The current state of Late Night TV

[Cadillac Kid]

Tried to watch Conan. I can not stand Andy Richter. So, once was enough.

[BOUXY]

Originally Posted by Tom Brennan

The only one of those jaspers I liked was Jack Paar, back then they actually had interesting conversation on TV. Now it's just the latest moronic celebrity talking about what a "privilege" it was to work with Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz or some other such idiot. Carson was down a step from Paar but worlds better than the smarmy louts on late night TV today.

I liked when they showed old movies on channel 9 after the news. I'd rather watch "Sante Fe Trail" for the 20th time than anything these late night "hosts" have going.

Now that's funny! I loved Jack Parr but also Steve Allen who was wild and crazy as well as zany but Carson that's another story in its self!Carson down a step,I don't think so,he was and will be forever the "KING" of late night.Along with ED and Doc nobody can or will ever touch them.I watched all the previously mentioned and they all had their own qualities but after watching Johnny's show from the very beginning to his last show WOW he was great and you have to remember the eras or times each one of these great people were on TV as each of them began their shows.As a new one came in the comedy of their time was shifting so they played or acted to it,so of course someone like Carson could not be compared accurately to the others and vice-versa and Carson was the perfect fit for the time he was on,cripes he'd still be perfect but alas that can never be."LONG LIVE THE KING" if only in great memories...............Rick....P/S Thank you all wherever you are!

[AnalogDigit]

I miss Johnny Carson and Steve Allen. Steve Allen mostly since he had a quirky sense of humor.

[MisterFishey]

I've been watching Conan lately, and I really think he is quite funny. It's the kind of awkward and random Seinfeld-esque comedy I love. I mean, tonight he had a massive plastic/paper mache meteor blow away Tom Hanks. That rounds up my late night trifecta: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, The Colbert Report with Stephen Colbert (my favorite of the three), and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

[2DualsNotEnough]

Originally Posted by AnalogDigit

I miss Johnny Carson and Steve Allen. Steve Allen mostly since he had a quirky sense of humor.

When I was a kid I couldnt wait for another "Tea Time Movie" skit-"Back to our movie starring Elton John,John Wayne,Wayne Newton,and Olivia Newton John,and Buzz the Wonder Eel."
Jimmy

[Ed in Tx]

I miss "Night after Night" with Allan Havey that was on the Comedy Channel in the early '90s, with the "Audience of One". I'm probably the one of the few that watched it, but it was pretty darned funny. And the late night Steve Allen Show "From Hollywood & Vine" syndicated in the early 60s was great too, used to bug my parents when I would get up after everyone else was in bed, and go in to the living room where the TV was to watch it.

[Ultra-Hog]

I do enjoy Craig Ferguson but the problem is that, due to his charming accent, I have to turn the volume up so that I can understand him and that wakes my wife up. Consequently I don't get to watch his show often.

I do remember Steve Allen and Jack Parr somewhat vaguely and their shows seemed to be far better than anything on today. I will add my vote that Johnny Carson with Ed McMahon were the best of the best. They set the bar so high that I doubt we will ever see a long lasting quality show like they made of the Tonight Show.

[jimfet]

Stopped watching after Carson. The NBC orchestra spoiled me as well as Johnny. Plus Ed just laughing would kill me sometimes.

[OvenMaster]

Originally Posted by Ultra-Hog

I do enjoy Craig Ferguson but the problem is that, due to his charming accent, I have to turn the volume up so that I can understand him and that wakes my wife up. Consequently I don't get to watch his show often.

Do what my folks do: switch on the closed captioning.
Tom

[Ultra-Hog]

Originally Posted by OvenMaster

Do what my folks do: switch on the closed captioning.
Tom

Not a bad idea. Thanks.

Briefly off topic:
I have a pair of wireless headphones but they really suck. The internal batteries are in bad shape, they don't hold a channel / frequency, and they fall apart all the time. You did get me to thinking though. I have an extra Bluetooth headset. I wonder if I can find a way to take the line level audio-out jacks on the TV to drive a simple Bluetooth enabled transmitter. I could even use my iPhone to drive a conventional pair of earbuds.

Wait a minute! Bluetooth, Shmootooth! I have an old FM transmitter and a transistor radio. Problem solved! Now I have a project. Find that transmitter!

Maybe I can watch Craig Ferguson after all! Thanks!

[Capt.Beyond]

Johnny RULED, but he was thinking of quitting The Tonight Show after doing it for about 13 years (that might have been when they changed it to an hour instead of 90 mins.), but who knew he'd manage to hang in there for another couple of decades? He probably should have packed it in, though, when screwing up the monologue went from being a source for humor, to becoming more like a nightly train wreck.

Dave's gone through phases; I recently found an old VHS tape of a Letterman show I recorded a couple of decades ago,(Todd dropped by that night), but I watched the entire show, and I couldn't help but notice a significant difference in Letterman...he was funny, and it wasn't from doing shit like looking into the camera and saying in a stupid voice, "Hey, you got any gum?", and coughing a dozen times. A few years ago, right after his heart surgery he was back to being funny again, and lots of people I knew thought he was receiving more oxygen to the brain, or something. But slowly he went back to clearing his throat for long chunks of air time. After his return from the hospital, his opening monologue seemed to get laughs,then applause after EVERY joke, and he still gets applause, but it seems forced now because there's never any laughter accompanying it; you can fake applause, but you can't fake laughs.
One more thing I find a little disturbing; women, at one time, reportedly wanted to bang Dave more than any other celebrity, but that was 20 years ago. Now, however, he puts hot women like Julia Roberts or Charleze Theron on the spot by over complimenting them, to the point that it's obvious how uncomfortable they are...actually Charleze is cool with it because she gets drunk before interviews (it's a fact), but it becomes too tense to start a conversation very easily. It's just plain awkward. Then at the end of the interview, he inevitably grabs the sweet young thing's hand, whether they like it or not, and kisses it.
Or if it's a female singer, he'll walk over and grab onto her hand, pulls it towards his grandpa-like mouth, and smooches, then DOES NOT LET GO...am I the only one that finds a 70 year old man grabbing a twentysomething's hand and locking onto it indefinitely a little creepy??