LATE SHOW NEWS #198 April 14, 1998 by Aaron Barnhart To join or leave the LATE-SHOW-NEWS mailing list, instructions are at end of message. I'm sorry I ever allowed any comparisons between Ken Finkleman, author and creator of the George Findlay character of the CBC news satire "The Newsroom," and Garry Shandling, author and co-creator of the Larry Sanders character and franchise for HBO. I've seen two episodes of Finkleman's newest concoction, the relentlessly angry and unfailingly true "More Tears," and now I realize that these two shows don't belong in the same room. "More Tears" is a society's TV-based culture run through the garrote. "Larry Sanders" is a dirty-mouth sitcom with some insider jokes, a pop-gun comedy with no bullet and a plink where one was expecting a bang. "More Tears," which aired 30-minute episodes over the past three Mondays, reminds me of the "Gorgias," one of the oldest indictments of modern media, having predated modern media by about 2,400 years. As my old philosophy teacher Reg Allen put it in his translation of Plato, "The 'Gorgias' examines rhetoric and is itself rhetorical." But, he adds, what makes Plato different is that, unlike the rhetoric of the rhetoricians, "the 'Gorgias' is directed not merely at persuasion but at truth." The same can be said of "More Tears," great television that also tells us about television, but without appropriating the amoralism that guides a great deal of the content on TV today. It records the voyages of George and his crew as they drift through the city, covering crime, scandal and power, imposing their interpretation of events onto every situation they meet. George's ace reporter Diane, played by Leah Pinsent, acts as a sort of Greek chorus. While interviewing one woman -- the daughter of a well-to-do Nigerian-Canadian and a recent carjacking victim -- Diane learns the victim had recently been on welfare, although only briefly and under the flimsiest of circumstances. But that's enough to make a rags-to-riches story out of the woman. Even if the victim was well-educated to begin with and made a near-immediate recovery to a six-figure income, Diane understands that only a certain kind of story sells in George Findlay's world, and this is one of them. After the interview closes, she coos to her subject, "I love that smile you gave me. For me it said everything. You know? 'History was brutal to us, but let's get on with our lives.' It's a very important message." In reality, it's a worthless message. As are all of the other messages put on the air by George and Diane. The one I'll never forget comes in episode two, as they cover a fashion show put on by the parents of a murder victim. The clothing line being modeled is called Victims and it's designed, according to the parents, to evoke "the victim in all of us" -- and sure enough, sooner than you can say "Search for Justice with Fred Goldman," people on the runway are shrieking for the reinstatement of the death penalty (which is banned in Canada). If I can offer only one reason why you should notify your local PBS station immediately that they must show "More Tears," do it so you can see this sequence. (And make sure you use their slogan, "If PBS won't do it, who will?", on them.) Before the fashion show, George and Diane arrive to speak with the grieving mother of a murder victim. They don't get her statement on tape so George asks if she could do it again. "And this time," he adds, "could you give us more tears?" Along the way we discover George is a cur, no surprise there, with two mistresses servicing his various needs, making him as content- and context-free as the subjects he covers, a man in search of interesting but not necessarily edifying things, a man embodying the shallow desires and aimless consumption of which TV is our avatar. Finkleman plays him cool, for coolness is the substitute for decency in "More Tears." George has a casual exchange with a woman whose home is being used for an interview; in moments she smells the cool and whisks him upstairs for a