Is NBC robbing peter to pay paul in an effort to attract eyeballs to their new one-two combo of THE TONIGHT SHOW WITH CONAN O’BRIEN and LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON? That’s the question this TV Addict is left asking after waking up for the fifth consecutive morning in a row to a deluge of “highlights” and “assets” from our friendly neighborhood publicity team at NBC (and their partners in crime, New Media Strategies). Hey, don’t get me wrong. There’s nothing that goes with my morning coffee like watching Mark Paul Gosselaar bring Zack Morris back from the dead or Norm MacDonald recount his seedy past with Andy Richter. I just can’t help but wonder… who is staying up until midnight (and yes, I realize I’m old!) when blogs like theTVaddict.com and web sites such as EW.com are delivering what you missed last night with your morning joe?
The Good: Not that we really had any doubts, but last night Conan O’Brien assured fans and critics alike that the franchise Johnny built and Jay kept running smoothly over the past seventeen years will be in good hands for, oh say, the next seventeen. From the solid opening that had O’Brien pulling a Forrest Gump of his very own by running from New York to Los Angeles, to a highly enjoyable remote that had O’Brian taking one really lucky group of tourists on a Universal Studio tram tour they won’t soon forget, O’Brien was in fine for; Delivering laughs with his trademark mix of self-deprecating, funny and slightly off-beat sense of humor. Plus, his interview with Will “I do the same schtick in every single movie that stopped being funny six movies ago” Ferrell was almost entertaining enough to have us reconsider our self-imposed moratorium on Will Ferrell movies.
If you’re anything like this TV Addict (read: hopelessly addicted to television), you may have found yourself with an alarming amount of free time on your hands since last Thursday — the day our beloved television season officially came to a close.
Deep breath, don’t panic, September is just around the corner. Or so we keep telling ourselves. Because the unfortunate reality of the situation is that September is in fact, not just around the corner. Which is why theTVaddict.com is going to spend the next few days offering up our “Summer Survival Guide.” Alternatives to the painful mix of reality TV, reruns and third-rate miniseries/ movies the major networks are trying to pass off as entertainment.
But before we get into those alternatives which include the worlds of TV on DVD, books and online, we first thought we should offer up five reason why you may not want to cancel your cable just yet.
WEEDS [Showtime, June 8]
Mary Louise Parker, America’s sexiest and arguably most irresponsible mother is back! And while critics and discerning fans have been quick to proclaim that the Botwin’s clans move to the border was a mistake of shark jumping proportions, WEEDS (alongside HBO’s ENTOURAGE, 30 ROCK and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER) remain to this day one of the only comedies that without fail, always leaves us jonesin’ for more. Also this summer on Showtime: NURSE JACKIE (June 8th)
Good News: ONE TREE HILL got some serious media exposure in today’s NY Times. Bad News: For glamorizing teen pregnancy and being wildly unrealistic. Ugly News: Thanks to a never-ending WGA Strike, we’re still watching! [see link]
Good News: CBS has teamed up with Canada’s CTV to shoot 13 episodes of a cop show titled FLASHPOINT starring Enrico Colantoni. Bad News: The TV Addict may or may not have a mild restraining order placed on him when it comes to VERONICA MARS alumni! Ugly News: When the writer’s finally return to work, will their be any jobs left in Hollywood? [see link]
Good News: Conan O’brien shaves his beard. Bad News: This is what passes for big news these days. Ugly News: What’s next? Craig Ferguson becomes an American citizen? Too late![see link]
After two months off the air in support of the WGA strike, LENO, CONAN, LETTERMAN, FERGUSON and KIMMEL all returned to the airwaves with brand new episodes.
Which begs the obvious questions: Am I the only TV Addict who thought LENO was the most entertaining host of the night? Was anyone else incredibly disappointed my Letterman’s low-key return and thinks its time for Conan and Kimmel to shave their beards? Post away with your thoughts.
Check out LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN’S take on Aaron Sorkin’s STUDIO 60 “Aaron Sorkin: Studio 6A on the 6th Floor of Rockefeller Plaza”. Not only is the clip hilarious, it hopefully will remind the suits at NBC that they have yet to broadcast the second half of STUDIO 60’s season. Yes NBC, we haven’t forgotten. And in case you haven’t noticed, audiences aren’t finding THANK GOD YOU’RE HERE very funny.
WEEDS [Showtime, June 8]
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