LATE SHOW NEWS #220 September 29 and October 6, 1998 by Aaron Barnhart To join or leave the LATE-SHOW-NEWS mailing list, see instructions at end of message. (Advertisement) "It's very impressive. Almost makes me want to go out and buy a television." -- Sheri Steinberg "I wanted to let you know that BARNHART'S UNAUTHORIZED TV '98 is worth every penny. It is great to read about new and returning shows without the TV Guide/Entertainment Weekly/etc. hype." -- Greg Glass "I recommend it highly -- not for its writeups on all the shows that will be gone before Halloween, but for all the other information that comes with it. And the attitude is just right. He has little respect for network executives, and he's right not to." -- David Gans, posting on the WELL "I bought BUTV '98 mainly to support your great free work on LATE SHOW NEWS; I do not watch much prime-time commercial TV. However, once I started reading it I could not put it down -- good work and well organized. Very glad I bought it! But I still won't watch prime time." -- Brian James "I must tell you it delivered on its promise to educate and entertain. I have been a long-time reader of LSN and this book is a wonderful compilation, filled with solid insights and a no-b.s. approach to TV viewing. ... One of the best investments I have made in quite some time." -- Mike Mellon "Congratulations on a job well done! I'm enjoying it." -- Sandy McMurray, Toronto Sun Still more raves from readers who are lovin' their B.U.T.V. '98. Sounds like even Neil Postman could amuse himself to death reading it. Maybe Jerry Mander could make four arguments for the promotion of it. Maybe you should get a copy before I write another dumb ad like this one. After all, there's going to be plenty on the tube between now and the impeachment hearings. You can order BARNHART'S UNAUTHORIZED TV '98 online or through the mail. The Web site ... http://lateshownews.com ... includes a link to the secure site where you can order a copy. There's also a 15-page sampler of the book in Acrobat format ready to download. Otherwise, mail $9.95 in U.S. funds (plus $5 if you live outside the U.S., Canada or Mexico) made payable to Aaron Barnhart to P.O. Box 36331, Kansas City, MO 64171. 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. *** I'm taking an actual vacation next week. No issue until Oct. 12. Here are my upcoming promotional appearances for BUTV '98: Oct. 1: WIBW, Topeka (580 AM), 8-9 a.m. Oct. 2: AOL Live, time TBA Oct. 2: Prospero's Books, Kansas City, 8:30 p.m. Oct. 7: "Dead to the World," KPFA, Berkeley, 9 p.m. Pacific time Oct. 8: KUSF, San Francisco, "RadioSegue," 10:30 p.m. Oct. 15: WGN, Chicago (720 AM and netcasting via RealAudio at http://www.wgnradio.com), 9-11 p.m. on "Extension 720." It's Milt Rosenberg's annual TV panel, and yours truly will join Phil Rosenthal of the Sun- Times and another critic to be named. *** Three commercial parodies in its first 35 minutes. Seen one way, the strategy for the 24th season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" seemed a pre-emptive strike designed to pacify critics who might be tempted to write words to the effect of, "Another dismal opening for 'SNL.'" Not that such a scenario was even likely, considering the new benchmark for dismal that materialized over the summer in the form of "The Howard Stern Radio Show." What was it the pundits said about Clinton being blessed with enemies even dumber than himself? Seen another way, of course, the commercial parodies -- all of them familiar-looking but good enough to redeem themselves -- offered hope that "SNL's" writers actually had a productive summer churning out "A" material. (The fake ad for a videotape of "The Best of the First 20 Minutes of Saturday Night Live" was my highlight.) That hope, however, was not completely borne out by the live sketches, which were dominated by Clinton themes. The opening sketch, "Oprah 2002," was too long, Colin Quinn's rants made no sense, and "The Ladies' Man" was tacky and hardly justified its weak payoff. Nothing that I saw approached Robert Smigel's warped time-warp "Real Audio" cartoon, which spliced together Clinton's televised apology, Richard Nixon's farewell and the latter's 1952 "Checkers" speech. But the larger truth about "SNL's" not-dismal debut is that anyone expecting anything genuinely new and original to come out of this show's idea factory is thinking too wishfully. Just as 20 years ago it seemed every other "SNL" sketch took place at a restaurant, today every other sketch seems to be about a