LATE SHOW NEWS #207 June 23, 1998 by Aaron Barnhart To join or leave the LATE-SHOW-NEWS mailing list, instructions are at end of message. A lousy p.r. summer for NBC just got worse last week with the revelation that a Robert Smigel cartoon that originally appeared on a Julianne Moore-hosted broadcast of "Saturday Night Live" earlier this season was pulled by executive producer Lorne Michaels when the broadcast re-aired this weekend. Smigel's cartoon was a "Schoolhouse Rock" spoof called "Conspiracy Theory Rock" about the control being exercised by media monopolies. People who saw it when it aired couldn't believe that NBC would allow such a ferocious attack on the network's corporate owner, General Electric. Now that it's been pulled, people will assume GE called up Michaels demanding that the segment never air again. Ultimate blame, however, may be hard to assign, since Michaels has already fallen on his sword and probably wishes to avoid further trouble with higher-ups (NBC chief Robert Wright has already taken one trip to the favor bank this month, intervening in the pointless Don Ohlmeyer-Norm Macdonald contretemps). Reader Don Smith doesn't care who's to blame; he's fed up with the show and everyone connected with it. "'SNL' has so lost its backbone," he writes. "I used to have a great deal of respect for Lorne Michaels. Now I've lost it all. Not only has he buried the show comedically, he's now shown twice that he does not run that show. Lorne used to think the comedy was what was important, that saying something was important. We now know what drives Lorne Michaels: cha-*ching.*" *** A Canadian reader tried to brace me for the probable letdown I would experience once I stopped reading the hype about that country's new late-night talker, "Open Mike with Mike Bullard," and actually watched a broadcast or two. This reader was afraid I wouldn't find much to like, that this was characteristic Canadian TV -- good enough for Canada but that's about it. Well, I'm happy to report I've seen a week of shows and the reader's caution is uncalled for. "Open Mike" gives the whole late-show genre a real shot in the arm and its host, the self-deprecating, long-suffering improv comic Bullard, is the worthiest late-night talent to come along since Jon Stewart or possibly Arsenio Hall. Bullard worked the improv circuit for a decade before it dawned on somebody that his repartee with audiences made him a potential TV personality. Five minutes watching "Open Mike" and you'll get it. The show is taped at Wayne Gretzky's bar in downtown Toronto. Bullard emerges from behind bandleader Oren Isaacs -- who leads an ensemble far funkier than any of our white-bread show bands -- and steps right out on the postage-stamp floor, where he is toe-to-toe with the first row of the studio audience. There, he asks audience members questions, joshing, needling or mocking them as the situation requires, for several minutes before telling a single joke. The repartee doesn't always produce ripping comedy, but the act still translates surprisingly well to television. If an audience member isn't helping him spin comic gold, he moves on. Sometimes he takes more drastic measures. When one mousy front-row occupant refuses to play along with Bullard's banter game, he orders her to switch places with a man in the second row ... and then there is an awkward pause while the two audience members realize he's not kidding. Finally, after what one might consider a quintessentially Canadian pause, the woman picks up her purse and clears her seat. As soon as the new occupant sits down, Bullard points to the man sitting next to him and says, "You really shouldn't have done that because now I want you to make a new life with this man." Bullard is just as prickly with his guests. It's no misrepresentation to compare him to an early David Letterman. And the guests seem to like