LATE SHOW NEWS #217 September 1, 1998 posted Sept. 2 by Aaron Barnhart To join or leave the LATE-SHOW-NEWS mailing list, see instructions at end of message. A D V E R T I S E M E N T Come see the new Web site for BARNHART'S UNAUTHORIZED TV '98. You can download a 15-page sampler of the book in Acrobat format and read the same dumb ad I posted here a few weeks ago. The Web site is at http://lateshownews.com Be one of the first 100 people there and you'll ... make it that much more difficult for the next 100 to get in. I've been asked this question a lot: "Why are you going to the trouble to do this when half the new shows will be gone by October?" Well, because (a) I don't waste a lot of space on the new shows that are likely to be gone by October, (b) the majority of broadcast shows will still be on the schedule even as late as next spring, (c) as I've heard from many LATE SHOW NEWS readers who've stopped watching late-night TV altogether, it's still fun to read about shows you never watch, but above all it's because (d) there's plenty more to B.U.T.V. '98 than broadcast TV descriptions. There's cable and daytime talk and an infotaining review of the year in TV and lots more. Go look at the Table of Contents in the sampler if you don't believe me. B.U.T.V. '98 is $9.95 and that includes shipping by first-class mail (add $5 if outside the U.S., Canada or Mexico). Don't worry, I'll give you your money back if you don't like it. It's also a good way to support LATE SHOW NEWS, if you feel so inclined. You can order through Kagi, a secure payment processing service that accepts Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover and Diners Card. Here's the URL to place your order: http://order.kagi.com/?Q6B&S If you don't have Web access at all, you can order a copy by mailing $9.95 in U.S. funds made payable to BARNHART'S UNAUTHORIZED TV '98 and mailing to Aaron Barnhart, PO Box 36331, Kansas City, MO 64171. Just bear in mind it may take longer to process your order than with Kagi. *** Earvin Johnson may not have much broadcast talent, but he seems to have a boundless supply of unmitigated audacity. In an interview with the Electronic Urban Report (http://www.eur.com), Johnson pointed the finger of responsibility for his show's failure all over the place -- apparently forgetting the old adage that when you point one finger at me, three fingers at pointing back at you. "Maybe I wasn't the right person," said Johnson, whose atrocious "Magic Hour" finally goes away this week. But, he pointed out, Keenen Ivory Wayans and Sinbad also had late-night talk shows, "and it didn't happen for them." As my pal Paul Harris rightly remarks, one of the main reasons "it didn't happen" for these other two shows had something to do with an overhyped talk show called "The Magic Hour." Disney cancelled "Keenen" when it realized the Fox-owned stations were going to bump the show to later time periods to accommodate "Magic Hour," and Quincy Jones symbolically axed "Vibe" on the same day Johnson's show debuted. No wonder Earvin is deflecting blame -- he's really responsible for taking down three shows, his own and two others. But don't assume Johnson actually has a clue about why his show failed. In the same interview he blamed A-list black celebrities for shunning black-hosted shows. "We all have to support each other, and we don't do that. Black stars think that if they're not on Leno or Letterman then they're not making it. That's the problem. Their managers and agents keep them off of the black shows. There it is, there's your major problem right there," Johnson said, striking a rather Jon Lovitz-like tone at the end there. Now, exactly which A-list celebrities would he be referring to? Laurence Fishburne? Chris Rock? Tyra Banks? Babyface? Arsenio? George Wallace? Naomi Campbell? The ubiquitous Usher? Ving Rhames? Malcolm Jamal-Warner? The Mowrys? Daryl "Chill" Mitchell? Shari Belafonte? Steve Harvey? LeVar Burton? Mary J. Blige? Tyra Banks? Fox's James Brown? Boyz II Men? Take your pick, Earvin -- your people booked them all. In discussing other people's shows, Johnson is even wronger. Keenen and Sinbad had no trouble booking black guests; in fact, Keenen had Whitney Houston on his show -- how white-bread can you get? Unlike "The Magic Hour," however, these shows did not have hosts that were in deep denial about their mission. I remember sitting in a cramped makeshift conference room at NATPE this winter in New Orleans, listening to Johnson and his nearly all-white team of executive producers explain to me how "The Magic Hour" was going to be more mainstream than "Vibe" or "Keenen," more like -- and let the record show they were unapologetic in their comparisons -- more