coupling. Diane interviews two boy billionnaires, teenaged video-game entrepreneurs with no soul, who can illustrate their speech only by making references to action movies or video games. They're building their empire on the backs of slave labor in Asia. Coolness, the quality Marshall McLuhan ascribed to effective television a generation ago, is the graven image that sits atop the TV console. As Finkleman told a Toronto newspaper, "It's kind of about the need news has to impose a narrative on stories to sell itself. The worst offenders are the Americans. If you watch their news it's junk ... It's filled with emotion and death and tragedy. It's like a soap opera." "More Tears" is also cool, with some beautifully done sequences, the likes of which we don't get to see very often. Finkleman calls his latest production "a rant ... There is definitely a point of view in it. You couldn't come close to doing anything like this on private television, especially in the States." No shit. *** The character of George Findlay brings to mind a dilemma I've been thinking about this week: how high should the wall of separation be between the people behind the camera and what viewers see on screen? We've visited it before with Woody Allen, we're asked to take a hard look at it in "More Tears" and I'm afraid we may soon be in for another round of it with Michael Moore, whose "The Big One" will be in movie theaters nationwide later this week. The New York Observer asked "one of Mr. Moore's former writers, currently running a late-night talk show," to comment on "The Big One." The anonymous commentator says, "It's a film about his book tour. Along the way, he decided to stop in whatever city he was in and bother corporate CEO's there. It's the same 'Roger & Me' gag over and over again. It's quite depressing." Actually, that's not the movie at all. Only one CEO is featured, Nike's Phil Knight, who unlike Roger Smith in 'Roger & Me' chooses to go on camera with Moore. But that's beside the point. What Anonymous really has an issue with is Moore's personal style. "If you can't get enough of Michael Moore, you still don't love him as much as he loves himself," he tells the Observer. "He has the same politics as Cher. He likes to see himself on TV." (The identity of Anonymous seems pretty clear: I say it's Randy Cohen, the onetime Letterman writer who wrote for "TV Nation" in its NBC run and who has griped publicly in the past about Moore's prima donna ways. I outed Cohen in LSN #162 as the author of an anonymous diary for Slate magazine in which he sneered at "the sort of youthful tire-buying beer-lovers cherished by sponsors" who watched Letterman and, in so doing, helped pay Cohen's salary.) Anonymous isn't alone in his disenchantment. I received a detailed and entirely unflattering account of Moore's behavior from a PR person assigned to handle him for a portion of his recent "The Big One" promotion tour. I can't share the details because they'll immediately betray my source's identity, but trust me when I say, they ain't pretty. If Moore treats people this badly with any frequency (and there have been unconfirmed reports in the past that he has), his reputation will begin to haunt him like footage of two people hugging at a campaign rally. But what, in the end, does it mean? Does it obviate the politics of Michael Moore, as Anonymous suggests? That, I think, is where "TV Nation" and "The Big One" -- by the way, an outstanding flick, go see it as soon as it lands in your town -- stand apart from the vast bulk of current entertainment. The easiest way to refute the charge that Moore stands for nothing is to watch what he does on screen. And, it seems to me, the easiest way to cop out of confronting Moore's politics is to point out how poorly he treats his staff and his handlers. *** Norm Macdonald has made it official: he's signing on with Howard Stern's new CBS Saturday-night project, and will oppose Colin Quinn's "Weekend Update" segment on "SNL" with a fake-news bit of his own ... Ed Dravecky says "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" is finally airing at its god-given time of 11:35 p.m. in Dallas ... On the night Conan spoke in Pennsylvania, Scott Broe reports was attending a talk by Max Weinberg at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Scott asks, "I wonder if this is the way the cast from Conan spend all their Mondays off?" ... Manny the Hippie was arrested last week for resisting arrest and littering at an Ohio mall. Does it still count as recidivism if you commit stupider crimes the second time around? *** Instant analysis from reader Ed Brown on Howard Stern's CBS deal: "Howard is an acquired taste. It takes a while to warm to what's going on. But he's shown an ability to inspire loyalty along the lines of Letterman and 'Late Night.' If the affiliates will just let things happen, they'll be in for a pleasant surprise. ... Singlehandedly, the Letterman show created a revenue stream where none had been before. So as long as all that money keeps pouring in, I doubt CBS really cares if he beats Leno or not. It would be good for the ego, I suppose, but as far as business is concerned, Dave's worth every penny of that multi-million dollar contract. Otherwise, it would be back to reruns of 'Magnum PI.' That's why I think CBS is taking the risk with Howard. If something -- anything -- can be done on Saturday night, Howard is the one to do it" ... Our pal Howard Mortman from National Journal's Hotline writes, "Jeers to 'SNL' for its fake ad for 'Cookie Dough Sports' in which runners refresh themselves by squeezing cookie dough into their mouth and all over their face. Funny concept -- WHEN IT WAS DONE 23 YEARS AGO ON 'SNL' BY JOHN BELUSHI! He was pitching 'Little Chocolate Donuts' in a look-alike Wheaties ad. He crossed the finish line waving the American flag, and followed up by eating chocolate donuts and smoking a butt." *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY Exclusive to LATE SHOW NEWS tomalhe@aol.com We 4/15: In 1996, Mark Mullen joins ABC's "World News Now" where he is made an honorary Canadian, forced to watch an old KRON Daybreak interview he conducted with Ruby the Orangutan, and endure "World News Now" regulars Ian Shoales and Barry Mitchell. Th 4/16: In 1977, in the first of 11 such sketches on "Saturday Night Live," Bill Murray's "Nick the Lounge Singer" works the unresponsive crowd for the Happy Hour in the Zephyr at Lake Minnehonka's beautiful Breezy Point Lodge. Fr 4/17: In 1976, presidential press secretary Ron Nessen hosts the most publicized and criticized program in the (then) short history of "Saturday Night Live." Due to a technicians' strike, the camera can't move, so the show features more commercial parodies than normal . Among the highlights : Dan Aykroyd liquefying a dead fish in the "Bass-O-Matic '76;" "Autumn Fizz, the carbonated douche"; the "Fluckers" sketch in which jam makers suggest that with a name like Fluckers/Mangled Baby Ducks/Painful Rectal Itch/Monkey Pus/Dog Vomit/Fluckers... it has to be good"; Emily Litella misunderstanding about about "presidential erections," and the real President Ford uttering the opening "Live from New York." Sa 4/18: In 1957, comedian Johnny Carson turns, briefly, to TV acting in a role on the "Playhouse 90" production of "Three Men on a Horse" on CBS-TV. Su 4/19: In 1989, Kamaar, the discount magician, makes what David Letterman announces is his 27th appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman" -- although it's actually only his eleventh. Mo 4/20: In 1979, newspapers report that Johnny Carson wants to leave NBC's "Tonight Show" after 17 years of classic comedy. NBC offers more money, more vacation time, a four day week and ownership of the show. Tu 4/21: In 1935, Charles Grodin is born. He stares blankly at his mother for several minutes, then begins whining for the next hour. [Thanks to David Tanny, Michael Cader, John Blumenthal, and Lindsay Maracotta. Special thanks to Donz5, arch nemesis of Mr. Bill.] Find out why Gilda Radner hated Saturday nights at THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge NOTE: "Pick to Click" means a must-watch show. LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Tu 4/14 Helen Hunt, Ben Bradlee, Blues Traveler (R 10/6/95) We 4/15 Michael Richards, Rick Reynolds, Steve Winwood (R 6/3/97) Th 4/16 Lisa Kudrow, cobbler Umberto Buccigrossi, The Verve Pipe (R 4/24/97) Fr 4/17 Meg Ryan, Lance Henriksen, Mary Chapin Carpenter (R 5/19/97) Mo 4/20 Gwyneth Paltrow, Harmony Korine Tu 4/21 Claire Danes, Matthew Ryan We 4/22 Jason Alexander Th 4/23 Ricki Lake Fr 4/24 Al Green THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Mo 4/13 Newt Gingrich, Mimi Rogers, Hulk Hogan Tu 4/14 Jack Johnson, Dennis Franz, Savage Garden We 4/15 Tyra Banks, Jay Mohr, Paula Cole Th 4/16 David Spade, Natasha Henstridge, Bonnie Raitt Fr 4/17 Jennifer Aniston, Tiger Woods, Jeremy Hotz Mo 4/20 TBA Tu 4/21 Randy Travis We 4/22 Norm Macdonald, Vonda Shepard Th 4/23 Singing and talking birds Fr 4/24 Martin Short, Bob Dunn and his chimps, Faith Hill LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Tu 4/14 Nathan Lane (R 12/15/97) We 4/15 Bill Murray, William Diehl (R 11/11/97) Th 4/16 Diahann Carroll, Bill Maher (R 1/28/98) Fr 4/17 Drew Carey, legal analyst Laurie Levinson (R 1/13/98) From New York: Mo 4/20 Bill Cosby, a tour of Manhattan with Regis Philbin, behind the scenes of the musical "Titanic" Tu 4/21 Barbara Walters, a visit to Windows on the World restaurant We 4/22 Conan O'Brien, Sarah Jessica Parker Th 4/23 Peter Jennings, Frank McCourt at McSorley's Ale House Fr 4/24 Carly Simon, Denis Leary Mo 4/27 Alan Alda, Gloria Steinem LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Tu 4/14 Patricia Arquette, Bob Hoskins, Mono We 4/15 William Shatner, Kathy Griffin Th 4/16 Peter Gallagher, Thane Maynard, Bobby Slayton Fr 4/17 Corbin Bernsen, Rya Kihlstedt Mo 4/20 Martin Scorsese, Maria Bartiromo Tu 4/21 Gwyneth Paltrow, Fastball, Tom Snyder We 4/22 Richard Lewis Th 4/23 TBA Fr 4/24 Isabella Rossellini LATER, NBC Tu 4/14-Th 4/16 Veronica Webb with guests TBA CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Please note that Charlie Rose listings are very tentative Tu 4/14 Pat Summitt, Ed McMahon We 4/15 Larry David, Robbie Robertson Th 4/16 Barbara Kopple, Wynton Marsalis Fr 4/17 Nicholas Hytner, Wendy Wasserstein, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, Peter Chernin Mo 4/20 TBA Tu 4/21 TBA We 4/22 Rev. Jesse Jackson, Jason Alexander Th 4/23 John Turturro Fr 4/24 David Ross POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Mo 4/13 Robert Conrad, Jody Watley, Karen Finley, Kevin Bertram Tu 4/14 Victoria Jackson, Richard Belzer, Joey Lawrence, Cyndi Mosteller We 4/15 Michael Moore, Gerald Posner, Peter Scolari, Rita Coolidge Th 4/16 Holly Robinson Peete, Maggie Gallagher, Bill Press Fr 4/17 Jon Cryer, Tom Fitton, Alexandra Wentworth, Mark McGrath Mo 4/20 TBA Tu 4/21 Peter Coyote, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell, Georgette Mosbacher We 4/22 Martin Mull, Van Dyke Parks, Julie Moran Th 4/23 Rob Reiner, Randy Travis, Jennifer Grossman Fr 4/24 William Shatner, Rob Estes, Tucker Carlson VIBE TV, syndicated Mo 4/13 Next, Miko Hughes, Bill Bellamy, Ben Stein & Jimmy Kimmel Tu 4/14 Natasha Henstridge, cast of "Bring in 'Da Noise/Bring in 'Da Funk" We 4/15 Jon Cryer, Playa Th 4/16 Rick Fox; Earth, Wind and Fire Fr 4/17 Mario Van Peebles, Scott Bakula DENNIS MILLER LIVE, HBO (on hiatus this week) SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 4/17 Juggler Russ Powell, and ventriloquist Bob Abdou, comic Pete Michael (R) Michael Stipe, Lassie, Sirajul and Mujibur (R) HOWARD STERN, E! Tu 4/14 Jen's Bad Implants, Tori Spelling (R) We 4/15 Riley And Sleven, Name The Caucasian (R) Th 4/16 Hank Brethalyzer / Pam Looker Part 1, Branford Marsalis (R) Fr 4/17 Hank Brethalyzer / Pam Looker Part 2, William Shatner Plugs Delta Search (R) Sa 4/18 Cindy Margolis (R), Lesbian Strippers (R) DIE HARALD SCHMIDT SHOW, SAT.1 (lineups not available) 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