television show (this episode featured "Oprah," "Ladies' Man," "Weekend Update" and parodies of "The View" and the "Hollywood Squares"). Commercial parodies are not only dependable for a laugh -- like old New Yorker cartoons -- but reusable as well. The show continues to cash in the best celebrity guest hosts (let's hope Cameron Diaz doesn't panel on "The View" anytime soon, after her devastating take on Debbie Matenopoulos). And NBC's promotional power virtually guarantees the show will not have ratings issues for at least another season. The question is whether any of this is cause for casual viewers, like me, to go out of our way to catch "SNL" every week. I for one remain skeptical. *** Harrison Wyman was witness to one of the stranger talk-show moments of the year: "On Wednesday's 'Late Late Show with Tom Snyder,' country music legend Waylon Jennings left the building just before he was supposed to come on. Snyder adroitly filled with phone calls and suggestions on what CBS could do with the balance of the time. Since the show aired 19 minutes late the previous night due to a late-running Tuesday night movie, Snyder said they should give the balance of tonight's time back to the network and go home early, among other ideas." The AP later reported that Jennings was miffed because the guest preceding him, Dr. Laura Schlessinger, "cut into his time." Snyder said, "I've been doing this for 40 years, since I was a kid in Milwaukee, and I've never had a guest walk out before I introduced him." In a subsequent fax, Jennings statemented: "I came a long way to do this show and when I tell somebody I'll do something, my word is good, but I expect the same from them." *** Ed McMahon has a new memoir out, "For Laughing Out Loud," from Warner Books. Quoting at random from page 137 we read, "I had the best job in the world. I never went to a production meeting. If I wasn't involved in a sketch, I didn't even go to the rehearsal. I'd get to the studio in time to run through any commercials I had to do, but that was really all the preparation my job required. In fact, most of the time I didn't even know who our guests were going to be until I walked by the dressing rooms on the way to my office and saw their names on the doors. Before the show, I would check with Freddy de Cordova to see if there was anything I needed to know about that night's show; he'd tell me, for example, that Johnny was going to set fire to the studio in the third segment and that I should not try to put it out. But otherwise everything that happened on the show was completely fresh for me. And for that I was paid a wonderful salary. So I think the real question should have been, why didn't I laugh more?" *** Tom Heald notes that ABC has pulled any and all mentions of its "In Concert" off its Web site, naturally raising questions about the low-rated show's future ... The new season of "Open Mike with Mike Bullard" is underway in lucky Canada. Check your local CTV affiliate for air time. The Comedy Network puts it on at 11 p.m. Edmonton time, says reader David Feland ... According to Nielsen, the "Late Night with Conan O'Brien 5th Anniversary Special" did not exactly light up NBC's prime time, finishing a distant second in households behind "20/20." Of consolation: the show probably took the lion's share of 18-to-34-year-olds who are Conan's target audience; "20/20," formerly known as "PrimeTime Live," historically has collected most of its audience from the 35-to-54-year-old demo. *** Reader mail: David Migicovsky seems to have all the answers to our Canadian talk show questions. "Regarding J. Slotek's comments, 'Space Ghost Coast to Coast' is premiering this fall on Teletoon, airing Thursdays at 6:00 and 9:30 PM ET. Unfortunately, Dennis Miller is still MIA. The Masonic Temple was actually bought by CTV, not Comedy, and while 'Open Mike' is the main show taped there, CTV makes a point of saying it was not purchased *for* him. There is also a newsgroup for the show now, alt.fan.mike-bullard" ... Sean Pratt writes, "Re: my letter to you in this week's LSN, the author was not J. Slotek but Sean Pratt. A copy of the letter was forwarded to Jim Slotek. I think I neglected to sign the letter properly so that may have contributed to the confusion. The reason I bother with this is that Mr. Slotek is a media type here in Toronto and may be unfairly chastised for his apparent use of the term 'weenies'" ... Dave Schultheis writes, "KPIX-TV (CBS San Francisco) abandoned their experiment with 'early prime time' and went back to normal on Sept. 14, resulting in 'Late Show' leaving the 11 p.m. spot and switching to 11:35 p.m. like most other places in America. Result: I still go to bed early and my VCR still enjoys the program, just 35 minutes later" ... A reader named Laurie D. writes, "I did not subscribe to LSN to receive a week-after-week, self-promoting advertisement of your book. I get tired enough of your endless Dave bashing week after week. Please stop." Okay, I promise I'll stop self-promoting soon ... Another reader, Adam Bernay, caught a recent Thursday "Late Show" and writes, "I have not seen David Letterman this funny in *years.