like Leno and Letterman. According to the show's white comedic sidekick Craig Shoemaker, Johnson's black comedic sidekick was scratched at the 11th hour, and the reason, in Shoemaker's mind at least, was unmistakable: a black sidekick didn't have enough mainstream appeal. The anecdotal evidence supports Shoemaker. Many of the black guests in the above list not only appeared on "The Magic Hour" but also paneled with Leno and/or Letterman. If, as Johnson claimed, his show was "too black" for most African-American celebrities, there'd be a whole lot less overlap between his show and those hosted by whites. Johnson made one more claim that deserves an answer. "Even though my show is cancelled," he told his interviewer, "all minorities suffer. Because, regardless if the show was good or not, you don't have an outlet anymore. Now we will complain because we don't have anything." Not to put too fine a point on it but again, it's *because* the show was a piece of crap that there are no entertainment shows oriented to African-Americans around. It really is a shame Quincy Jones didn't move heaven and earth to get Sinbad as his host for "Vibe" right from the start (Jones said Sinbad was his original choice), just as it was a shame when he bought the hype accompanying "The Magic Hour" and canned "Vibe" without seeing how it would ride out the summer. I also think Earvin Johnson genuinely has no clue that there's a late-night talk show out there that spotlights African-American entertainment figures. "BET Tonight" may not be his idea of showtime, but as of next Monday Tavis Smiley will be pulling in a larger Nielsen rating than Johnson (who will be pulling in a big fat zero). I've probably carried this argument out further than is warranted, but I do it for a reason: because I think a syndicator or cable network could pitch an African-American-oriented entertainment show tomorrow and it would be no less viable than if it were pitched 18 months ago. As a matter of fact, I think we now have a better idea today how to make one succeed. First, get John Salley to host the show (as Disney was about to before Keenen Ivory Wayans paid them a call). And second, watch every episode of "The Magic Hour" and do *exactly the opposite.* *** On the heels of NBC's announcement to make "Days of Our Lives" available on demand comes a much better home-satellite pay-per-view idea: highlights from "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" for $4.99 a month on DirecTV, unlimited play. The programs, which were assembled from the last 13 years of Carson's run on NBC -- as opposed to the late '70s-to-mid '80s vintage of the repeats that aired on the Family Channel -- will include Carson's monologues, something the Family Channel shows did not. DirecTV rolls out the package Oct. 1; single play is $1.99 per program ... Bob Frable, again, was first in with a Howard item, this time a correction of Harrison Wyman's rant last week concerning "The Howard Stern Radio Show." Harrison had identified Stuttering John Melendez as the guy harassing O.J. on the golf course. "The O.J. interview was not done by JAWN Melendez, rather by a **much better looking** Gary Garber, technically an employee of Greater Los Angeles Radio Inc., licensed to operate Howie affiliate KLSX," Bob writes. "O.J. recognizes Jawn too easily, and now that Steven Grillo no longer works for the show, he has a few duties back in the office" ... Two casualties to "The Howard Stern Radio Show" after just two weeks: the Lubbock affiliate has dropped it, citing 20 written complaints from viewers. And Toronto's CityTV, as some readers predicted, has decided not to air the show apparently violates the ridiculous code of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council. (The same code doesn't frown on CityTV's late-night porno broadcasts.) The parent company of CityTV is booting Howard off the radio in Montreal, too. But as reader Jason Yeoman points out, "If one wanted to see Howard's show, all they would have to do is turn to Fox 29 WUTV from Buffalo at midnight, right after 'MAD TV.' Fox 29 is readily available on cable throughout Southern Ontario. So who really needs CityTV?" Who indeed ... Cameron Diaz will inaugurate the 48th season of "Saturday Night Live" Sept. 26 with Smashing Pumpkins as musical guest. The next week, Kelsey Grammer and Sheryl Crow will team up. Jennifer Love Hewitt and the Beastie Boys have also been booked for the fall. (Why do these shows always look much better on paper?) Even better news for "SNL": its repackaged greatest-hits-of-its-greatest-stars broadcasts have been the most-watched TV shows of the past two weekends, and that includes prime-time programs ... So whom is Buena Vista TV