In Contention

Tag: Conan O’Brien

  • Adams does Conan, Wahlberg/Bale/Russell on Charlie Rose

    I had lunch yesterday with “The Fighter” star Amy Adams and hope to have that interview up some time over the holiday.  When we said goodbye, she was off to the Warner Bros. lot for an interview taping with Conan O’Brien.  I wasn’t able to watch last night but I wanted to track it down since, interestingly enough, O’Brien’s sister, Kate, played one of Mickey Ward’s sisters in the film.  Here it is:

    Meanwhile, Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale and David O. Russell sat down with Charlie Rose this week. Check that interview out here.

  • ‘Conan’ comes into his own

    Conan O’Brien’s foray into basic cable (airing on TBS) settled on an applicable show title two months ago. Because “Conan” is just that, the host, personality — and perhaps for the first time ever — person (rather than caricature) unfiltered and freely spirited.

    On tonight’s premiere episode — following a humorous pre-taped open featuring an homage to “The Godfather” — O’Brien paced in front of a camera panning to catch up with his energy as he delivered an opening monologue full of crisp, precise jokes and uncharacteristically authentic energy. But there was an unmistakable ease.

    O’Brien has always been associated with unusual, sometimes esoteric humor. But once self-awareness became a part of the act early on, it quickly cannibalized his material. But while he carried David Letterman’s “Late Night” baton well, the audience for his next gig — an ill-fated nine-month stint as host of “The Tonight Show” — clearly did not take to his brand quick enough for NBC suits.

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  • Gearing up for ‘Conan’

    I saw this in front of a movie this weekend.  Nice touch tossing the glasses to the turf:

    “Show Zero,” which has been making the rounds, after the jump.  “Conan” premieres on TBS Monday, November 8.

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  • 1/26 Oscarweb Round-up

    Christoph Waltz• Donna Freydkin talks to man of the hour, Christoph Waltz. [USA Today]

    • Is 27 years without an Oscar too many to deny Meryl Streep in 2010? [Rope of Silicon]

    • We’re happy to be among the top 50 “best blogs for moviemakers.” [MovieMaker Magazine]

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  • Gervais does Conan

    I haven’t offered any comment on the Conan/Leno/NBC situation because, well, I’m not privy to the particulars.  There’s always more nuance than the usual scapegoating that gets perpetuated by, say, geek media outlets who couldn’t have less of a clue.  I’m a Conan fan before I’m a Leno fan (I’ll be in the audience at The Tonight Show Tuesday), but I also understand something called “business.”

    Anyway, that having been said, I liked the playful joshing between Ricky Gervais and O’Brien regarding the situation throughout last night’s interview.  The Globes ought to be a hoot Sunday night with Gervais as emcee.  Parts 2-4 after the jump.

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  • ‘Avatar’ on late night

    Sigourney Weaver stopped by The Ed Sullivan Theater last night to talk “Avatar” with David Letterman.  My jaw dropped when she explains that the Weta guys spend 47 hours of manpower per each 1/24th of a second in translating the data received from the motion-capture sensors.  Wow.

    Check out the clip below, and after the jump, Conan O’Brien has a bit of fun with the Na’vi language.

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  • Conan cracks his noggin

    Cool of NBC to offer this up:

  • INTERVIEW: 20 questions with Denis Leary

    Denis LearyWe rarely cover television with any real focus around these parts, but as you’ve probably gathered from my sporadic posts on the matter, I’m really digging the new season of “Rescue Me.”  So it was a little difficult to pass up an opportunity to sit down with the film’s star and co-creator Denis Leary recently.

    With the Emmy nominations set to be unveiled next week (7/9), it seemed the perfect time to get together.  Leary was nominated for his performance as FDNY firefighter Tommy Gavin two years in a row in 2006 and 2007, but was unfortunately ignored last year.  Perhaps this new, electrifying season will put him back in the awards saddle as he seeks his first win in the category of Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

    Leary, of course, got his first big break on MTV, where his chain-smoking, ranting misanthrope appealed to the pent-up angst of the network’s target audience.  From stand-up to film roles and finally a break-out FX series, now in its fifth season, Leary has continued to stretch himself both as a writer and an actor.  His most recent big screen appearance hit screens yesterday in the form of “Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.”  Leary voices the sabertooth tiger Diego in the successful franchise.