* The Letterman that had been missing (to me, at any rate) since before he left NBC, the Letterman that kept me up with a portable B&W TV with the sound down in my bedroom *way* past my bedtime way back when, *that* Letterman was back with a vengeance. Yeah, he was hitting the Clinton/Lewinsky thing a lot, but he was doing it in a way only David Letterman can. It was great, and was certainly worth tuning in." More "Dave-bashing" to come. *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY Tomalhe@aol.com We 9/23: In 1986, "The Dick Cavett Show" last airs on the USA Network and moves to ABC that same day. Sadly, nobody notices. Th 9/24: With Phil Hartman's death still being observed, it's a little awkward to be mentioning that first, Hartman had to be born. But he was -- on this day in 1948. Fr 9/25: In 1980, Chevy Chase calls Cary Grant "a homo" on Tom Snyder's "Tomorrow Show." Grant sues. Sa 9/26: In 1992, on "Saturday Night Live," Nicolas Cage plays an expectant father who rejects potential baby names because the child might be easily taunted on the playground. Pizza delivery boy Rob Schneider reveals why Cage is so uptight when he accidentally mispronouncing the family's name "***wipe." Yells Cage, "It's 'Ahs-we-pay.'" Su 9/27: In 1934, "World News Now" substitute anchor and theatre critic and ESPN legend (not to mention close personal friend of Billy Crystal) Dick Schaap is born. Mo 9/28: In 1991, three names are added to Don Pardo's "Saturday Night Live" roll call of regular cast members: Chris Farley, Chris Rock, and Julia Sweeney. Kevin Nealon presents a special guest during his first night as the new "Weekend Update" anchor -- the (real) Rev. Jesse Jackson reads from Dr. Seuss' "Green Eggs & Ham." Tu 9/29: In 1975, Howard Cosell graces the cover of TV Guide to promote the launch of his new variety show -- the other "Saturday Night Live," which tapes in the Ed Sullivan Theatre. We 9/30: In 1995, the new cheerleadin', idiot-headbobbin', "I keep it!", Catholic schoolgirl era of "Saturday Night Live" is ushered in with new cast members Jim Breuer, Will Ferrell, Darrell Hammond, and Cheri Oteri. "The Artist Formerly Known As Prince" bails of his announced live performance, so Blues Traveler fills in. Th 10/1: A great day to publish your book if its subject or author is related to late night. Published on this day: "The Late Night With David Letterman Book of Top Ten Lists" (1990), "Roman Numeral II: An Altogether New Book of Top Ten Lists" by David Letterman (1991), "Deepest Thoughts: So Deep They Squeak by Jack Handy" (1994), "How to Be Hap-Hap-Happy Like Me by Merrill Markoe (1994), "Saturday Night Live: The First Twenty Years by Michael Cader" (1994), "SCTV: Behind the Scenes" by Dave Thomas and "Leading With My Chin" by Jay Leno with Bill Zehme (1996). Fr 10/2: In 1967, Johnny Carson celebrates his fifth anniversary as host of NBC's "Tonight Show." His guests: Jack Benny and George Burns. Sa 10/3: In 1946, James Jackson Henderson, Jr., is born. His mother gives him the nickname "Biff" after her friend has a dream involving a boy named "Biff." These days you'll find him as "Late Show with David Letterman's" stage manager and roving correspondent. Su 10/4: 'Tis the birthday of two names associated with CBS's "The Howard Stern Radio Show": "Stuttering" John Melendez, born this day in 1965, and the man who was alleged to join Stern's effort as a "Weekend Update" newsreader, Norm Macdonald, born this day in 1962. Mo 10/5: In 1995, on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," Chevy Chase discusses his hosting engagement on "Saturday Night Live," and Nipsey Russell tells O'Brien, "A lot of people scoffed when they gave you 'Late Night,' but now they all say the kid's alright." Tu 10/6: In 1949, Sid McGinnis is born in Pittsburgh. McGinnis joined "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1984 as "guest guitarist of the week" and has remained as a