ANALYSIS
A funny thing happened on the way to the election—politics and comedy swapped roles
Wall Street Journal Nov 29, 08 7:53 AM CST
(Newser)
-
Politics and comedy are trading places, Lee Siegel writes in the Wall Street Journal , as the antics of politicians get more outlandish and comics are increasingly the people speaking truth to power. Fake newsmen like Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, with their stern commentary, lean more towards the "dark, piercing and wise" humor of Mark Twain than simple belly laughs, Seigel writes.
More »
Letterman clucks
about gory farm visit
Huffington Post Nov 25, 08 5:05 AM CST
(Newser)
-
David Letterman couldn't let news of Sarah Palin's gruesome turkey farm visit fly past him without comment, the Huffington Post notes. Palin pardoned one turkey but was oblivious to others being slaughtered behind her during a TV interview last week. Among Letterman's Top 10 purported excuses for Palin's disregard of the gorefest:
More »
TV Guide Oct 12, 08 2:59 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Three weeks after turning himself into a punch line by blowing off David Letterman, only to surface within hours elsewhere on CBS, John McCain has scheduled a return engagement with the late-night icon. After lengthy negotiations—during which Letterman continued his on-air taunting by saying McCain was being "squirrely"—they've made a date for Thursday, TV Guide reports.
More »
Current events boost ratings into Leno's neighborhood
Media Life Magazine Oct 9, 08 7:30 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Financial and political uncertainty means big ratings for Nightline, which is enjoying its highest numbers since being reformatted in 2005, Media Life magazine reports. Despite being under virtually constant threat of cancellation, Nightline regularly outdraws Late Night With David Letterman and is closer to Jay Leno's Tonight Show than at any other time since 2000. Nightline averages 4.06 million viewers, up 9% from last year but behind Leno's 4.72 million.
More »
Race for the White House proving a comedy goldmine
New York Times Oct 9, 08 1:55 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
No matter which candidate ultimately surges ahead, political comedy is emerging as the clear winner in the presidential race, reports the New York Times . Tina Fey's dead-on parody of Sarah Palin has triggered a huge boost in viewership for Saturday Night Live . The Colbert Report and the Daily Show have canceled vacations to keep the jokes coming and the ratings soaring.
More »
OPINION
Late-night hosts can shape opinion for networks and their viewers
Gawker Sep 26, 08 5:20 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
John McCain is playing with fire if he thinks he can stand up David Letterman and get away with it. "The middle-of-the-road personalities who've dominated network television since its inception do retain one singular power," Gawker Media head honcho Nick Denton, writing for his flagship blog, warns the wayward candidate. "When they finally get off the fence, the mass of similar-minded voters take notice."
More »
Stood-up Late Night host proving to be a formidable foe
Los Angeles Times Sep 26, 08 4:31 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
The David Letterman-John McCain feud continued last night on the Late Show as the host kept hammering the candidate for standing him up, reports the Los Angeles Times . Letterman, whose guests included Paris Hilton—"McCain's first choice as running mate"—said he felt like an "ugly date" after McCain cancelled on him Wednesday, pleading that he had to rush to Washington—then did an interview with Katie Couric and spent the night in New York.
More »
'Metamucil Mac' snubs host to prep for Couric, claims he's off to DC
New York Daily News Sep 25, 08 3:06 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
John McCain was scorched by the full fury of a Letterman scorned after blowing off last night's Late Show an hour before taping, the New York Daily News reports. "This just doesn't smell right. This is not the way a tested hero behaves," Letterman raged. "Somebody's putting something in his Metamucil." McCain told Letterman he was rushing back to Washington, but in fact was still in town, preparing for an interview with Katie Couric.
More »
But Dave would love to continue beyond 2010
New York Times Sep 3, 08 8:32 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
David Letterman isn't planning to head off into the sunset when his Late Night contract expires in 2010, the New York Times reports, telling a Rolling Stone interviewer that he would love to keep going at CBS—and that he was confused by NBC's decision to put longtime rival Jay Leno out to pasture next year. "I don’t know why, after the job Jay has done for them, why they would relinquish that,” said the 26-year veteran.
More »
NBC officials still negotiating to keep star with network
Broadcasting & Cable Jul 22, 08 3:02 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Jay Leno's last appearance as host of the Tonight Show will be the final Friday in May, reports Broadcasting & Cable . Conan O'Brien will take over the following Monday. In the several months between O'Brien's leaving Late Night and his Tonight Show debut, NBC plans a huge promotional campaign to keep his profile high.
More »
New host will post short programs on the web
New York Times Jul 21, 08 3:54 AM CDT
(Newser)
-
Jimmy Fallon is launching his career as host of NBC's Late Night on the Internet, reports the New York Times . Late Night producer Lorne Michaels will produce 10-minute segments with Fallon for an online audience months before he takes over on TV from Conan O'Brien, who's set to replace Jay Leno on the Tonight Show .
More »
Ex-SNL actor to host when O'Brien takes Tonight Show in '09
Fox News Apr 24, 08 12:09 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
Jimmy Fallon will take Conan O’Brien’s Late Night desk when Conan leaves for the Tonight Show, writes Roger Friedman for Fox News. O’Brien is set to replace Jay Leno in May 2009; the former Saturday Night Live star is rumored to be “thrilled and ready, if not a little scared” to take over. An announcement is expected next month.
More »
Blogs allow 'fun of working, without stress or pay'; talks resume
Los Angeles Times Nov 26, 07 1:44 PM CST
(Newser)
-
Striking late-night comedy writers have some serious issues—no jobs and, worse, no creative outlet. When the jokes went from "60 to zero," in the words of a "Colbert Report" staffer, many aimed new blogs and videos squarely at the studios on the other side of the picket line. The result? A platform and a growing audience, reports the LA Times.
More »
Writer negotiations overshadowed by an Internet dominated future
New York Times Nov 1, 07 10:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
-
TV writers could walk out any day now, leaving late night TV and topical shows like The Daily Show in the lurch, and one of the sticking points in their talks with entertainment producers is their demand for a larger slice of DVD and online video revenue. But as Saul Hansell of the NY Times points out, the Internet isn't done upending everything we know about showbiz moneymaking.
More »