LATE SHOW NEWS #222 October 20, 1998 by Aaron Barnhart To join or leave the LATE-SHOW-NEWS mailing list, see instructions at end of message. City by city, BARNHART'S UNAUTHORIZED TV is conquering this great land of ours. This week you can add Chicago to the list. All Barbara's Bookstores (except the ones that don't carry magazines) now have BUTV stocked in their periodicals sections. You can also buy BUTV at the Lincoln Park Bookshop, 2423 N. Clark. Thanks to faithful reader G.S. for accompanying me to Barbara's and having a chat with the manager that resulted in all the copies I had on hand getting picked up faster than you could say "Two thumbs way, *way* up." BUTV is available in the Bay Area at Booksmith, Stacey's, Clean Well-Lighted, Cody's, Modern Times and Harold's International Newsstand. In Kansas City, check out Prospero's, 1717 W. 39th. Remember, if you buy it on the rack, you save two bucks. TONIGHT (Tuesday), I'm on with Chip Franklin on WMAL radio in Washington at 8:15 p.m. And Kansas Citians get a twofer: 4 p.m. on KPHN (1190 AM) on Friday and a special LIVE appearance at Prospero's Books, 1717 W. 39th near the KU Medical Center, where I'll be speaking on the subject, "Why TV Is So Lame," and signing copies at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25th. (Don't worry, TV fans, the Chiefs don't play till Monday night.) You can see a 15-page preview copy of BUTV and order it online at http://lateshownews.com "It's very impressive. Almost makes me want to go out and buy a television." -- Sheri Steinberg *** A couple dirty little secrets about Saturday night TV. The first is that you can probably find something very entertaining to watch without resorting to the "original" offerings of "Saturday Night Live," "MAD TV" and "The Howard Stern Radio Show." This weekend, for instance, my WB affiliate is airing an "ER" repeat, Lifetime is showing a repeat of my favorite new sitcom "Maggie," TLC has "Incredible Rescues," MTV has two hours of "Loveline" repeats and there's always "Mystery Science Theater 3000" on Sci-Fi. The other dirty little secret is "The Howard Stern Radio Show." It is showing signs of actually being worth a look -- provided, as always, that you're even open to the possibility of looking at Stern. When we last checked in on Stern's latest mutation, there was a decidedly freak-show bent to it. From the moment this TV program was on the drawing board at CBS, one problem must have nagged at network executives, and that question was NOT, How do we make Howard more palatable to a wider audience? After all, Stern's radio show draws an average of 17 million listeners a day. They created a huge box office for "Private Parts" on its opening weekend last year. Just a portion of Stern's radio base would make the TV show a hit. No, the question CBS executives asked was: How do we keep people from turning away? The big difference between a show on E! and a show on CBS is that only a few hundred thousand viewers were needed to make it a certifiable hit on cable. If only a few hundred thousand viewers were watching the CBS show nationwide, it would be toast. So the logic on opening night seemed to be to shock people into watching. Instead of the usual mix of celebs and weirdos seen on Stern's E! show, the strangest of the strange were paraded before all of the new Stern viewers. Problem: This confirmed the worst fears of people disinclined to enjoy the show anyway while offering nothing new to those fans who tuned in expecting new. Hadn't we seen enough of that gender-twisted bodybuilder Nicole on cable anyway? Now, however, CBS seems to be onto a compromise that will at least make the latter group happier. In lieu of presenting us with a new Howard -- something many of us figured out a long time ago would not be forthcoming -- the producers are aiming for fresher content with personalities who are new to Howard's universe. Take Saturday's broadcast, which featured Shaquille O'Neal and two of his rap-music buds in a hilarious (again, if you consider this hilarious) discussion of whether O'Neal could satisfy Stern sidekick Robin Quivers. This exchange had the one novel effect of making Quivers break into a very noticeable sweat. That was followed by a segment featuring a ridiculous rock band called Candy Ass who behaved very much like frequent Stern abusers the Jesus Twins -- complete ingrates that Howard seemingly can't get enough of. Beyond that, CBS is putting more effort into creating out-of-studio content, and is using a distinctive black-and-white letterbox format to set it off from the E!