So Long, Consie...

There will be a void in my life now at 12:30 at night (11:30 on God's time). Last night Conan O'Brien signed off for the last time with his old friends, Jack and Meg White - the White Stripes, re-uniting for a very special appearance to play his favorite song, "We Are Gonna Be Friends". Late Night with Conan O'Brien is no more. Taking the reins from David Letterman after the Johnny Carson retirement/Letterman vs. Leno madness in 1993, Conan and his sidekick Andy Richter got off to a rough start and were nearly run off the air. SNL producer Lorne Michaels plucked Conan from anonymity to be the new host of the Late Show. Born and raised in my current town of Brookline, MA, O'Brien graduated from Brookline High School as Valedictorian and went on to Harvard where he was the Editor of the Harvard Lampoon. After a stint in the late 80's/early 90's as a writer on SNL, Conan left to become a writer for the Simpsons (he wrote the infamous Monorail episode). In the year after he left for the Simpsons, Lorne Michaels kept Conan's office untouched with his name on the door just in case he came back. When all the late night drama went down in 1993 at NBC, Michaels took one of the bigger leaps of faith in TV history screen testing and auditioning only one candidate for the new Late Show - Conan O'Brien.
Regardless of his slow start, Late Night began to gain steam with the 18-40 y.o. crowd and eventually snowballed into a hit by 1996 when the show was recognized by the Emmys for best writing. The blend of awkwardness and sophomoric humor struck a chord with teenagers and college students who were likely the few people awake at midnight. While so many moments of Late Night were so bad they were good, these cringe worthy moments have brought so much laughter and joy to me for 15 years. Characters like Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the masturbating bear, Preparation-H Raymond, and Frankenstein can only scratch the surface of madness that been sent out over the airways.

If you have never seen Triumph at the Star Wars premier - PLEASE watch!

Part II (I'm crying watching this)

The via satellite conversations with the overdubbed mouth were always classic with frequent guests like Bill Clinton and Arnold Schwarzenegger leaving me in stitches (my favorite had to be John Rocker amid his homophobic public meltdown courtesy of an SI interview).
Late Night with Conan O'Brien - Bill Clinton (8/28/08)

Can you beat the Walker Texas Ranger lever? (and that was before all the stupid Chuck Norris craze) How can you forget In the Year 2000? Conan has always been an excellent interviewer of his guests. He actually appears to care. Nevertheless, he always turned to mush when it came to interviewing the ladies (see: Rebecca Romijn or Izabel Goulart see video). Hopefully, he can take all of this and find success on the west coast when he takes over the Tonight Show on June 1. His band, the Max Weinberg 7, and announcer, Joel Goddard, are coming along for the ride. I don't think Jimmy Fallon will fill my Late Night void, but I will support him nonetheless. Can't wait to see if Conan has to grow as his time slot moves up. I don't think so. So long or now old friend. We'll see you on the other side.

Kings of Leon - Use Somebody

So, the Kings have gone quasi-softy....They rocked their socks off on SNL Saturday with James Franco (hence, my James Franco/Hills video on the previous post). I even laughed out loud a couple of times during this episode. There was a cameo by Serena Van der Woodsen on the Digital Short - "Murray Hill". Nevertheless, the Kings were "on time" in the vernacular of Blake Sloan. Here is live clip of them playing "Use Somebody" somewhere (?) - the second song on SNL Saturday. Enjoy.

Hit Me Baby One More Time

Oh, Jan Term '99 was a special time for so many boys - "oh, baby, baby...."
Next month, TRL will come to a close after a run of 10 years....It all went to pot after Carson left, or was it the fact that MTV quit playing videos? Either way, it was fun while it lasted, and BE HONEST it has a little special place in your heart (somewhere).

"You Know You Love It - XOXO..."

