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December 2, 2008 7:23:28 AM CST

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Late-Night Laughs

"I had no idea this thing was televised. Boy, is my face red." -David Letterman

The nation's late-night comedy titans returned to air Jan. 2 after a two-month hiatus because of the writer's strike.  Though Writers Guild rules prohibit the hosts from using scripted monologues, sketches, or fictional characters,   Letterman returned with his writers after securing an independent deal.

Stories

Stories 1 - 20 of 69

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  • November 2008

    • How Comedy Turned Serious

      Wall Street Journal  |  Nov 29, 08 7:53 AM CST

      How Comedy Turned Serious

      (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 »

    • Last Call's Daly to Be a Dad

      People  |  Nov 26, 08 6:41 AM CST

      Last Call's Daly to Be a Dad

      (Newser) - Carson Daly is going to be a dad, People reports. The late-night talk show host is expecting his first child with girlfriend Siri Pinter. In a nod to Daly’s love of cycling, “Friends are already looking for bike helmets for the little one,” a rep said. The baby is due in early spring. More »

    • Palin's Top 10 Excuses for Ignoring Turkey Slaughter

      Huffington Post  |  Nov 25, 08 5:05 AM CST

      Palin's Top 10 Excuses for Ignoring Turkey Slaughter

      (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 »

    • Sarah Palin, Come Back! SNL Needs You

      Gawker  |  Nov 23, 08 1:07 PM CST

      Sarah Palin, Come Back! SNL Needs You

      (Newser) - Without Sarah Palin and with a dull Barack Obama impression on its hands, Saturday Night Live is in election withdrawal, Alex Carnevale writes for Gawker. The show’s opening skit about congressional hearings on automaker bailouts was “less than hilarious,” and it “tried to squeeze jokes out of country singer and host Tim McGraw saying slightly unexpected things for an hour.” More »

    • With Election Gone, SNL Enters 'Rebuilding' Phase

      USA Today  |  Nov 21, 08 3:14 PM CST

      With Election Gone, SNL Enters 'Rebuilding' Phase

      (Newser) - The election may be over, but SNL  still has 14 episodes to fill. Lorne Michaels says the show will be in one of its periodic "rebuilding" periods, but he has much praise for three new faces. Here's the lowdown, from USA Today : Abby Elliott: The daughter of former cast member Chris Elliott is only 21, but  Michaels says "her sense of humor was clearly there." More »

    • Fox Cancels Mad TV

      Defamer  |  Nov 12, 08 5:50 PM CST

      Fox Cancels Mad TV

      (Newser) - Mad TV will bid adieu after 14 seasons of Saturday night sketches, the final nail in its coffin coming from a failure to boost ratings during the presidential campaign, reports Defamer. Fox's Saturday Night Live competitor, which has been on the chopping block for years, will finish up the season before being relegated to DVD collections. More »

    • McCain to Leno: Don't Blame Palin

      Politico  |  Nov 11, 08 9:17 PM CST

      McCain to Leno: Don't Blame Palin

      (Newser) - John McCain poked fun at himself and his campaign on Jay Leno tonight but refused to place blame for his loss on Sarah Palin or the media, Politico reports. "The one thing I think Americans don't want is a sore loser," said McCain. "I'm a fighter. I knew I had a headwind. I can read the polls. They tried to keep them away from me. But I knew we had a real headwind." More »

    • Leno Gets First McCain Interview on Veterans Day

      Monsters and Critics  |  Nov 7, 08 5:39 PM CST

      Leno Gets First McCain Interview on Veterans Day

      (Newser) - John McCain will help Jay Leno celebrate Veterans Day by appearing on NBC’s “Tonight Show,” Monsters & Critics reports today. The Tuesday appearance will mark the Republican’s first TV interview since his loss to Barack Obama in the Nov. 4 election. More »

