LATE SHOW NEWS #196 March 31, 1998 by Aaron Barnhart To join or leave the LATE-SHOW-NEWS mailing list, instructions are at end of message. Six days after Michael Moore complains to LATE SHOW NEWS that the Letterman show has blown him off for good, he's booked as a last-minute guest on Monday's "Late Show." Funny, I was expecting a much *faster* response. It gets better. Dave opened his segment with Moore by asking him about the story that LATE SHOW NEWS scooped the planet on: the surprise appearance of O.J. Simpson as a guest on Moore's late-night talk show pilot for Fox. I've been watching the Letterman show forever and one of the things that makes it enjoyable, even now, is that to this day I can't always predict what he'll do with a guest. Monday night Dave and Michael talked about O.J. for four minutes and then about working conditions at Nike shoe factories for three minutes. A nice long substantive panel with few laugh lines -- who'da thunkit? *** After an eternity of rumor-mongering, USA TODAY is reporting with some certainty that it's really going to happen, it's *really* going to happen, it's really *going* to happen, Howard Stern is getting a new high-profile late show on TV. The plan is the same as was reported here earlier: Stern will oppose "Saturday Night Live" on the CBS owned-and-operated stations in late summer. Once it's judged a success, Eyemark Entertainment, CBS's syndication arm, will offer the program to the rest of the country (and not necessarily CBS-affiliated stations). LATE SHOW NEWS has been talking about Stern's viability as a late-night host since issue No. 7. To give you some idea how much his cachet has improved in value those four years (or how much that of the other shows' have dropped), that deal would have been for Rupert Murdoch's measly FX cable channel. If all goes well for Howard, he will instantly become one of CBS's hottest properties, a bridge to the 21st century for the old-folks network and salvation for the millions of viewers alienated by Junior Chipmunk-skewing "SNL" and "MAD TV." Of course, no one is offering many specifics on what kind of format Stern will undertake for his new show, but neither does anyone seem especially worried about that untended-to detail. After all, this is Howard Stern's next project, not Arsenio Hall's. As long as there's another Jesus Twins waiting to crawl out of the woodwork and Jackie the Joke Man is on the payroll, there's hope for the weekends yet. *** Dave's doing another "your city in my theater" show, flying 130 randomly-chosen Chicagoans to New York for two days, one night and a taping of "Late Show" on April 23. If you haven't done it already, slam that postcard in to "Late Show" Tickets--Chicago, P.O. Box 1212, New York, N.Y. 10019. They've gotta have it by April 3. Last year at this time, Dave hosted fans from Indianapolis, St. Louis, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Denver. Leno will originate five more "Tonight Shows" from the Rosemont Theater beginning May 4 ... The good news is, Canadian viewers don't have to have cable to pull in new late-nighter "Open Mike." CTV picked it up in January and is airing it after "Politically Incorrect." Host Mike Bullard, who tapes the show from a Toronto bar owned by Wayne Gretzky, is getting raves as the one Canadian currently doing a talk show "that doesn't suck" ... The bad news is, they apparently aren't getting the final sick season of "Larry Sanders" ... And Magic Johnson wasn't kidding about wanting his "Magic Hour" to be a mainstream program. He just a director from "Politically Incorrect," a head writer from "The Tonight Show," and producers from "Viva Variety" and "Rolonda." The syndicated program launches June 8. *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY tomalhe@aol.com Exclusive to LATE SHOW NEWS We 3/25: In 1989, "Saturday Night Live" gives an entire nation of overgrown teenage boys what they'd dreamed of for years -- Mary Tyler Moore in a tight black leather thing -- on the second "Wayne's World" sketch. Th 3/26: In 1977, "Saturday Night Live's" Coneheads meet their neighbors, the Farbers, and look through vacation photos from Disneyland, which Connie Conehead explains is "a vast man-made construction which replicates human