I am really ashamed that I watch this show. Equally, I'm ashamed that I have a blog. That makes this post a double-whammy....Well, Gossip Girl is one of many shows that I watch, b/c Whitney watches. She is a bit obsessed with Blake Lively and would probably join the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pantolones if offered (her other fantasy friend is fellow pant-er Alexis Bledel of Gilmore Girls). While both are GG shows, I never would have watched without Whit. For the record, I am a Chuck Bass fan (Blake Sloan is too - yup he's a GG man also). And as far as Serena Van der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf, I'm a Waldorf (this is crushing my wife's spirit as she reads this). I am also not a Dan fan. He's about as plain as his name (that was the writers intention I'm sure in a land of dutch names and hotel names - Waldorf/Astoria). Though I do like Dan's sister, Jenny, becoming a mini-Blair. I digress. Here is a good little song by The Virgins (that has been mentioned/posted before on this blog) put to some GG clips for your enjoyment (appropriately titled Rich Girls)

On the other end of the spectrum, there are others shows I endure that I have no taste for. Namely, Grey's Anatomy....talk about a show that has fallen far to the point of "who cares" when it comes to plot. No Interest! Another is One Tree Hill (as for "THE Hills" - I have no problem with that trash. I will eat it up). I never watched the show when it took place in high school. If you're not down with the Tree (or the Hill), they pulled an interesting maneuver that may have better served Zack and Slater back in the day. How do You avoid those "awkward" college years that would be awesome for plot lines? You FFwd in time to the mid-twenties! Ahhhh, way to overshoot your core audience age. Regardless, not interested. The final entry only mildly peaks my interest. Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Yikes! Thanks to producer Ryan Seacrest for dumping this in our laps. Talk about people with money for doing nothing. At least 2/3 daughters are quasi attractive. Kim, sorry you're not the most attractive, and yet you're the famous one (I use famous loosely). Trash!

Here are some fun side notes for these shows, too. Blake Lively...oh, she's soooo pretty blah blah. She clearly fell faaaaaar from the tree. You know who her brother is? Rusty from European Vacation. The ugliest of all Griswolds with the exception of his Euro sister Audrey - who was the worst Audrey also and least attractive (RIP, BTW). Family resemblance?










I immediately recognized this nerd one night when I looked up from my studies and saw ol' Minkus on "1 T-Hill" as some guy named Mouth who was moving in with a girl WAY out his league. I could no sooner yell holy Torkelson (or "Boy Meets World") than recognize that mug. I knew you when.










Grey's Anatomy....yeesh. What happened? Dr. Bailey is SO much cuter than she was when the show debuted (hell of an acceptance speech back in the day, too), but I can only think Gnarls Bailey when I see her....














As for the Kartrashians, their Step-Dad, Bruce Jenner (father of another worthless pile of reality tv garbage that collects money, Brodie), looks eerily similar to a certain creepy character....was that him in Hannibal??????????? NO, it was Gary Oldman (Lt Gordon, Dracula, Air Force One etc) in an uncredited role. But it sure looks like Jenner after all that plastic!

While everyone is on hiatus this summer, suck in all the fodder that is being thrown around. i.e. "I Survived a Japanese Gameshow"/"Wipeout" - you may remember it when it was Maximum Extreme Challenge on Spike (Martin's favorite back when).
Labor Day can't come fast enough....come on new seasons!

A Great Voice Signs Off...

Today shortly after lunch, political pundit Tim Russert, the host of NBC's Sunday morning mainstay, "Meet the Press", died of a heart attack. While our views were not always eye-to-eye, I certainly had the utmost respect for Russert as a journalist. His stance was always clear, but he was never one to polarize those around him (ala Keith Olberman and Bill O'Reilly). Journalists and politicians alike are in shock today (myself included). I can't bring myself to tell Whitney, yet. It will ruin her day. Russert was her favorite....
A native New Yorker born in Buffalo, Russert rose through the ranks of politics with the campaign of Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan (D-New York) in the late 1970's. Later he was instrumental in the campaign and election of the infamous New York mayor/governor, Mario Cuomo, in the early 80's and later served as a part of Cuomo's braintrust. Leaving New York politics, Russert stepped into Washington journalism and was hired by NBC's Washington Bureau Office in 1984. Climbing the ranks through the years, Russert was currently the head of NBC's Washington Bureau. Political commentary will be missing a little something after today. The election coverage this fall will certainly be lacking without Russert's presence. On a personal note, Sunday mornings in our little Boston house will be certainly different, as we have not found a church that we love here. Frequently, we find ourselves at home on Sunday morning watching none other than "NBC's Meet the Press with Tim Russert". Russert passed away too soon while in the newsroom doing voiceovers for this Sunday's upcoming episode. He had just returned from a family trip to Italy celebrating his son's graduation from Boston College. Everyone hug your dad this weekend if you can. You just never know. Tim Russert was 58.

