LATE SHOW NEWS #169 September 9, 1997 by Aaron Barnhart NOTE: This issue is rated L for language and PE for pure evil. Don't forget, two HBO late-nighters return Friday, "The Chris Rock Show" and that show of shows, "Mr. Show," beginning at 11:30 p.m. I'm just tickled that anyone is still trying sketch comedy in this age of minute-by-minute metering of audience levels -- which, you may recall, is what killed "The Dana Carvey Show," the last sketch series to appear on a semi-major broadcast network. But thanks to the maniacal Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, "Mr. Show" goes beyond the merely commendable to the frequently hysterical. Alas, if the idea of a "PTL Club" for Satanists, no matter how funny, simply doesn't appeal to you, best to steer clear of "Mr. Show." Same goes if you don't think the mentally handicapped are good topics for a movie-of-the-week parody. Also, if even a single derivative comic idea sends you screaming for the exits, you'll have some issues with "Mr. Show." David and Bob aren't afraid to adapt some of the better material of their youth, particularly "Monty Python's Flying Circus," whose template for sketch changes -- one element from the closing sketch is carried over into the next -- is used to stitch the various patches of "Mr. Show" together. There's also a medieval-times sequence we all basically watched 20 years ago on "Saturday Night Live." But these are small quarrels with a show that had me laughing at the top of my lungs and pounding the wall about every two minutes. Chris Rock's guests on Friday are Arsenio Hall, who by the way changed agencies last week and reportedly does not want to do another sitcom, and Puffy "Sean" Combs. *** Paul Shaffer returned to "Late Show" Monday sporting a clean-shaven head. Allegedly he was required to do this for his part in what the New York Observer called the "much-unanticipated sequel to 'The Blues Brothers,'" but I think Paul's really trying out for a sequel to "Shine" ... Remember when Tom Snyder left for Italy two weeks ago and was interrupted in his final segment by a delivery from David Letterman? An envelope whose contents made Tom laugh and laugh? For those of you left wondering what that was -- it was a *check*! For several million lira! That's all it was! Or at least that's what Tom claimed Monday night on his show ... The technical Emmys have already been handed out, and "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" won for technical direction-camera-video ... "Keenen Ivory Wayans" has already lost its executive producer, with Charlie Parsons and Keenen apparently having different ideas about where the show ought to go, other than up in the ratings. ("Keenen" still leads with a 2.2 rating compared with 1.8 for "Vibe") ... "MAD TV" launches its third (!) season Sept. 20, with Sandra Bernhard as host. The show announced some cast changes, but frankly I have trouble remembering who all of the originals were, so here's the updated cast list -- *you* figure out what's changed: Nicole Sullivan, Mary Scheer, Debra Wilson, Phil LaMarr, David Herman, Aries Spears, William Sasso, Pat Kilbane, Chris Hogan, Lisa Kushell, Alex Borstein and Craig Anton ... Phillipe Belanger, writing from Howard Stern's favorite town, Montreal, reminds us, "It's September 7th, a week or so short of LNwCOB 4th anniversary and still no official word from the peacock network about a special anniversary show" ... More bad news for old-time late-nighter Chris Elliott; because of the death of Princess Di, NBC head programmer Warren Littlefield isn't so hot on the idea of taking Tea Leoni's sitcom "The Naked Truth" back to its naughty-tabloid origins -- or for that matter, putting it on the fall schedule at all. You may recall Chris was to join the cast this fall as a paparazzo ... Here's a letter that appeared two Sundays ago in the L.A. Times Calendar (thanks Zach J. Abella) regarding the origin of Dave's ill-fated "Uma, Oprah" sequence: "It all began in the comic mind of Thomas Meehan, who conceived a totally off-the-wall 1962 article for the New Yorker magazine entitled 'Yma Dream,' based on the premise of his having a recurring dream that he is giving a cocktail party in honor of singer Yma Sumac and as the celebrity guests begin to arrive he has to introduce them to each other: 'Oona, Yma; Oona, Ava; Oona, Abba.' Meehan later adapted the piece for Anne