    On a drizzly Santa Monica afternoon last month we met for lunch and discussed his versatile career, from his early years at Emerson College in Boston to his recently released best-selling comedy book, the edgeless MTV of today to his distant cousin Conan O’Brien’s assuming the “Tonight Show” throne on NBC late night.  Oh yeah, and plenty of football talk between fellow devotees, for all the gridiron fanatics out there.  There’s a little something for everybody…

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  • Conan addresses the Super Mario thing

    Thursday we told you about the intriguing similarities between Conan O’Brien’s new “Tonight Show” backdrop and the art of the Super Mario Bros. video games.  I honestly didn’t expect O’Brien to address the matter but sure enough, one day later during the opening monologue, we got this:

    Of course, he doesn’t offer an outright confirmation or denial, but I think the fact that he took the time to do this says a lot.

  • Is Conan’s new backdrop Mario-inspired?

    Lots of “Tonight Show” talk this week.  I would apologize but, at the same time, come on, it’s transition week.  Plenty to discuss.

    The guys over at Serious Lunch (via Joe Quesada’s Twitter page and Gizmodo) have either stumbled onto a coincidence or an awesome ode to the Mushroom Kingdom.  If you’ve been watching the show this week, you’ve probably noticed the nifty stained glass backdrop that appears during O’Brien’s opening monologue. It seems the design may have been inspired by elements from the Super Mario Bros. video game series.

    I don’t know, I think it’s way, way too similar to be a coincidence.  You have a look and decide:

    Conan O'Brien backdrop

    This animated gif really seals the deal for me.  AWESOME.

  • Obama stumps for O’Brien

    Last night’s show, by the way — a HUGE step up from the opening night jitters. 100% from start to finish. That’s what I’m talking about.

  • O’Brien’s first shot at ‘The Tonight Show’ — How’d he do?

    conan3.jpgIn his first shot at hosting “The Tonight Show,” I think it’s safe to say Conan O’Brien has tamed things down from his “Late Night” antics of old.

    Tapping comedian Will Ferrell and musical guest Pearl Jam as introductory guests might be seen as indication of a “hipper” or younger direction, but came off as rather safe in hindsight.  The crowd got a “string dance” routine but only briefly and as merely a wink and a nudge.  And the overall atmosphere of the show was somewhat stiff, O’Brien appearing nervous to maintain a straight man’s routine throughout while seemingly longing for his 12:30 element.

    Of course, I’m not criticizing.  It will take O’Brien some time to warm to the gig and, perhaps, his new audience to him.  But what worked really worked.

    The cold open was probably the obvious play, but the commitment to a cross-country, Forrest-Gump-like sprint from Manhattan to Universal City was full, spirited and lots of fun.  The studio tram tour bit felt a little too old Conan for the time slot and might have been better saved for later down the line, but it’d be a hoot if “Cir-cle!  Cir-cle!” became an unintended tradition with studio audiences.  And that stage is something to behold.  Absolutely gorgeous.

    You can check out the cold open below or at the new “Tonight Show” website (with other goodies, of course).

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  • 11 memories of Conan as he moves on up

    Conan O'Brien on Late Night with Conan O'BrienYou may have noticed our coverage of the late night transition from “Tonight Show” legend (what else can you call him now?) Jay Leno to former “Late Night” host Conan O’Brien last week.  It was a bittersweet moment.  I’ll miss the Leno days if only for reminiscence, but it is unquestionably the next generation’s turn.

    I did my Conan remembrance back in February but Entertainment Weekly has used the occasion of the pompadoured funny man’s taking of the “Tonight Show” helm to showcase a list of 11 (it’s the new 10) memorable moments from his 16-year stint as the king of 12:30.  Many of the classics are on the list, of course: The Year 2000, apple picking with Mr. T, and the biggest “Oh yeah!” moment for me, calling up scenes from “Walker, Texas Ranger” with a lever next to his desk.  But one of the all-time funniest moments concerned the 2002 release of “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones,” and since it’s the only movie-related moment (and certainly the funniest), I’ll offer up the mag’s blurb:

    Conan himself wasn’t in this bit, but it is legendary. Triumph the Insult Comic Dog lived up to his name, ridiculing a collection of hapless geeks as they waited on line, days before Star Wars: Episode II opened. Pointing to a would-be Darth Vader’s array of buttons on his ”armor”: ”Which of these buttons calls your parents to pick you up?”

    The bit took place outside the famous Ziegfeld Theater in New York City and was dubbed “Attack of the Nerds.”  Here it is, shockingly available (considering NBC’s crack-down practices) via YouTube:

    O’Brien’s stint as host of “The Tonight Show” begins this evening. Guests include Will Ferrell and Pearl Jam.

  • Jay Leno’s closes a chapter on ‘The Tonight Show’

    Jay LenoI’ve been pretty hard on Jay Leno over the years. In the late night wars, he’s had neither the comedic inventiveness nor (certainly) the journalistic capacity to become must-watch TV like David Letterman and, to a lesser extent, Conan O’Brien. Even the sober Tom Snyder proved a more intriguing watch for me when he was still on CBS so many years ago.