the give-and-take; Canadian sportscasting legend Brian Williams already is a regular on the show. It's also clear, although I know next to nothing about their national pop culture, that "Open Mike" is attracting some of the country's best up-and-coming comedy and music acts to its stage. Yeah, there are Canadianisms throughout the show; so what? The one Canadianism we should be learning right about now is the droll and very un-TV-looking Mike Bullard. Somebody figure out how to get "Open Mike" on American TV so LATE SHOW NEWS isn't the only place you're reading about this guy. *** "The Howie Mandel Show" launched on Monday from Johnny Carson's old "Tonight Show" studio. As with "The Rosie O'Donnell Show," the inspiration for the set once again was "The David Letterman Show," the short-lived 1980 NBC morning talker. Among highlights of the first broadcast -- a guest appearance by Arsenio Hall, Mandel burning up a minute of air time chatting with the TV Guide writer who's doing a *profile* of him and a "Candid Camera"-like comedy bit featuring the host in a disguise pulling the leg of Connecticut drivers. (Why Connecticut? Perhaps because Mandel was afraid of being recognized under his lame disguise of a floppy hat and camera-equipped spectacles ... ) Reader Stuart Goldman was amazed to find that last Monday's "Late Show" Top Ten List exactly matched a Top Ten List Contest that the "Late Show" Web site is conducting. "I do remember the entry for the 'Top Ten Signs Your Life Is Really a TV Show' list, '5. One day you're married to Dick York -- the next day you're married to Dick Sargent.' Turns out, this was sent in by a Tyler Mally of Burbank, Calif.," writes Goldman. "Pure coincidence," said Jay Johnson, who along with Walter Kim runs the Web site (www.cbs.com). The fact that the show's writers and Web site creators both thought of doing a "Truman Show"-related topic wasn't too surprising (and will likely happen again at the next flowering of the zeitgeist). Also, Tyler Mally may have been the first to write in but Johnson and Kim say truckloads of Dick Sargent-Dick York entries arrived ... Reader Iggy Hendren writes, "I have a question. Didn't Dennis Miller go on Letterman when he was in town for 'Comic Relief'? He went on Lame-o and 'PI' to promote his book, and I can't remember the last time Dave had him on. He went on 'Late Late Show' and last time he mentioned how Dave plugged him to take the chair at 'Late Night' when Dave was leaving, and Dennis said this meant a lot to him. Is there bad blood?" Iggy may be onto something here; Denny hasn't appeared on "Late Show" since 8/8/96. On the other hand, Miller lives on the West Coast, tends to confine his touring to West Coast cities (as evidenced above) and "Comic Relief" isn't necessarily grounds for booking. That said, Dennis Miller in town would be reason enough to book him on *my* show ... Call your local radio station and clamor for them to carry "Conan on the Radio," the new daily review of "Late Night" monologue highlights being syndicated by U.S. Radio Network beginning August 1. Supercuts is the proud sponsor ... Howard Stern's new CBS Saturday-night entry is coming to Canada, or at least Ontario. CityTV will begin airing it August 22 at 11:30 p.m. opposite "Saturday Night Live" (thanks Greg Van Bastelaar) ... And here's the exact line on Dave's return to the U.K.: It will begin August 3 on a one-day-delayed basis, airing midnights on the Paramount Comedy Channel (thanks Dave Porter). *** Some of you received many, many copies of last week's LATE SHOW NEWS. I said it couldn't possibly be coming from the listserver's end. I was wrong. "The listserv was a bit wacky last week. It kept getting mailbombed which would cause it to barf," is how a sysop at American University described it to me in an e-mail I received Monday. Fortunately, I'm told American is moving