permanent guitarist ever since. Oh, and he still has a "running jones." [Thanks to David Tanny and Frank Serpas III. Special thanks to Donz5, who still has a Dave-y jones.] [Got a reading jones? Try Tom Heald's faboo "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 9/28 Fran Drescher, Chris Kattan, Elvis Costello and Burt Bacharach Tu 9/29 Faith Ford, Eagle Eye Cherry We 9/30 Kelsey Grammer, Tony Bennett Th 10/1 Drew Carey, Billy Connolly, performance from the musical "Hedwig and the Angry Inch'' Fr 10/2 Steve Martin, Cokie Roberts Mo 10/5 TBA Tu 10/6 Elizabeth and Bob Dole, Joaquin Phoenix We 10/7 Jeff Goldblum, John Mellencamp THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Mo 9/28 Robin Williams, Martha Stewart Tu 9/29 Gillian Anderson, Maestro Harrell, Ryan Leaf We 9/30 Kirstie Alley, Emeril Lagasse, Liz Phair Th 10/1 Gina Gershon, Mark Vanderloo, Lucinda Williams Fr 10/2 Cuba Gooding Jr., Christina Ricci, Bonnie Raitt Mo 10/5 Bette Midler, Keri Russell Tu 10/6 Sharon Stone, Joe Montana, Ed McMahon We 10/7 Don Rickles, Laura San Giacomo, D.L. Hughley Th 10/8 Kelly Preston, John Leguizamo LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Mo 9/28 Laura San Giacomo, Leslie Abramson Tu 9/29 Charlie Schlatter, John Miller We 9/30 Gladys Knight, Robert Urich Th 10/1 Jennifer Tilly, Steve Landesberg Fr 10/2 Jay Thomas, Edie Silver (talked hself out of hostage situation) Mo 10/5 Jon Stewart, Tony Randall Tu 10/6 Faith Ford, Kary Mullis We 10/7 Ron Silver LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Mo 9/28 Marilu Henner, Greg Fitzsimmons, David George Gordon (R 6/19/98) Tu 9/29 Fran Drescher, D.L. Hughley We 9/30 Stanley Tucci, Nick Turturro, Billy Bragg & Wilco Th 10/1 Kelsey Grammer, Chastity Bono, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway Fr 10/2 Gina Gershon, Dylan McDermott, Squirrel Nut Zippers Mo 10/5 Edward Burns, Louis CK, Bob McCoy (R 7/24/98) Tu 10/6 Yasmine Bleeth, Kevin Sorbo, Duncan Sheik We 10/7 Peter Gallagher, Charlton Heston, Rich Hall Th 10/8 Jeff Goldblum, Kevin Pollack, Barenaked Ladies Fr 10/9 Steven Baldwin, Stockard Channing LATER, NBC Mo 9/28 Greg Kinnear with Gary Sinise (R 7/22/94) Tu 9/29 Greg Kinnear with Kevin Spacey (R 3/18/94) We 9/30 Greg Kinnear with Danny Glover (R 7/28/95) Th 10/1 Greg Kinnear with Joe Pesci (R 4/13/94) CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Please note that Charlie Rose listings are very tentative Mo 9/28 John Edgar Wideman, Alice Walker Tu 9/29 Energy Secretary Designate Bill Richardson We 9/30 Amre Moussa Th 10/1 Art critic Michael Kimmelman Fr 10/2 TBA Mo 10/5 TBA Tu 10/6 Lucent Technologies Chairman Henry Schacht We 10/7 Sparky Anderson POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Mo 9/28 Chris Hardwick, Judy Collins, Leigh Steinberg, Tucker Carlson Tu 9/29 Daryl "Chill'' Mitchell, William Weld, Alicia Witt, Shirley Manson We 9/30 Scott Thompson, Nate Morris, Nancy Johnson Th 10/1 Marion Ross, Rick Nielsen, Mare Winningham, Jaime Dettmer Fr 10/2 Pamela Anderson, Robert Reich, Marilyn Manson HOWARD STERN, E! shows are listed in the order of 11 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET lineups not available Remember, Howard's weekend "Power Hour" has moved to Sunday. THE DAILY SHOW, Comedy Central SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Comedy Central (repeats) Tu 9/29 Steve Martin / Tom Petty (11 AM & Midnight); Pee-Wee Herman / Queen Ida (3 PM) We 9/30 Bruce Willis / Neil Young (11 AM & Midnight); John Lithgow / Mr. Mister / Sam Kinison (3 PM) Th 10/1 Rick Moranis / Rickie Lee Jones (11 AM & Midnight); Tom Hanks / Sade (3 PM) Fr 10/2 Kathleen Turner / Billy Joel (11 AM & Midnight); Teri Garr / Dream Academy / The Cult / Penn and Teller (3 PM) Sa 10/3 Harry Dean Stanton / The Replacements/ Sam Kinison (11 AM) Su 10/4 Dudley Moore / Al Green (11 AM) Mo 10/5 James Woods / Don Henley (11 AM & Midnight); Ron Reagan / The Nelsons / Penn and Teller (3 PM) Tu 10/6 Chris Evert / Eurythmics (11 AM & Midnight); Jerry Hall / Stevie Ray Vaughan / Sam Kinison (3 PM) SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (NBC) Sa 10/3 Kelsey Grammer; musical guest Sheryl Crow. THE RUPAUL SHOW (VH1) We 9/30 Jerry Springer / musical guest Los Umbrellos THE CHRIS ROCK SHOW, HBO Fr 10/2 Wynton Marsalis and The Smashing Pumpkins Fr 10/9 D.L. Hughley and rappers Outkast Also on late nights: NIGHTLINE and WORLD NEWS NOW, ABC LOVELINE, MTV THE HOWARD STERN RADIO SHOW, CBS and syndicated UP TO THE MINUTE, CBS 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