NationStates Jolt Archive


U.S. Late-Night T.V.

Thumbless Pete Crabbe
23-07-2007, 06:20
So, I know this isn't 'serious business,' and celebrity is a bunch of hokum, and network t.v. is the devil, etc. ;) But I often have difficulty sleeping, and that means lots of late nights, and by extension an occasional stop on channels 2, 4, or 7 to peek at one of the Late-Night comedians.

So, the question is simply: do you ever watch these guys? Did you grow up watching Johnny Carson or David Letterman? And if so, do you find the new crop better or worse than the old? Who is the real king of Late-Night to you, regardless of ratings?

Okay, that was several questions. :p

Poll is on the way!

Also, this thread was inspired by an article:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968927.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

About the Leno/Conan succession, and what's going to happen when/if Conan takes the top spot in '09. Opinions on that would be cool too. :)
Wilgrove
23-07-2007, 06:24
Where is Adult Swim?! :eek:
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
23-07-2007, 06:28
Where is Adult Swim?! :eek:

Other? :p

You can watch both here, if you watch Adult Swim at 9, rather than 11. Even so, you can catch the tail-end of either Conan or Ferguson if you switch over when anime comes on, which I always do. ;)
United Chicken Kleptos
23-07-2007, 06:31
Jon Stewart is the king.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
23-07-2007, 06:35
Jon Stewart is the king.

Doesn't his show come on around 7, though. Not exactly Late-Night. Unless it comes on later where you are. :)
Intangelon
23-07-2007, 06:38
I would watch NBC Letterman in the 80s ("Paul, once again, you've crystallized my thoughts...eloquently"). CBS Letterman is a bit of a letdown.

I watch me some Adult Swim. Robot Chicken, The Venture Brothers, Futurama, Family Guy -- it also introduced me to Cowboy Bebop and FLCL, for which I am grateful.

Back when Sealab 2021 was funny, I'd watch that. Also, hit-or-miss stuff like the occasional Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law and Moral Orel, CAN be good, but more often than not, they aren't.

The rest is crap. Yes, that includes ATHF. It just isn't funny in the same way that Space Ghost Coast to Coast wasn't funny.

And Williams Street really pissed me off with the tease of ONE episode of Korgoth of Barbaria, which was fucking HILARIOUS, and then never produced any more. Grrr....
United Chicken Kleptos
23-07-2007, 06:52
Doesn't his show come on around 7, though. Not exactly Late-Night. Unless it comes on later where you are. :)

It comes on at 11. New episodes do, at least. They're rerun all throughout the day though.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
23-07-2007, 06:56
It comes on at 11. New episodes do, at least. They're rerun all throughout the day though.

Hm. Alright then - another one for the 'other' category. That's cool. :)
Cannot think of a name
23-07-2007, 07:01
Doesn't his show come on around 7, though. Not exactly Late-Night. Unless it comes on later where you are. :)

You must have a satellite dish. And live in a wonky time zone, because even on the West Coast things move up only three hours, not four. Both [adult swim] and The Daily Show are scheduled for 11pm and only come on earlier for satellite owners. Cable gets delayed like normal, satellites can't really and run on East Coast time.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
23-07-2007, 07:05
You must have a satellite dish. And live in a wonky time zone, because even on the West Coast things move up only three hours, not four. Both [adult swim] and The Daily Show are scheduled for 11pm and only come on earlier for satellite owners. Cable gets delayed like normal, satellites can't really and run on East Coast time.

Yeah, I have a dish. :)

Checking it now, the Daily Show is on at: 7 AM, 1 PM, 5 PM, 8 PM, and 10 PM. He gets a *lot* of airtime, it seems! :p
IL Ruffino
23-07-2007, 07:11
Where is Adult Swim?! :eek:

Hey! I'm watching that right now!!


Oh, and, Conan.
Pantera
23-07-2007, 07:14
Stewart & Colbert forever.