all the lists off its 8-year-old server and onto a new hot-shit server later this summer. One hopes this is the last server incident until then. *** Reader mail: Mitch Lutsky writes, "I couldn't disagree more with your comments regarding Don Ohlmeyer's announcement about 'Later.' There are very few interview shows left where you get anything more than the superficial 5- to 10-minute interviews with celebrities that you get on the 'Tonight Show,' Letterman, Conan etc. The only ones left are Tom Snyder, Larry King, Charlie Rose and 'Later.' Rose and King concentrate more on newsmakers than celebrities, which is fine, but what about programming for people like me who are not interested in newsmakers? That leaves Snyder, who is being replaced by (yuck) Craig Kilborn, and 'Later,' which now you tell me is being taken off the air for doing well in its time slot. (Smart programming move, Don.) "The concept of different hosts for a week at a time is wonderful. Even the best of interviewers (Bob Costas?) develops his own style which can get boring and predictable after the 1000th show. However, part of the fun of the 'Later' concept is that now there are two variables. I, for one, enjoy seeing how other celebrities will do as interviewers. Granted, sometimes they are inept, but that's part of the fun too. Also, sometimes, since the guest hosts book their friends you get an insider's look at whoever is being interviewed that you would not otherwise get." Damn, Mitch, you've almost sold *me* on the show ... Reader Jim Sweet, meantime, wishes the "boring and predictable" Costas were still on every night. He writes, "I have become a bored late-night viewer and surf more and more.  Nine out of 10 times when I come across Charlie Rose *he* is on camera asking an interminable question. I timed one question and it went on for 42 seconds!" ... Teddy Ficklen writes, "I've watched a few nights of Magic Johnson's new late night talk show, 'The Magic Hour,' and -- am I missing something? Isn't Johnson amazingly inarticulate, considering he's hosting a 'talk' show? He does have a certain physical presence and charm, but its strange to see a talk show host who can't talk!" By the way, yours truly is quoted in a Washington Post article on this very talk show. It should be up for a few more days at http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-srv/WPlate/1998-06/16/104l-061698-idx.html ... Ed Johnson-Ott writes, "Let me assure one and all that Dave Letterman does way more than his fair share for charitable causes. I live in Indianapolis, Dave's home town, and he quietly lays out major dollars for a wide variety of groups serving disabled children. He does this with absolutely no fanfare, by the way. His money has enabled some wonderful things to happen for a lot of physically and mentally handicapped kids. At Ball State, in nearby Muncie, Dave supports his alma mater through a scholarship fund. He is a very giving man" ... A reader named Rob writes, "I'm kinda bummed out that 'Vibe' was taken off the air. Now while I realize that Magic's show is new and needs to find its own niche, I still find Sinbad to be the more entertaining personality of the two. Magic seems like a nice guy. But nice isn't necessarily interesting or entertaining. Sinbad was having fun and I had fun in turn watching this. I also did enjoy his selection of guests -- many of whom you don't typically see on Leno or Letterman. And mind you, I'm not really part of Vibe or Magic's 'demographic' per se, I just enjoy a good show." Don't we all ... And Eugene Kushnirsky writes to clear up the matter of when last week's "Daily Show" with the Monica Lewinsky "money shot" did and didn't rebroadcast. "It wasn't rebroadcast later that night or Thursday morning or afternoon, but it *was* rebroadcast Thursday at 7 p.m. And a good thing, too, because Norm Macdonald came by and hit