Bancroft's 1970 TV special. Miss Sumac, whom I formerly managed, is currently riding the crest of the lounge/exotica rage, with all of her albums reissued on CD. Ironically, the last time Yma sang on American television was Feb. 4, 1987 -- on David Letterman's show! -- Alan Eichler, Hollywood." *** Reader mail: Concerning last week's report of a parental kidnapping victim appearing on "Late Show," Karen Lynch writes, "You're right, as far as I know, 'weird shit' like this never happens to Leno. The closest would probably be Lucy Lawless' accident while rehearsing for a skit. And possibly the accused Atlanta bomber's publicly pointing to Leno's jokes about him as one of the things that upset him (kinda made Jay look bad, I think he apologized). Don't forget other Dave embarrassments -- the Peach Lady (altho they deserved the public humiliation for this) and Norm McDonald's falling on an orchestra member and the subsequent lawsuit against Norm and 'Late Show'" ... Apropos of "Late Show" re-running Dave's 1995 birthday show, featuring Drew Barrymore in her birthday top, Drew told the magazine Jane (?) that lifting her shirt for the birthday boy was "one of the best moments" of her life and "so out of body" that she's sure she "would never have the nerve" to repeat it ... Betsy Hodges writes, "I was travelling most of the summer, so I'm just now catching up on my LSNs. I saw you mention how without guile Rupert Jee is, and I have to agree. In our wanderings, my husband and I found ourselves in New York on a Saturday afternoon. 'Late Show' gal that I am, I had to go and just look at the Ed Sullivan Theater, check out the cheese at the CBS store (I am, after all, a Wisconsinite for the time being), and go to the Hello Deli. As I walked up, Rupert came out. I, startled, said 'Hey, you're the guy I see on TV all the time.' He said yeah, then apologized because they were pretty much closed. He seemed genuinely concerned for my stomach. I told him I'd only wanted water or some kind of drink. He said 'Oh!' and told me to go right on in, that someone would help me. He was extraordinarily nice, completely unaffected, and seemed interested in my having *water* for heaven's sake" ... Jim Sweet writes, "There've been a lot of complaints, bad comments, etc. about the writers on LSWDL in your LSN columns lately. I think the producer is at fault because he lets a lot on the air that should be re-worked and it isn't *only* the writing." For instance? "The substitution of Warren Zevon for Paul Shaffer. He's attempting to ad-lib and interject like Paul, only he can't even carry Paul's baton! Dave either can't hear half of his comments or, worse, he can hear them and ignores them. This has gone on for almost TWO weeks. (Warren, do your music and shut up!)" Hey, give credit where it's due -- *somebody* finally figured out we were tired of listening to Paul and the band playing Dave over to the desk with the same five tunes. Monday night, after the monologue, "Late Show" went straight to a commercial, a la "The Tonight Show" ... I'm embarrassed, but not terribly surprised, that in the process of transcribing Dale Crossley's reader mail last week, I wound up calling him "Dave." Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY Exclusive to LATE SHOW NEWS Tu 9/9: In 1966, Adam Sandler breaks wind for the first time. We 9/10: In 1966, future talk show host Space Ghost (designed by Alex Toth) is born in a series of 8 minute Hanna-Barbera cartoons packaged with another cartoon called "Dinoboy In The Lost Valley." Th 9/11: In 1992, "The Dennis Miller Show" last airs in syndication. Say goodbye, Jinky! Fr 9/12: In 1994, How does Paramount fill the "urban" gap left by the passing of "The Arsenio Hall show?" Wouldja believe an incredibly hip Jewish standup comic? "The Jon Stewart Show" debuts in syndication. Yes, Jon, my Mom still loves porn star Ron Jeremy. Sa 9/13: In 1993, NBC finally answers the question, "Conan who?" as "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" premieres. Not that this stops reviewers from asking "Conan who?" Su 9/14: In 1992, it's finally proven that *anyone* can get a talk show, as two semi-deserving celebs give the half hour format a shot, as "The Whoopi Goldberg Show" and "The Rush Limbaugh Show" (aka a show with overstuffed chairs and a show with an overstuffed host) both debut in syndication. Mo 9/15: In 1954, Johnny Carson