So it seems Sochi might not be as prepared as one probably should be when hosting a global event.
Speaking of the Olympics, here's a look at 8 new events debuting at Sochi. You know, if the Olympics still get pulled off.
Chris Carter has a new show out called The After. Though you will need to be an Amazon Prime member to watch it I think:
The relationship between David Letterman and Jay Leno is more complex than "they hate each other." In fact, it's far from that. Also, Jerry Seinfeld is involved!
Dr. Strangelove is 50 this year. Here's a documentary on it. Basically any documentary on a Stanley Kubrick film is worth watching.
Showing posts with label jay leno. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jay leno. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Links of Interest 3/17
Phallic cemetery monuments? Sign me up.
So, minus Leno, NBC's primetime lineup increases viewership. Which I guess means we hate Leno but love The Marriage Ref. Yeesh.
Timothy Olyphant just seems to pop up in the most random roles that go on to be awesome. And he has a new show coming out.
The Japanese have a different palate than we do.
Comparing the two earthquakes in Chile and Haiti.
Planning a cross country road trip? Take a look at this list of essentials.
Is there something out in our solar system plotting our demise?
While I disagree with the hypothesis that Octopussy is the most ludicrous of Bond movies (are we simply ignoring Moonraker and its slow motion space fight and 7 space shuttles?) I did enjoy reading this article.
A Russian writer details his quest to make money after the fall of communism.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Links of Interest 2/23
A book looks back at the riot grrrl.
Losing sleep not knowing who Jay Leno is going to open up his new old show with in the first week? Wonder no more.
But wait...will Shatner play the dad or the son?
Sometimes, outakes albums aren't just released because of contractual obligation. Sometimes, they're even good.
Some famous authors offer their 10 writing rules.
If you were an alien, and really interested in the Olympics, this would be your vantage point.
A look at the numbers behind creating the Academy Awards.
I don't understand the problem with Waldi. Who doesn't like rainbow daschunds?
The Proust questionnaire with Martin Scorsese.
I know you might not believe this, but apparently it was rather difficult to make Raging Bull.
You know those round brown things you occasionally get from people after buying things? Well, they're being redesigned!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Links of Interest 1/20
A good essay trying to realize sympathy for Jay Leno. It does a nice job of explaining how I feel. But here’s my quick take that I know you’ve all been dying to hear.
I never saw Jay Leno’s standup act. All I have seen is his Tonight Show (and Jay Leno show) stuff. I imagine his stand up is different. That said, I don’t enjoy his humor. I think it’s safe, easy repetitive. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a professional joke teller and he has the cadence down to a science. And that’s a skill. I won’t say he’s not talented. I just don’t think he’s doing too many fresh things with humor.
I’ve been a Conan fan since show one. Sure, those first shows were extremely awkward and difficult to sit through, and it’s possible I said I was a fan just to be a contrarian to the majority of people who said they abhorred him. Still, I continued to watch, and enjoyed his outlook on humor. And slowly, he got comfortable, and turned his show into something worth watching.
So while I certainly would back the Conan horse in a race, the late night show debacle isn’t a race. It’s a clusterfuck. And neither Jay nor Conan had much to do with that.
It was NBC.
NBC has fucked this whole thing up from the beginning. And that’s a shame. I agree Conan didn’t get a lot of time to get comfortable in his timeslot and so it’s not fair to hold him accountable for the ratings. But I also have to give that excuse to Jay, for he didn’t get much time at all in his new timeslot. Do I think his show would ever work at 10:00? No. Especially when it’s a rehash of all his Tonight Show bits sans desk. For the love of God Jay, try something different. Especially now – what exactly do you have to lose? Look at the Towering Inferno Conan has turned his show into! It’s a mess and brilliant!
Getting back to the point though…Leno has positioned himself as a company man, while Conan is positioning himself as the noble man. You can like one more or less based on this, but neither position is bad. Yes, company man has a negative connotation, but think about it. With few exceptions, we’re all company men. We work to better the larger organization that employs us. And that’s not a bad thing. Sure, we want to root for a hero like Conan, but Jay did nothing wring here by NOT supporting Conan. He’s supporting himself, and his staff. Something we’d all find noble if we were on his staff.
My point is this. If you want to get angry and pissed off, get mad at NBC. Direct your vitriol at Zucker and Ebersol (seriously, Ebersol – perhaps you might want to simply keep quiet on the matter). NBC is in a constant state of fuckups right now, and I think the next one is putting Leno back at 11:35 and thinking it will all be business as usual. Honestly, I think the horse is out of the barn on that one, and barring another Hugh Grant situation, #1 won’t come easy.
And please, don’t make me defend Jay Leno again.
(I will take this one shot at Jay Leno. That whole Jimmy Kimmel thing – where everyone said Kimmel came on and crushed Leno by bringing all the Conan stuff up? 2 things struck me that I haven’t seen brought up.
Interview with Harrison Ford.
Remember when a talk show was just a talk show? Yay Mike Douglas.