    All of that said, I’m a bit saddened that Leno’s final episode as host of “The Tonight Show” is being recorded right now for telecast later this evening. As much as I may have preferred other late night personalities over the years, the fact remains Leno’s regular guy brand of humor carried the torch magnificently for the past 17 years. The circumstances surrounding how he landed the gig will always be suspect, but Letterman went off and became his own man, paving the way for O’Brien to make a name for himself at 12:30 and, as of Monday night, finally take up the reigns on “The Tonight Show” himself.  I wrote briefly about O’Brien’s final “Late Night” show back in February.

    O’Brien’s transition to the show was covered in-depth in an insightful New York Times Magazine piece last weekend by staffer Lynn Hirschberg. Early passages have me worried, such as writing staff ideas centered around O’Brien as an outsider in Los Angeles (his new show will be taped daily on the Universal lot). Those will only go so far, perhaps better suited to a guest host than the new face of NBC late night, and the show will need to settle into a more purposeful position sooner rather than later.

    Of course, the subtext of Hirschberg’s article is that O’Brien, like his soon-to-be time-slot competition Letterman, doesn’t have the chummy, next-door neighbor demeanor that Leno has. Therefore, the 50-year-old enterprise could be in jeopardy of losing viewership. His brand of self-deprecation struck a chord with his dorm room demographic, to be sure, but the higher brow isn’t what Leno aimed for and might not be what the “Tonight Show” audience wants. The ratings will ultimately tell the tale, but in recent years, I have found myself out-growing O’Brien’s antics. I wish him the best as he takes up the reins on Monday, but I wonder if a network desire to stay fresh will put a flagship built on it’s heritage in slight peril.

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  • Conan bids farewell to ‘Late Night’

    Conan O\'BrienI told myself all week to make sure I caught Conan O’Brien’s last show on Late Night yesterday, and, no big surprise, I totally forgot.  I told myself it was probably just as well since for many, many years the show fell out of favor with me.  I was a huge fan in the Andy Richter years back in my high school days, but somehow when Richter left, after maybe a year or so, Conan began to seem stale to me.  I don’t know why, I don’t know if it was growing up, whatever, but it stopped connecting.

    I’ve been revisiting the show lately, mostly in the way of reminiscence since I knew the clock was ticking.  And luckily enough, given this day and age, I was able to track down the final episode here.  I kind of thought it would be same old, hollow, etc., and to some extent, it was slightly underwhelming for a farewell show.  But I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was a bit choked up watching this 15-year-old chapter of the late night comedy tour come to an end.

    I particularly liked O’Brien’s acknowledgment of late night king (in my opinion) David Letterman, who everyone know deserved “The Tonight Show” long ago.  Here’s what the exiting “Late Night” host had to say of his soon-to-be 11:30 competition:

    David Letterman invented this late night show.  He is, I believe, one of the most brilliant broadcasters for all time.  I have a terrific amount of respect for him and what he did.  He set the bar absurdly high.  Living in his shadow has been both a burden and an inspiration.

    The White Stripes performed a solemn ditty and Will Ferrell made an appearance.  Andy Richter, of course, came out for a trip down memory lane, but it’s all over now.

    O’Brien begins his stint hosting “The Tonight Show” June 1.

  • Citizen Dave

    David LettermanWe don’t get into television much around these parts.  I don’t have the heart, really, what with “24” sucking the life out of me, “Heroes” spiraling out of control and “Friday Night Lights” and “Entourage” gone for the moment.  “Lost” helps soothe the irritation, but we certainly don’t talk late night very much.

    But for a long while now, it seems David Letterman has been the only late night destination worth a damn.  I lost my patience for Conan O’Brien years ago (seriously, it’s painful to watch him struggle to keep up when he has, say, Jim Carrey on…and the old shtick doesn’t cut it anymore), while Jay Leno is and always has been the worst interviewer in the racket.  Why 10pm?  Just retire?

    Anyway, with that in mind, I thoroughly enjoyed this Chicago Tribune piece from Steve Johnson, spotlighting Letterman’s “remarkable transformation” from a goofy laugh hound to a meaningful figment of America’s social conscience.  Here’s a taste:

    Since his 2000 heart surgery, he has taken on President Bush and candidate John McCain, global warming and Bill O’Reilly, Rush Limbaugh and the lack of national leadership. His first broadcast after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks was an almost oracular expression of what a nation was feeling and the best thing any broadcaster found to say in that dark period.

    He even turned a post-jail visit by Paris Hilton political, in a sense, using her appearance as cultural critique, a riotous dismantling of the notion of unearned celebrity and blind adherence to promotional agendas.

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