psychosexual experiences through tension-releasing fantasy mechanisms." Fr 3/27: In 1995, Four words: "Oprah, Uma ... Uma, Oprah." Sa 3/28: In 1974, a streaker runs onto the set of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." The show does air after NBC censors black out the lower half of the TV screen. The streaker is arrested, but later released, says Carson, for "lack of evidence." Su 3/29: In 1963, "The Merv Griffin Show" last airs on NBC in daytime. It'll head to daytime syndication in 1965, be picked up as a "Tonight Show" challenger in 1969, and then return to syndication and daytime again in 1972. Mo 3/30: In 1985, to promote an upcoming "Wrestlemania" appearance, Mr. T & Hulk Hogan host "Saturday Night Live," which also features appearances from wrestlers Rowdy Roddy Piper & "Mr. Wonderful" as well as Steve Landesberg, and of course Liberace. Tu 3/31: In 1992, CBS replaces its overnight news show "Nightwatch" with the harder news-oriented "Up To The Minute," hosted by Russ Mitchell and Monica Gayle. We 4/1: In 1991, after years of running just about anything in late night, from reruns of "Alice" to "Wiseguy," CBS decides to give a series of new first-run crime shows a try under the umbrella title "Crimetime After Primetime." In the original lineup: "Sweating Bullets" (a "Magnum P.I." clone), "The Exile" (a film noir spy series), "Scene of the Crime" (an anthology series with a repertoire cast), "Fly by Night" (a lighthearted adventure show starring everybody's favorite Playmate of the Year, Shannon Tweed), and my mother's favorite, "Dark Justice," the adventures of Nick Marshall, staid criminal court justice by day, hunky motorcycle riding vigilante by night, whose motto was, "Justice may be blind, but it can see in the dark." They might not have been of the quality of what they replaced -- "The Pat Sajak Show" -- but they did have one redeeming feature: they weren't of the quality of what they replaced -- "The Pat Sajak Show." Th 4/2: And speaking of replacements, in 1962, after Jack Paar quits, NBC's "Tonight Show" goes to an *all* guest host format, while waiting for ABC to release Johnny Carson from his contract. Fr 4/3: In 1981, "ABC News Nightline" expands to Friday nights after two years of of airing only four days a week Monday-Thursday. Sa 4/4: In 1967, Johnny Carson quits his "Tonight Show" over a salary dispute, but will return in three weeks later when NBC offers a weekly raise of $30,000. Su 4/5: In 1996, "Hypnosis Night" returns to "Late Night with David Letterman" with unfortunate results, as Letterman accidentally puts stage manager Biff Henderson back into a real trance during the taping, and hypnotist Marshall Sylver is called on the phone to revive Henderson. Mo 4/6: In 1987, on "Nightline," on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Jackie Robinson's breaking the color line in major league baseball, Los Angeles Dodgers VP Al Campanis is asked why there aren't more black executives in the sport. "I truly believe that they may not have some of the necessities," he says. Campanis is fired three days later. Tu 4/7: In 1979, "Saturday Night Live" "Weekend Update" anchor Bill Murray reports on Chico Escuela's attempt to rejoin his former "bes-a-ball" team, the Mets. "Because besaball's been bera bera good to" the character played by Garrett Morris. [Thanks to David Tanny and Frank Serpas III. Special thanks to Donz5, who's been bera bera good to me.] Think Tom Heald has free time? Think again. Find out how he spends some of his time off, on the board of Positive Approach at : THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge NOTE: "Pick to Click" means a must-watch show. LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Tu 3/31 Don Rickles, Mimi Rogers, Steve Miller We 4/1 Alec Baldwin, Heather Graham, Barenaked Ladies Th 4/2 Tom Brokaw, Ice Cube, Natalie Imbruglia Fr 4/3 Tom Hanks, Harmony Korine, Scott Weiland Mo 4/6 Matt LeBlanc, Grant Hill, The Lynns Tu 4/7 Quentin Tarantino, Steven Weber We 4/8 Jim Belushi, Lacey Chabert, Jimmie Walker Th 4/9 Val Kilmer, Natasha Hentsridge, cast of the musical "Cabaret" Fr 4/10 Billy Crystal, Hatty Jones, Tori Amos THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Tu 3/31 William Hurt, Denise