Rock stars are insane.
No it’s not photography of Mars. It’s Earth!
Ben talks about the end of Lost.
And why not see what the producers of Lost have to say?
Comic strips that need to die.
Cool movies for 2010.
I never saw Jay Leno’s standup act. All I have seen is his Tonight Show (and Jay Leno show) stuff. I imagine his stand up is different. That said, I don’t enjoy his humor. I think it’s safe, easy repetitive. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a professional joke teller and he has the cadence down to a science. And that’s a skill. I won’t say he’s not talented. I just don’t think he’s doing too many fresh things with humor.
I’ve been a Conan fan since show one. Sure, those first shows were extremely awkward and difficult to sit through, and it’s possible I said I was a fan just to be a contrarian to the majority of people who said they abhorred him. Still, I continued to watch, and enjoyed his outlook on humor. And slowly, he got comfortable, and turned his show into something worth watching.
So while I certainly would back the Conan horse in a race, the late night show debacle isn’t a race. It’s a clusterfuck. And neither Jay nor Conan had much to do with that.
It was NBC.
NBC has fucked this whole thing up from the beginning. And that’s a shame. I agree Conan didn’t get a lot of time to get comfortable in his timeslot and so it’s not fair to hold him accountable for the ratings. But I also have to give that excuse to Jay, for he didn’t get much time at all in his new timeslot. Do I think his show would ever work at 10:00? No. Especially when it’s a rehash of all his Tonight Show bits sans desk. For the love of God Jay, try something different. Especially now – what exactly do you have to lose? Look at the Towering Inferno Conan has turned his show into! It’s a mess and brilliant!
Getting back to the point though…Leno has positioned himself as a company man, while Conan is positioning himself as the noble man. You can like one more or less based on this, but neither position is bad. Yes, company man has a negative connotation, but think about it. With few exceptions, we’re all company men. We work to better the larger organization that employs us. And that’s not a bad thing. Sure, we want to root for a hero like Conan, but Jay did nothing wring here by NOT supporting Conan. He’s supporting himself, and his staff. Something we’d all find noble if we were on his staff.
My point is this. If you want to get angry and pissed off, get mad at NBC. Direct your vitriol at Zucker and Ebersol (seriously, Ebersol – perhaps you might want to simply keep quiet on the matter). NBC is in a constant state of fuckups right now, and I think the next one is putting Leno back at 11:35 and thinking it will all be business as usual. Honestly, I think the horse is out of the barn on that one, and barring another Hugh Grant situation, #1 won’t come easy.
And please, don’t make me defend Jay Leno again.
(I will take this one shot at Jay Leno. That whole Jimmy Kimmel thing – where everyone said Kimmel came on and crushed Leno by bringing all the Conan stuff up? 2 things struck me that I haven’t seen brought up.
- By bringing Kimmel on to kill Leno, (and don’t think Leno didn’t have an idea of what Kimmel was going to do) painted Leno as a sympathetic figure. And Kimmel also pretty much said all the things Jay probably wanted to say to NBC. So it was a strategic move.
- Why isn’t anyone pointing out that Jay Leno brought on and promoted the competition of Conan? You want to get mad at Jay? That’s a sneaky, bullshit move to get mad at.
Interview with Harrison Ford.
Remember when a talk show was just a talk show? Yay Mike Douglas.
Rock stars are insane.
No it’s not photography of Mars. It’s Earth!
Ben talks about the end of Lost.
And why not see what the producers of Lost have to say?
Comic strips that need to die.
Cool movies for 2010.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Links of Interest 1/18
A profile of author Neil Gaiman.
Here’s a good summary of the Leno/Conan/NBC debacle.
Normal, plain pizza is so boring.
Awesome NBA dunks.
Things Facebook keeps tabs on about you, that you probably wish it didn’t.
I love public access shows. Here are some really good ones. Though none of them come close to what Ithaca, NY television broadcast in the early 90s.
From the Big Picture, pictures showing “Fire and Ice.”
Clicking on this link, I knew Floyd made the list.
Bands support their own tours – why not authors?
I don’t think we should be throwing around the “biggest” moniker since we’re constantly told the universe in infinite and everything.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Links of Interest 9/28
So, how is Leno doing in primetime?
Rio’s Shantytown drug gangs!
Looking for some coastal drives? Look no further than these.
Slightly sexist (meaning entirely), 13 reasons to watch television this Fall.
Everyone loves the uncomfortable television interview (via popcandy).
Speaking of uncomfortable, here’s a collection of videos from famous people that absolutely missed the mark of what they were trying to do (via mental floss).
Interview with one of the Mythbusters.
Our lives are soon to become creepy sci-fi horror films.
Not 100% sure that Hollywood turning to literature is newsworthy, but apparently the Wall St. Journal does – and who am I to question them?
Rio’s Shantytown drug gangs!
Looking for some coastal drives? Look no further than these.
Slightly sexist (meaning entirely), 13 reasons to watch television this Fall.
