Talking with Tim » late night TV

Kennedy Center Honors | David Letterman Tribute

admin — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 18:18:26 +0000

As the comedians note in tribute to David Letterman (from last night’s Kennedy Center Honors on CBS), it is fun to see Dave be uncomfortable. People (namely Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin, Jimmy Kimmel and Ray Romano) complimenting and honoring him definitely makes him squirm.

This tribute was great to watch, except the end, when producers made all four presenters interact in a scripted manner. That was awkward for everyone.

Nathan Lane as Jason Bourne

admin — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 07:14:17 +0000

This clip cracked my wife up last night. Nathan Lane as Jason Bourne on Letterman.

Peter O’Toole & Johnny Carson: Circa 1978

admin — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 04:36:01 +0000

Peter O’Toole on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson from 1978. Need I say more?

The art of great conversation.

Groucho Marx Roasts Johnny Carson

admin — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 05:48:41 +0000

To mark the anniversary of Groucho Marx’s death (August 19, 1977), I ran across this clip from 1968 of Marx roasting Johnny Carson. At one point (around 4:20), he makes a joke about the mayor of New York. The guy laughing next to Carson is then New York City Mayor John Lindsay.

Tom Waits Chats with David Letterman

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 23:56:54 +0000

The headline says it all.

You know Letterman loves this kind of interview.

John Irving Appeared On Craig Ferguson?

admin — Fri, 13 Jul 2012 23:46:08 +0000

Where the hell was I the night John Irving was on Craig Ferguson? So glad that CBS posts this stuff on YouTube.

He debates Irving about Michael Caine’s accent in The Cider House Rules. It makes for fun TV.

Shows That Failed: The Chevy Chase Show (1993)

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 20:26:53 +0000

Readers of Robot 6 know how much of a fan I am of writer Jeff Parker. Of course he is always aces in my book, since he is such a nice guy and he helped support this blog at the outset.

Last night he and I steered an exchange of comedic tweets into a brief discussion of late night TV–and more specifically The Chevy Chase Show, which aired for five weeks in 1993 (in a bid to compete with Jay Leno’s Tonight Show [after Johnny Carson's retirement]).

I had forgotten the short stay of the show, or the critical reaction to it. Chase was panned for his lousy monologue and interview skills.

I must say, I never have watched another show’s audience shot where there were empty seats (as briefly seen in this video).

He really asks Robert De Niro about driving a bus. Yep, as great as drying paint.

Steve Allen on Leaving The Tonight Show

admin — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 07:48:31 +0000

The late Steve Allen discusses if he regretted leaving NBC’s The Tonight Show.

I’ll be honest and concede that I was surprised at his answer.

Alec Baldwin Interviews David Letterman

admin — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 07:48:34 +0000

A few weeks back David Letterman gave an interview to Regis Philbin (subbing for Piers Morgan)–and now we have this 44-minute gem from Alec Baldwin’s WNYC show, Here’s The Thing.

My thanks to Wade von Grawbadger for making me aware of this new interview.

Nathan Lane on Tuesday’s David Letterman

admin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:23:49 +0000

I love when Letterman facilitates bits like this one (From this week’s Tuesday night’s episode).

And while I feel bad for Sean Young’s personal struggles, I have to admit Lane’s joke early in this snippet is a good one. And Young clearly wanted this incident in the news, for whatever reason.