Richards, Joe Cocker We 4/1 Damon Wayans, Dana Delany, Richie Sambora Th 4/2 Kid Inventors, Robin Tunney Fr 4/3 The cast of "Bring in Da Noise, Bring in Da Funk" Mo 4/6 Nicolas Cage, Hallie Eisenberg, Hanson Tu 4/7 Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Courtney Thorne Smith, Mary J. Blige We 4/8 Meg Ryan, Gary Oldman, Trace Adkins Th 4/9 Patricia Arquette, Clyde Peeling, Miguel Ferrer LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Tu 3/31 Ann McDaniel We 4/1 Malcolm McDowell, Kathy Griffi Th 4/2 TBA Fr 4/3 Mark Harmon, Robert Krulwich Mo 4/6 Bob Costas, David Halberstam Tu 4/7 Isabel Allende We 4/8 Larry Gelbart Th 4/9 TBA Fr 4/10 Jay Thomas LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Tu 3/31 Al Franken, Ice-T, The Mavericks We 4/1 Edward Burns, Dana Gould Th 4/2 Steve Buscemi, Mimi Rogers Fr 4/3 Naomi Campbell, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy Mo 4/6 John Goodman, Dikembe Mutombo, Steve Earle (R) Tu 4/7 Matt LeBlanc We 4/8 Steven Weber Th 4/9 Yogi Berra Fr 4/10 Michael Moore, Ben Harper LATER, NBC Tu 3/31 Cindy Crawford with Marcus Paulk We 4/1 Cindy Crawford with John Leguizamo Th 4/2 Cindy Crawford with Neil Patrick Harris CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Line-ups not available POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Tu 3/31 Daniel Stern, Kevin Sorbo, Vincent Bugliosi, Ann Coulter We 4/1 Jim Hightower, John Schneider, Faith Ford Th 4/2 Stephanie Hodge, Raquel Welch, Jane Chastain, Todd Rundgren Fr 4/3 Don Was, Elisa Donovan, Karl Zinsmeister, Drew Carey Mo 4/6 Eartha Kitt, Harry Hamlin, James Van Praagh, Mark Curry (R) Tu 4/7 Jean Smart, Rick Ducommun, Harlan Ellison, Mark Goodin (R) We 4/8 Joan Rivers, Nadine Strossen, Kellyanne Fitzpatrick, Roger Cossack (R) Th 4/9 Dennis Miller, Stacy Keach, Barbara DeAngelis, Rep. Helen Chenoweth (R) Fr 4/10 Jay Thomas, Jami Gertz, Rep. Joe Scarborough, Faith Popcorn VIBE TV, syndicated Tu 4/1 Sharon Stone, Orlando Brown We 4/2 Halle Berry, James Cameron, James Ingram, John Tesh Th 4/3 Gregory Hines, Ashford & Simpson Fr 4/4 Kobe Bryant, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Clifford Mo 4/6 Loni Anderson, Tim Meadows, Eddie Griffin Tu 4/7 Lisa Raye, Alex Thomas, Ice Cube We 4/8 Jonathan Silverman, Mary J. Blige Th 4/9 TBA Fr 4/10 Justin Lazard, Tamia KEENEN IVORY WAYANS, syndicated (and canned) Tu 3/31 Kim Coles, Mitch Mullany, Guy Torry, Queen Pen W/ Blackstreet's Chauncey (R) We 4/1 Dave Chappelle, Leah Remini, WC (R) Th 4/2 David Alan Grier, Nikki Cox, Salt-N-Pepa (R) Fr 4/3 Puff Daddy Special Show With Surprise Guests, Mike Tyson, Heavy D (R) Mo 4/6 Brooke Langton, Craig Ferguson, Faizon Love, Ralph Harris, Sister Hazel (R) Tu 4/7 Loretta Devine, Gil Bellows, Vanessa Marcil, The Lox (R) We 4/8 Steve Harvey, Christa Miller, Shayma Tash, Whoridas (R) Th 4/9 Jamie Foxx, Matthew Lillard, Oasis (R) Fr 4/10 Daisy Fuentes, Aries Spear, Carlos Oscar, The Firm (R) DENNIS MILLER LIVE, HBO Fr 4/3 Stephen King on "Fear of Flying" Fr 4/10 Judge Mills Lane on "Capital Punishment" SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 4/3 Chuck D, Pat Boone (R), Matt Groening (R) Fr 4/10 Haiku winners Ryah Rosenberg and Sean Medlock, Tom Arnold, Tony Bennett, Kathy Kinney, etc. (R) Jimmie Walker, Mike Watt, two Smithereens, Juliana Hatfield, Ben Cameron Diaz, Mark McEwen, Bobcat Goldthwait, etc. etc. (R) HOWARD STERN, E! Tu 3/31 Paul McKenna Hypno Madness, Part 2, Big Foot (R) We 4/1 Dr. Bombay, Tabitha And Ginger, Drew Carey Part 1 (R) Th 4/2 Penthouse Jeopardy Part 1, Drew Carey Part 2 (R) Fr 4/3 Penthouse Jeopardy Part 2, Michelle Yeoh (R) Sa 4/4 Tori Spelling Returns Parts 1 and 2 (R) (** PICK TO CLICK **) DIE HARALD SCHMIDT SHOW, SAT.1 Mi 1/4 Goetz Alsmann, Heidi Klum, Martin Schneider Do 2/4 Thomas Strunz, Harald Juhnke Fr 3/4 Brigitte Nielsen, Die Flippers 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 (going away soon) DIE HARALD SCHMIDT SHOW, SAT.1 Entire contents Copyright 1998 by Aaron Barnhart. All rights reserved. LATE SHOW NEWS is made possible with the generous assistance of ECHO, New York City's premiere online service. http://www.echonyc.com Send news for and comments about this newsletter to aaron@tvbarn.com 74: No such file or directory