LATE SHOW NEWS #212 July 28, 1998 posted 12:45 a.m., July 29 (Kansas City time) by Aaron Barnhart To join or leave the LATE-SHOW-NEWS mailing list, see instructions at end of message. Jay Leno, robocomic, usually can be found Sunday nights making them laugh at the Comedy and Magic Club in Hermosa Beach. In fact, LATE SHOW NEWS caught him there last weekend and it wasn't a stellar performance -- LSN contributor Mark Evanier, who was also there, pointed out one routine that night that's been in the Leno repertoire for 20 years -- but still, the people got their money's worth. The act went for two hours, and only about 30 minutes of that were used by the two warmup acts, one of whom was "Tonight Show" writer Jimmy "Where You From?" Brogan. If Hermosa Beach is like home to Leno, then what would be the ideal away date? Would you believe Sturgis, South Dakota? Believe it: the site of motorcycling's largest event, the Sturgis Rally and Races, will be the site Aug. 8 of a World Championship Wrestling match pitting Leno, his "Tonight Show" bandleader Kevin Eubanks and Diamond Dallas Page in a pay-per-view rassle against Hulk Hogan, his idiot promoter Eric Bischoff, and a partner to be named as part of WCW's "Road Wild" special. Earlier this summer, Page and Hogan appeared on "Tonight" to promote the recent match between Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman. And to think they picket Jerry Springer. *** In sorting through two weeks' worth of infoclutter last week, I neglected to pass along this update on the future of NBC's 1:35 a.m. franchise, "Later." As I reported in LSN #206, network executives informed their advertisers that they are interested in showcasing new talent in that time period, and not just by having them do four nights of talk show. Last week, in response to my question, NBC Entertainment chief Warren Littlefield confirmed that they were thinking of "Later" as a "laboratory" for the kind of shows that normally only seem to be picked up by cable. "We need more lab space," Littlefield said. "I think we can play with alternate forms in that time period. It can be our Off-Broadway theater, if you will." Later, I asked another NBC executive the obvious question: Does that mean NBC will allow the creators of those alternate forms to get away with more stuff than broadcast standards typically allow? Will the next Trey Parker and Matt Stone pitch tent at NBC under the protective cover of a TV-MA rating? In a word, the answer came back No. The reason for giving shows lab space at 1:35 a.m. has less to do with potentially offensive content and more to do with the shows finding their creative groove without having to worry about getting good ratings right out of the gate. NBC will have to spend more to develop these shows than it would normally spend on "Later," but that's okay by the network. And with "Later" available on most NBC affiliates, viewers will be able to find the show, unlike programs on Comedy Central which I noticed at a friend's house is *still* not carried on the so-called space-age TCI digital cable system. Anyway, there is no set-in-stone date for the transition, and there's always the possibility NBC won't make the transition but will simply insert new shows as they are ready for air. That's the tack NBC's cable division took when testing a new show with that annoying Laura Ingraham. The program was inserted into CNBC's daytime financial-news lineup, replacing an hour of market chat. *** If there was any question that Chris Rock would give up his HBO talk show with his movie career taking off, the answer came last week when HBO signed Rock to three-year deal that will include at least one more season of "The Chris Rock Show" and two comedy specials. Rock talk was also nominated for multiple Emmys and one insider-type I spoke with believes he's the favorite to win in the best variety class. Why? Because everybody's heard of him, everybody likes him and even people who haven't seen his show feel like voting for him ... Another season for "Space Ghost Coast to Coast" launches Aug. 7. There won't be as many shows as last season, but that means they'll be *better.