition of "The Pat Sajak Show" (by then renamed "The Midnight Hour") is guest-hosted by Roger Ebert and Gene Siskel. Wipe that smirk off your face. Su 2/15: In 1997, on the cover of TV Guide, "Why It's Still Cool to Love Dave ... hotter guests, hipper music, rocking road trips...David Letterman is on a roll!" Mo 2/16: In 1985, on "Saturday Night Live," Fernando leaves his "Hideaway" for Radio City Music Hall's "Night of 100 Stars," where he notes that Teri Garr looks mahvelous, even if she does have some hair on her outfit and "it looks like Lorne Greene has been rolling around on your body there for a while." [Thanks to Dave Tanny, Tim Brooks & Earl Marsh. Special thanks to Donz5, just nominated for his screenplay, "Inky: the Movie."] Don't let Tom Heald go another year like Charlie Brown, fill his mailbox on Valentine's Day at . THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Tu 2/10 Bill Cosby, The Blues Brothers (John Goodman and Dan Aykroyd) We 2/11 Cindy Crawford, Stupid Human Tricks Th 2/12 Adam Sandler, Jack Hanna Fr 2/13 LeeAnn Rimes, Bryan White Mo 2/16 Heather Locklear, Tom Selleck Tu 2/17 Mike Myers, Paula Cole THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Tu 2/10 Helena Bonham Carter, singing dogs, Trisha Yearwood We 2/11 Robert Duvall, Julie Scardina and Sea World animals, Veronica Webb Th 2/12 Kobe Bryant, Kim Delaney, Animal Impressionist Contest Fr 2/13 Sharon Stone, 7-year-old actress Emily Young, Sounds of Blackness Mo 2/16 David Schwimmer, pigs and wiener dogs race Tu 2/17 Woody Harrelson, Michelle Williams, Patti LaBelle We 2/18 Elisabeth Shue, Sports Illustrated cover model, Michael Bolton Th 2/19 Gina Gershon, Egg-eating contest LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Pre-empted due to Olympic late night coverage LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Tu 2/10 Darrell Hammond We 2/11 Bob Costas, Louis C.K., Salt-N-Pepa Th 2/12 Paul Simon Fr 2/13 Adam Sandler, Marlon Wayans, Kenny Wayne Shepherd LATER, NBC Mo 2/9 - Th 2/11 Peri Gilpin with guests TBA CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Please note that Charlie Rose listings are very tentative Tu 2/10 Brian Williams; Oscar Panel with David Denby, Janet Maslin, Richard Corliss We 2/11 Joseph Heller, Willie Morris Th 2/12 Sandra Bernhard Fr 2/13 Randall Robinson POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Tu 2/10 Fred Savage, Jane Chastain, Jimmie Walker, Dr. Anthony Campolo We 2/11 Christine Lahti, Deepak Chopra, Susan Estrich, Steven Wright Th 2/12 Gilbert Gottfriend, Susan Carpenter McMillan Fr 2/13 French Stewart, Merv Griffin, Dinesh D'Souza, Eleanor Mondale VIBE TV, syndicated Tu 2/10 Alan Thicke, Garcelle Beauvais, Imani Coppolla We 2/11 Shang Forbes, Trisha Yearwood Th 2/12 Bruce Boxleitner, Ice Cube Fr 2/13 Jonathan Slocumb, K-CI and Jo-Jo KEENEN IVORY WAYANS, syndicated Tu 2/10 Robert Townsend, Something For The People We 2/11 TBA Th 2/12 Real Andrews Fr 2/13 Russell Simmons HOWARD STERN, E! Tu 2/10 Robert Duvall, Ralph and Mike Gange (R) We 2/11 Fred's Therapy Fight, Elephant Boy and Girlfriend (R) Th 2/12 Salt and Pepa, Lisa's Operation Part 1 (R) Fr 2/13 2 Butts and a Virgin, Lisa's Operation Part 2 (R) Sa 2/14 Robin's Polygraph Test (R), Puerto Rican Vanessa (R) THE DAILY SHOW, Comedy Central Tu 2/10 Malik Yoba ("New York Undercover") We 2/11 Jayson Williams (New Jersey Nets) Th 2/12 Richard Lewis DENNIS MILLER LIVE, HBO Fr 2/13 Michael Keaton SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 2/13 Fran Drescher, Carol Channing, Alice Cooper (R) Carrot Top (R) Fr 2/20 Genndy Tartakovsky, Van Partible, Craig McCracken and Pat Ventura DIE HARALD SCHMIDT SHOW, SAT.1 Mi 11/2 Soenke Wortmann, Dr. Heiner Geissler Do 12/2 Georgianna Robertson, Tony Marshall Fr 13/2 Kathrin Mueller, Thomas Ohrner Also on late nights: NIGHTLINE and WORLD NEWS NOW, ABC CHARLES GRODIN, CNBC MAD TV, Fox SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, NBC (this season) and Comedy Central (classics) THE RUPAUL SHOW, VH1 LOVELINE, MTV UP TO THE MINUTE, CBS NIGHTSIDE, NBC THE DAILY SHOW, Comedy Central ======================================== AARON BARNHART IN THE KANSAS CITY STAR (a Knight-Ridder newspaper) The URL for recent TV stories is Scroll to the bottom of the page. ======================================== Entire contents Copyright 1998 by Aaron Barnhart. All rights reserved. Current e-mail circulation: 11,837 subscribers in 53 countries. Guest lineups are updated throughout the week by Sue Trowbridge at LATE SHOW NEWS is made possible with the generous assistance of ECHO, New York City's premiere online service. Send news for and comments about this newsletter to aaron@tvbarn.com