the Five Questions right out of the ballpark. (Okay, so it's not exactly the Mensa entrance exam, but I'd like to see Don freakin' Ohlmeyer answer, 'In the play of the same name, who pulled a fast one on Othello?', which Norm answered immediately. And no, Don, it wasn't Mark Fuhrman.)" *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY We 6/24: In 1956, "The Steve Allen Show" returns in prime time on NBC opposite "The Ed Sullivan Show." Allen continues as host of "The Tonight Show," but now takes Mondays and Tuesdays off. Allen will leave "The Tonight Show" permanently to concentrate on his prime-time show in January 1957. Th 6/25: In 1990, "The Dave Thomas Comedy Show" ends an abrupt run on CBS, freeing the SCTV star for a run on that other show from the Great White North ... "The Red Green Show." Fr 6/26: In 1981, Bill Murray's seventh feature film, "Stripes," opens in theaters. Among the late-night friends joining him are John Candy, Joe Flaherty, and the aforementioned Thomas. Sa 6/27: In 1986, Judge Wapner tries Carson vs. Letterman on the "Tonight Show." On a previous show, Johnny Carson had griped that David Letterman's weather-beaten truck was an eyesore to the exclusive Malibu neighborhood in which both men kept house. Then Carson surprised his guest by rolling Dave's jalopy right onto the stage in Burbank. Letterman noticed a broken headlight, allegedly caused by Carson's people. Ultimately, Wapner rules in Letterman's favor and orders restitution. Su 6/28: In 1997, TV Guide presents "The 100 Greatest Episodes of All Time." Number of late night shows included? Zero. Aaron Barnhart doesn't get mad, but the LATE SHOW NEWS readers *do* get even. Mo 6/29: In 1996, TV Guide presents "The 100 Most Memorable Moments in TV History." Six late-night moments make the grade: Jack Paar's unplanned exit (90), Letterman's "Suit of Alka Seltzer" (85), the late Al Campanis' unfortunate career-ending comments on "Nightline" (63), William Shatner's "Get a Life" speech on "Saturday Night Live" (37), Ed Ames' tomahawk throw on the "Tonight Show" (35), "SNL's" "Samurai Delicatessen" on (14), and Bette Midler's serenade to Johnny Carson (9). Tu 6/30: In 1955, having honed his craft on a daytime series, Carson is ready for prime time. "The Johnny Carson Show" debuts on CBS but drops off the schedule less than a year later. [Thanks to Tim Brooks, Earl Marsh, and David Tanny. Special thanks to Donz5, the mysterious black oil] Tom Heald learned everything he learned about macaroni art from watching ABC's "Good Morning America." THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge (http://www.interbridge.com/) LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Mo 6/22 George Clooney, the Piedmont Bird Callers Tu 6/23 John McEnroe, Chloe Sevigny, The Pretenders We 6/24 Jennifer Lopez, Chris Eigeman, Largo Th 6/25 Dennis Quaid, radio personality Scott Ferrell, Grant Lee Buffalo Fr 6/26 Mary Tyler Moore, Ron Eldard, Lenny Kravitz Mo 6/29 New York Met Mike Piazza, Billy Bragg and Wilco Tu 6/30 Ben Affleck, Lucinda Williams THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Mo 6/22 Alyssa Milano, Arianna Huffington, Lionel Richie Tu 6/23 Ving Rhames, Sid Yost's Amazing Animals, Cherry Poppin' Daddies We 6/24 Penny Marshall Th 6/25 George Clooney, Ming Na Wen, Sarah McLachlan Fr 6/26 Wendy Horton and her performing birds, Brian Setzer Orchestra Mo 6/29 Nicolas Cage, Hallie Eisenberg, Hanson (R 4/6/98) Tu 6/30 Eddie Murphy, Seattle Sonics' Gary Payton, Tori Amos (R 6/27/96) We 7/1 John Travolta, Lacey Chabert, Jimmy Ray (R 3/20/98) Th 7/2 Meg Ryan, Gary Oldman, Trace Adkins (R 4/8/98) Fr 7/3 Neve Campbell, Ben Affleck, Spice Girls (R 12/5/97) LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Mo 6/22 Harry Anderson, New York Times reporter Rick Bragg Tu 6/23 Judith Light, jury consultant Jo-Ellan Dimitrius We 6/24 Richard