* "Loveline's" Dr. Drew Pinsky is guest no. 1; other guests in August include CNN legal irritant Greta Van Susteren, radio's Gary Owens (he was the original voice of Space Ghost in the 1960s) and the enchanting Merrill Markoe, whom I would've actually gotten to meet had LSN reader Mr. KABC not let her skip out on attending a certain "Dennis Miller Live" taping. But you didn't download this to read my problems ... By the way, I am told but cannot confirm that these will be the weirdest "Space Ghosts" yet ... Future guests include Michael Moore, Garrett Morris, Ben Stiller, Jim Jarmusch and Kevin Smith ... Penn and Teller begin their run on the FX cable channel with the appetizing-looking "Sin City Spectacular" debuting on Monday, Aug. 10 ... Sure enough, Norm Macdonald will be doing a sitcom with Warner Bros. to be helmed by "Drew Carey's" Bruce Helford, who promises less of the smart-ass city slicker Norm and more of the Will Rogers-type who grew up in rural Canada ... Tom Heald compiled the semi-annual count of mentions each late show got in the Entertainment Weekly "Sound Bites" section. Remember, if it's not here, it wasn't judged worthy of even a single mention by the powers that EW: David Letterman ... 14 Conan O'Brien ... 13 Colin Quinn ... 8 "The Daily Show" ... 8 Jay Leno ... 5 Dennis Miller ... 3 *** Reader mail: A reader named Jaimie wrote in response to my article on Conan O'Brien, "I'm not married, I have no children, and I'd LOVE to stay up an hour later and watch Conan. But here in the Detroit viewing area he comes on at 2 a.m.! It's awful. There is virtually no way people will stay up till 3 a.m. to watch a show. We have 'Jenny Jones' and then an infomercial before they finally show Conan. It makes me sick" ... Local reader Nick Bartkoski writes with a well-deserved chiding to my suggestion that "Late Night" do a road show from Cambridge, Mass. "Do you *have* to suggest that Conan go somewhere *else* on the East Coast? If Conan's looking for someplace where people don't watch NBC, at least one suggestion could be right here in KC. I know people watch the NBC affiliate, but I had the promotions director tell me in a class at KU that NBC's numbers are well below national averages. If he just goes somewhere else on the East Coast, it's just another reason to write off us 'country boobs' in the middle of the nation" ... I'm too tired to answer this question; readers, please reply to John E. Smith, who writes, "What is the appeal of Howard Stern? I've seen him on E!, and I read 'Private Parts,' and I'm stymied and baffled, not that it takes much. Irreverence I have no problem with, and sex and scatology don't bother me. But I can't see much difference between Stern and that New York public access guy who used to follow women down the sidewalk with a video camera and try to coax them into an alley so they could give him a quick peek. It would be idiotic to ask you if I'm missing something here; clearly I am. But what? I appeal to you, a Stern fan, to open my eyes and explain just what the hey is going on here" ... Vancouver reader John Oram comments on one of my picks-to-click: "I just wanted to drop you a note about Letterman's interview with Buck O'Neil on Monday. I felt that it was one of the most impressive interviews he has ever done. The power of the subject material obviously played a role, but still, I don't think I have ever seen Dave as genuine and sincere. This was especially evident after the commercial break when he showed the audience the Kansas City Monarchs jersey with his name on the back that Buck gave him and said, 'I'm very proud to have this.' The tone of his voice spoke volumes" ... An Asian reader adds to our overseas file: "NBC Europe viewers have got it good compared to us devotees of NBC Asia. With little fanfare, on July 1st it was turned into the National