Boy, You're Gonna Carry That Weight....

Well, 1 singer down, and Idol is destroying some of the best songs ever written. Tonight, the final 12 are opening up the Beatles music for the first time. I'm gonna hold these kids' feet to the flames. Tread lightly. The judges put it pretty straight (Paula to be exact - who never makes sense actually did...). These songs have excellent melody. Sing them how they were sung, and you'll be all right. Mess with the arrangement.....beware - YOU BETTER HOPE IT WAS WORTH IT!

Sayesha (please forgive for not being able to spell how that sounds) just ruined a great Paul song from Revolver. "Got to Get You Into My Life" sounded like it was being done for the lounge on The Loveboat. I'm not sure who caused this problem - the singer or the band - it all sounds like 70's GARBAGE!

Dear God! Chikeezie is making "She's a Woman" into a Celtic/Deliverance jam that has now veered into Roger Daltrey stutter singing for any 70's rock band - huh......? - wasn't awful, just bizarre, at least better than Sayeisha (sp) - for those keeping score: Paul - 2 John - 0 - How Safe....

AH, here's a John song..."In My Life" - pretty straightforward stuff from Rameal (again spelling, what?). no risk taken and perhaps no reward......BOring (J - 1 P - 2)

Jason Castro is coming up - I have faith in this kid. Anybody who pulls out the Lovin' Spoonful (he sang "What a Day for a Daydream" a week or 2 ago), is alright in my book. Here we go...."If I Fell in Love" - that is a great song (John also) - BUT it really is missing the Paul/George harmony at the chorus. regardless, pretty good rendition from the guy is stoned for his interviews. Paula wants this kid.....OH and there are the Kardashians (Whitney's new favorite family - they're a class act....) in the audience.

Carlie rocks through "Come Together" predictable, but good...

David Cook goes into "Eleanor Rigby" (which personally, I think is risky in the vein of In mu Life - slow and borderline depressing - great song, though) - well, it's better than I thought - I love it when Scott Stapp sings the Beatles.....

Brooke White does a very straightforward and safe "Let it Be" - good, in a wispy way

here's where things get rough

the Hernandez male stripper guy cheesed up one of my favorites, "I Saw Her Standing There" - yuck...I'm blocking this from my memory - otherwise, I'll think lap dance when I hear it...

Amanda Obermeyer - wow, if only she didn't look like she sounds...."You Can't Do That" was barely recognizable....Randy was ever so prophetic, "Yo, dog you made that sound like a southern bar romp....." (you know. the same thing she does to every song)

Michael Johns.....disappointing.....not the biggest fan of "Across the Universe"...not a bad job, just blah

Kristy Lee Cook....whew....this is the butchering that Sanjaya, I mean Sayesha, brought to light earlier. "Eight Days a Week" could be country if it was slowed down not sung at the same pace as the original with double timing the kick drum to make it sound like Robert's Country Western World.....just bad all over...

David Archuletta, I forgot about you. you get a qauzai-pass for being like 12, but saying you really don't know their songs.....really? oh, "We Can Work It Out"? "Stevie Wonder sings that song, I love it!" shoot yourself, david.

In the end, I'm disappointed (shock). Self fulfilling prophecy I guess. I just new there would be some weak versions of obvious songs like Yesterday, Hey Jude, and All You Need Is Love. (Im glad there wasn't) I really wanted someone to roll out with a harmonica and jam out to "I should have known better"...but whatever. Chikeezie had the vibe I wanted in the beginning of his song - except I wanted harmonica like this

there are so many songs to do...i probably never would have been satisfied - I really just wanted one George song...but they repeatedly said it was Lennon-Macca night - George must have his songs secure (unlike John and Paul - thanks MJ! though, you had to sell them to sony to get out of bankruptcy...) sad...