talking up for a late-night talk show this time? Not John Salley but Kim Coles of those Fox "Living" shows ("Single" and "In ... Color"), and I must say, an *intriguing* choice. *** Reader mail: As I watched the second eh week of "The Howard Stern Radio Show" on my local non-CBS affiliate, I was reminded of a complaint Teddy Ficklen had lodged against Stern's movie "Private Parts" in this newsletter last year (see LSN #147). So it's fitting that Teddy should write in this week to level it against the new Saturday-night show. "My wife and I were expecting something more -- perhaps something along the lines of Howard's appearance on 'The Magic Hour' without that big annoying basketball player trying to horn in," he writes. "What we love about Howard are not the interviews with transsexual body builders or his silly contests, but his honesty about his own asshole-ness. Our favorite E! shows are the ones in which Howard takes the entire 30 minutes to complain about the intern who couldn't cook his baked potato correctly. Or repeatedly raking his ever-faithful producer Gary over the coals for some perceived slight. "All the other celebrities present a clean, smiling face to the public. Howard Stern is like some strange nightmare from Larry Sanders-land. (Except that Howard was doing this before Garry Shandling.) I'm not sure why this is entertaining, but it is. I have serious doubts as to whether it's something that will pull in broadcast audiences. Part of the appeal of E!, I think, is the narrowcast, cheap, public-access flavor. We'll see how CBS proceeds with this." LSN reader and executive in charge of production for "The Chris Rock Show" John Fisher writes, "In response to Harrison Wyman, we normally do a dress rehearsal on Thursday nights and tape the air show on Friday nights. After a few quick edits to bring the show in on time it gets fed to HBO's affiliates. The Chris Mullin piece was shot throughout the day on Thursday (the only day Chris was available) including using the rehearsal audience Thursday night. The piece was edited overnight and revised during the day on Friday but wasn't completely finished until the post session Friday night just before the show was fed. It's the most ambitious bit we've ever done so close to air, but, hey, we're professionals!" ... Filmmaker Aaron Mullins, who shares my first name and even my ZIP code (!), puts it just right, I think. He writes, "Howard Stern is the king of all media like Michael Jackson is the king of pop. I enjoy his show on E!, but his is not the only way to relate to people, and the more arenas he enters the more obvious that is" ... Longtime reader Scott Barvian writes, "While channel-surfing last week, I noticed that Mr. Leno now does a nightly (I assume) promo for his show on the Phoenix NBC affiliate's late news. It appears to be done individually for the Phoenix affiliate. He greets the news-drones by name and proceeds to gush about a) how wonderful their newscast is, and b) what a wonderful 'Tonight Show' is coming their way. Do you know if this is being done in other markets?" *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY tomalhe@aol.com We 9/2: In 1989, "The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley," starring Martin Short, last airs on NBC. That is so sad. I must say. Th 9/3: Once upon a time, having your picture on the cover of TV Guide really meant something. On this day in 1955, the cover was graced by "a bright young comic" and his co-star wife ... Johnny and Jody Carson. Fr 9/4: In 1987, "Nightlife With David Brenner" last airs in syndication. While failing to become the "King of all Media," Brenner does at least become the "Seven of Clubs." Sa 9/5: In 1986, Merv Griffin, after 23 years of "oohing" and "aahing," laughing and kibitzing as host of various talk shows, airs his final program -- this one for Metromedia Television -- on this night. Su 9/6: In 1984, plop, plop, fizz, fizz, oh what a dork Letterman is as the host of "Late Night" puts on "The Suit of Alka-Seltzer." Mo 9/7: In 1962, Finally at the end of his ABC contract, Johnny Carson hosts his last "Who Do You Trust?" ... leaving him only three weeks before he's to start his history-making "Tonight" gig. Tu 9/8: In 1987, on "Nightline," Colorado senator Gary Hart admits to cheating on his wife. Arkansas governor Bill Clinton gets an idea. [Thanks to Dave Tanny. Special thanks to Don Giller, who daily dons the "Suit of Donz5."] Visit Tom Heald's This Night In History Bookstore at http://members.aol.com/thisnite/tsdtore.html THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge (http://www.interbridge.com/) LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Mo 8/31 Jean Claude Van Damme, Darryl