goes to court to legally change his sons' names from Kim and Barry to Rick and Cory. [Special thanks to Damone, Joseph Nebus, and David Tanny. Special Thanks to Donz5, who was among those presented before this evening's live telecast. Meet Tom Heald as "PANTSTommy" on Wednesday nights from 11PM-1AM in the Late Show Online's "El Chat" on America Online, Keyword: Late Show, or via e-mail ] THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Mo 9/8 Danny DeVito, Salma Hayek, Tim McGraw Tu 9/9 Joan Cusack, Louie Anderson We 9/10 Noah Wyle, Damon Wayans, Missy Elliott Th 9/11 Andie McDowell, Cynthia Cooper, Nanci Griffith and Darius Rucker Fr 9/12 Jennifer Jason Leigh, Adam Sandler, Bee Gees Mo 9/15 TBA Tu 9/16 Cher, Shaquille O'Neal (R 6/27/96) We 9/17 Madonna, Counting Crows (R 3/31/94) Th 9/18 Rudolph Giuliani, Drew Barrymore, Al Franken, Placido Domingo (R 4/12/95) Fr 9/19 Farrah Fawcett, John Fogerty (R 6/6/97) THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Mo 9/8 Jason Priestley, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Tap Dogs Tu 9/9 Brooke Shields, Oscar de la Hoya, Amy Grant We 9/10 Michael Douglas, Laura San Giacomo, The Wilsons Th 9/11 Bob Newhart, Carol Leifer, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood Fr 9/12 Pamela Lee Mo 9/15 TBA Tu 9/16 Kevin Spacey, Joan Cusack, Marcus Allen We 9/17 Kevin Kline, Miss America, Allison Krauss Th 9/18 Noah Wyle, Kate Capshaw, Ragtime LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Mo 9/8 Jay Thomas, Harlan Ellison Tu 9/9 Charles Dutton We 9/10 Michael Moore Th 9/11 TBA Fr 9/12 TBA Mo 9/15 TBA Tu 9/16 Dr. Laura Schlesinger We 9/17 Damon Wayans, Billy Connelly Th 9/18 Suzanne Somers Fr 9/19 Richard Chamberlain, David Milch LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Mo 9/8 Gloria Reuben, Marc Maron, Third Eye Blind (R 6/12/97) Tu 9/9 Chris Rock, Michael Moore, Neil Cody We 9/10 Robert Wuhl, Evel Knievel Th 9/11 Michael Palin, Cyndi Lauper Fr 9/12 Andie MacDowell, James Ellroy Mo 9/15 Thane Maynard, Rich Hall, The Charlie Hunter Quartet (R 6/20/97) LATER, NBC Mo 9/8 Cory Miller with Elise Neal Tu 9/9 Cory Miller with Annabeth Gish We 9/10 Cory Miller with Sheryl Lee Ralph Th 9/11 Cory Miller with Heavy D CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Mo 9/8 Obituary Panels: Princess Diana, Mother Teresa, Sir Georg Solti; Novels Into Film with Kurt Vonnegut, Dan Wakefield, Bruce Jay Friedman Tu 9/9 Michael Milken We 9/10 Michael Palin, Willie Nelson & Kinky Friedman, Eugenia Zuckerman Th 9/11 Howard Schultz, David Byrne, "Battleground Berlin" Panel Fr 9/12 Spalding Gray, Steven Tyler & Joe Perry Of Aerosmith Mo 9/15 Paul Auster, Brian Roberts, Women In Sports Panel Tu 9/16 LL Cool J We 9/17 Art Cooper, Bill Esry Th 9/18 Kirk Douglas, Jessica Lange POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Mo 9/8 Jon Stewart, Mykelti Williamson, Julianne Malveaux, Tom Fitton (R 6/13/97) Tu 9/9 Beau Bridges, Paul Provenza, Harlan Ellison, Maggie Gallagher We 9/10 Tia Carrere, Shelley Winters, Ezola Foster Th 9/11 Michael Douglas, Scott Turow, Arianna Huffington, Elayne Boosler Fr 9/12 Michael Moore, Paul Hogan, Lisa Rinna, Lella Bate VIBE TV, syndicated Mo 9/8 Kadeem Hardison, Eva La Rue, Zachary Ty Bryan, 112 Tu 9/9 Jeri Ryan, Tia Mowry, Tamera Mowry, Ben Harper We 9/10 John Henton, Debra Wilson Th 9/11 Tasha Smith, Big Bub, Heavy D. DIE HARALD SCHMIDT SHOW, SAT.1 Di 09/09 Dennis Rodman, Renate Schmidt SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 9/12 Mark Hamill and Billy Mumy Fr 9/19 Jon Stewart No lineups from the lazy no-good bums at THE DAILY SHOW and HOWARD STERN. Also on late nights: NIGHTLINE and WORLD NEWS NOW, ABC CHARLES GRODIN, CNBC CARSON'S COMEDY CLASSICS, Family Channel MAD TV, Fox SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, NBC (this season) and Comedy Central (classics) THE DAILY SHOW, Comedy Central THE RUPAUL SHOW, VH1 LOVELINE and ODDVILLE MTV, MTV UP TO THE MINUTE, CBS NIGHTSIDE, NBC VIBE TV and KEENEN IVORY WAYANS, Syndicated Entire contents Copyright 1997 by Aaron Barnhart. All rights reserved. Distributed by e-mail and BBS to over 10,000 readers weekly. Guest lineups are updated throughout the week by Sue Trowbridge at LATE SHOW NEWS is made possible with the generous assistance of ECHO, New York City's premiere online service. Send news for and comments about this newsletter to aaron@tvbarn.com