Benjamin Th 6/25 Lisa Kudrow Fr 6/26 Howie Mandel, Malachy McCourt Mo 6/29 TBA Tu 6/30 Author Graham Hancock LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Mo 6/22 Matthew Modine, Roy Jones Jr., Patty Loveless (R 2/24/98) Tu 6/23 Caroline Rhea, Clyde Peeling, Brian Regan We 6/24 Billy Bob Thornton, Fuel Th 6/25 Connie Britton Fr 6/26 Ray Romano, Christina Ricci, Girls Against Boys Mo 6/29 Robert Duvall, Bill Bellamy, heroic senior citizen Samuel Folsom (R 2/25/98) Tu 6/30 David Schwimmer, Kurt Loder, Ed Byrne (R 2/27/98) We 7/1 John Malkovich, Craig T. Nelson, H. Keith Melton (R 3/3/98) Th 7/2 Julianna Margulies, Lewis Black (R 3/19/98) Fr 7/3 Frederique, Boyd Matson, Finley Quaye (R 3/6/98) LATER, NBC Mo 6/22 Peri Gilpin with Famke Jannsen Tu 6/23 Peri Gilpin with Malcolm Gets We 6/24 Peri Gilpin with Kelsey Grammer Th 6/25 Peri Gilpin with Jane Leeves Mo 6/29 Joe Rogan with Thomas Haden Church Tu 6/30 Joe Rogan with Ultimate fighting champion Maurice Smith We 7/1 Joe Rogan with Michael Jai White Th 7/2 Joe Rogan with Kelly Packard Mo 7/6 Rita Sever with Jeff Conaway Tu 7/7 Rita Sever with Marcia Clark We 7/8 Rita Sever with Jonny Moseley and Eric Bergoust Th 7/9 Rita Sever with Usher THE MAGIC HOUR, syndicated Mo 6/22 Howie Mandel, Vonda Shepard, Mitch Pileggi Tu 6/23 Usher, Jasmine Guy, 8-year-old chef Justin Miller We 6/24 Martin Landau Th 6/25 Ving Rhames, Randy Travis CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Please note that Charlie Rose listings are very tentative Mo 6/22 British Ambassador to the U.N. Sir John Weston, Ally Sheedy Tu 6/23 Hollywood In The 70s; CNET CEO Halsey Minor We 6/24 Author Arthur Golden Th 6/25 Humorist Joe Queenan, Billy Bob Thornton POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Mo 6/22 Rick James, Scotty Morris, Rev. Jerry Falwell, Tamar Jacoby Tu 6/23 Harry Shearer, Marilu Henner, Jonah Goldberg, Hal Ketchum We 6/24 Chuck Booms, Ray Manzarek, Mark Fuhrman, Star Parker Th 6/25 Jeff Greenfield, Michelle Phillips, Brad Garrett Fr 6/26 Billy Bragg Mo 6/29 TBA Tu 6/30 Pam Tillis, Monica Crowley We 7/1 Robert Wuhl Th 7/2 Andy Richter, Shari Belafonte, Clay Jenkinson VIBE TV, syndicated Mo 6/22 Miko Hughes, Bill Bellamy, Ben Stein & Jimmy Kimmel, Next Tu 6/23 Lou Diamond Phillips, Tahj Mowry, Fabulosos Cadillacs (R 4/28/98) We 6/24 Tommy Davidson, Debi Mazar, Maxi Priest (R 5/6/98) Th 6/25 Paul Rodriguez, Maestro Harrell, Julie Bowen, Jose Feliciano (R 3/12/98) Fr 6/26 Dr. Dean Ornish, Teresa Edwards, Jeremy London, Ce Ce Winans (R 3/13/98) THE DAILY SHOW, Comedy Central lineups not available DENNIS MILLER LIVE, HBO Fr 6/26 Arthur Kent on "Network News" Fr 7/3 John Cleese on "Greed" (R) Fr 7/10 Sarah Jessica Parker on "Talk Radio" Fr 7/17 Tom Hanks on "The Space Program" SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 6/19 David Byrne and Donny Osmond (R) Cindy Guyer (female Fabio), Jerky Boys and Dian Parkinson (R) Fr 6/26 Terry Jones and Glen Phillips (R) HOWARD STERN, E! Mo 6/22 Mark Harris & Therapist, Gary vs. Scott Salem (R), Cheryl Strips (R) Tu 6/23 E! Show behind-the-scenes, Adam West & Girl Part 1 (R), Susan's Playboy Evaluation (R) We 6/24 Fran Drescher as Schoolgirl, Adam West & Girl Part 2 (R), Sandra Bernhard & Models Part 1 (R) Th 6/25 Gena Lee Nolan, Playmate Lillian (R), Sandra Bernhard & Models Part 2 (R) Fr 6/26 Jasmine Quits Gang Bangs, Cindy Crawford (R), Nude Sunbather (R) Sa 6/27 Kendra Under Console (R), Hank at Billboard Awards (R) DIE HARALD SCHMIDT SHOW, SAT.1 Di 23/6 Stefan Raab, Alexa Hennig von Lange Mi 24/6 Claudia Nolte, Hausmarke Also on late nights: NIGHTLINE and WORLD NEWS NOW, ABC 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) Entire contents Copyright 1998 by Aaron Barnhart. All rights reserved. Each issue is posted by 12:01 a.m. Tuesday (god willing) to latest.html 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