Strawberry, Joe Cocker Tu 9/1 Beau Bridges, Terrell Davis, Squirrel Nut Zippers THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Mo 8/31 Mel Gibson, Cameron Diaz, Smashmouth (R 7/9/98) Tu 9/1 Chris Rock, Lena Olin (R 7/7/98) We 9/2 Jessica Lange, Rod Stewart (R 6/4/98) Th 9/3 Jerry Seinfeld, John F. Kennedy Jr., Brandy (R 5/14/98) Fr 9/4 Jennifer Lopez, Jet Li, Matchbox 20 (R 7/16/98) Mo 9/7 Gillian Anderson, Hank Azaria, Rosalynn Carter (R 6/10/98) LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Mo 8/31 Peter Fonda, Charles Jaco (R 3/25/98) Tu 9/1 Amy Pietz, Isabel Allende (R 4/8/98) We 9/2 Michael Crawford, Daniel Petrocelli (R 5/5/98) Th 9/3 Merv Griffin, author Greg Jaynes (R 1/14/98) Fr 9/4 Bob Costas, David Halberstam (R 4/7/98) LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Mo 8/31 Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, David Frost, Jeff Garlin (R 3/11/98) Tu 9/1 Al Franken, Veronica Webb, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (R 4/3/98) We 9/2 Gena Lee Nolin, Scott Thompson, Link Wray (R 5/19/98) Th 9/3 Matthew Broderick, Helen Martin, Emeril Lagasse (R 5/21/98) Fr 9/4 Sarah Jessica Parker, Darrell Hammond (R 6/11/98) Mo 9/7 Dave Chappelle, Laura Linney, Pulp (R 6/12/98) Tu 9/8 Hank Azaria, Patrick Macnee, Shane MacGowan and the Popes (R 6/16/98) We 9/9 Sarah Michelle Gellar, Caroline Rhea, Brian Regan (R 6/23/98) LATER, NBC Mo 8/31 Greg Kinnear with Montel Williams (R 3/25/94) Tu 9/1 Greg Kinnear with Howie Mandel (R 7/13/95) We 9/2 Greg Kinnear with Rosie O'Donnell (R 10/7/94) Th 9/3 Greg Kinnear with Jerry Springer (R 2/14/95) THE MAGIC HOUR, syndicated Mo 8/31 Howard Stern (R 7/2/98) Tu 9/1 Boyz II Men, Caroline Rhea, Aaron Hall (R 8/3/98) We 9/2 Thomas Calabro, Melinda Messenger, Chico DeBarge (R 8/4/98) Th 9/3 Tyra Banks, Jeremy London, George Wallace, the Tories (R 8/5/98) Fr 9/4 Drew Carey, Brian Austin Green, Tony Rich (R 8/6/98) CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Please note that Charlie Rose listings are very tentative Mo 8/31 Robert Duvall (R 1/29/98) Tu 9/1 Harrison Ford, David Duchovny, Billy Bob Thornton (R) We 9/2 Andy Grove, Eckhard Pfeifer, Halsey Minor (R) Th 9/3 Barry Levinson, Paul Thomas Anderson (R) Fr 9/4 George Will, Roger Angell, Frank Deford, Yogi Berra, Tim McCarver (R) Mo 9/7 Gloria Estefan, Trisha Yearwood, Natalie Merchant (R) POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Mo 8/31 Jon Stewart, Michael Bolton, Anne Taylor Fleming, Alan Keyes Tu 9/1 Janeane Garofalo, Larry Gelbart, Christine O'Donnell, Greg Louganis We 9/2 Shelley Winters, Rod Steiger, Gary Busey, Talia Shire Th 9/3 Bobcat Goldthwait, Randy Travis, Rob Reiner, Jennifer Grossman Fr 9/4 Sheryl Lee Ralph, Halle Berry, Ben Jones, Cal Thomas Mo 9/7 Jackie Collins, Michael Moore, Frances Fisher, Cyndi Mosteller VIBE TV, syndicated Mo 8/31 Natasha Henstridge, Antonio Sabato Jr., Ernie Hudson, Dakota Moon (R 4/20/98) Tu 9/1 Vivica A. Fox, Justin Lazard, Tamia with Jermaine Dupree (R 4/10/98) We 9/2 Holly Robinson Peete, Sean Patrick Flannery, Anne O. Faulk (R 4/22/98) Th 9/3 Oscar de la Hoya, Talisa Soto, Richard Bean, Ozomatli (R 3/5/98) Fr 9/4 Scott Bakula, Earth, Wind, and Fire (R 4/17/98) SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 9/4 Gary Owens Fr 9/11 Tyra Banks, Rebecca Romijn HOWARD STERN, E! lineups not available Remember, Howard's weekend "Power Hour" has moved to Sunday. THE DAILY SHOW, Comedy Central Mo 8/31 pre-empted for "The Daily Show Beach House" special Tu 9/1 Penn & Teller (R) We 9/2 Lisa Ann Walter (R) Th 9/3 Debbie Matenopoulos (R) MAD TV, Fox Sa 9/5 LaToya Jackson/ "Farrakhan vs.Farrah" / "Epidemic '98" [R-1/10/98] SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, NBC Sa 9/5 The Best of Dan Aykroyd THE RUPAUL SHOW, VH1 We 9/2 Mission Visage Beach / Frankie Avalon / Michael Bergin / Angelica Bridges / Alien Fashion show SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Comedy Central (repeats) Tu 9/1 Tom Hanks / Randy Travis (11 AM, Midnight); Alec Baldwin, Kim Basinger/ UB40 (3 PM) We 9/2 Judge Reinhold / 10,000 Maniacs (11 AM, Midnight); Martin Lawrence/ Crash Test Dummies (3 PM) Th 9/3 John Larroquette / Randy Newman (11 AM, Midnight); Nancy Kerrigan/ Aretha Franklin (3 PM) Fr 9/4 Matthew Modine/ Edie Brickell (11 AM, Midnight); Helen Hunt/ Snoop Doggy Dog (3 PM) Sa 9/5 Kelsey Grammer/ Dwight Yoakam (11 AM) Su 9/6 Emilio Esteves/ Pearl Jam (11 AM) Mo 9/7 Demi Moore / Johnny Clegg, Savuka (11 AM, Midnight) Tu 9/8 John Lithgow / Tracy Chapman (11 AM, Midnight); John Goodman/ Pretenders (3 PM) Also on late nights: NIGHTLINE and WORLD NEWS NOW, ABC THE HOWARD STERN RADIO SHOW, CBS and syndicated 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