If they aren't on and I've seen what's on Adult Swim, maybe Conan, but I'll probably just go to sleep.
Thumbless Pete Crabbe
23-07-2007, 07:18
@ the poll:

Lots of people like Conan, it seems. I think he's great, but sometimes leans a little too much on schtick, though that's probably the whole idea. :p In any case, I think Ferguson is a good counterbalance to Conan in that timeslot, and I seem to switch back and forth a lot. They're both pretty funny. :)
IL Ruffino
23-07-2007, 07:21
@ the poll:

Lots of people like Conan, it seems. I think he's great, but sometimes leans a little too much on schtick, though that's probably the whole idea. :p In any case, I think Ferguson is a good counterbalance to Conan in that timeslot, and I seem to switch back and forth a lot. They're both pretty funny. :)

I never gave Cheese Fergur a chance. Not really sure why, just don't care.
Naturality
23-07-2007, 07:24
I like Conan, Jay and Dave. Use to watch Conan almost every night. I like Leno's 'Jay Walking'. For a while I didn't like Dave but I do now. I'll vote Letterman.

Damn .. I was thinking of Kilborn with the Craig choice, and he sucked. Guess he's been gone a while heh. Didn't know the scottish dudes name. But Ferguson is cool. Loved it when he had Billy Connolly on.
IL Ruffino
23-07-2007, 07:26
What ever happened to the Fruitcake Lady?
Naturality
23-07-2007, 07:42
She passed away.

Fruitcake Lady (http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/exclusives/fruitcake_lady.shtml) Tonight Show page.

And I didn't know that til just now myself. :( She was funny.
IL Ruffino
23-07-2007, 07:42
She passed away.

Fruitcake Lady (http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/exclusives/fruitcake_lady.shtml) Tonight Show page.

And I didn't know that til just now myself. :( She was funny.

*is sad*
Westcoast thugs
23-07-2007, 12:18
The main ballgame in late night tv is leno v letterman. Leno i believe is the better comedian, while Letterman is the better interviewer. Letterman is paid more, is regularly voted more popular but doesn't get as many viewers.

One of Letterman's longest running jokes is making fun of himself by mentioning Leno's ratings lead. (after a failed joke)"you could be sitting at home watching leno but you choose to come here" If Letterman ever wins the ratings again he won't have any more jokes. Speaking of that...Letterman has been slowly clawing back in the last year or two...OMG Letterman will be a goner soon...:mp5::sniper::gundge:
Fleckenstein
23-07-2007, 14:11
Demetri Martin wrote for Conan. Instant win.
The Crystal Mountains
23-07-2007, 14:45
I hate David Letterman.

I'd make that damned smart-assed yankee spit teeth. :upyours:
Ballotonia
23-07-2007, 15:24
Jon Stewart, easy choice. Favorite by far.

*plonks 2 cents in the 'other' category*

Ballotonia
Good Lifes
23-07-2007, 16:51
About the Leno/Conan succession, and what's going to happen when/if Conan takes the top spot in '09. Opinions on that would be cool too. :)

Boy, I guess I must be out of touch because I'm an old man.

Conan is a total waste of band width. The only good skit is "In the Year 2000" If I were in charge of NBC, I'd see what I could do to steal Jimmy Kimmel.
JuNii
23-07-2007, 17:20
So, I know this isn't 'serious business,' and celebrity is a bunch of hokum, and network t.v. is the devil, etc. ;) But I often have difficulty sleeping, and that means lots of late nights, and by extension an occasional stop on channels 2, 4, or 7 to peek at one of the Late-Night comedians.

So, the question is simply: do you ever watch these guys? Did you grow up watching Johnny Carson or David Letterman? And if so, do you find the new crop better or worse than the old? Who is the real king of Late-Night to you, regardless of ratings?

Okay, that was several questions. :p

Poll is on the way!

Also, this thread was inspired by an article:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117968927.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

About the Leno/Conan succession, and what's going to happen when/if Conan takes the top spot in '09. Opinions on that would be cool too. :)

I watch Leno. however I only watch the opening mono. Headlines, and depending on who's on, his guest.

The King of Late night will always be Johnny Carson. He would have regular folks on and he would make them feel that he is honored to have them as his guest. He took their talents and little tibits and he took them seriously. Nowdays, it's always celebrities. no Common Person.
Troglobites
23-07-2007, 17:29
If your having trouble sleeping, watch plain ol' static. It's like a white noise machine.