Geographic Channel, with only 2-1/2 hours of NBC News programming in the morning. Even more tragic, at the same time the 'Late Show' was taken off the local VHF station where it had been running for 5 years -- probably because the station could no longer afford the dollar rates" ... And Danish reader Jonas Madsen writes, "I live in Denmark, and on the channel that airs Letterman, the shows are 14 days old when they are broadcast. That's kinda annoying, but we have to live with it. I think Dave's a VERY funny man, I really like his humor. What about making a special section in every issue, devoted to Letterman. A short review of the past week's shows, notable guest/jokes/things and so on. And ratings for each week." Nice idea, actually. I'll put it on the wish list, right after "Hire full-time secretary." *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY Tomalhe@aol.com We 7/29: In 1957, NBC, losing affiliates left and right in late night with "America After Dark," hands Jack Paar "The Tonight Show." Paar changes the focus from sketch comedy to an interview format, saves the franchise, and creates the modern late-night talk show. Th 7/30: In 1941, Paul Anka is born. Anka goes on to write "Johnny's Theme" (aka the "Tonight Show" theme song that people actually know). Fr 7/31: In 1987, as David Letterman says good night, "American Splendor" cartoonist and crank-at-large Harvey Pekar gives the finger to the camera on "Late Night with David Letterman." Sa 8/1: In 1997, the first feature-length "Stupid Pet Trick" as "Air Bud" (aka "Most Valuable Pooch") opens in the U.S. on 1,795 screens. One sequel, "Air Bud 2 : Golden Receiver," starring one of Bud's whelps has been completed, and another, "Air Bud: The Next Generation," is in the works. Su 8/2: In 1979, "Gilda Radner: Live From New York" opens on Broadway, featuring some of Radner's more famous characters - Lisa Loopner, Emily Litella, and Roseanne Roseannadanna, as well as the classic children's tune "Let's Talk Dirty To The Animals." Mo 8/3: In 1959, Victoria Jackson somehow manages to not screw up being born. Tu 8/4: In 1987, it's producer Barry Sand's last night on "Late Night with David Letterman," as he's leaving to start work on a very promising new show on the Fox network, known as "The Wilton North Report." [Thanks to David Tanny and Royce Webb. Special thanks to Donz. Donz, Donz, Donz, Donz, Donz, Donz, Donz, Donz. Take that, Mike McIntee.] Related books, CD's and videos, may be purchased in Tom Heald's This Night In History Bookstore at http://members.aol.com/thisnite/tstore.html THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge (http://www.interbridge.com/) LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Mo 7/27 Jenny McCarthy, Adam Arkin, Tori Amos Tu 7/28 Jack Hanna and kid zoologists, Gary Sinise, Goo Goo Dolls We 7/29 Yasmine Bleeth, David Brenner, Barenaked Ladies Th 7/30 Samuel L. Jackson, Smashing Pumpkins Fr 7/31 Jamie Lee Curtis, Jenni from the Internet's "Jennicam" Mo 8/3 Drew Barrymore, Lindsey Lohan Tu 8/4 Nathan Lane, Culture Club We 8/5 Neve Campbell, French Stewart, Wynton Marsalis Th 8/6 Penn & Teller, Tom Everett Scott, Blues Traveler THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Mo 7/27 Michael J. Fox, PB & J recipe contest winners, L.L. Cool J Tu 7/28 Dennis Quaid, toe-wrestling champ Ian Davies, Alan Jackson We 7/29 Joan Embery and San Diego Zoo animals, Cleopatra Th 7/30 Isaac Mizrahi Fr 7/31 Chihuahua Races Mo 8/3 Whoopi Goldberg Tu 8/4 Drew Carey, Carla Gugino We 8/5 Jenny McCarthy, Jon Cryer Th 8/6 Gary Sinise, rat expert Debbie Ducommun, B-52's Fr 8/7 Yasmine Bleeth, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Joe Krathwohl's talking birds LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Mo 7/27 John Diresta, Tim Green Tu 7/28 Rob Reiner, Victoria Gotti We 7/29 Karl Malden Th 7/30 Lee Stringer LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Mo 7/27 Gwyneth Paltrow, Tom Snyder, Fastball (R 4/15/98) Tu 7/28 