-like ambience of the studio show. Whether this will bring up Stern's ratings or not is immaterial at this point. In the long run, if the show can justify its existence creatively, then the ragtag assemblage of CBS-owned stations and WB/UPN affiliates will be able to keep it online for months. After all, these stations weren't exactly viewer magnets on Saturday nights before Stern. *** Here's a suggestion for watching the new season of "Mr. Show with Bob and David," which premieres next Monday on HBO: flowcharts. Bob Odenkirk and David Cross repay their debt to "Monty Python's Flying Circus" every week by creating a show that connects all the various sketches together, even if they have to resort to a cheap visual trick like showing a segue prop. My flowchart from the season premiere read as follows: * "A friend with weed is a friend indeed" * Electric Underwear * Ad for personal surveillance equipment ("Wear the Wire!") * "Paper Chase" spoof with Michael McKean. Bob asked to take over three minutes into the first class of semester, utters prophecy * Apple butter ad * Hitler clones * Sleazy talk show meets life-raft situational ethics * Bad local TV newscast: "Scams and Flams with Yale Hadderity" * "Investigative Reports" investigates "Scams and Flams" * Time for weather at the bad TV newscast Not bad for 25 minutes of work. *** Reader Sharon Lee Harkey (or Shark as we call her on ECHO) recently attended a taping of Al Franken's "Lateline," now in production at the Kaufman-Astoria Studios in Queens for its second midseason on NBC, and writes: "We were first treated to an airing of a show that was taped a week earlier, but sans audience -- and the show's 'warm-up' person impressed upon us that they don't use a laugh track, just our very own, real laughter. (The word 'sweetening' never passed his lips. Yeah, right.) So we supplied the laughter for the previously-taped show and after a short time we began to watch the taping we had been invited to see. Not for nothing, I do believe they employed a 'laugher' -- someone with a loud, infectious laugh to encourage the rest of us to join in. "Not that we needed much encouragement. (In fact, I was surprised more than once that the studio audience laughed in pretty much the same way, and at the same predictable times, as a typical laugh track would.) "The pacing of the set-ups was pretty fast and there weren't many takes, ranging from as few as two to as many as five or six. One scene with G. Gordon Liddy was taped with a couple of different lines, apparently because the NBC and/or Paramount lawyers who were in attendance on the set didn't think that he should be making a (to my mind) reasonably funny reference to Ken Starr. It will be interesting to see which line, if any, makes it to air. (NB: I could have lived very well without ever seeing Liddy in slippers and a robe walking across the set.) "In between, Al Franken occasionally came out front and talked with us, playing Stuart Smalley at the request of one person. The warm-up guy ran the gamut from very funny to not-at-all, but he kept us in water, soda and candy during what turned out to be a much later night than we had anticipated (we left after 10:30, having gotten there around 6 for a 7 p.m. start). "The show looks good, with some fine, talented actors and good, lean writers (I would assume Franken is at least partly responsible for that). Franken, though, didn't seem very hopeful that the show would actually get on the air. I'll be looking for it, of course, and listening -- maybe I'll hear myself laughing." *** Richard Johnson reported in the New York Post that Screw publisher Al Goldstein went out of his way to *disinvite* David Letterman to his magazine's 30th anniversary bash, "for having blackballed me from appearing on your crummy show" ... Speaking of 30th anniversaries, Jay Leno has finally been forgiven for peeling rubber around the parking lot at his high school in Andover, Mass., in 1968. A gift to the school of $250,000 was offered as penance. *** Tom Heald's THIS NIGHT IN HISTORY We 10/21: In 1997, Conan O'Brien wonders aloud what he's doing at a Letterman rip-off on "Die Harald Schmidt Show." Th 10/22: In 1994, George Bush becomes the second (real) U.S. President to perform the line "Live from New York ... It's SATURDAY NIGHT." The first being Gerald Ford. Fr 10/23: In 1926, John William Carson is born... Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee's Johnny! Sa 10/24: In 1980, After nineteen weeks, "The David Letterman Show" last airs (during daylight hours) on NBC. It will go on to win two Emmys the following May. Su 10/25: In 1995, David Letterman makes his second of two appearances as himself on "The Larry Sanders Show." Mo 10/26: In 1946, future talk show host Pat Sajak is born. Oddly enough, nobody watches him for a year and a half. Tu 10/27: In 1910, "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" producer/director Frederick DeCordova is born. [Thanks to Dave Tanny , and Sean Bradley. Special thanks to Donz5, Sparky Mortimer's #1 fan.] For more information on these items and related merchandise, visit Tom Heald's "This Night In History Bookstore" at . THE LINEUPS with Sue Trowbridge (http://www.interbridge.com/) LATE SHOW WITH DAVID LETTERMAN, CBS Mo 10/19 Mark McGwire, Roberto Benigni, Bruce Hornsby Tu 10/20 Ringo Starr, best of nationwide state fairs We 10/21 Jeff Daniels, Mitch Hedberg Th 10/22 R.E.M. Fr 10/23 12-year-old parking-meter watchdog Ellie Lammer THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO, NBC Mo 10/19 Pamela Anderson Lee, Wolfgang Puck, Carrot Top (R 7/17/98) Tu 10/20 Halle Berry, Rob Schneider, Mary Cutrufello (R 8/27/98) We 10/21 Tom Hanks, 12-year-old actress Lindsay Lohan, Edwin McCain (R 7/21/98) Th 10/22 George Clooney, Ming-Na Wen, Sarah McLachlan (R 6/25/98) Fr 10/23 Vanessa Williams, Jerry Springer, 103-year-old shot-putter Ben Levinson (R 8/13/98) Mo 10/26 David Spade, Kate Capshaw, Deana Carter Tu 10/27 James Woods, Bryan Adams LATE LATE SHOW WITH TOM SNYDER, CBS Mo 10/19 Lisa Kudrow, Michael Moore (R 6/25/98) Tu 10/20 Judge Judy Scheindlin, attorney Mark Bravo (R 6/10/98) We 10/21 Ed Harris, Graham Hancock (R 6/30/98) Th 10/22 Jane Leeves, Deborah Tannen (R 6/11/98) Fr 10/23 Dennis Miller, national literacy project coordinator Andy Carroll (R 5/1/98) Mo 10/26 Joan Lunden, Las Vegas mogul Steve Wynn LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O'BRIEN, NBC Mo 10/19 Brian Williams, Frank McCourt, Lewis Black (R 8/28/98) Tu 10/20 Gary Sinise, L.L. Cool J, Jonathan Richman (R 8/11/98) We 10/21 Ben Stiller, Seth Green, The Brian Setzer Orchestra (R 7/15/98) Th 10/22 Salma Hayek, Richard Branson, The Dixie Chicks (R 8/27/98) Fr 10/23 Adam Arkin, Jim Fowler, Tori Amos (R 8/7/98) LATER, NBC Mo 10/19 Greg Kinnear with Wayne Gretzky (R 1/19/95) Tu 10/20 Pat O'Brien with Sugar Ray Leonard (R 2/17/98) We 10/21 Ahmad Rashad with Wilt Chamberlain (R 5/26/97) Th 10/22 David Alan Grier with Kareem Abdul Jabbar (R 10/29/96) CHARLIE ROSE, PBS Please note that Charlie Rose listings are very tentative Mo 10/19 Director of the Van Gogh Museum John Leighton POLITICALLY INCORRECT WITH BILL MAHER, ABC Mo 10/19 Jennifer Tilly, Adam Carolla, Kathy Redmond, Fred Williamson Tu 10/20 Steve Harvey, Robert Pinsky, Kelly McGillis We 10/21 Michael McKean, Dr. Jo-Ellen Allen, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Billy Ray Cyrus Th 10/22 Sally Pipes, Cornel West Fr 10/23 Joely Fisher, Rob Estes, B-Real, Shelby Steele Mo 10/26 Arlo Guthrie, P.J. O'Rourke Tu 10/27 Dave Barry, Monica Crowley, Harry Evans We 10/28 Juan Williams HOWARD STERN, E! shows are listed in the order of 11 p.m., 11:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. ET Mo 10/19 Kimberly Taylor IQ Test Part 1 (R), Bill Kates & Girlfriend Part 1 (R), Jessica Hahn Part 1 (R) Tu 10/20 Kimberly Taylor IQ Test Part 2 (R), Bill Kates & Girlfriend Part 2 (R), Real Estate Girl (R) We 10/21 Cheryl Strips (R), O.J. Interview (R), Hypnotized Scores Girls Part 1 (R) Th 10/22 Stacy Vs Julie Part 1 (R), Penthouse Pet Part 1 (R), Hypnotized Scores Girls Part 2 (R) Fr 10/23 Stacy Vs Julie Part 2 (R), Penthouse Pet Part 2 (R), Hypnotized Scores Girls Part 3 (R) Su 10/25 Knockers The Clown (R), Amy Lynn Gets Oiled (R) THE CHRIS ROCK SHOW, HBO Fr 10/23 George Carlin, Usher (R) Tu 10/27 Adam Sandler, Faith Evans (airs 10 p.m. ET) Fr 10/30 repeat of Tuesday's show SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, Comedy Central (repeats) Mo 10/19 Fred Savage / Technotronic (11 AM & Midnight); Robin Williams / Paul Simon (3PM) Tu 10/20 Rob Lowe / The Pogues (11 AM & Midnight); Chevy Chase / Steve Martin / Randy Newman (3PM) We 10/21 Deborah Winger / Eric Clapton (11 AM & Midnight); Steve Guttenberg / The Pretenders / Penn and Teller (3PM) Th 10/22 Corbin Bernsen / The Smithereens (11 AM & Midnight); William Shatner / Lone Justice (3PM) Fr 10/23 Alec Baldwin/B-52s (11 AM & Midnight); Joe Montana / Walter Payton / Deborah Harry (3PM) Sa 10/24 Paul Shaffer / Bruce Hornsby (11 AM) Su 10/25 Bronson Pinchot / Paulina Porizkova / Paul Young (11 AM) Mo 10/26 Andrew Dice Clay/Julee Cruise (11 AM & Midnight); Danny DeVito / Willie Nelson (3PM) SPACE GHOST COAST TO COAST, Cartoon Network Fr 10/23 David Byrne, Donny Osmond Rob Zombie, Raven Symone Fr 10/30 Michael Norman, Bill Nye Ice-T, Fred Willard Fr 11/7 pre-empted Beginning Nov. 14, "SGC2C" moves to 11 p.m. Eastern. 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 THE DAILY SHOW, Comedy Central Entire contents Copyright 1998 by Aaron Barnhart. All rights reserved. I try to post each issue by 12:01 a.m. Tuesday, Central time, 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