    • White Comics Lack Nuance Needed to Mine Obama

      The Root  |  Nov 7, 08 3:37 PM CST

      White Comics Lack Nuance Needed to Mine Obama

      (Newser) - Bill Maher recently said Barack Obama “needs to give comedians something to work with.” The President-elect is “too perfect,” he groused, and worse, liberals are afraid to laugh at black people. If only Dave Chappelle were working, laments Salamishah Tillet for the Root. He’d quickly prove Obama is plenty funny, if only white comedians learned the “cultural nuances of black America.” More »

    • With Conan on Deck, NBC Thinks Young

      Advertising Age  |  Nov 3, 08 10:20 AM CST

      With Conan on Deck, NBC Thinks Young

      (Newser) - With the Tonight Show 's June transition from Jay Leno to Conan O’Brien on the front burner, NBC is already anticipating a jump in younger viewers. The June handover "is as important an event as is going to happen to this company in 2009," an NBC VP tells Advertising Age. Even with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert dominating late-night buzz, NBC's signature property made $255.9 million in ad dollars last year. More »

  • October 2008

    • Campaign Heightens Humor's Liberal Bent

      Boston Globe  |  Oct 20, 08 12:27 PM CDT

      Campaign Heightens Humor's Liberal Bent

      (Newser) - Comedy is taking a prominent place in the US election, and may be leaning even more leftward than usual, the Boston Globe reports. Tina Fey and David Letterman have brought the highest ratings in years with mockery of Sarah Palin and John McCain. And Jon Stewart, a savage critic of conservatives, always thrives in election years. Is there something liberal about comedy? More »

    • Dave's 10 Best Digs at McCain

      Los Angeles Times  |  Oct 17, 08 12:25 PM CDT

      Dave's 10 Best Digs at McCain

      (Newser) - David Letterman has landed some pretty harsh zingers aimed since John McCain skipped out on the Late Show in September. Los Angeles Times reporter Matea Gold put together a Top 10 list of her own; a sampling: "I gave up drinking a while ago, but I started again. And I'm watching the debate last night and here's what I did—I did a shot every time McCain said 'my friends.' So I'm blotto." More »

    • Live From New York, It's Sarah Palin!

      CNN  |  Oct 17, 08 3:38 AM CDT

      Live From New York, It's Sarah Palin!

      (Newser) - Viewers awaiting the next impersonation of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live may be stunned to see the real thing. Palin plans to make a cameo appearance on tomorrow's show, sources tell CNN. No word yet on whether champion Palin-impersonator Tina Fey will be joining the vice-presidential candidate for her SNL debut—or on how viewers are expected to tell them apart if she does. More »

    • McCain, Letterman Make Up

      Politico  |  Oct 16, 08 7:37 PM CDT

      McCain, Letterman Make Up

      (Newser) - John McCain finally made it back on David Letterman's show, and he promptly issued two apologies—one to Dave and one to Joe the Plumber. In an appearance taped to air tonight, McCain apologized to Letterman for canceling a September appearance at the last minute. "I screwed up," he said. He also apologized to the now-famous Ohio plumber because he's been picked apart in the press, Politico notes. "Joe, if you're watching, I'm sorry," he said. More »

    • CNN Adds Laughs to News Lineup

      CNN  |  Oct 16, 08 12:33 PM CDT

      CNN Adds Laughs to News Lineup

      (Newser) - The 24-hour news cycle will take a break for comedy with a Letterman-like talk show set to make its debut on CNN next weekend. Comic and actor DL Hughley, one of the "Original Kings of Comedy," will host. "When you watch as much news as our audience does, there comes a time you just want to stop and laugh—and that time will be Saturday nights at 10 on CNN," says the network's US chief. More »

    • Letterman: Mac May Bring Palin Tonight

      Chicago Tribune  |  Oct 16, 08 11:47 AM CDT

      Letterman: Mac May Bring Palin Tonight

      (Newser) - John McCain is scheduled to make his long-awaited return to The Late Show with David Letterman tonight, the Chicago Tribune reports—and may bring his running mate with him. “He hinted when I talked to him … that maybe he’d be bringing Sarah Palin,” Letterman said on last night’s show, then added, “We know that’s not gonna happen.”