John Lithgow, Marc Maron, Pete Seeger and Dar Williams (R 4/28/98) We 7/29 Marc Wahlberg, Chris Kattan, Jeff Stilson (R 4/30/98) Th 7/30 David Hasselhoff, Molly Shannon, Morcheeba (R 5/7/98) Fr 7/31 Patrick Swayze, Daniela Pestova (R 5/1/98) Mo 8/3 Regis Philbin, Paige Turco, The Ukranian National Dance Company Virsky (R 4/23/98) Tu 8/4 Jamie Lee Curtis, Dana Gould, Widespread Panic We 8/5 Beer Frame editor Paul Lukas Th 8/6 French Stewart, Josie Bissett Fr 8/7 Adam Arkin, Tori Amos LATER, NBC Mo 7/27 Angie Everhart with Jon Cryer Tu 7/28 Angie Everhart with Joe Pantoliano We 7/29 Angie Everhart with Wendie Malick Th 7/30 Angie Everhart with Patrick Warburton THE MAGIC HOUR, syndicated Mo 7/27 Maria Conchita Alonso, Jon B Tu 7/28 Chuck Woolery, Kristoff St. John, N'Dea Davenport We 7/29 Duane Martin Th 7/30 TBA Fr 7/31 Jodi Lyn O'Keefe, Gary Busey, Mary J. Blige CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Please note that Charlie Rose listings are very tentative Mo 7/27 Samuel L. Jackson; Internet Development Panel with Michael Wolff, Kara Swisher, Steven Johnson Tu 7/28 Shelley Winters We 7/29 Kofi Annan, Gary Sinise, Brian DePalma Th 7/30 Catherine Deneuve, author Rick Bass, Trisha Yearwood Fr 7/31 Adrian Lyne Mo 8/3 Lou Holtz, Billy Corgan Tu 8/4 TBA We 8/5 B.E.T. President Robert L. Johnson POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Mo 7/27 Richard Lewis, Dixie Carter, John-Roger, Charlie Daniels Tu 7/28 Edie McClurg, Matt Drudge, Dee Dee Myers We 7/29 Mariel Hemingway, Nadine Strossen, Dinesh D'Souza Th 7/30 Robert Vaughn, Jane Chastain, Faye Wattleton Fr 7/31 Lisa Ann Walter, Ross Jeffries VIBE TV, syndicated Mo 7/27 Marcus Schenkenberg, Richard T. Jones, Chico Debarge, Martha Wash (R 2/2/98) Tu 7/28 Janet Gunn, Fred Savage, J. Evan Bonifant, Billie Myers (R 2/3/98) We 7/29 Alan Thicke, Ella Patterson, Garcelle Beauvais, Imani Coppolla (R 2/10/98) Th 7/30 Avery Brooks, Carmen Electra, Nu Flavor (R 2/5/98) Fr 7/31 Cindy Margolis, Myra J, Laurneá, Slam Dunk Competition (R 2/6/98) DENNIS MILLER LIVE, HBO (lineups still very sketchy) SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 7/24 Palmer Mills, Sandra Bernhard (R) Fr 7/31 Dr. Maxcy Nolan, Steve Arnold (R) Rich Hall, Anka Radakovich, Dr. Joyce Brothers (R) Fr 8/7 Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew Pinsky *** SEASON PREMIERE *** HOWARD STERN, E! Mo 7/27 Kimberly Taylor IQ Test Part 1, Leeza Gibbons (R), Dawn Radenbaugh Part 1 (R) Tu 7/28 Kimberly Taylor IQ Test Part 2, Dopey Cute Girl (R), Dawn Radenbaugh Part 2 (R) We 7/29 Andy Dick Part 1, Billy Crystal Premiere (R), Nico Treasures Part 1 (R) Th 7/30 Andy Dick Part 2, Jaid Barrymore/Grandma Sylvia's (R), Nico Treasures Part 2 (R) Fr 8/1 Hank's Makeover, Gary V. Howard: Music (R), Anna The Foot Girl (R) Sa 8/2 Natasha Henstridge (R), Model Frederique (R) MAD TV (FOX) Sa 8/1 No host [1/31/98] (R) SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC) Sa 8/1 Claire Danes / Mariah Carey [11/15/97] (R) SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (Comedy Central) Tu 7/28 Steve Guttenberg, The Pretenders, Penn & Teller 11 a.m., midnight; Christopher Walken, Arrested Development 3 p.m. We 7/29 William Shatner, Lone Justice 11 a.m. & midnight; Tom Hanks, Bruce Springsteen 3 p.m. Th 7/30 Joe Montana, Walter Payton, Deborah Harry 11 a.m. & midnight; Michael Keaton, Morrisey 3 p.m. Fr 7/31 Paul Shaffer, Bruce Hornsby 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Sa 8/1 Sinbad / Sade 11 AM Su 8/2 Tom Arnold / Neil Young 11 AM Mo 8/3 Bronson Pinchot / Paulina Porizkova / Paul Young, 11 a.m. & midnight; Glenn Close / Black Crowes, 3 p.m. Tu 8/4 Danny DeVito / Willie Nelson 11 a.m. & midnight; Danny Devito / Bon Jovi, 3 p.m. We 8/5 Valerie Bertinelli / Robert Cray Band 11 a.m. & midnight; Harvey Keitel / Madonna, 3 p.m. Also on late nights: NIGHTLINE and WORLD NEWS NOW, ABC LOVELINE, MTV UP TO THE MINUTE, CBS NIGHTSIDE and LATER, 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