Everyone loves the uncomfortable television interview (via popcandy).
Speaking of uncomfortable, here’s a collection of videos from famous people that absolutely missed the mark of what they were trying to do (via mental floss).
Interview with one of the Mythbusters.
Our lives are soon to become creepy sci-fi horror films.
Not 100% sure that Hollywood turning to literature is newsworthy, but apparently the Wall St. Journal does – and who am I to question them?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Links of Interest 9/16
MIT guys feel the need to take photos of the curvature of the Earth, but only have $150. Instead of giving up and heading to a strip club, they persevere.
Why Jay Leno will succeed.
Here’s your latest Dan Brown novel review.
Interview with Trent Reznor.
Don’t get me wrong, I could eat plenty of these double down sandwiches from KFC (the “F” stands for “fried if you’ve forgotten like they want you to) but it’s also the reason we have to deal with shows like the Biggest Loser.
Wow, a war of words with Megan Fox, Michael Bay and the crew of Transformers. The jokes write themselves, folks.
Chicks can be great spies. Because they can hide secret documents in their hoop skirts.
Behind the scenes of a used car lot An undercover expose.
The mystery of the mysterious Google logo from yesterday.
Q & A with Joel McHale.
The subculture of the Big Lebowski.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Links of Interest 9/8
What do your favorite tennis players listen to?
An article about jai alai – from 1979 - talking about the gambling problem behind it. (Thanks Sportsguy!)
Are Letterman and Leno still at it? Wasn’t the Late Shift enough?
Trent Reznor and his continued journey through angry music.
I love the thought of moonshinin’. It has such a romantic notion. And yes, I realize the reality of it is far from romantic. But what do you want from me? I watched Gator and White Lightning at a really young age.
Chuck Klosterman takes a look at the new Beatles box set.
Shows aren’t always ruined when characters hook up.
How can a Rambo lunch box be on a worst list?
In a similar vein, a C.H.U.D. shouldn’t be making a worst movie monster list either!
Add milk to the list of things we all like but now can’t enjoy because the system to get it to market is completely horrible.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Links of Interest 6/10
Is high fructose corn syrup going away?
Rules seem a little different on the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
2009 is so 2009. Here’s a list of movies coming out in 2010.
Interview with Harold Ramis.
Awesome end credits from movies.
An interview with Jay Leno.
Cool look at boundaries for baseball fandom in the United States.
Traveling? Why not stay in these places?
Well, I guess if you’re embarrassed by a family member’s death (in this case David Carradine), you’re going to cling to any theory, no matter how strange it sounds.
Rules seem a little different on the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
2009 is so 2009. Here’s a list of movies coming out in 2010.
Interview with Harold Ramis.
Awesome end credits from movies.
An interview with Jay Leno.
Cool look at boundaries for baseball fandom in the United States.
Traveling? Why not stay in these places?
Well, I guess if you’re embarrassed by a family member’s death (in this case David Carradine), you’re going to cling to any theory, no matter how strange it sounds.
Thursday, March 5, 2009
An Appreciation to Late Night Television - The rest of them
(Note: I realize that Carson is the king and that everyone pretty much from his point forward owe their careers to him. I watched and enjoyed him but my influential years were spent with Letterman. I'm an east coast guy and Letterman's sensibilities fit right into that. Anyway, that's my Carson rant.)
On the flip side, a collection of the others over the years...
Jay Leno
Say what you will about Jay Leno, the guy has done more than people routinely give him credit for. Us cynical Letterman fans just can't give him the credit he is due, and that's too bad, because he has seemingly created a late night empire that will propel him into prime time this summer when he takes his show to the 10 PM slot five days a week this summer.
Leno can definitely sell a joke, and his monologue is tight, professional and funny. He has risen from the ashes of The Late Shift (HBO movie on the whole Letterman/Leno/Carson thing) to become the king of late night.
Chevy Chase
Unfortunately, I trumpeted Chevy Chase as genius almost as much as Conan. But let me defend my self real quick. At that time, Chase could do no wrong. He was in Caddyshack. He was in Fletch. He had been an integral part of the success of Saturday Night Live. How could he be bad?
Oh well.
Arsenio Hall
While I realize he filled an important role as one of the first African American late night talk show hosts, I just couldn't get into him. Flashy without much substance, it wasn't my thing. He also had a tendency to really kiss up to his guests, something I definitely wasn't used to with Letterman's style and approach.
Pat Sajak
Anyone else remember that Pat Sajak had a late night television show? I'll admit, I didn't watch too much of this show. I can kinda see why someone might think Sajak would be a decent host, as he is fairly witty on Wheel of Fortune in an innocent way, but not for a late night show. Put him on in the afternoon and he might have had something special.
Alan Thicke
If you didn't remember Pat Sajak, you're definitely not going to remember Alan Thicke's show, known only for the awesome pun in the title. Apparently Arsenio Hall was Thicke's sidekick though, so he's go that going for him...
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